On My Coffee Table: One Man’s Folly

Architecture
May 12, 2014

You know I love my coffee table books. You know I love Julia Reed. And you know how I love restoring old houses … so it comes as no surprise that my latest acquisition (a birthday gift from mom), One Man’s Folly The Exceptional Houses of Furlow Gatewood, is a new favorite. This book tells the story of Furlow Gatewood, long time antiques dealer and partner to Bunny Williams’ husband John Rosselli, who over the last sixty years has created and curated a collection of beautiful homes on his family’s 11 acre farm in Americus, Georgia. Julia Reed makes this coffee table book one you actually want to read, and she paints a picture of a wonderful ninety-two year old man who loves friends, food, life, and his dogs. With beautiful photos by Rodney Collins and Paul Costello, that capture not only the interiors but Gatewood, his dogs, and the peacocks(!), this is one book you do not want to miss.

Photos via Rizzoli & Veranda

From Wagner to Adler

Architecture
May 8, 2014

In Jamaica, I read (and finished), Robert Wagner’s new book, You Must Remember This. The book chronicles Wagner’s life and experiences being an up and coming actor during Hollywood’s golden age. The book was fabulous, especially if you are a fan of history and Hollywood, as Wagner takes you through the development of Hollywood from a small western town with no alcohol, to the glamorous city we know today. What I enjoyed most about the book, was hearing about how many of the movers and shakers of old Hollywood lived … their houses, how they entertained, and who they invited. And I can’t help but think that Jonathan Adler’s new Jacques collection is inspired by all of these people and their stories …

Photos via Vanity Fair

The Green Lawns of Ireland

Architecture
March 17, 2014

Happy St. Patrick’s Day everybody! In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, I thought I would post some photos of Ireland. All of these photos are from the book The Irish Country House by Desmond Fitzgerald, published by Vendome Press. Like The English Country House and The Scottish Country House, The Irish Country House is a book filled with behind the scenes photos of the property and interiors of some of the finest private homes in Ireland. If you have the other two books, this is one that you should definitely add to your collection. Today, I have focused mostly on the beautiful gardens and lawns of these homes … well, because they’re green. The Irish Country House is available at Barnes & Noble here. Looking at these beautiful landscapes, a favorite movie quote comes to mind …

“Why land is the only thing in the world worth workin’ for, worth fightin’ for, worth dyin’ for, because it’s the only thing that lasts … It will come to you, this love of the land. There’s no gettin’ away from it if you’re Irish.”

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!