The first book to survey the work of this iconic designer, known for her serene "new American classic" look. One of today’s most influential designers, Victoria Hagan exploded onto the scene in 1988 when New York magazine devoted the cover of its design issue to one of her rooms. Since then she has become renowned for her intelligent integration of architectural and interior design, her refined use of materials, her sophisticated color palette, and her strong silhouettes. Always looking to the view, Hagan effortlessly makes a close connection of interior spaces to the surrounding landscape. The houses profiled—ranging from elegant urban residences to casual weekend retreats—reveal Hagan’s unerring attention to what Proust called "the unexpected detail," which makes her interiors beautiful as well as timeless. Throughout, Hagan discourses on the spirit of cherished objects—a print of birds in flight, a vintage star-shaped mirror, or a chair with an unusual silhouette—that add soul and modernity. With stunning photography and personal insights into Hagan’s design philosophy, Victoria Hagan: Interior Portraits is an artful and inspiring collection of this design superstar’s oeuvre.
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"Celebrating her firm's 20 years, Victoria Hagan: Interior Portraits (RIzzoli, $50) captures the decorator's signature style - equal parts elegance and comfort - with projects that include Nantucket cottages, prewar apartments, and a Jackson Hole retreat." ~Elle Decor (October 2010)
"Known for restrained and refined rooms with cerebral atmospheres and strong architectural foundations, Hagan merges traditional aesthetics with the requirements of modern living. Her crisp, uncluttered designs are not only visually appealing, her clients - who include Revlon chairman Ron Perelman and comedian Conan O'Brien - find them supremely peaceful." ~Elle Decor (June 2010)
"For a look at home decor of today, Victoria Hagan, Interior Portraits (Rizzoli, $50) shows contemporary domiciles (stately SoCal residences and N.Y. aeries) - all with the designer's sophisticated hues and refined sense of space." ~California Style
"Known for restrained and refined rooms with cerebral atmospheres and strong architectural foundations, Hagan merges traditional aesthetics with the requirements of modern living. Her crisp, uncluttered designs are not only visually appealing, her clients - who include Revlon chairman Ron Perelman and comedian Conan O'Brien - find them supremely peaceful." ~Elle Decor (June 2010)
"For a look at home decor of today, Victoria Hagan, Interior Portraits (Rizzoli, $50) shows contemporary domiciles (stately SoCal residences and N.Y. aeries) - all with the designer's sophisticated hues and refined sense of space." ~California Style
About the Author
Victoria Hagan launched her eponymous interior design firm based in New York in 1991. She has been awarded many of the country’s top design honors, including Architectural Digest’s Top 100, and is regularly featured in magazines. A frequent speaker on design issues, Hagan has also made television appearances on Martha Stewart and Oprah. In 2004, she was inducted into the Design Hall of Fame. Marianne Hagan is a longtime devotee of design and architecture. As a journalist, she has written articles for the arts and cultures magazines BlackBook and Room 100. As an actress, she has appeared on stage, television, and film. She is also Victoria’s sister. On working with Victoria, she says, “Writing and researching this book gave me an open-window view into my sister’s talent and vision. It was a magical vicarious tour.” A graduate of Duke University, Marianne calls New York City home.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
17 of 19 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
For 20 years designer Victoria Hagan has been designing rooms of beauty, simplicity and originality. Finally there is a lovely compilation of them. This book is divided into four sections titled Portrait of a Designer, Waterside Portraits, City Portraits and Country Portraits. It includes background on Victoria's career with photographs of homes she has decorated from Lake Michigan to Nantucket to New York City. There is accompanying text written by the designer's sister Marianne Hagan, a journalist, to provide insight into Victoria's design process.
She explains her approach to design: "I just like to make happy homes," Victoria says. You see there is a quiet, but buoyant, optimism about the rooms. There's a sense of mystery, tantalizing you to examine them more. Some common elements in her design include: muted color palettes, a combination of simplicity and complexity in form and texture, the juxtaposition of warm and cool colors, the use of balance in chiaroscuro, of light and shadow, where the shadow is as important as the light. Perhaps it's the volume of space which is the secret ingredient. What's left out is as important as what's there. If you like these elements, you should love this book.
Victoria talks about the importance of air flow in her interiors--you feel there's no obstruction, that the air, and you, can move freely without interruption. They are serene, calm, soothing interiors where the interiors "gracefully inhale" the exterior views. Less is definitely more in these rooms. Everything seems connected and makes sense. The sculptural quality of the furnishings in which each piece quietly begs you to study its details is compelling. You'll enjoy trying to discern what makes these rooms so unique and intriguing and learn from her expertise by studying the photos.
If you like classic, fresh, serene, edited, textured, airy, muted interiors of quality, you should enjoy this book. It appears that the photographer strove to photograph each room from the perspective, and at the time of day, which bring out the room's essence and flatters it most--like an artist would do with a portrait. Hagan is recognized as a master designer and worth learning from. If you love the fresh, welcoming simplicity of the cover, as I do, you'll enjoy coming inside to see this gallery of interior portraits.
She explains her approach to design: "I just like to make happy homes," Victoria says. You see there is a quiet, but buoyant, optimism about the rooms. There's a sense of mystery, tantalizing you to examine them more. Some common elements in her design include: muted color palettes, a combination of simplicity and complexity in form and texture, the juxtaposition of warm and cool colors, the use of balance in chiaroscuro, of light and shadow, where the shadow is as important as the light. Perhaps it's the volume of space which is the secret ingredient. What's left out is as important as what's there. If you like these elements, you should love this book.
Victoria talks about the importance of air flow in her interiors--you feel there's no obstruction, that the air, and you, can move freely without interruption. They are serene, calm, soothing interiors where the interiors "gracefully inhale" the exterior views. Less is definitely more in these rooms. Everything seems connected and makes sense. The sculptural quality of the furnishings in which each piece quietly begs you to study its details is compelling. You'll enjoy trying to discern what makes these rooms so unique and intriguing and learn from her expertise by studying the photos.
If you like classic, fresh, serene, edited, textured, airy, muted interiors of quality, you should enjoy this book. It appears that the photographer strove to photograph each room from the perspective, and at the time of day, which bring out the room's essence and flatters it most--like an artist would do with a portrait. Hagan is recognized as a master designer and worth learning from. If you love the fresh, welcoming simplicity of the cover, as I do, you'll enjoy coming inside to see this gallery of interior portraits.
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By Fiona
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
I was so keen to get my hands on this book and when I finally did and opened its pages, I must admit I was a little disappointed. The first let down was the matt pages (they almost have a chalky feel). I always find that glossy pages impart extra life into an image. Secondly, was the quality of the photos themselves. Some images that cover a double spread have a slight blur and therefore loose that wow factor. I am yet to read the text. Victoria's style is appealing and the internal architecture interesting. Overall, I'm not disappointed I bought it, but its not a book to rave over.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Lisa Amiri
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
This book was so beautiful! A client of mine had it and I could not wait to order one for myself. As a designer myself, I love Victoria's approach to classic styles, attention to detail and the less is more approach to design. I highly recommend this book!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
STUNNING
It's one of the most exquisite interior design books I've ever seen. And the writing (by her sister Marianne Hagan) is beautiful and precise--the perfect mirror to Victoria's... Read more
Published 20 hours ago by Marianne Hagan
4.0 out of 5 stars
Stunning
A wonderful collection of interior shots a great reference, book which I will use as a guide to my interiors
Published 8 days ago by joArchibald
5.0 out of 5 stars
Full of wonderful photos
This book is inspirational. There is not a room I do not like. Victoria is very talented. I would recommend.
Published 4 months ago by Rosemary Hayman
3.0 out of 5 stars
disappointed
Disappointed with some of the photography. Several of the photos looked like they had been overblown from smaller prints. Read more
Published 5 months ago by sandra smith
5.0 out of 5 stars
the best design book i own
AMAZING book. Truly, it's the best one on the shelf (and I own many MANY interior design books). If you've ever dreamed of owning an East Coast beach house, this book is a must... Read more
Published 21 months ago by misskellyg
3.0 out of 5 stars
Boring, but attractive
There are only a handful of portraits in this book that I found inspiring. The rest of the book was quite bland. Read more
Published on March 21, 2011 by Leahbodeah
5.0 out of 5 stars
Impressive Book!
This was given as a gift, however, I was able to look at it. It is a beautiful book. The book was passed around to all of us and we all loved it. Read more
Published on January 18, 2011 by veronicalcoates
5.0 out of 5 stars
Perfect for the Hamptons
Victora Hagan's style is perfect for the Hamptons. It's clean and classic, open and airy. I use her for inspiration when I stage homes in the Hamptons that are for sale, as well... Read more
Published on January 8, 2011 by Donna Dazzo New York Home Stager
4.0 out of 5 stars
Lovely, simple, and elegant designs.
I have always enjoyed seeing Victoria Hagan on the Oprah Show, and her line of furniture and merchandise at Target. Read more
Published on October 19, 2010 by A. Gift For You
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