Uploaded February 2019 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Decorating a home tends to make the eyes glaze or the adrenaline flow: there's lamentably little between. For aficionados, however, there's nothing more inspiring than other people's work; and in this highly imposing tome, the doyenne of decorative blogging, Jennifer Boles, has pulled off a unique achievement, boiling down a daunting choice to what she deems to be the 100 top designers of the past century, with commensurate illustrations.
And her selection is exemplary.
In pocket biographies, a page apiece, led by her personal favourite, Albert Hadley (whose concept for Brooke Astor's memorable library was shamelessly poached by your correspondent, three houses ago, to resounding success at the time), famous names such as Billy Baldwin, David Hicks and Cecil Beaton are joined by relative newcomers like Alexa Hampton and Michael Smith. There are inevitable omissions - Tom Parr springs instantly to mind - but if the author's task was unenviable, the results are quite the reverse.
In such chapters as "The Big Six", "A Century of Women", "The Influencers", and "The English Masters", we have as elegant a parade of professionals as ever graced the pages of the glossies. We also have one of the more handsome examples of the genre, splendidly printed and bound (and designed).
In the meantime, for those who have yet to explore it, Ms. Boles' blog, The Peak of Chic, which is now well into its 13th year, remains an indispensable source of inspiration, design and decorative history, some of it visible in the house where these lines are written; and for those whose appetite is whetted by this book, the individual designers included can be explored in much greater detail therein, along with many another.
In the meantime, hats off to Ms. Bowles. A notable achievement by any standards. And hers are high.
More decoration and design video book reviews at:
bookreviewsandvideos.com/category/design-book-reviews
Decorating a home tends to make the eyes glaze or the adrenaline flow: there's lamentably little between. For aficionados, however, there's nothing more inspiring than other people's work; and in this highly imposing tome, the doyenne of decorative blogging, Jennifer Boles, has pulled off a unique achievement, boiling down a daunting choice to what she deems to be the 100 top designers of the past century, with commensurate illustrations.
And her selection is exemplary.
In pocket biographies, a page apiece, led by her personal favourite, Albert Hadley (whose concept for Brooke Astor's memorable library was shamelessly poached by your correspondent, three houses ago, to resounding success at the time), famous names such as Billy Baldwin, David Hicks and Cecil Beaton are joined by relative newcomers like Alexa Hampton and Michael Smith. There are inevitable omissions - Tom Parr springs instantly to mind - but if the author's task was unenviable, the results are quite the reverse.
In such chapters as "The Big Six", "A Century of Women", "The Influencers", and "The English Masters", we have as elegant a parade of professionals as ever graced the pages of the glossies. We also have one of the more handsome examples of the genre, splendidly printed and bound (and designed).
In the meantime, for those who have yet to explore it, Ms. Boles' blog, The Peak of Chic, which is now well into its 13th year, remains an indispensable source of inspiration, design and decorative history, some of it visible in the house where these lines are written; and for those whose appetite is whetted by this book, the individual designers included can be explored in much greater detail therein, along with many another.
In the meantime, hats off to Ms. Bowles. A notable achievement by any standards. And hers are high.
More decoration and design video book reviews at:
bookreviewsandvideos.com/category/design-book-reviews
