COTE DE TEXAS: A Few New Book Recommendations

A Few New Book Recommendations

 

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One of my favorite blogs is The House of Edward, written by interior designer Pamela Terry.  Pamela started her blog a year after me, so she’s been at it for over four years now.  Although she is an interior designer by trade, her blog is filled with essays instead of design pictures.   The essays cover all topics – some sad, some poignant, others  wistful, or just plain funny.  Recently, Pamela collected her favorite essays and put them in book form – accompanied by illustrations of her big fluffy white dog Edward and herself – done by Amber Alexander.  

 

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“From The House of Edward – Essays by Pamela Terry”

 

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Pamela and her muse, Edward.  Below, please enjoy an essay from her book!  Be forewarned – after reading the essay you will be yearning to host a fall dinner party for a few dear friends:

 

After the Dinner Party

The guests are all gone and the dishes are done.  The cottage speaks only in whispers now, in the muffled tick tock tick of the old clock in the bookcase, in the now and then crackle of the diminishing blaze still slightly aglow within the stone fireplace.  Edward dozes at my feet as I sit comfortably curled like a cat, deep in the arms of the orange velvet chair, sipping a toddy that is warm and so sweet. The playful personality of the midnight wind has changed since the arrival of November.  It sounds more serious somehow, moving through the black leaves outside with a purpose, sending shadows through the window panes, muted grey dancers that silently waltz round the candlelit walls.  I watch them move and imagine the music only they can hear.  Surely, this is the essence of contentment.  It had been the best sort of day.  One spent chopping and slicing, stirring and tasting; a day decorated with antique china and pink flowers, old-fashioned music and red, red wine, happy dog snapping under the chairs of happy dinner guests.  The cottage had been redolent with the cozy fragrances of fresh apple pie, crusty bread, boeuf bourguignon simmering in a fat red pot – the menu I had promised for the first truly cold weekend of autumn. There had been spirited talk of books and of movies, music and Christmas, of Italian landscapes, bagpipes and Renaissance art.  Cooking for friends, making them welcome, is such a satisfying occupation at any season of the year, but especially just now.  When the nights become longer and the temperature drops it seems that a spirit of merriment knocks at the door, a woodland sorcerer clad in robes of crimson leaves and cardinal feathers whose talent is pure hospitality.  I am happy to serve as his apprentice.  An elegant soul, he is a bit more formal than his counterparts of summer, those alfresco fairies of barefoot spontaneity and pink champagne.  No, he seems to prefer dressier occasions - richer colours, richer foods.  He is all red roses and tapestry, mulled wine and dark chocolate - his candles are scented with chestnuts and pomegranate, and he hides the recordings of Debussy, preferring to fill the house with Mozart instead.  A most convivial fellow, I highly recommend giving him free rein in your household all season long.  I promise you shall have even more fun than your guests.

 

To order Pamela’s book of essays, please go HERE.    The beautifully styled book would make a perfect Christmas gift for that special someone who loves to read novels or poetry.   Enjoy!!

 

Next -

 

 

This book – all about Fortuny fabrics – is drop dead gorgeous.  Gorgeous!   The cover alone is to die for.  It’s filled with pictures of interiors that used Fortuny’s stunning fabrics – and one page is prettier than the next.  

 

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The interiors are beautiful and luscious.

 

 

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In Malibu, Fortuny is unexpectedly mixed with rough woods.  Love!

 

 

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Blue and orange mixed together – one of my favorite pictures from the book.

 

 

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Just a few touches of Fortuny.

 

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I love this picture because it shows my favorite transferware pattern – yellow and black.   I’m lucky to have one plate of it!

 

 

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Walls lined in Fortuny – what could be better?

If you are a fan of the fabric, the book is a must have!

Order by clicking below:

 

 

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If you are a fan of opulence, you will love this book, the latest by the prolific Diane Dorrans Saeks.   I knew I had a lot of books by Saeks, but until I was alphabetizing my design books for the new library – I had no idea how many books of Saeks I actually owned!   She has really written a lot of great books through the years.  Her latest book captures interiors by Ann Getty – her own and those for designed for others.  The interiors are worthy of royal families – I’m not sure even they live with such beauty.  Each accessory, painting, fabric, furniture is the finest available.  It’s a real treat to immerse yourself in spaces like these where everything is just magnificent. 

 

 

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A desk, made in the 1700’s for a Medici Pope, now lives in Getty’s bedroom.   This is my favorite room in the book.  It’s incredible.   

 

 

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In a house designed for a young couple, a gorgeous red chinoserie desk is mixed with pink toile.  That chair!  I love how the exquisite desk is mixed with a common textured rug. 

 

 

 

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Another personal favorite – that silk velvet tiger fabric was custom made.  Of course.  To die for!  The gilt shelf with oriental accessories – whoa.  Gorgeous. 

 

If you like to dream….this is for you:

 

 

AND….

 

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Kathryn Ireland’s fourth and latest book is now out.  It features 8 houses that Ireland designed.

 

 

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One of the eight, is this California house that reminds me a bit of her Ojai house!  Love the curtains separating the two living rooms.

 

 

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Typically Kathryn:  relaxed, warm and inviting interiors.

 

 

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Love this dining room she designed using two different fabrics on the chairs. 

 

 

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This four poster is just amazing.

 

AND on Tuesday, November 13, 2012 – Bravo’s Million Dollar Decorators is BACK!!!  YEAH!!!  I think this is my favorite TV show EVER!!!  Everyone from the first season is back, except for poor Nathan Turner!  Awww.   I wonder why he’s not returning?  AND, it appears that Mary McDonald and Kathryn Ireland teamed up on a project with disastrous results.  I can’t imagine why they even tried – their styles are SO different.  To get a sneak peek at the new season – watch this video HERE.  Fireworks!!!!  Can NOT wait!!!!!!!

To order Kathryn’s newest book, click below:

 

Until next time!

13 comments :

  1. Nathan was my favorite designer on the show.

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    1. Nathan Turner has a new book out. It came out in late September if you missed it...!

      Terri

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  2. I have been watching yesterday's marathon on Bravo, and forgot how awful each of the designers is. Katheryn is the only one who seems even remotely nice, but she is always 2 hours late for her meetings! The men are the meanest people I have ever seen on TV! I can't imagine spending one minute or one dollar on any of them. The first time around I tweeted I couldn't stop watching but kept calling it Misogynists and the Women Who Starve Themselves, though this time around they all look hungry. I am looking forward to hearing your insightful, and much kinder, comments as the season wears on.

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  3. Thanks for the recommendations, Joni. These all sound like wonderful reads!

    Every single time I see an Ann Getty room, my pulse races. Her rooms remind me of Old Palm Beach in the best sense of that style. And she does more modern rooms without losing that same sense of time and place.

    XO,

    Sheila

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  4. Fun for my wish list! I haven't watched that show...want to now!

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  5. Love the books + Bravos show. Can't imagine MM & KI designing a project together. What did happen to Nathan? xxpeggybraswelldesign.com

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  6. Joni I want all of these!! Each so special in its own right1
    Thank you for sharing these latest tomes of design and story telling.

    xoxo
    Karena
    New 2012 Artists Feature

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  7. Have you seen House, Diane Keaton's new book?

    Anne at meadzmail@aol.com

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  8. Thanks for sharing Joni. I like to see inside these books before I buy them if they are designers I don't really know (or I go to their website to check out their decorating!). Thanks for showing the Fortuny book - it is lovely and I will likely add it to my Christmas list. I love my decor books but honestly only buy the ones I really like and will read and re-read (or look at and look at again and again). I will pass on books like Ann Getty. I love DDS but probably would not look at the Ann Getty book more than once. I will get it from the library!

    xo Terri

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  9. Hi, Joni - Thanks for reviewing these books. I do not own any of them, so timing is perfect! Think I'm most interested in the Fortuny, Kathryn Ireland, and House of Edward books. I'm not familiar with Pamela's blog....look forward to checking that out....sounds really interesting. Take care, Loi
    PS - Erik Kvalsvik is a neighbor, and a very talented photographer!!

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  11. Hi Joni, I was just (finally) reading through Pamela's post for halloween, and she mentioned you did this post promoting her book. And, your promo is delightful. I'm going to feature her tomorrow on our monthly By Invitation Only post as this month we are highlighting other bloggers we think are wonderful, perhaps a bit unknown as yet, but wonderful. Could I have your permission to use part of your post? Thank you in advance, precious friend. I think this little book would make wonderful gifts for my girlfriends !!

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