Island Life: Inspirational Interiors

Book Description

It's the ultimate escape fantasy: Trade in the rat race for life on a tropical island and all the languid luxury that it evokes. For India Hicks and David Flint Wood, the dream became reality when, after high-profile careers-she as a fashion model, he as an advertising executive-the couple left the city behind for the Bahamas. Five years and three children later, the husband-and-wife team have impeccably restored three houses and one hotel. Fusing traditional European design with Asian, African, and Caribbean influences, the resulting interiors reflect their love of intense color and their keen sense of style-inherited on India's side from her father, the renown interior designer David Hicks, and further enhanced by the family's travels.

In Island Life, the secrets of these sumptuous, unique homes-used as locations for Ralph Lauren, J. Crew, and Vogue magazine, among others-are revealed in intimate detail. With panoramic color photographs, David Loftus captures not only the eclectic combinations of antiques, flea market finds, and modern furnishings, but also the overall ambiance of the tropics. For those who share David and India's dream, this is where to start planning.

Customer Reviews:

Never received...ordered 3 times!!!.......2007-06-19

You may or may not receive this book. Like another reviewer, my order was never completed. I ordered it THREE times, waited 6 weeks each time...and then was informed my order was cancelled because it was unavailable. The last time I ordered it, I called them and they "assured" me it was "IN STOCK". Later, I was notified it was unavailable once again. Its bizarre! Don't hold your breath waiting for this one. It may be a great book, but I will apparently never know.

A book to take you away from everyday life.......2007-01-03

I found this book an absolute dream. The pictures are superb and the text is so unpretentious and simple. I loved the way the family has created such a simple and beautiful house (or houses) unlike so many of the gaudy mansions of the rich that inhabit the Bahamas.
I have visited Harbor Island and the lifestyle appears so slow and easy that it really appears to be a paradise. India points out though that there is a price to be paid. The climate does make it difficult to maintain property.
In summary, I loved the book, the words and the pictures and I read it from cover to cover in a little under two days. It left we wanting a simpler, more balanced life and sunshine!

A Favorite.......2006-07-31

I find myself reaching for this book over and over again. In it the authors generously give us a glimpse of the life they have made on a small island in the Bahamas. With a lot of hard work and no pretension, they have gotten it mostly just right. Their houses are neither overdone nor underdone, but pleasing to the eye, soothing and liveable. Highly recommended.

Never got item - it was unavailable.......2006-07-30

Never got item - waited several weeks and then was notified.

Nice to look at....PERIOD.......2004-06-27

The cover was very appealing. First impressions etc;. The inside photos even more so. The writing however sounded like the ramblings of a spoiled child living in an unreachable reality sometimes and at other times, the snobbery of an aristocracy only appreciated in the mind of the writer and those who really believe that paradise can only be created by the writer.

I live in the Bahamas and so yes I have a paradise of my own, but does anyone really care about 'my personal paradise' so much that they would read about it. I think not. The thing that makes simple beauty, well simply beautiful is simply leaving it alone.

Final thot; Nice to look at.....PERIOD.

Customer Reviews:

A visual treat.......2002-09-17

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.

Indian Interiors.......2002-01-22

Excellent value for the money. Beautiful photos covering a broad range of interiors.

DELICIOUS!!.......2001-11-26

This totally sumptuous book has been beautifully produced and is proof yet again that Taschen are publishing some of the most beautiful books around. Apart from being a visual delight, each picture has accompanying text on the place featured. The book covers a wide range of interiors from palaces and havelis to Rajasthani huts and everything in between. Whether you are interested in Indian style or interiors generally, you will find much to like in this book.

Hours of fun.......2000-01-23

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.

Indian Interiors.......2000-01-03

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.

Average customer rating:

Dreams of faraway
Eclectic - Exotic - Inspiring

India: Decoration, Interiors, Design
Henry Wilson
Manufacturer: Watson-Guptill
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Design & Decorative Arts | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Decorating | Interior Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

General | Interior Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Style | Interior Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
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India Modern
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ASIN: 0823025136

Customer Reviews:

Dreams of faraway.......2007-02-23

I love the book. Shows a modern view of India with strong traditions in the past. I always enjoy seeing how others live. I would strongly recommend the book for paople who are interested in our world and how we liveon it.

Eclectic - Exotic - Inspiring.......2005-08-23

Detailed photographs capture the beauty and diversity of India.

Inspiring mix of design styles: from the intricate carvings of a merchant's haveli in Ahmedabad to the tasteful remodeling of a 15th century fortified palace transformed into a modernist hotel, every page delights.

There are elements of tribal origins and nods to colonial history. Bold, colorful decorated patterns of the tribal people contrast with the formal colonial influences of British raj. An adventurous soul will revel in the beauty and sense of place this book brings. It blends colors, textures, and light in a thousand ways.

Average customer rating:

India Modern Delivers
An experience in modern-day East Indian interior design

India Modern
Michael Freeman
Manufacturer: Periplus Editions
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

General | Interior Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
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India: Decoration, Interiors, Design
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The Villas and Riads of Morocco

ASIN: 0794650201

Book Description

Today, Indian design is a fascinating mixture of local styles and modern interpretations. Innovative ideas are being introduced not only by Indians, but by foreign architects and designers who have moved to India. India Modern showcases the latest in Indian style, from the first boutique hotel in Delhi, The Manor, to the restored fortress, and now hotel, of Devigarh, where each room is designed around a particular theme. Divided into four sections-Breaking with Tradition, Reworking Legacy, Courtyard and Tent, and Retreats-India Modern reveals the changing face of Indian interior design.

Customer Reviews:

India Modern Delivers.......2007-03-09

Michael Freeman's India Modern is packed with big, well-composed images of modern Indian interiors, which is exactly what I was looking for. I especially appreciated the fact that the Indian flavor of the interiors remained intact -- that the spaces weren't so modern and homogenized that all sense of place had been removed.

An experience in modern-day East Indian interior design.......2005-12-09

Featuring eye-catching, full-color photography throughout, India Modern is an experience in modern-day East Indian interior design, from the latest stylish homes to bars, restaurants, hotels, spas, and more. Exploring both innovative Indian ideas and influences of foreign architecture, India Modern offers astounding visions of geometry, colorful harmony, symbolism and more. The text offers the perfect complement to the sometimes sparse or minimalist yet always breathtaking visions of cutting-edge Indian homes. Highly recommended, especially as a source of design inspiration.

Average customer rating:

A glimpse at another culture
Sure to fire your imagination
Most Beautiful and Practical
Most Beautiful and Practical
A Visually Intoxicating Style

India Style
Monisha Bharadwaj
Manufacturer: Soma Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Design & Construction | Home Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Decorating | Interior Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

General | Interior Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

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India: Decoration, Interiors, Design
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250 Stencil Designs from India (Dover Design Library)

ASIN: 1579590527

Book Description

Indian style is eclectic, weaving together influences from many regions and cultures. The range of traditional and modern designs found in India is awesome. Brilliant color schemes are symbolic of religious beliefs, whether Islamic, Hindu, or Christian, and often correlate to the basic elements of air (white or silver), water (blue), and fire (red, orange, yellow). Additionally, space is an integral aspect of Indian design and architecture.

This vibrant book explains the diverse origins of the ornamentation that epitomizes Indian style, elaborates on the differences between regional decorative traditions, and presents the treatments of doors, windows, floors, and walls that can be emulated in the West.

Customer Reviews:

A glimpse at another culture.......2007-02-25

I have never been able to travel much but have always liked learning about other cultures. This book provides a look into another life style in an area that is basic to the understanding of all cultures.

Sure to fire your imagination.......2002-10-15

When asked to describe Indian style in one word, most people would say "colorful". That is indeed true. Indian style is rich in color, which is liberally used by everywhere- from palaces of erstwhile maharajas to homes in rural and urban parts of contemporary India. What fascinates most westerners is the ability of Indian interior decorations to assimilate mind-boggling number of styles from different cultures and even different eras. The whole design flows with ease- different elements blending together to enhance the look rather than impart incongruity.

This book presents exactly these aspects and is meant to inspire the reader. As each part of the home is visited, different styles are explored, explained and in some cases, re-interpreted for contemporary living. Some of these are high-end and would not be practically possible to duplicate. But most can easily be adapted in the Western settings to infuse them with an ethnic flair or just make them outright Indian. The beautiful color pictures are sure to fire your imagination. The types of accessories shown are commonplace in India and at most Indian art stores in other countries. You may not find the exact duplicates but you are bound to find something close. Recipedelights.com recommends this book and feels that it will start off the reader in the right direction. Everything else is limited only by the reader's imagination.

Most Beautiful and Practical.......2002-05-26

Monisha did a great job in writing this book. It reflects her good taste in decorating homes in Indian style. Eventhough it is nice to see some of the maharaja styles decor she definitely includes examples of decor of regular households and contemporary looks that could definitely be applied.
Most of the decorating items included in this book could be found in Indian arts and craft stores. The colors are so vibrant and enticing in each and every photograph. I read this book so many times, actually it is a very nice relaxing reading companion. I usually leave it on our coffee table when we have get togethers with our friends. It is a good conversational piece and everyone wants to borrow this book. Nicely done!

Most Beautiful and Practical.......2002-05-26

Most of the decorating items included in this book could be found in Indian arts and craft stores. The colors are so vibrant and enticing in each and every photograph. I read this book so many times, actually it is a very nice relaxing reading companion. I usually leave it on our coffee table when we have get togethers with our friends. It is a good conversational piece and everyone wants to borrow this book. Nicely done!

A Visually Intoxicating Style.......2000-03-25

India Style is a timely and refreshing look at one of the oldest civilizations in the world. India 'style' relfects the complexity and depth found in Indian cooking. Similar to how spices are blended and prepared, the country's style is a vibrant blending of color, texture, culture, religion and history. India style has been developing for thousands of years. There is something within our soul that responds and reaches out to this richness.

Average customer rating:

A very gorgeous book!
In a word, gorgeous!
Full of Creative Ideas
A good basic primer on India Style

India Style
Alexandra Bonfante-Warren
Manufacturer: Barnes & Noble
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Decorating | Interior Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

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Style | Interior Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

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India Modern

ASIN: 1586631187

Book Description

From the Taj Mahal to modest dwellings made of mud or wood, India is a world rich in color, texture, and style--and these dazzling full-color images of the country's architecture and interior design elements focus on just those aspects easily adaptable to Western homes. Every photo provides a wealth of inspiration for totally redoing your house or simply giving a room an Indian flair. Tour traditional and contemporary Indian homes to see how their extraordinarily vivid palettes--bright baby blues and pinks enhanced with favorite images, sophisticated combinations such as the saffron and plum of Buddhist monks, or the sober, rich hue of deep, pure indigo--can infuse your walls, furnishings, shutters, or doorways with India style. Feel the power and excitement of the carved wooden furniture, hammered brass bowls, Mughal miniatures, magnificent silk textiles, and time-ripened antique rugs. Then bring the passion and diversity of India to bear on your own exotic retreat.

Customer Reviews:

A very gorgeous book!.......2005-02-17

I love "India Style". This book is really a fantastic book about incorporating Indian design into almost every home. I found a lot of inspiration here. It is currently the best book on Indian decorating that I own. The photographs are beautiful and colorful, and the text is informative and engaging. I especially liked the fact that homes from all walks of Indian life were featured, not just palaces and luxury hotels. There are also photos of non-Indian homes where the owners have been influenced by Indian design and really allowed their imagination to run wild.

The only drawback to buying this book I've found is that I now have the irresistable urge to paint my house in bright colors and hop a plane to India to go on a shopping spree. Consider yourself warned!

In a word, gorgeous!.......2003-11-11

I'll just make this short and sweet for this short and sweet book. I only wish it had more pages! Inspirational style... if you like bohemian luxury, Indian decor is for you. Get this book to get your ideas rolling with colors, textures, textiles, furniture. Eye candy!

Full of Creative Ideas.......2003-01-26

This book is excellent for those seeking to add a little Indian Influence into the room. Most pictures focus on living room or bedroom areas. However, there are ideas for almost every area. One thing I admired about this book was the use of various color schemes. They show ideas for bold colors like blues and purples and other room designs for quiter elegance such as cremes and beiges. There is something for everyone with a little fondness of Indian Style!

A good basic primer on India Style.......2002-12-13

This book has beautiful photographs of both interiors and exteriors. Most elements of this style, as shown in this book, can be translated by people wanting to incorporate India style into their home. The book tells you which design elements in each photo represent India Style. This book brings India style into the present while still paying homage to the past.

Like other books in the Architectual & Design Library series, this book is great for people who are just starting to explore a style and/or people who want to add a book representative of a style to their collection.

Book Description

India is diverse, multilayered, and rich in traditions with a past still passing by. Today India is able to maintain a ritualistic link with the heritage of the skilled craftsmanship, the remarkable presence of the past and the modern building process used; a high quality building stone and other traditional materials. The contemporary Indian design of today would not have being able to exist without the traditional one; as it is distinguished from the autonomous traditions of its ancient Hindu and Buddhist past. This volume at hand, the opens up a new dialogue between tradition and innovation, between craftsmanship and design and bringing both together to form what is now the contemporary design of India. Paying close attention to climate, flora, light, space, and material, to create a crafted space that adds richer texture and allows it to adapt a deeper meaning into the space; focusing on the essential, minimalist by heart and mood by its soul, being more than an aesthetic tool, instead meaningful. Contemporary Indian design is then born out of its cultural influences of its time and place to become the reference of its own culture. As a result, creating a crafted environment that speaks of a journey in time and space.

The Guide to Home Decorating Indian Style

Average customer rating:

Beautiful photos inspire one's imagination.
Great book, great taste
The Guide to Home Decorating Indian Style
Imaginative Decorating

The Guide to Home Decorating Indian Style
Priscilla Kohutek
Manufacturer: Mapin Publishing Pvt, Ltd.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Decorating | Interior Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Decoration & Ornament | Interior Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

General | Interior Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Style | Interior Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1890206210

Customer Reviews:

Beautiful photos inspire one's imagination........2005-05-01

Beautifully presented, the book is a visual inspiration to all who review it. The author's straight forward writing presents practical answers to basic decorating questions applicable to all styles, not just Indian style.

Maritha Burmeister

Great book, great taste.......2005-05-01

I found this book after seeing Priscilla on TV. The book does an excellent job of conveying her no-nonsense approach to decorating. She has a fine eye and this book will help you to develop that same eye for your own decorating projects!

The Guide to Home Decorating Indian Style.......2002-06-05

Priscilla Kohutek's The Guide to Home decorating Indian Style is one of the most practical and readable home decorating books we have had the pleasure of owning. The user-friendly layout makes it an excellent how-to book for everything from simple and inexpensive makeovers to full-scale redos. Priscilla's helpful hints and solutions to real-life problems are supported by beautiful photographs, renderings and computer drawings. Her advice for making the most out of small spaces helped us make our kitchen a better place to work in. We also like her ideas for arranging the knickknacks we've collected and didn't know what to do with. This is a great book for people like us who want to make their home look good but can't afford to spend a lot of money on it.

Imaginative Decorating.......2002-05-30

Are you stumped about what to do with various rooms in your home? Does trying to get the right mix of furniture styles leave you dizzy? In a quandary about what window treatment you need for those huge domed windows? Priscilla Kohutek has written a delightfully readable guide for solving decorating problems. Although the emphasis is on Indian style the many ideas given can work with almost any style one chooses. The book is divided into practical sections. The question and answer format works very well. The answers to a myriad of decorating problems are easy to find. The photography and illustrations are first rate. Many of the decorating ideas that use Indian cloth, accent pieces and art are available here in the U.S. The superb artwork in the book enables you to easily visualize how the same idea might work for you. It will also help you use items from other parts of world in the same manner helping you create your own unique setting. This is a reference book you're going to want to keep handy.

Average customer rating:

As informed and informative as it is inspired and inspiring

India Contemporary
Henry Wilson
Manufacturer: Thames & Hudson
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

General | Interior Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Style | Interior Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
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Axel Vervoordt: Timeless Interiors

ASIN: 0500513651

Book Description

Contemporary interior design combining the exotic with the international through a uniquely Indian sensibility.

A dramatic resurgence is under way in India as the country flourishes its exciting hybrid style, informed by the past yet transcending it. "New Indian chic" is everywhere, from cuisine to fashion to film, yoga to ayurveda, and this book explores the worldwide upsurge of interest through a wonderful array of contemporary Indian interiors.

India today is much more than the exotic East of traditional crafts. The book takes us into the private homes of those at the forefront of the new approach to decoration and design. Here are interiors by Indians for Indians, by Indians for foreigners, by foreigners for foreigners, and by foreigners for Indians—radically modern, allusively traditional, distinctively stylish. 200+ color photographs and illustrations.

Customer Reviews:

As informed and informative as it is inspired and inspiring.......2007-10-07

Featuring a thoroughly 'reader friendly' text that is enhanced with 261 colored illustrations, "India Contemporary" by Henry Wilson is a compendium of commentary and examples of interior designs and design elements that are breathtakingly beauty in their exotic compositions. These are samples and examples of interior design that are radically modern while hauntingly traditional, evoking the traditional crafts of the Indian subcontinent and wonderfully demonstrate the international appeal of uniquely Indian design sensibilities. As informed and informative as it is inspired and inspiring, "India Contemporary" should be considered 'must' reading for student designers, and a highly recommended reference for professional, academic, and community library Interior Design collections.

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