Product Description

Renowned interior designer John Saladino reveals his design secrets in this superb two-part book. He first addresses those perennial design problems that preoccupy us all: how to pare away unnecessary details to create order and balance; how to imbue a room with that timeless quality; how to link a series of rooms so that each flows naturally into the next; how to control large space, giving it intimacy; how to make the most of natural light; and how to use colour best. He acknowledges the influence of world-famous interiors and gardens and translates their principles into ideas within reach of everyone. The second part of the book focuses on Saladino's most impressive creations, from a city apartment in New York to a West Coast retreat. These locations pull together all the various strands of Saladino's design principles and represent a grand finale to the book. Also included are Saladino's own floor plans as well as a fold-out view of his house and garden in Connecticut.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #162181 in Books
• Published on: 2002-08-30
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 208 pages

About the Author
John Saladino is one of the world's most distinguished and respected interior designers. This is his first book.

Customer Reviews

Elegant
This book is packed with beautiful interiors, helpful tips and information for everyone who is interested in design and in decorating a home that is both chic and inviting. It probably will be difficult to replicate these rooms in the average home, but the ideas from these rooms provide wonderful guidelines and inspiration.

I will be keeping this book in my personal library to use as reference.

Gorgeous Style - Satisfying Substance
As a budding designer, I purchased this book in order to gain a more intimate look at one very gifted man's inspirations and approach to design. This book delivers the goods on two levels. Saladino's insights are personal, insightful and educational, and the accompanying photos are spectacular. There aren't any "tricks of the trade" here, but what you will find are the foundational principals behind Saladino's definition of good design. Be forewarned - Like any great artist, Saladino has some strong opinions. But that is exactly why I bought the book. I was looking for his thoughts and his opinions - I was not looking for a "Design 1-2-3" book. His book has helped me further advance my own personal design approach (which is not a clone of Saladino's), and take my art to a new level. I would recommend the book to those who either love Saladino's look, or those who want to explore some deeper issues about style, design and inspiration.

A Wonderful Picture Book - But Read the Text
John Saladino is often referred to as the "designer's designer" and I have followed with pleasure his designs from the 1980s through until today. I have also had the pleasure of visiting more than one Saladino interior and showhouse room on multiple occasions, as well as his showroom in New York, and can say with certainty that the images in the book don't begin to capture what they are in reality and how important the quality of light is on the materials selected. While I was a little disappointed with the way the images appear in this book (the paper stock doesn't seem conducive to showing the interiors at their best compared to glossy magazines), I have seen many of the same rooms in truly glossy publications many a time and they are stunning and always refreshing for their bold and assured mixing of antique and ornate with simple and modern (and if the negative reviewer below read the text he would know that Mr. Saladino appreciates objects for their beauty no matter their pedigree -- even simple things that aren't expensive mixed with long time precious treasures [one of his design signatures found again and again, for instance, is to use scientific volumetric flasks used as long-necked vases with a single delphinium -- total price, about $13-$26, including the flower]). Thumb through and enjoy the pictures, but also read the text and you will get an education in design like nowhere else, and be able to apply it to your own space and life and even the way you see. I was somewhat underwhelmed with the images (again due to the dullish paper stock) but the text was wonderfully informed (and didn't come off as snobbish at all to this reader). If you can find old issues of Architectural Digest (in which Saladino NEVER appears anymore for years and years, probably because he didn't kiss up to Paige Rense and often shows his interiors in competitors House Beautiful, House & Garden, etc.) you are in for a treat, but better still, in this book you're in for an education.