Customer Reviews

Albert Hadley: The Story of America's Preeminent Interior Designer

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If one is at all interested in interior design and decoration, then this book is a must have. Albert Hadley owns "style" and "good taste". The photos in this book are great and it is a very interesting read. He is such an interesting talent that anyone at all interested in design would love this book.

Not only does Adam Lewis' biography of Albert Hadley allow us to take a retrospective look at the great man's life and career, he allows us do this on the most part through Hadley's own words. "Albert Hadley: The story of America's preeminent interior designer" is an important work about the dean of American decorating, and undoubtedly one of the greatest designers in the world today. Having studied under Van Day Treux at NY Parsons school and then going on to work for the top firms of the day - Mc Millen and then with Sister Parish before their eventual partnership of Parish-Hadley, Albert Hadley's clients were America' wealthy and elite. He has created some of the most famous, stylish, chic and absolutely timeless interiors, and the photographs of these will make this book a monograph in my library that I will refer to and study meticulously time and time again.

At almost 88 years old and still working, it is no wonder Albert Hadley is referred to as the Dean of American Interior Design. For those wanting to learn how to add some style to their interiors, this book is a "must have". A biography which includes his early years and the later famous collaboration with business partner Sister Parish, is followed by discussions of some of his projects during his long career, including those recent to the publication date. Documentary photos are included along with his own delightful sketches and designs for wallpaper and fabrics. Unfortunately, it appears that no photos of interiors were taken expressly for this book so the quality of some images will not meet the expectations of some readers. Never-the-less, something can be learned from each picture for those who are willing to study them. There is an index and a listing of the books, magazine and newspaper articles mentioning Hadley's work. The interior design profession has been greatly improved by the numbers who have been his student at Parsons School of Design and the decorators and architects who have trained as employees of the legendary firm, Parish-Hadley. Now some of the knowledge of the Master is available for the readers of this book.

Very fast shipping for Xmas time. Happy with book. It was a gift and the person I gave it to loved it.

I read this volume from cover to cover; I've always admired Albert Hadley's design aesthetic. Hadley's working relationships with McMillen and Sister Parrish are examined, along with some wonderful antecdotes. My only wish is for more images of Hadley's work thru the ages, but this book gets five stars, and I'd recommend it to any designer.

This was a great book. The pictures are wonderful and it makes an excellent coffee table book. The pictures of Brooke Astor's library alone, are worth buying the book. It is nicely written and I liked the fact that Hadley himself collaborated on this book. It gives a nice insight on one of America's best decorators. Perfect book for giving as a gift to anyone who is interested in Hadley or just a fan of Interior Decorating.

Great written history however the visual presentation of his work is poorly represented.