October 2007

Houses: Inside and Out

Author: Himes Gomez, Mariette

Format: Hardcover

ISBN: 0061124222

ISBN13: 9780061124228

Trim: 8 x 10

Pages: 256

Illustrations: color photos throughout

Release Date: 10/10/2007

Price: $39.95 / $49.95 Can.
Territory: W

SYNOPSIS

“A house is an idea, a house is a thing, a house is you, a tangible embodiment of your dreams and desires and interests. Your house has its own personality and continuity and unity. Its parts come together as your home.”

And so Mariette Himes Gomez introduces us to the philosophy and aesthetic of Houses, the stunning follow-up to her phenomenal design debut, Rooms. As the award-winning interior designer explains, a house becomes a home only when it is infused with personal touches; when its individual parts flow together logically; and when it assumes a warm and welcoming character. Gomez begins by inviting us to consider the many elements that unify a house. We watch as she unfolds every detail—from the doors, fireplaces, and staircase, to the more conceptual elements of balance, color, and movement— revealing how each factor contributes to a home’s overall aesthetic, and how each can be controlled to create a certain effect. She then provides practical guidelines for building, buying, or renovating the perfect home for you.

Houses illustrates:

• The natural order of houses: how space, hierarchies, geography, and scale work together
• The relation of rooms to house: how to create movement and harmony in your overall design
• Stories, treasures, and memorabilia: how to place art, mirrors, and other personal touches for best results
• Conceal and reveal: control privacy and light through the effects of windows, doors, architecture, and lighting
• The character of rooms and their place in the house: how to choose a suitable layout for a new kitchen or children’s room
• Amenities: how to include those necessary extras, from the family room to the luxurious home theater
• The plan: how to craft a budget that works for you

Complementing Gomez’s invaluable advice are stunning photographs of the interiors, exteriors, and details of breathtaking homes. The definitive guide for every design-minded home buyer, builder, or renovator, Houses illuminates the world of possiblity that opens up to you when you create your own home.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Interior designer Mariette Himes Gomez has been at the forefront of her profession for more than twenty-five years. In 1975, she opened her own Manhattan firm, Gomez Associates, which is known for very livable rooms with clean lines and clear architectural definition. She was named one of the House Beautiful Giants of Design in 2004 and honored as a Dean of American Design by Architectural Digest in 2005. Gomez’s work has been widely published in Architectural Digest, House Beautiful, the New York Times, and Town and Country. Her line of furniture, the Mariette Himes Gomez Collection for the Hickory Chair Company, is available in stores throughout the country and in her own store, The Shop in New York City. Also the author of the bestselling Rooms, she lives in New York City and Long Island, New York.