Barbara Westbrook: Gracious Rooms - Tapa dura

"It's always exciting when a Southern designer, especially one from my hometown, has a monograph of work published. I think this book will raise Barbara's profile on the national design stage." -Garden & Gun "[Barbara Westbrook: Gracious Rooms] will leave you insprired by her know-how." -Traditional Home "It's a gorgeous representation of her work, titled Gracious Rooms, which is so apt given her level of sophistication and timeless point of view. The designer's talent for melding edgy patina and antiques with classically tailored elegance is showcased in the images I'm using to illustrate this post so you can see for yourself how adept she is at intermingling styles and periods." -Improvateur.com "Westbrook is one of those gracious designers - who creates pretty homes, classic rooms, and beautiful spaces. In fact, her book is named: Gracious Rooms - which is the perfect title." -Cote de Texas "This is a book that is poised to grace every elegant coffee table, book shelf or library no matter the reader's prefered style." -The Entertaining House "Rich with advice, inspiration, and classically inspired Southern charm, Gracious Rooms treats readers to a visual feast of more than 10 light-filled homes, including lake retreats, contemporary homes and historic mansions." -Atlanta Homes and Lifestyles "Step into style with nearly a dozen different Southern homes that pair classic pieces with modern comfort." -Southern Lady "Her expertise and working with venerable talents such as Nancy Braithwaite and Gandy-Peace have earned her a style now compared to Chanel's little black dress: effortlessly elegant, comfortably tailored and always classic." -CultureMap.com (Houston) "Interior designer Barbara Westbrook--based in the South, the epicenter of charm and hospitality--knows a thing or two about creating a welcoming space. In her new book, Barbara Westbrook: Gracious Rooms, she surveys ten eclectic residences and shares her principles for gracious living." -ARCHITECTURAL DIGEST

In her first book, the South's most inviting designer explores her principles for creating a beautiful home rich with comfort and warmth. Barbara Westbrook has been designing classically inspired homes full of Southern charm and a European touch for more than twenty years. A native of Virginia, Westbrook grew up accompanying her mother to antique shops and was introduced by her to Virginia's rich architectural legacy. With a design vocabulary that ranges from casual American to formal English to French modern, Westbrook's homes share a welcoming elegance, whether it is a country cottage or a penthouse apartment. In Gracious Rooms, she sets out her principles for creating a house rich with both polish and patina. Walking the reader through a dozen stunning homes-light-filled lake retreats, contemporary houses, and historic mansions-Westbrook shares her accessible, appealing ideas. From the judicious use of symmetry to the importance of including natural elements in a room, utilizing colour to unify spaces within a house, and setting a mood with materials, Gracious Rooms is rich with advice and inspiration.