Indian Interiors (Interiors (Taschen)) [Hardcover]

Deidi Von Schaewen (Author), Deidi Von Schaewen (Author)

Book Description

Series: Interiors (Taschen) | Publication Date: June 1, 1999

Large-format hardcover edition at a new low price.

The sights, smells and sounds of India draw legions of travellers every year in awe of the changing terrain and countryside, but to truly experience the range and diversity of this huge country one needs to gaze into the many spectacular residences, as rich and eclectic as the landscape that surrounds them. Indian Interiors provides a longing glimpse into these exotic abodes.

India's visual culture is ruled by bright colours, religious decoration and the unrelenting heat of the sun, and designers have responded to this challenge in many ways over the centuries. With this book as guide, you can wander into the restored splendour of ancient Maharajas' palaces, enjoy living in houseboats on the lotus-covered lakes of Kashmir, or cool off in imposing colonial buildings built for British rulers wilting in the tropical heat.

This is truly a world of contrasts, as we move from simple but beautifully hand-painted tribal huts to the L.A. influenced home of a Hollywood star, from a Buddhist house in Ladakh to the most original house designed in India by Le Corbusier. All the interiors here are lavishly photographed and documented.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

In the latest addition to Taschen's "Interiors" series (e.g., New York Interiors, Tuscany Interiors), journalist Sethi showcases 44 homes, offering an insider's tour of India's architecture, cultural traditions, and lifestyles. Some 500 full- and half-page color photographs accompany Sethi's descriptionsAin English, French, and GermanAof the residences and their occupants. Readers visit a Buddhist home in the Himalayan Mountains, river houseboats in the canals of Kashmir, the treasures and royal splendor of the Maharajas' palaces, and mud houses in the Thar desert. Though the photographs are exquisite, the written descriptions are not as extensive as one might hopeAbut they are vivid. Recommended for interior design collections and public libraries serving patrons who like to live vicariously.AJudith Yankielun Lind, Roseland Free P.L., NJ
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Language Notes

Text: English, French, German

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 340 pages
• Publisher: Taschen (June 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 3822870765
• ISBN-13: 978-3822870761
• Product Dimensions: 12.3 x 9.7 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #824,397 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Indian Interiors, January 3, 2000

By 

Skarzan (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Indian Interiors (Interiors (Taschen)) (Hardcover)

This is a gorgeous book, beautifully laid out, with good photography and a vast range of type of interiors from palaces to village huts. Having spent significant time traveling throughout India, I frankly opened this book fully expecting to be disappointed and expecting it to be one more example of journalism not being able to do justice to the breadth and scope of India. We see that failure in all manner of books about India, from cook books, design books, culture books, and travel books; any subject that trys to cover the subcontinent in one fell swoop. Remarkably, this book achieves what no others I've seen has. In addition to photography of Deco interiors, British Revival, and Native Cultural Design, INDIAN INTERIORS wisely leaves the commentary to short blocks of text detailing the background of the property and the homeowners but not forming broad judgements or attempting to endlessly characterize and embellish. I have photo books on Village India, India Rail, Indian Design, etc., and they all try to do too much and not let the material speak for itself. This book is different, very different, and from what I've seen from this publisher in other venues, Taschen is one to watch for if you like your material presented succinctly and beautifully without gushing or extraneous filler.

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hours of fun, January 23, 2000

By 

A Customer - See all my reviews

This review is from: Indian Interiors (Interiors (Taschen)) (Hardcover)

This LUSH book captivates the eye and provides such a visual feast of color, I feel saturated, then satiated, each time I dip into it. Good for hours of fun.

I have to say, I was lucky enough to meet Deidi on her travels in Ladakh and can tell you that she is one intrepid traveler. There was a war going on in Kashmir when she went to take these photos - although you'd never know it from these pictures which paint such a beautiful image of these sumptuous settings.

She is a great photographer, with three Taschen books to her credit (Gardens of France, and Fantasy Worlds). She also makes enormous photos of sacred trees in India which are exhibited in galleries - very dramatic and her best work yet!

This book focuses a great deal on Rajasthan, but also includes regional coverage of key areas.

A first of its kind and a good antidote to the predictable picture books of India. Everyone expects India photo books to show weird babas in Benares and starving people in Calcutta, so it's good for the West to see there's more to India than that.

Glad to see that scenes from the folk and peasant traditions are included alongside the fantastic royal palaces, proving that art has no boundaries.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A visual treat, September 17, 2002

By 

Recipedelights-dot-com-chef (San Francisco, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Indian Interiors (Interiors (Taschen)) (Hardcover)

We review a number of books and the first time we saw this one, we were very sure it was going to make to our top selections list. And we were not wrong.

A beautifully laid out book with 500 vivid color photographs is a visual treat. Recipedelights.com gives it a "must-buy" rating for interior designers and style lovers. One of the few books that correct the injustice done by western journalists and gives a positive spin to thousands of years of culture and history. It truly reflects the grandeur of Indian style by weaving a colorful mélange that will come as no surprise to anyone who has ever visited India. This book explores a spectrum of interiors ranging from Palaces to Havelis to Huts. It does not bore with endless text or try to influence the judgment of the reader. Short text (In English, German and French) accompanies each photograph though the pictures speak for themselves.