Customer Reviews

New York Apartments: Private Views

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book is fabulous! If you are hooked on home interiors, then this is the book for you. Enjoy it with a good cup of coffee, put your feet up, and you will be transported to a world that is filled with luxury,elegance,style,and color. I did not rate it a 5, though, because of the 15-20 apartments that are included in this book, only about 2-3 are decorated in a style that is not "traditional." Although I personally prefer the traditional style (chinoisserie, chintz, silk drapes, etc.) it certainly would have been a good idea to include a variety of decorating styles. And since these are all New York apartments, it is odd that the author couldn't either find or offer more diverse decorating styles in this cosmopolitan city. Even so, you will not be disappointed!

This is simply an haute couture guide for homes. Stunning photography showcase these magnificent homes and provide a peek into a world few of us will ever actually inhabit. More than just a glamorous photo book, this is a must have for anyone interested in traditional, luxury interior design or looking for elegant styles to emulate.

The 25 apartments featured in the book are beautifully photographed and provide some basic information as to how the rooms were put together to get the over all "feel". This is not a "how to" book but rather a virtual portfolio of some of the best designers in the City.

This is a wonderful coffee table book and would make a traffic gift to anyone interested in design, lifestyles or New York City.

I have been thinking of this book lately because the New York magazines or art magazines focussed on the city I have been seeing lately all seem headed downward in the "decorating" arena. Recently the apartments featured look more like spiffed-up dorm rooms, or fluorescent-lit bus stations, even amongst the rich. . Nothing wrong with that per se, but good taste is a laudable thing, and it is not just about being loaded. This book is the exact opposite. All the apartments display a really fine sense of balance which is what used to meant when "New York" and "good taste" were put together in the same sentence. If that same aesthetic is not going to be on display in New York magazines, then those of us who do not live in New York, but identify with the aesthetic, are not going to have a reason to subscribe and read them. We'll just have to enjoy lovely books like these when we see them in a bookstore with a sense of nostalgia. Amazing especially because this book came out just a few years ago.

This book features the interiors of some of Manhattan's most luxurious apartments decorated by some of the city's most notable designers and architects. The text by Jamee Gregory is informative, usually giving the owners' requirements and the designers' inspirations, sometimes along with the history of the apartment. The photos by Mick Hales are good, but sometimes the views cropped to an oval image are tiresome, no doubt one of the less-than-appreciated contributions of book designer Charles Davey. There is neither a Table of Contents nor an Index in my 2004 (first) edition. But the apartments themselves are first rate, all of them seemingly renovated and decorated to the nth degree. While there are certainly lessons to be learned, it is not a "how to" book by any stretch of the imagination. The majority are in the traditional style, although there are some contemporary ones, but they are not up to the same quality of design. Interior designers include Albert Hadley (for Louise Melhado), Tony Ingrao (for Marty Richards), Jed Johnson (for Beth Rudin DeWoody), Ellie Cullman (for herself and husband), David Netto (for himself), Charles Gwathmey (for himself and wife), David Easton and John Christensen (for Carroll and Milton Petrie), Friederike Kemp Biggs (for herself and husband), and Pamela Banker (for director emeritus of the Whitney Museum Tom Armstrong and his wife). Mario Buatta, Bunny Williams, the late Mark Hampton and the late Henri Samuel are among the designers whose work appears with the clients' identity kept private. Also represented is the work of architects Thierry Despont, Oscar Shamamian, John Murray, Alan Wanzenberg among others. For those who enjoy seeing the lifestyles of the rich and famous of Manhattan as well as quality interior design, this book will be appreciated.

For anyone in love with beautiful interiors, NEW YORK APARTMENTS is meant for you and you will love every page! Exquisite interior design...elegant antiques and furnishings, mesmerizing art, the most uniquely beautiful accessories...will excite your senses and satisfy your appreciation of "perfection." You will not be disappointed.

I really enjoyed this book. The photo layout was excellent and the homes pictured give you a look at what can be done if you have the right apartment, time and money. A Rizzoli book is always first class.

A beautiful volume encompassing many a different view and approach to interior decoration. Some you will admire, some you won't but that is what is exciting about this particular volume. A feast for the eyes and a treasure trove of ideas.

Stunning, just stunning, an exquisite inside look at the quintessential New York City apartments. From Central Park West to the Village to Chelsea and Tribeca and Brooklyn Heights ... a glimpse into the urban chick homestyles that is Manhattan and the Big Apple.

Loved seeing the beautiful homes! So much fun to see into the homes of these people. Loved the tradional decor. A great coffe table book.

Beautiful book showcasing the elegant style of Greenwich. Unlike many similiar books, this one is more than a pretty cover. Beautiful interior shots, and the kind of book you want to go back and look at over and over. A good purchase, and I have given it a few times as a gift as well!