Customer Reviews

The New Hacienda

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This is a fantastic book -- a must-read for anyone interested in Mexican architecture, design, or an overview of current trends in innovative and adaptive reuse of classic haciendas. Beautifully illustrated and well written, THE NEW HACIENDA is recommended for anyone with a passion for Mexico.

Karen Witynski and Joe Carr have done the impossible and have created, a beautiful follow-up to Mexican Country Style. The inviting cover pulls you into each chapter and the spectactular photography demands you turn every page slowly and take in the narrative as it describes hacienda lifestyles. You will return to this book again and again.

This book has lots of beautiful pictures but hardly enough of true haciendas. It is lacking originality and exterior/interior photos of the haciendas themselves. Text content is "ok" but repetitive and sounds like that from other books. Very overpriced for what it presents. The authors mention that they are building their own "new" hacienda. If they have such a true love for the old ones why didn't they rescue one from ruin??? Very commercial in my opinion.

The New Hacienda is a beautiful and inspiring book for anyone who loves Mexico's art, design, and hacienda-style culture. From traditional architectural elements to colonial antiques, the book reveals many rich details for those seeking ideas and inspiration in creating a hacienda-style home of their own. I found the book's Resource section especially helpful for contacting design sources here in the states. Also, after writing the authors at their site I found out that they have restored a colonial hacienda in the Yucatan which is now available as a vacation rental and Mexican Design Center.

This book not only gives you a history lesson on how Hacienda life was like in the past, but it also shows how Haciendas are working today, and how they have influenced American living. Like the first book, Mexican Country Style, they have included beautiful pictures that make you feel like you are there. I highly recommend this book.

"Mexican Country Style" and "The New Hacienda"
Both of these books are helpful in understanding the reinterpretation of Mexico's indigenous styles and architecture, in the latter case, particularly the transformations that haciendas surviving the land reforms have undergone in recent years...In "The New Hacienda", colonial antiques and historic objects are shown intermingled with contemporary notions of art and comfort, rendering a visually pleasing balance between old and new. Also included is a guide to Mexican haciendas, which may be visited...Both of these books will thrill anyone with an interest in interior design.
--New Mexico Magazine, March 2000

The New Hacienda garnered the prestigious La Pluma de Plata (Silver Pen) Award from Mexico's Ministry of Tourism. Presented to authors Witynski and Carr by Mexican President Ernesto Zedillo, the award is a testament to the book's distinctive celebration of Mexico's restored haciendas.
--Latin Style Magazine, September 2001

The collaborative effort of Karen Witynski and Joe P. Carr (joint owners of Texture Antiques, an Austin, Texas-based interior design firm and gallery specializing in hacienda style, Mexican colonial furniture and architectural elements), The New Hacienda is an eye-opening source book of interior design showcasing ideas drawn from Mexico's remote country estates. Full-color photography and raptly descriptive text combine to present the flavor and history of homes on both sides of the border. An impression-forming and memorable showcase spotlighting deep brown and yellow colors, and artifacts of Mexican culture. Also very highly recommended is the Karen Witynski and Joe P. Carr collaboration, Mexican Country Style

This is a beautiful look into the old Mexico/Tex-mex culture. Beautiful pictures, great explanations.