The House In Good Taste

In 'The House in Good Taste,' pioneering interior decorator Elsie de Wolfe meticulously demystifies the principles of harmonious living spaces. Written at the apogee of American Gilded Age opulence, de Wolfe's manifesto boldly challenges the prevailing tastes, championing simplicity and functionality long before these became de rigueur. Crafting a lyrical prose that waltzes through her illustrious career's case studies, she offers a seminal masterclass in interior design, underscored by an expressive aesthetic philosophy. Her discourse is both refreshing and grounded, forecasting the shift towards modernist sensibilities in home design and advocating for natural light as a quintessential ingredient for domestic bliss. Renowned as America's first professional interior decorator, Elsie de Wolfe's ethos was shaped by her disdain for the Victorian proclivity for heavy ornamentation and dark, cluttered interiors. Born to a wealthy New York family, her foray into the arts and Parisian society influenced her distinctively anti-Victorian stance on design. This tome encapsulates her professional evolution and fascination with French 18th-century elegance which she elegantly adapts, suggesting its compatibility with the dynamism of modern American living. 'The House in Good Taste' remains an indispensable read for both aficionados and practitioners of design. With Elsie de Wolfe's role as a progenitor of modern interior design, her guidance continues to resonate in contemporary conversations about the aesthetics and functionality of living spaces. This book is thus recommended for those who seek to declutter their lives and refine their habitats with timeless elegance, informed by one of the deftest touchpoints in design history.

Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. We are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.

New York Times Bestseller: Become the hostess everyone wants an invitation from. in this charming guide to entertaining, kate spade new york throws rigid rules out the door and shares unpretentious ideas for the modern-day hostess that are easy, festive, authentic, and always with an air of deliberate polish. filled with how-tos, personal essays, anecdotes, recipes, and a liberal dash of style, all in good taste will transform you into the hostess everyone wants an invitation from. the book covers the essential lost arts—how to shuck an oyster, curate a vibrant guest list, guide a dinner-table discussion—right alongside modern conundrums such as Instagram etiquette at dinner. whether you entertain a little or a lot, or just love being the person everyone wants to sit next to at dinner, all in good taste is the modern classic you’ll treasure for years. Disclaimer: The wine stain on the cover of the book is a design element and is intentional.

Advertised as the "Billion-Dollar Fair," the 1964-1965 New York World's Fair transformed a sleepy park in the borough of Queens into a fantasy world enjoyed by more than 51 million visitors from around the world. While many countries and states exhibited at the fair, the most memorable pavilions were built by the giants of American industry. Their exhibits took guests backward and forward in time, all the while extolling how marvelous everyday life would be through the use of their products. Many of the techniques used in these shows set the standard for future fairs and theme parks, and the pavilions that housed them remain the most elaborate structures ever built for an American fair. The 1964-1965 New York World's Fair showcases the beauty of this international spectacular through rare color photographs, published here for the first time.

Christians frequently come into conflict with themselves and others over such matters as music, popular culture, and worship style. Yet they usually lack any theology of art or taste adequate to deal with aesthetic disputes. In this provocative book, Frank Burch Brown offers a constructive, "ecumenical" approach to artistic taste and aesthetic judgment--a non-elitist but discriminating theological aesthetics that has "teeth but no fangs." While grounded in history and theory, this book takes up such practical questions as: How can one religious community accommodate a variety of artistic tastes? What good or harm can be done by importing music that is worldly in origin into a house of worship? How can the exercise of taste in the making of art be a viable (and sometimes advanced) spiritual discipline? In exploring the complex relation between taste, religious imagination, and faith, Brown offers a new perspective on what it means to be spiritual, religious, and indeed Christian.

"The science of taste and how to improve your sense of taste so that you get the most out of every bite"--

Delves into the personal life of this American designer known for his fantastic interiors and fabulous parties. It takes the reader beneath the surface, into Duquette's social habits and the intimate circle of his accomplished friends.