OUT EAST - HOUSES AND GARDENS of the HAMPTONS

If you have an appreciation for beautiful homes and the Hamptons, this brand new release from Vendome Press is a must for your personal library. From the stunning cover from photographer Tria Giovan to the "inside story" by Jennifer Ash Rudick, you will savor every page. So many beautiful properties are featured in this visual "vacation" accompanied by fascinating textual background on them all.

Beautiful, classic interiors are pictured as well as artsy, contemporary spaces.

The Hamptons hold some of America's most beautiful landscapes and "Out East" highlights many of them. Most definitely a feast for the eyes!

What a charming dining room.....replete with Frances Elkin's classic loop chairs, a favorite design of mine.

Interior design, architecture and landscape design enthusiasts will be thrilled to find many familiar names and industry hard-hitter's homes and projects included.

While it's an impossible to encapsulate the depth of beauty and information in this brief review, I hope that this small sampling will whet your palate for the 325 page feast that is "Out East"!

A HOUSE IN THE COUNTRY

Fall is my favorite time of year, even though here in Florida we don't get any Fall colors, but the humidity does begin to lift as the rainy season abates. Another nice perk is that all of the new design/decor books come out. "House In The Country" is one of these long-awaited titles from Vendome Press that is debuting. Famed architect/designer husband/wife team Peter Pennoyer and Katie Ridder have spent decades designing for their lucky clients, but this is the story of how they built their very own dream house in Millbrook, NY.

Far from cookie-cutter generic-ness (my made-up word), they used their unique talents and erudite tastes to create a truly unique home and garden (Katie is quite the horticulturist) for their family. A refreshing departure from the status quo and the visually constipating boredom of American mass marketing trends for architecture and decor.

This is one of my favorite rooms in the 227 page book. Lush photos by interiors photographer Eric Piasecki and text by contributing author Anne Walker are a treat. You will be transported to Millbrook for a delightful tour and backstory on this gem of a Greek Revival-inspired house and its' grounds.

PALM BEACH CHIC

This room with gorgeous lattice-work detail is just one example of hundreds of sumptuous color photos in the sparkling new Vendome Press volume "Palm Beach Chic" by Jennifer Ash Rudick with photos by Jessica Klewicki Glynn.  This book is chock-full of eye candy and gives some of the best examples of Palm Beach's diverse style I have seen yet.

Pretty sweet view at designer Lisa Perry's oceanfront residence

If you're a fan of Palm Beach Style or beautiful books in general, you will be very glad to acquire this truly beautiful book. Featuring both stellar interiors and breathtaking outdoor shots, it does a fine job of encapsulating Palm Beach style both old and new.

Over 300 pages of lush photos and descriptive text, this would make a perfect gift for a loved one or a great acquisition for your very own design library.

ROWING BLAZERS

This new release from Vendome Press was fascinating from both a sartorial and athletic perspective. Having never rowed myself and having limited exposure to the lengthy tradition, I learned a lot from reading this.  I guess I never had considered the roots of the "blazer" and how it came to be in both England and America.

Rowing has a rich tradition and the author of "Rowing Blazers", champion rower Jack Carlson covers a lot of history of the sport AND the dress as well. It's not just a pretty picture book (though it IS visually very pleasing) for preppy coffee tables - you will definitely learn a good deal!

With principal photography by F.E. Castleberry, this is a richly illustrated tome that will make a nice edition to your library or a great gift for a lover of rowing, fashion, history or all three.  I also got a kick out of the fact that the cover photo shows a champion rower in the blazer of my Dad's alma mater. Pretty cool!

MARKHAM ROBERTS

Vendome Press kindly sent me a copy of decorator Markham Robert's new book "Decorating - The Way I See It" and I relished curling up in my armchair and leisurely perusing the pages.  Markham has a phenomenal eye and a real gift for both color and creating lively interiors with a twist on the traditional, while curating a timeless quality to his designs.

With over 260 pages and 300 color illustrations, this recent release will inspire you and delight your eyes.

Markham began his career working for the reknowned and well-esteemed Mark Hampton, a legend in American style and design and his influence is recognizable in Markham Robert's own style.

Be sure and add this to your gift or reading list - it's sure to be a classic for years to come and you won't be disappointed!