New Green Homes

Victoria Hagan, Marianne Hagan

Victoria Hagan: Interior Portraits

The first book to survey the work of this iconic designer, known for her serene "new American classic" look. One of today's most influential designers, Victoria Hagan exploded onto the scene in 1988 when New York magazine devoted the cover of its design issue to one of her rooms. Since then she has become renowned for her intelligent integration of architectural and interior design, her refined use of materials, her sophisticated color palette, and her strong silhouettes. Always looking to the view, Hagan effortlessly makes a close connection of interior spaces to the surrounding landscape. The houses profiled--ranging from elegant urban residences to casual weekend retreats--reveal Hagan's unerring attention to what Proust called "the unexpected detail," which makes her interiors beautiful as well as timeless. Throughout, Hagan discourses on the spirit of cherished objects--a print of birds in flight, a vintage star-shaped mirror, or a chair with an unusual silhouette--that add soul and modernity. With stunning photography and personal insights into Hagan's design philosophy, Victoria Hagan: Interior Portraits is an artful and inspiring collection of this design superstar's ...

Alexa Hampton

The Language of Interior Design

At an early age, Alexa Hampton learned the language of good design, the vocabulary to speak it, and the elements that define it. As the daughter of interior design legend Mark Hampton, she traveled the world by her father's side, touring the great architectural landmarks and discovering beauty, training her eye. Now one of America's most influential designers herself, Alexa Hampton provides a tour of stunning residences from her own portfolio. Eighteen classic spaces illustrate in rich detail the elements that govern cultivated design--contrast, proportion, color, and balance. Among the residences are a landmark 1912 McKim, Mead & White restoration on Fifth Avenue in New York City; an eclectic house by the sea layered in textures, patterns, and colors; a contemporary apartment distinguished by simple geometry and clean lines; and Hampton's own apartment, filled with an exquisite collection of architectural elements. Hampton also explains how she tailored each space to meet her clients' needs while retaining a timeless aesthetic, and she provides design expertise on everything from fabric schemes to the particulars of paint. From a French neoclassical tour de force of architec-ture, ...

Stafford Cliff

The Way We Live with Color

Proceeding from the general to the specific, the book begins with different styles and forms of housing and how these are affected and influenced by color. For example, the simplicity of white clapboard New England colonials lend themselves to formal approaches, while the lighthearted pastels of the Caribbean invite informal juxtapositions of style. The book then explores how varying materials and textures--open up new areas for exploring color and mood. The concluding section of the book is a rich sequence of images depicting how color is used differently around the world. Taken together, this book is sure to be a source of inspiration for anyone interested in interiors and decorating.