Michael Smith Elements of Style

By Diane Dorrans Saeks and Michael S. Smith

Book Overview

Acclaimed designer Michael Smith has earned a reputation as the thinking celebrity's decorator, with a client list that includes Cindy Crawford, Kate Capshaw, Steven Spielberg, Dustin Hoffman, and Michelle Pfeiffer. Pairing lush interiors with dynamic insider advice, Michael Smith's Elements of Style beautifully captures the essential building blocks of good interior design. Smith covers in depth the most common decorating decisions everyone faces: working with color, selecting the right paint, choosing window treatments and floor coverings, creating a luxurious bed, and building a furniture collection over time. Illustrated with stunning color photography, including a dozen homes presented in depth to demonstrate how rooms work alone and together, the book also includes practical sidebars on learning how to buy antiques and attend auctions, how to ready your home for sale, and how to create a house that can evolve over time. This invaluable, idea-filled resource is about polished, fresh design that is both aspirational and attainable.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0847827623
• ISBN13: 9780847827626
• Release Date: November 2005
• Publisher: Rizzoli International Publications
• Length: 212 Pages
• Weight: 3.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 9.7" x 11.7"

Customer Reviews

Sophisticated style

This book is perfect for the advanced home owner or individuals who have developed a mature and sophisticated style. I find myself returning again and again to the advice of Michael Smith. The more I know about design the more I appreciate his unstructured yet very elegant and extremely discerning method of putting a home together. A terrific resource from a very talented designer!!!

Gorgeous coffee table book full of inspiration

Michael S. Smith has been my favorite designer for a few years. I fell in love w/ the interiors he created for Cindy Crawford in Manhattan and Brentwood and also the home of Brian Grazer. Admittedly, some of the homes featured in the book are more staid examples of his work, and not as youthful and fresh as some of his interiors, but lovely and classic nonetheless. For pure Michael S. Smith eye candy, check out Cindy's new Malibu beach home, featured in Elle Decor (March 2006, I believe). Sheer design perfection!

Excellent Buy

The Images in Elements of Style are breathtaking, and the writing quite entertaining. An excellent choice for anyone who is a fan of Michael Smith. A wonderful book to display, or reference for inspiration.

A Treasure

I love this book. It's another winner from Diane Saeks. It is gorgeous to look at and highly informative. The interiors are classic and timeless...immaculately constructed. Be they super smart traditional interiors or art filled modern rooms, they convey warmth and intelligence. The resource guide is invaluable. Ms. Saeks writing style is polished and informed as always. I find this book to be a great professional resource...five stars.