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Another book which makes its debut this spring is on an architect who needs no introduction. Robert Adam, Country House Design, Decoration & The Art of Elegance  by historian Jeremy Musson from Rizzoli is really the definitive book on the Scottish architect who transformed the face of Neoclassicism. The photographs by the late Paul Barker are among the best I've ever seen of these oft-published projects which defined a style; the Adam Style. The architect was truly a Renaissance man designing parks, buildings, and furniture; an entire environment really, while also serving as a member of British Parliament (1768-1774)! Nearly 250 years later his projects still astonish with their use of ornament and color in revolutionary ways. These iconic spaces are instantly recognizable as the work of one man. This volume which covers many of his remaining projects have miraculously not changed centuries later -a testament to their timeless design. Robert Adam delves into his design proces...

Soon to be released (April 11, 2017) is " How They Decorated ", a fascinating book by P. Gaye Tapp with forward by Charlotte Moss  and published by Rizzoli .  I've been eagerly awaiting this book both because the subject is endlessly fascinating and because over the years I've become friends with Tapp through our blogs; You may know her better as Little Augury . I've been studying my preview copy of the book and have been totally engrossed by these fascinating women who were each famous for their (many) style(s) which were well documented throughout the 20th century. Split into 4 sections the book categorizes these style setters (NOT trendsetters) by "The Fashionably Chic", "The Unconventional Eye", "In the Grand Manner", and "Legacy Style".  One of my favorite parts of the book is that they are covered not only by never-before-seen photographs but also charming sketches by Jimmie Henslee , Christian Berard , and  Jeremiah G...

Since I mentioned it in my last post on Vienna's Belvedere  I thought I should write next about Schonbrunn Palace . Sick of palaces yet? I saw so many on my trip that there is so much to share!  A rare image of me, ArchitectDesign, as it was the only picture I have that includes the front entry court.  Yes I can play typical tourist and get my picture taken in front of the Eiffel Tower, haha!  I'm blinking, which is one of many reasons I never have my picture taken or post them on my blog. Back to architecture.... A mansion has been on these grounds since before the 15th century as there is a fresh spring (hence the name Schon Brunn or "beautiful spring" in German) but the present building could finally be termed palace when it was added onto by the widow of Ferdinand II , Eleonora Gonzaga , and finished in 1643. The large grounds just outside of Imperial Vienna made this the perfect summer estate for the Habsburgs. The present palace owes its' baroque interior...

Just outside of the Ringstrasse in Vienna, Austria, is arguably the most famous palace in Austria, the Belvedere. This complex was also one of the first art galleries open to the public in Europe since 1776 based on Enlightened Absolutism . The complex is so impressive Sophia Coppola used it in her movie, Marie Antoinette, as a stand in for Antoinette's childhood home, more properly Schonbrunn . I also visited Schonbrunn on my trip and can attest that the Belvedere , while smaller, is a much more beautiful palace. Sitting high above the historic center of Vienna the view has not changed much since the 18th century when Canaletto captured it in the above painting (1758) - compare my photograph with the painting; a few more trees and thats all. The main event of the palaces however is not the architecture but the baroque gardens. Dominique Girard , who had worked earlier at Versailles, designed the gardens here with flowing fountains and intensely planted beds which are now unfortun...