A house by the sea should be a house of dreams. Where windows and doors are thrown open to the ocean, and gusts of cool, salty air turn us all into kids again -- buoyant and joyful.

Spending childhood days on the beach and in the magical, romantic chaos of her family's rambling house internationally renowned interior designer Celerie Kemble has a deep-rooted connection to the sun and surf. However, in the summer of 2004, Kemble laid eyes on a wild swath of jungle in the Dominican Republic next to minty-blue water and an endless stretch of golden sand, she fell madly in love. Over many years, she designed a home away from home there, an island retreat -- a clubhouse and a grouping of family homes and guesthouses -- suffused with light and air, full of indoor and outdoor rooms for relaxation. In her latest book, Island Whimsy, Kemble recounts the deeply personal and creative journey of designing Playa Grande and bringing this labor of love to life.

The chapters of this book are organized around the different ways Kemble sought to braid her family's story into the larger landscape of Playa Grande and to provide inspiration, joy, and respite to all who come. "Fantasy" looks at the way she used whimsical, dreamlike elements -- from the latticework cabanas by the pool to the lamb statues on the property who "mow" the lawns -- throughout the property to create a sense of play and possibility. "Light, Salt, Air" describes how she went about bringing the most precious elements of the beach into the homes themselves, creating a feeling of flow and permeability, and reminding visitors constantly of where they are. "In the Jungle" looks at the design cues she took from the flora and fauna of the tropical rainforest surrounding Playa Grande to create an alluring tension between chaos and refinement. "Sweet & Dark" examines the surprising color combinations that tango into life in the tropics -- whether in the form of tribal prints in hot Gauguin colors mixed with Jordan-almond pastels or handmade objects like a papier-mâché lobster mask that brings a shout of spirit to a room. Finally, "Texture" focuses on the powerful impact that thoughtfully layered materials -- from rough, local coquina stone and painted antique wicker to the smooth polished cotton of Dutch wax prints -- have on a space. 

Throughout this lovingly crafted book, ideas abound for anyone decorating a sunny home or fantasizing about spending time in one. Kemble shares inspiration for creating a sense of openness to the sea, sand, and sky; offering places to wash sandy feet or perfect viewing spots for a sunset-saturated drink; and infusing spaces with invitation, welcome, and magic.

About the Author:

Celerie Kemble is a partner in Kemble Interiors, Inc., a decorating firm founded in 1982. Celerie has been featured in Architectural Digest (including as an AD100 Designer), Elle Décor (where she is a perennial member of the A-List), House Beautiful, Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, The Wall Street Journal, Town & Country, Veranda, and more. Her previous design books include To Your Taste and Black & White (and a Bit in Between). She lives between Palm Beach and New York with her three children.

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Пролистать книгу Island Whimsy: Designing a Paradise by the Sea

This first book on Casamidy's residences and interior design projects showcases their casual and refreshing cosmopolitan style. Their unique products, featuring Latin American artistry mixed with a global sophistication, have a devoted following among design aficionados.

An arresting mix of artisanal, old, and contemporary furnishings is the hallmark of Casamidy’s vibrant and cheerful interiors. For the design duo of Casamidy, Jorge Almada and Anne-Marie Midy, creativity is a way of life that is reflected in their designs, a fusion of their French and Mexican heritages. They show how to incorporate artisanal objects and treasured family heirlooms to orchestrate vivid and dramatic surroundings. This inspiring book showcases their homes and other projects in urban and country settings that illustrate their appealing bohemian aesthetic.

About the Author:

Jorge Almada and Anne-Marie Midy are the founders of Casamidy, a highly publicized contemporary furnishings company in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, which began in 1998. Their work has been published in leading lifestyle magazines, among them Elle Decor, Vogue, and World of Interiors.

Black and white décor is at once dramatic and understated, modern and classic, apparent in the work of iconic designers such as Dorothy Draper and Madeleine Castaing but just as present in design today. And the inspiration is all around us — from nature (a zebra’s stripes, tree trunks rising from drifts of snow) to old Hollywood movies and fashion to black-and-white photography and patterns we encounter in our everyday lives (crossword puzzles and the pages of our favorite novels). 

In Black and White (and a Bit in Between), acclaimed interior designer Celerie Kemble trades in her signature vivid palette for this iconic aesthetic, highlighting the black and white work of design stars and peers, including Bunny Williams, Thomas O’Brien, Mary McDonald, Victoria Hagan, Mark Hampton, Delphine Krakoff, Brad Ford, Philip Gorrivan, Carrier and Co., and Miles Redd, and welcoming you into more than 100 spaces in every imaginable aesthetic. Woven throughout are her witty observations and expert advice on choosing the best paints and finishes, adding patterns and accessories, building an entire room scheme based on inspiration found in nature, collecting black and white objects, and even choosing the perfect accent colors. 

With more than 350 gorgeous color photographs, this is a vividly photographed celebration of a timeless scheme, infused with inspirational tips, glimpses into showstopping homes, and proof that a limited palette is anything but.

About the Author:

Celerie Kemble is a principal in Kemble Interiors, a design firm cofounded by her mother, Mimi McMakin. Celerie has been featured in almost every major design magazine and has been listed for more than ten years in House Beautiful’s annual “Top Designers” list. She was chosen by Elle Decor as a top female designer in their first “Women in Design” issue. In 2010 she was selected by Benjamin Moore to appear as a home design expert in a national advertising campaign and she has been featured by J.Crew as a trendsetter and tastemaker.