Today we’re reviewing Living Modern: The Sourcebook of Contemporary Interiors by photographer Richard Powers with text by Phyllis Richardson and published by Thames & Hudson.
Belinda, the lovely Digital Marketing Executive at Thames & Hudson, recommended this book highly for one of our Bookmarks reviews – and we’re very glad that she did!
With over 350 pages this is a proper coffee table tome!
Having said that, it’s not been anywhere near a coffee table of late – with all this amazing April weather, we’ve been sharing it in the garden. It’s been well thumbed this week!
Phyllis Richardson discusses the principles & ideas of what comprises a contemporary living space and the sumptuous photographs taken by Richard Powers illustrate them perfectly.
The book is divided up into 11 main sections – and include headings such as place, materials, furniture, ambiance, function and style. Each is then further broken down – for example under style – you get high rustic, minimal, retro, modern eclectic, new ethnic, mid-century modern and baroque.
She concedes that many houses straddle two or more of these styles – we reckon our taste is some kind of cross between modern eclectic and high rustic with a bit of mid-century modern thrown in!
As you turn each page you’ll be struck down with house envy… furniture envy… and location envy.
The book features a dizzying array of homes from all around the world – an apartment overlooking Central Park in Manhattan, a rainforest hideaway in Brazil, a harbour-side house in Sydney and a chalet in the Austrian Alps.
There’s so much to desire & inspire within its covers. A must have for all fans of architecture and interior design.
We can wholeheartedly & confidently pass on the recommendation that was given to us.
For lots more photos check out the slide-shows below – even that’s still just a small sample!
As well T&H’s own website, you can also get a copy from Amazon or Abe Books.
What does it mean to be modern? It is not strictly a style, but rather an attitude to style, one that is less purist and more creative than you might imagine. To create a modern space is to take in the full panoply of international references, to consider place and climate, form and function, and to invent inspired environments that adapt easily to modern living. – Phyllis Richardson
[Many thanks to Thames & Hudson for supplying this review copy]
OMG… those Heath Ceramic tiles, in mustard, are the ones I've seen and been trying to find ever since… thanks for the heads up, unfortuanely I think they are way out of our price range. 🙁