Adirondack Style (Hardcover)

~ Ann S. O'Leary (Author) "Look at any New York road map..." (more)
Key Phrases: twig work, older camps, hickory furniture, New York, Great Camps, Adirondack Park (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

The Adirondack "Great Camp" style bears witness to the long and interesting history of New York State's northeastern corner, from the splint basketry and bark sheathing used by the native people, the furs and skins so prized by the earliest white traders, the thick walls built by the French soldiers eager to protect their North American strongholds, and the unpeeled log structures of early lumberjacks. As well-heeled sportsmen of the late 19th century flocked to the area's lakes and mountains, they brought the touches--electric lights, Persian carpets, Craftsman-style fixtures--that made luxurious resorts of these large cabins. The word camp certainly doesn't imply makeshift; as Alfred Donaldson wrote in 1921, "It can only be said that 'camp' in Adirondack parlance has become a loose term applied indiscriminately to anything from a tent to a palace created in the woods, in more or less isolation, primarily for pleasure and summer recreation."

Ann Stillman O'Leary has developed what amounts to a primer on camp style, concentrating mainly on contemporary interpretations. As this style has come back into favor, it has incorporated more Scandinavian and Japanese elements that complement its rugged simplicity, and the interiors reflect the 20th-century insistence on better light and warmth. In short, the modern Adirondack camp style is at once cozy and elegant, and the faithful and appealing examples shown here will lead many readers in search of ways to create their own little "camps" at home.

Product Description

In the northeast region of New York State lies the Adirondack Park: six million breathtaking acres of natural beauty. In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, America's most prominent families came to the area to build the expansive summer retreats known as the Great Camps. Built and decorated with the region's natural resources, the camps reflected the serenity and indelible power of their surroundings--and the rustic Adirondack style was born.

People are once again flocking to the area -- building new vacation retreats or restoring existing camps -- and creating fresh new perspectives on this classic American style. Author Ann Stillman O'Leary takes you through the rich and interesting history of the Adirondacks with an in-depth look at how its trademark building and decorating style is being interpreted today.

The book's introduction, written by Elizabeth Folwell, the editor of Adirondack Life magazine, provides an overview of this distinctive area and the original owners and builders of the Great Camps. The remaining chapters explore the region's finest camps, both inside and out. More than 200 full-color and historical black-and-white photographs highlight all the elements unique to this style, from exterior stonework and twig filligree to interior fabrics and wall decor. A featured section shows how Adirondack furniture uses every bit of the tree, from root and burl to bark and branch, with amazing results. A thorough source guide identifies architects, builders, interior designers, manufacturers, craftspeople, and retail stores featuring camp merchandise, and a list of area lodging lets you experience the Adirondacks firsthand.

Adirondack Style, the first book to take a comprehensive look at rustic design today,celebrates -- in words and images -- a style that is being referenced in homes from Maine to California.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 180 pages
• Publisher: Clarkson Potter; 1 edition (October 6, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0609603612
• ISBN-13: 978-0609603611
• Product Dimensions: 10.5 x 9.8 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #218,362 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not simply for those who love the Adirondacks region, August 10, 1999

By A Customer

Yes, some call the look "Adirondack," but the style is, of course, much broader than that-a true American classic with variations that have abounded for decades and decades in many parts of the U.S. Personally, the book reminds me of the classic camps and vacation lodges of the Missouri and Arkansas Ozarks. So, no matter where you live, if you love rustic style, you'll be inspired by this book.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dream, dream, dream!, January 10, 2000

By A Customer

Between this book and another, also from amazon, called Cottage Style, I have more than enough to fuel my vacation house daydreams. A great start for 2000 and for my own dreams of early retirement.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Uniquely American architecture finally gets examined., November 28, 1998

By A Customer

Finally, one of the few original American architectural styles has been researched, documented, and presented in a subtly exquisite volume. "Adirondack Style," by Ann Stillman O'Leary is more than the familiar coffee-table adornment. It's a serious survey of American culture in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries as embodied in uniquely American design and craftsmanship. Many people associate "Adirondack style" with the simple, rustic, and eternally stylish Adirondack chair. Knock-offs of varying quality are ubiquitous in every home-furnishings catalog. Adirondack "camps," on the other hand, as O'Leary describes in meticulous detail, were much more than rustic furnishings. The originals were sophisticated, often luxurious, always artfully detailed summer escapes for captains of industry and their families in northeastern New York state from the late 1800s until the Depression. O'Leary chronicles the social history, the (almost lost) art of building with indigenous materials, and the style currently enjoying a renaissance in both restorations and new construction. Gary R. Hall's photographs are warm and luscious, revealing the comfort and eccentricity of each space. Most importantly, Hall and O'Leary have combined their talents to renew enthusiasm for an under-appreciated and, until now, barely examined genre of American craftsmanship. "Adirondack Style" describes an evolution that, unlike revivals that are often pale imitations of their predecessors, continues as builders and artisans interpret its traditions for today and tomorrow.

Sara Hart Associate Editor Architecture Magazine