The Finest Rooms in America by Thomas Jayne (The Monacelli Press, Nov 2010, Hardcover, 207 Pages, Color Photographs) Suggested Retail $50.
When a book makes a claim of showing “The Finest Rooms in America” - I start to worry. Immediately I wonder who is doing the picking, what bias will they bring, and what criteria will they be applying?
But, my fears where just as quickly assuaged once I knew that the curation laid in the capable hands of Thomas Jayne. Jayne, who studied architecture and art history at the University of Oregon, is a graduate fellow in the prestigious Winterthur program, worked for Parish-Hadley and Kevin McNamara before opening his own firm Thomas Jayne Studio in New York, has an impressive and balanced resume. With his experience in interior design, architecture, decoration, history, and the practical requirements needed to practice in the field, Jayne sets about picking spaces and we trust him. His writing is clear and well presented.
The Finest Rooms in America: 50 Influential Interiors from the 18th Century to the Present covers a broad range of American periods and styles, beginning with the Tea Room at Jefferson’s Monticello and continuing to the present, concluding with Albert Hadley’s modern sitting room.
The rooms range from the opulent to rustic; they are traditional and modern and span the breadth of the country. Among those featured are the dressing room at Vizcaya in Miami, the living room at Frank Lloyd Wright’s Hollyhock House in Los Angeles, the dining room at the Saarinen House at Cranbrook Michigan, and the living room by Frances Elkins at Casa Amesti in Monterey, California. Prominent contemporary designers include Bunny Williams, John Saladino and Albert Hadley.
In his essay, Jayne states, “Each room absolutely expresses the decade in which it was created. What is interesting, however, is the rooms don’t look dated, but have a timeless quality.”
Jayne is absolutely correct. The rooms chosen avoid momentary trends and focus on the timeless which is why this book makes a great reference for any interior design professional or interior enthusiast.
The Finest Rooms in America is also one of the finest books of design in recent memory, and is definitely worth your time.
