Mexicolor: The Spirit of Mexican Design

Amazon.com

Radiant color is not merely joyously prevalent in Mexico, it is part of the national psyche. According to this energetic celebration of Mexican style, "the color that floods Mexico's streets and plazas, markets and homes (and the pages of this book) is language and metaphor--a form of communication, deeply bound to experience. Day and night, birth and death, rich and poor, feast and famine: color is always there. Earth, sky, and history conspire to make it so." The profusion of multihued walls, tiles, ceramics, textiles, and folk art that fill the home; the riotous juxtapositions of vivid foods, flowers, supplies, and accessories that comprise the spectacle of the marketplace; the vibrant details that define everything from facades to clothing to handpainted toys--the Mexican obsession with color is everywhere, as is strikingly documented in this lively book. --Amy Handy

Book Description

Basking in sunlight and coursing with energy, Mexico enjoys a unique relationship with color-inspired, intrinsic, inseparable from life itself. This vibrance sings forth in the pages of Mexicolor, the collaborative project of an artist, a photographer, and a writer all in love with the brilliant displays of color seen everywhere in Mexico. Walls washed flamingo pink on top, deep matte blue on the bottom. A green flatbed truck heaped with orange marigolds. A sea of colorful skeletons at a Day of the Dead fiesta. The radiant reds, yellows, purples, and greens of the fruits and vegetables at el mercado. Mexicolor explores Mexico high and low, from colonial towns to dazzling beaches, from traditional ?workshops to contemporary interiors, from open markets to extraordinary homes and inns, uncovering the colorful artistry that permeates everyday life across this vast nation. Mexicolor is an ideal resource for anyone looking to brighten a home, and a beautiful picture book brimming with imagination, creative ideas, and pure pleasure.?

Customer Reviews:

Mexico with an Exclamation Point.......2007-10-15

While I was in the process of planning and building my next casa in Baja, this book provided mucho inspiration. The Spanish Colonial, and Hacienda designs, the avalanche of colors and gardens provided me the basis of making mi casa as Mexico as I could.
Yes, the binding is weak, but the book remains as an Essential. I now have 2 copies, one very worn out copy.

If You Love Color!.......2007-03-25

If you love the bold, life-affirming colors of Mexican houses and interiors but not necessarily the traditional architecture and furnishings of the mexican tradition, this is the book for you! I ordered several books on Mexican interiors and details and this was the best. It gave me great ideas for using bold, bright color in my house without turning it into a hacienda. The book is beautifully designed and the color just blows off the pages. It has in it everything I love about Mexico that is bright, lively, joyous, and enlivening and nothing that is stodgy. As An artist, I found the book irresistable.

so so.......2007-01-19

i've been to colonial mexico, and i've seen more exciting stuff than what's on this book. also, the pages come appart easily

a great guide.......2006-04-06

I have always loved everything about Mexico, especially their use of color. When I bought my new house I wanted to bring that freedom and joy into my home.

This book was a wonderful guide. Almost every page reminded me to let go and celebrate. There are so many visual feasts and ideas. If you are timid about colors this book will definitely give you a new lease on life.

A Good Summary of Mexican Colors.......2006-02-28

I'm in the process of building on the Maya Riviera so this is important research looking for real ideas. Building in Spanish Colonial style can't be done without some thought given to the brilliant colors of Mexico.

Since I am interested in the home design many of the chapters are not as applicable. Chapters like Folk Art, Toys, wood, ceramics and the marketplace were just not really relevant to me. Prior to that are chapters on the painted wall, Tiles and the Kitchen that are very helpful. Later the book shows pictures of various homes, haciendas, and hotels. Even if I weren't investigating for decorating ideas this is still a coffee table book that I would be very proud to display in my house.

I now have many pages marked for further review and discussions. This is a great representation of Mexican color that I'm glad I own.

Average customer rating:

A Great Tile Summary
A bit of a let down.
Great content
AWESOME!!! Fulfilled ALL my expectations!

Mexican Tiles: Color, Style, Design
Masako Takahashi
Manufacturer: Chronicle Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

Using Color | Instructional & How-To | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Instructional & How-To | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Sculpture | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Ceramics | Other Media | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Mexico | Americas | History | Subjects | Books

General | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Pottery & Ceramics | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

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

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ASIN: 0811826295

Book Description

Masako Takahashi, coauthor of the best-selling Mexicolor, now turns her attention to the vibrant tiles that are such a key element in Mexican style and design. Bring a festive new look to any home or garden with the ideas in Mexican Tiles. Masako Takahashi leads a colorful architectural tour through Mexico, revealing the many ways tiles are used for function and decoration, adding color and interest to everyday surroundings. Over 175 beautiful color photographs present inspirational examples of classic and contemporary tile work, from colonial-era church facades ornately covered with talavera tiles to vividly detailed modern treatments of bathrooms and kitchens. Including a delightful introduction by Tony Cohen about the history of tile-making in Mexico, plus installation tips and a resource guide, Mexican Tiles is both a fascinating initiation and a practical guide to this key element of Mexican style and design.

Customer Reviews:

A Great Tile Summary.......2006-02-28

I'm in the process of building on the Maya Riviera so this isn't a book read for fun. This is real research looking for real ideas. Building in Spanish Colonial style can't be done without some incorporation of Mexican Tiles. This book is basically 90% pictures and 10% background and history of Mexican Tiles. The background write-up is excellent and gives good history of Talavera and Talavera-Style Tiles. Then it's on to different uses, floors, kitchens, bathrooms, walls and stairs, and patios and gardens.

I'm very simple in the colors I like in homes so these tiles can be "over the top". This book has a lot of these type pictures. It has more tile usage than I've ever seen on exteriors. The kitchen section has huge tile usage but I've seen more attractive usage in other books.

Overall, I did not get any ideas I will definitely use but I did get a different perspective on tile usage. There are definitely pictures I will take back to discuss with my architect and designer which may be incorporated. This book can be consumed in an hour. But it may take many hours of review going over the pictures again and again.

A bit of a let down........2006-01-18

I love Mexican tiles but I felt the book was a bit of a let down. The pictures were a bit small and there wasn't enough information about tilemaking in the book. I think the book would have been much more effective in a larger format where the tiles would have been more impressive. There are some wonderful talavera tile websites on the net for anyone who wants a better overview.

Great content.......2005-08-02

Book has great ideas. Wish it had been hardback. Book binding, does not want to hold together, considering the wear and tear it shall receive. This is also a great book.

AWESOME!!! Fulfilled ALL my expectations!.......2003-04-12

After I bought Masako Takahasi and her husband Tony Cohen's book "Mexicolor", I thought no other book I purchased would EVER compare to that experience. When I discovered "Mexican Tiles", I opened it with fear and trepidation, hoping against all hope, yet hardly daring to believe that it could be even half as good as their first.

But this book is AWESOME!! I think I finally figured out why, after reading Tony Cohen's book "On Mexican Time": these people simply ADORE Mexico, and it comes through in everything they do. All of the wonder and breathless anticipation and teary-eyed beauty that I feel and am so hopelessly unqualified to express when I am either in Mexico or adding to my collection of artesania, Tony vividly portrays in his prose and Masako captures with her camera.

Book Description

$21.95 hardcover * 1-58685-032-6 * March 8-1/2 x 8-1/2 in, 96 pp, 135 Color Photographs, Rights: W, Design In their sixth book, Mexican Details, designers Karen Witynski and Joe P. Carr travel through Mexico and the Southwest in celebration of the character-rich details of Mexican furniture, architectural elements, and handcrafted accents that resonate with beauty and originality. From chip-carved benches and hand-hewn tortilla tables to painted trunks and carved-stone moldings, the soulful nature of Mexican design abounds. Decorative accents include intricately woven textiles, glazed ceramics, wooden masks, and folk art objects that bear evidence of the hands that crafted them. Carr and Witynski reveal in vibrant detail how mesquite doors can be newly fashioned into console and coffee tables, iron window grilles are converted to headboards, and stone water filters blossom as flower planters. These once-utilitarian elements take on creative new roles in modern-day homes, adding beauty and character to every corner. Featuring brilliant close-up photographs by Witynski, Mexican Details is alive with creative and fresh Mexican elements.

Customer Reviews:

ideas.......2005-07-25

I have just bought a house in Mexico, and find this book most inspirational for my remodelling work and for any future building! Super authentic ideas.

I Love this book!!.......2004-11-25

I have checked out as many interior design books on Mexican style as I could find and being a researcher by profession that was a lot. This is my favorite--the colors of the rooms are warm and vibrant and exactly what I had envisaged in my mind's eye. I loved each page and would recommend buying this if you had to pick just one on this subject.

Average customer rating:

Mexican Interiors
Verna Cook Shipway , and Warren Shipway
Manufacturer: Architectural Book Publishing Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

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

General | Interior Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0803801599

Book Description

How individual pieces may be used to enhance and embellish entire rooms.

Mexican Style: Creative Ideas for Enhancing Your Space

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Mexican Style: Creative Ideas for Enhancing Your Space
Peter Aprahamian
Manufacturer: Universe Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

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
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ASIN: 0789304023
Release Date: 2000-09-30

Book Description

The Mexican Style Source Book explores the distinctive architecture of Mexico: from haciendas to columns and arches to palapas. Interiors focus on the textures and materials, including wood, metal, leather, paper, fiber, tiles, ceramics, silver, and stonework. Featured patterns include floral, pictorial, religious, symbolic, and stone relief.

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Mexican Country Style
An Interesting read with subtle photographs
Mexican Country Stlye
The definitive book on Mexican country decor!
A Stylish Presentation on Style

Mexican Country Style
Karen Witynski , and Joe P. Carr
Manufacturer: Gibbs Smith Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

Furniture | Antiques & Collectibles | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

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

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Folk Art | Schools, Periods & Styles | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0879058145

Book Description

$19.95 gatefold paper * 1-58685-255-8 * April 8 1/2 x 10 in, 160 pp, 140 Color Photographs, 30 Black & White Photographs, Rights: W, Design Now in paperback, Mexican Country Style is the classic that helped launch the popular Mexican design revival. Authors Karen Witynski and Joe P. Carr navigated coastal villages and old colonial mining towns by bus and burro, bumping down narrow cobblestone streets in search of simple and utilitarian elements like country tables, workbenches, storage trunks, corral gates, and heavy old doors. Intrigued by the diversity they encountered, the authors documented the wide variety in style, design, and shape of each object they encountered. Weathered coffee mortars, milking stools shaped like animals, and sculptured sugar molds reflect a rich local history as well as the ingenuity of the hands that crafted them. Mexican Country Style is the result of those fascinating journeys and boundless discoveries, a celebration of a rugged, romantic beauty and magical antiquity that continues to make its way into the contemporary interiors, gardens, and commercial settings across the country. Award-winning authors Karen Witynski and Joe P. Carr have been at the forefront of the Mexican design movement for over twenty-five years as interior designers and antiques dealers. Their Mexican design book series includes six titles: Mexican Country Style, The New Hacienda, Casa Adobe, Adobe Details, Casa Yucatan, and Mexican Details. Based in Austin, Texas, Carr and Witynski are the owners of Texture Antiques, an interior design firm and gallery specializing in hacienda style, Mexican colonial furniture, and architectural elements. Their design work has been featured in Architectural Digest, House Beautiful, and dozens of other magazines and newspapers. Individually, Witynski photographs homes and gardens for national publications and Carr is a hacienda consultant and furniture designer.

Customer Reviews:

Mexican Country Style.......2005-09-26

Nice book, but more of a reference book than help in design.

An Interesting read with subtle photographs .......2005-08-14

I was looking for a coffee table type, picture book to flip through for inspiration for a "themed" project. This book has beautiful, quite subtle, photographic illustrations. Not as over the top as I had thought I wanted. But it is the writing of the authors that delight! Once I settled down and read the text I realised that it had a lot to teach me. A thoughtfully written and illustrated book which has positively influenced me and exceeded my initial expectations!

Mexican Country Stlye.......2003-05-26

Mexican Country Style was received as a a Christmas gift in December, 2000. Originally used as a "coffee-table" book, once I started to read the descriptions with each photograph I was hooked. Not only will you be able to navigate the architectural terminology like a pro, you will also get a glimpse of the past as only a tourist does when he travels with a guide from the area. Joe and Karen's personal travels' are documented with breathtaking color photos and detailed accounts of their visits into the heart of Mexico. Once you begin reading the book, you will not want to put it down until the very last page!! Mexican Country Style is a great read and an educational journey for the soul.

The definitive book on Mexican country decor!.......2000-05-05

Beautifully photographed with a pallete of colors that invite you to decorate a small space or an entire home. Mexican Country Style is the definitive volume for those of us who seek southwestern/south of the border interior design, furnishings and accessories. Sumptuous photos that invite you to sit down with a margarita and explore this comfort feel decorating style. Authors, Witynski and Carr, have an enthusiastic love and flare for this style decorating and this book showcases their skills.

A Stylish Presentation on Style.......1999-12-15

With the proliferation of websites offering Mexican furniture, it has become difficult to tell the real from the ersatz - and especially when it comes to antique furniture, and in the colonial style. The authors have taken all of the doubt out of the search process through an amazing inventory of furniture, accessories, and hints for discovering provenance. It's a must-read for those considering furnishing and decorating their homes in the Mexican style.

It is also an important companion volume to Mexicolor; and to those years-ago titles published by Architectural Publishing.

Amazon.com

This is a lavish picture book, meant to inspire and delight the reader with the vibrant colors of Mexican architecture, design, home furnishing, art, and artifact. Mexico is color incarnate, and Amanda Holmes's gorgeous full-color photographs bear this out graphically and spectacularly, showcasing everything from grand architectural facades to tiny decorating touches that enliven a corner; bring life to a small, dark room; or pull the brilliance of the sun indoors. Mexican culture uses color to dramatic effect in textiles, clothing, homes, markets, contemporary and folk art, interior design, and modern and ancient architecture. The author calls Mexico "the resting place of the rainbow," and the vibrant pictures and lively text of this beautiful book prove her right! --Mark A. Hetts

Customer Reviews:

rich and warm walls of color.......2001-08-04

"Mexico, a resting place for the rainbow" writes essayist Elena Poniatowska in this book centered on the subject of color. What makes the wonderful photographs by Amanda Holmes special and interesting is her way of seeing through the camera lens...in close-ups and unique angles. Categorized into themes, chapter # 1 is "The New World", with the fabulous wall paintings at Cacaxtla and Teotihuacan. # 2: "People of the Sun" focuses on some beautiful churches, as well as a few walls and doors. # 3: "A Sky Blue Balcony", has close-ups of brilliantly hued walls, balconies and building details. # 4: "The Brown Madonna", has everything from church niches to marketplace candies and more muli-colored walls. # 5: "The Space of Light", on modern Mexican architecture, and the colors that bring so much warmth to its clean, stark lines...with some of my favorite combinations, like apple green and bright pink...and that deep yellow that contrasts so well with the blues and aquas.

The essays that are with these photographs are interesting and strangely poetic. At first I found the writing somewhat peculiar, then realized it's translated from the Spanish (by Aurora Camacho de Schmidt) in an almost literal manner...but once you get into the rhythm of it, is excellent.

This hardback edition seems bigger than 160 pages because of its weight, with good quality thick pages, it's a sturdy volume. This book is much more about color than it is about Mexico, and for those of us who love color, it's a satisfying volume.

Colorful Fun!.......2000-08-12

Oh, this book was fun to look at. Looking at the ever so daring colored homes brings a sence of jealousy..Why can't I do that :-)but this book is for entertaining, not for educating. It has lovely photos, great colors of bulidings and walls. Text does accompany the photos mind you, if gives you a brief background to the style, but When you are going to paint your porch orange, and your stairs blue, and your walls exterior fushia, do you need an explaination?? Have some fun!

disappointing.......2000-03-21

If you enjoy beautiful photography for its own sake, this book is gorgeous; but if you want to see photographs of Mexican houses, interiors and folkcrafts, save your money. A big disappointment.

Color en Mexico.......2000-01-23

The pictures are great but I wanted the English version - how can I get that? You do not indicate which language it is written in on your order form. I have seen the English version and assumed that this was what I had ordered. I will be returning this one (in spanish) - how can I get an English version

Color en Mexico.......2000-01-23

Mexican Interiors: Art, Design & Decoration

Average customer rating:

Vanity Publication

Mexican Interiors: Art, Design & Decoration

Manufacturer: Arquitectos Editores Mexicanos
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

Reference | Architecture | Professional & Technical | 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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ASIN: 9685336016

Customer Reviews:

Vanity Publication.......2005-09-07

Be forewarned that this is a vanity publication -- primarily an advertisement for the firms showcased. It is very slickly done with good quality photos -- but many of the same photos are repeated among a small number of projects or homes throughout the "Mexican Interiors" series by this same publisher. The copy is minimal and more rightly "captions." If the price were commensurate with the value, it could be a good buy. But in my opinion it's way overpriced for what it is.

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