My Mother's Southern Kitchen: Recipes and Reminiscences

My Mother's Southern Kitchen: Recipes and Reminiscences
Average customer rating:

The best there is!

Great Interpretation of Southern Home Cooking. Recommended

Delicious recipes and funny running commentary along the way

Another "must have" Southern cookbook

Martha Pearl's Cookbook is super. Period.

My Mother's Southern Kitchen: Recipes and Reminiscences
James Villas , and Martha Pearl Villas
Manufacturer: John Wiley & Sons
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Baking | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
South | U.S. Regional | Regional & International | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
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Amazon.com

James Villas' background is an unusual blend of Greek, Swedish and old American South, and this book combines the recipes and often-hilarious cooking tips of his genteel-yet-feisty mama, Martha Pearl (Martha Pearl says: "There's nothing, repeat nothing, worse than a heavy, poorly seasoned, warmed-over hush puppy that's been fried in old fat") with memories of a happy gourmet childhood.

Book Description

In 1994, My Mother's Southern Kitchen first hit the bookshelves, prompting fabulous reviews and great media attention. Now it is back to follow up Jim and Martha's most recent Southern cooking opus, My Mother's Southern Desserts.

My Mother's Southern Kitchen is a priceless collection of the best dishes the South has to offer. With over 150 mouthwatering recipes, Jim and Martha Pearl show you exactly why Southerners know how to eat. From the Southern classics (buttermilk biscuits, red-eye gravy, and hoppin' John) to sinful Southern standardsmacaroni and cheese, fried chicken, and barbecuethis Southern cooking compendium is a must in any kitchen, no matter where it falls along the Mason-Dixon line.

Customer Reviews:

The best there is!.......2006-05-19

Like me, many of you have probably come across stacks of so-called southern cookbooks that are full of non-southern recipes! I was beginning to think that no one had published an accurate accounting of deep south cooking.

Then, I found this book! It is by far the best and most authentic southern cookbook I've ever seen, and I regularly use many of the recipes.

My family and I are from Arkansas, Louisiana, North Carolina, and Texas, and like so many other southerners, we're very particular about getting food just right. After moving out west , I longed to have a greater selection of the southern recipes I enjoyed as a child, but unfortunately, the family cookbook that was passed down to me only contained a limited number of recipes. (Like Villa says, it is typical for southerners to not have recipes written down.)

Anyway, this is a highly recommended book. It won't disappoint!!

Great Interpretation of Southern Home Cooking. Recommended.......2004-07-10

Jim Villas is one of our better cookbook and culinary memoir writers, while remaining a throwback to the likes of James Beard and Craig Claiborne. His affinity to Claiborne is especially strong, as both are unreconstituted Bourbon drinking Southerners who live(d) on Eastern Long Island and wrote for the `Eastern Establishment' publishing powers. Villas' special talent seems to be in recapturing what is most familiar and most comfortable about food for Americans. This is certainly true of his most recent cookbooks `Crazy for Casseroles' and `Biscuit Bliss'. His most recent collection of culinary essays and opinions `Stalking the Green Fairy' brings out this orientation in well written essays, but no book represents his culinary roots and inclinations quite as well as this book, cowritten with his mother.

On the face of it, this book would seem to be a transcription of mother Martha Pearl's little black recipe book into a form which William Morrow can publish and we can read and effectively translate into reproductions of Mrs. Villas favorite dishes. The back story of the book seems to be much more complicated than this, as Mrs. Villas' written recipes were sketchy, poorly handwritten, and done only as an aide d'memoire for someone who cooked almost entirely by experience, and look and feel, just like every other traditional southern cook whose praxis has been memorialized in writing. Thus, Villas had to do anthropology by observing his mother at work and doing his best to estimate amounts from quantities doled out by hand and eye. This too was made difficult by an entirely familiar friendly antagonism between mother and son in the kitchen. A running theme is that Mother Villas and son agree that Jimmy simply could never quite reproduce the quality of his mother's own recipes, in spite of years spent at studying and writing about the world's cuisines. Some of the repartee which documents this antagonism is a little difficult to believe, as when Miss Martha cannot find any `White Lily' or other soft southern flour in Jimmy's East Hampton kitchen with which to make biscuits. I've been cooking regularly for less than three years and I have a regular supply of `White Lily' shipped to the Lehigh Valley from Tennessee like clockwork.

I am glad I am skeptical of Jimmy's inability to reproduce Miss Martha's recipes, as if this were gospel, it would bode ill for your or my ability to make the recipes in this book into something remotely like the jewels which appear on Martha Pearl's North Carolina dinner table. In fact, I think a fairly well practiced cook with average equipment will do quite well with these recipes thank you.

The best things about the collection of recipes in this book are that practically all of the classic southern recipes are represented here and, in spite of the crack about doing anthropology, true practitioners of this cuisine are interpreting the recipes for us. With all due respect to Villas' friend Paula Wolfert, there is no observation and interpretation going on here. This is the real deal, where cook and scribe are part of the culture on which they report.

Just as Italy has it's `oil line' separating the butter from the olive oil cuisines of North and South, I think the Mason-Dixon line could double as the mayonnaise line, as I suspect that beginning in Maryland, sales of Hellmans doubles per capita as you cross each state border from Maryland to the Carolinas. Both Villas are on very safe culinary grounds here, as they typically specify either Hellmans or homemade, AND, the Hellmans brands of mayonnaise are consistent winners in `Cooks Illustrated' taste tests.

Most recipes in this book are fairly easy, although they are typically more picky about some details of method and ingredients than fellow Southerner Paula Deen of Savannah. They are also a lot pickier about the details of method than my own mother whose ideal recipe is Deen's spiral bound church fundraiser cookbook style. Of course, Miss Martha and my mother share a passion for the very freshest corn and tomatoes in season. There are also significant differences between Deen and the Villas in even a basic recipe such as pimento cheese spread. I suspect the Villas' interpretation is more traditional and it is certainly in line with Mother Villas' cardinal rule of not messing around with the taste of the main ingredients by adding a lot of extras. Their recipe for my favorite creamed chipped beef is a good example, as it is almost exactly the same as the recipe from Mississippian Craig Claiborne, but without the addition of Worcestershire sauce.

The recipe chapters fill all the niches you expect in a traditional southern cuisine, including Breakfast and Brunch; Canapes, Appetizers, and Snacks; Soups and Stews; Salads; Meats; Poultry and Game; Seafood; Casseroles; Vegetables; Breads; Desserts; Cookies and Confections; Pickles, Relishes and Preserves; Sauces and Dressings; and Beverages. With the chapter on preserving, the book covers more than most compendia of Southern cooking.

At every turn of the page in this book, I find myself nodding in agreement over choices of methods and ingredients. The use of torn bread pieces in place of breadcrumbs in meat loaf agrees with all my best sources for this delicacy. Patties for frying and doughs for rising are all chilled in the fridge for the righteous length of times to either firm up or relax. Miss Martha does share with Miss Paula the tendency to use canned soup and store-bought croutons in casseroles and such, but the application is judicious. Note that the coverage of the North Carolina speciality, pork barbecue, is a bit light. Do not depend on this book for much smoke work.

I really liked this book. It was a perfect mix of authentic, doable recipes and stories to make them and the authors come to life. Real home cooking with a good read thrown into the bargain.

Delicious recipes and funny running commentary along the way.......2003-04-01

I have spent hours since this book arrived last week just trying to decide which dishes to make first. I ended up making a "Southern" dinner for my Wisconsin mate using the Calabash Cole Slaw and "Brown Paper Bag" BBQ Chicken (I used a Reynolds Hot Bag, thank you!) from this book and Cheddar Cheese Grits from Martha Phelps Stamps' "New Southern Basics" (ISBN # 1581822413 -- another excellent Southern cookbook). It was a big hit and nothing was wasted (next day: grits with breakfast, cole slaw and chicken for lunch!).

As a bonus you get the story behind many of the recipes and running commentary from Villas' mother on many of the recipes. It is clearly a give-and-take mother and son relationship when he says his mother drives him crazy over this or that ingredient and she implies that his version of the family recipe is a little "uppity". She says Jimmy makes his hush puppies with yellow corn meal, but she prefers white. It is both bitchy and sweet at the same time!

I already have my next meal planned from this wonderful book and can recommend it for the cole slaw and BBQ chicken recipes alone - not to mention the lively stories and commentary. Enjoy.

Another "must have" Southern cookbook.......2002-08-28

This is the cookbook I can pull out and count on to produce a wonderful dish every single time. I haven't come across a dud yet. Martha Pearl is delightful (and yes I AM hinting for a dinner invitation) and so are her recipes. The macaroni and cheese is a family favorite that already has stains on the page because I make it so often. The pecan coffee cake is another recipe I have made many times and always get compliments on. I live near Charlotte and keep hoping to run into Jimmy and Martha Pearl picking over the Silver Queen corn at the farmer's market. I would unabashedly tell her what a devoted fan she has made of this transplanted Yankee.

Martha Pearl's Cookbook is super. Period........2000-07-10

Martha Pearl is a spunky wonderful character. More than that, she is a wonderful Southern cook. Her son,James, shares her sense of humor and love of cooking. I adore the way she puts him in his place when he wants to "fuss" with her recipes. I am almost through with the entire cookbook. I have laughed and underlined and referenced. It is a great, wonderful read. Knowing recipes as I do, I can tell you that you can trust this book to give you great food. Don't wait. Don't even put this on your wish list. It's a keeper. Yum

Book Description

The Coca-Cola Santa is a familiar figure at Christmastime. This wonderful book features a history and current secondary market pricing for these traditional holiday collectibles. Includes Coca-Cola Sundblom art, print advertising, trays, bottles/cans, signage, figures, pins, plush and much more.

Customer Reviews:

Everybody's copyright Santa.......2002-04-08

How refreshing to see a beautifully produced collector's book. From my experience publishers that cover this market don't seem to bother with book design, strange really because it costs no more to design well as badly.

This lovely book has hundreds of Coke Santas all presented as cutouts with a drop shadow on every picture to give the impression that they are floating on the page.

Haddon Sundblom created the Coke Santa and every one is included, pages eighteen to forty-two show his paintings from 1932 to 1964, also including the variations he did for some years. The rest of the book has examples of how his work (and others) was used to sell the drink each Christmas season. Chapters are devoted to store cardboard cutouts, advertising, calendars, figurines, dolls and finally miscellaneous Santa collectibles. All the pictures have captions, with a date and a dollar value. Amazingly some of the store free-standing cutouts from the thirties are valued up to $1500, not surprising I guess because how many managers would bother keeping a piece of cardboard promoting a fizzy drink for Christmas.

This book is much better than a previous one I reviewed, 'Dream of Santa' by Barbara Charles, it featured the work of Sundblom and had a well printed picture for each year (except 1941, 57 and 63) but no other advertising material.

If you collect Coke Santas or just like to look at the great man you will enjoy this book.

***FOR AN INSIDE LOOK click 'customer images' under the cover.

Average customer rating:

The "Coca-Cola" Santas

Manufacturer: Wimmer Book Dist
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Antiques & Collectibles | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

'Twas the Night Before Christmas - Featuring a Coca-Cola Santa Tribute

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'Twas the Night Before Christmas - Featuring a Coca-Cola Santa Tribute
Clement Moore
Manufacturer: Hallmark
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Book of Buckskinning II
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MORE USEFUL INFO FOR THE RE-ENACTOR

Book of Buckskinning II
William H. Scurlock
Manufacturer: Scurlock Pub Co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
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Book of Buckskinning

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ASIN: 0960566627

Product Description

In-depth information on recreating life on the American frontier. Expand your enjoyment of living history with chapters including: Horseback Travel, Powder Horns, Canoeing, Camp Gear, Leather Clothing and Gun Tune-Up & Care. Each chapter was written by an experienced and knowledgeable participant in frontier reenacting. Lavishly illustrated with photographs and line drawings.

Customer Reviews:

MORE USEFUL INFO FOR THE RE-ENACTOR.......2002-06-22

Oran Scurlock has done re-enactors everywhere a favor by continuing this series and Vol II contains more useful information, not merely a rehash of what was in the Volume I. A chapter by the late Pat Tearney on working with leather, detailed descriptions and patterns on 18th century clothing, by Beth Gilgun join with other useful and necessary (to the 'buckskinner) details on firemaking, building much of your own gear, and an extremely valuable chapter on tune up and maintance of the flintlock and caplock firearms Re-enacting is loads of fun, and family fun at that, and even is a useful teaching tool, and this book makes it easier to particpate

Book Description

If there is one book that will look elegant on every coffee table this season, this is it. Compiled by the editors of Elle Decor, the definitive voice of good taste, this rich collection of interiorsfrom eclectic and eccentric to classic chiccan inspire every reader looking for a little je ne sais quoi for their home.

Customer Reviews:

A+ Design Book.......2006-06-09

This is a wonderful design resource book. The books shows the homes of some of the design world "greats". It is eclectic and not your run of the mill "pretty" interiors, but offers new directions in ways to think about design.

May Be a good Coffee Table Book.......2006-01-19

I was somewhat disappointed in this book because I was looking for something that would explain the "French Style" of decorating. This is more a book of the homes of Parisian designers, obviously with a lot of money. The rooms in the book are beautifully photographed and I liked the chapter called "Seven Trends for Today." These included brief text and lots of photographs of the Provincial, Provence, Eclectric, Eccentric, Atlantic, Chalet and 1930-40's style trends. There was a brief description of the style trends, but the photos that followed gave good examples.

The remaining two chapters in this book are: Parisian Fashion Designers at Home and Parisian Interior Designers at Home. The problem with this book is the rooms depicted would require someone to have an unlimited budget and/or access to resources for their furnishings.

This book was not helpful in showing the "regular" person how to achieve the French Style in their own home. Most of the text just describes the exquisite items and creations. For example, "A vase- light has been created from minutely worked Venetian glass, and it dominates the sculpted wrought-iron pediment of a play cabinet which was designed by Gilbert Poillerat" which desribes an elaborate vase with flowers out of glass. There were a few rooms where you could probably implement and adapt to be used within your own home, but the "French Style" depicted in these rooms are based on ALL the elements, from the beautiful custom glasswork to the exquisite fabrics and furnishings.

If you are an interior designer who has clients with unlimited funds or are someone with an unlimited budget, you might find this book useful. For those of us who have to stay within a reasonable budget, this is not the book to learn and implement French Style.

What could have elevated this book above 2 stars would have been more informative text on creating the style and not just descriptions of the products and creators of the items in the photographs.

Not What You Are Hoping For!.......2005-03-15

Having several books on French style and French Country style, many showcasing homes in France, this book is a huge disappointment. Few of the rooms are stylish, but rather, well just junky. I was looking forward to another look at French style in France, not just the interpretation of such in America. This is a coffee table book for those who have little design sense.

Elle Decor: Grand Book of French Style.......2005-01-21

I have many books on style and decor, but this is by far one of my favorites. I love that it includes many facets of French style, not just the ubiquitous, American stereotype of what "French" looks like. Chapter headings read: "Provincial," "Atlantic," "Provence," and "Eclectic" (my favorite) to name a few. The back of the book is dedicated to showcasing the homes of a few Parisian fashion and interior designers, an addition that I quite enjoyed. If you're looking to redecorate or just love looking, this book is for you!

French Designers.......2002-03-02

I felt that this book was a nice collection of work by French designers. It depicted various French designers work in various styles. It did not however show French style. This was what I was hoping to see.

Elle Decor's Country Homes: Elegant Weekend Retreats from Around the World

Average customer rating:

Elle Decor's Country Homes: Elegant Weekend Retreats from Around the World
Jean Demachy
Manufacturer: Filipacchi
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Design & Construction | Home Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

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Everyone dreams of owning a country home; a private getaway far from the cares of everyday life customized to fit your ideal lifestyle. Nowadays, more and more people are making that dream come true. Rather than settling for two weeks at a favorite vacation spot, why not incorporate the leisure, beauty and fun of vacation in a home that can be enjoyed year-round for quiet relaxation or to share with family and friends.Within these pages you will find the very best of the best country homes that combine beautiful settings and stunning houses created in harmony with their owners' notions of the perfect refuge. Organized into five distinct categories#151;cottages, stately homes, contemporary style, cabins and Mediterranean style#151;each home exemplifies a pinnacle in design and decorating, whether you're renovating an existing home or building the ideal home to match your particular needs. Over 250 illustrations of fabulous country homes with hundreds of ideas at your fingertips to help you realize the vacation home of your dreams.

Average customer rating:

TOO MUCH
Blan, Cluttered, and Repetative

The Elle Decor Home
Editors of Elle Decor
Manufacturer: Filipacchi
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 2850188093

Book Description

Elle magazine is well known for its trendsetting in the world of fashion. But fashion can, and should, say the editors of this book, extend into living spaces too. Whether it's one room or a whole home that needs spiffing up, The Elle Decor Home offers easy instruction and inspiration. Aimed at both homeowners and renters, and divided into chapters for each room of the house as well as outdoor spaces, this sourcebook teases out the inner decorator, presenting fabulous examples of how to create a beautiful backdrop for living. A wealth of color photos let readers tour high-style interiors by such fashion luminaries as Donna Karan, Calvin Klein, Donatella Versace, Karl Lagerfeld, and Yves Saint Laurent, mixed with images of the homes or ordinary people armed only with taste and imagination. This useful, fun guide shows even reluctant readers how to create a stylish setting out of the most stubborn space.

Customer Reviews:

TOO MUCH.......2007-07-20

TOO MUCH FURNITURE, TOO MUCH COUNTRY, TOO MUCH CLASSIC, I WAS EXPECTING SOMETHING MORE ACTUAL LIKE THE MAGAZINE

Blan, Cluttered, and Repetative.......2007-06-15

This book's content was a terrible disappointment. First of all, the room setups and designs are absolutely unimaginative. The furnishings look like IKEA purchases and the constant repetition of the designs looked repetitive page after page. There is a cheapness in the furnishings that have no art form to them and they appear to be all made by the same guy with a hacksaw and some pine wood. Sorry, it just has no elegance or variation in its approach. I get the feeling I'm in some kind of small studio apartment with furnishings that are attempting to look modern and cutting edge, but ending up being tacky and noisy. The rooms are extremely cluttered, looking more like storage attics than beautiful living quarters. There is no visual invitation for the viewer to find his way into the settings. The color schemes are drone and blan and the textures are all the same. There is so much repetition of the geometric forms of the rectangle, whether in the pillows, sofas, or decor that it becomes boring within the first few pages. Unfortunately, each page is filled with the exact same look and same mono-note style throughout the whole book. The content is not very informative and simply offer quick snippets of info on the designer's names here and there. I am definitely sending this book back because it was absolutely worthless.

Patios and Verandas (Elle Decor Portfolios)

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Patios and Verandas (Elle Decor Portfolios)
Editors of Elle Decor
Manufacturer: Filipacchi
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Design & Construction | Home Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

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The Elle Decor Home

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Book Description

A patio, covered courtyard or veranda marries the flair of interior design with the themes of outdoor life.Here journalists from Elle Decor magazine have traveled the world over to bring you many exquisite examples of decorating out-of-doors as you begin to realize your own exterior fantasies.Beautiful and charming outdoor settings are displayed throughout Patios and Verandas, introducing a vast array of options for transforming your outdoor space into a haven for your own personal delight.Includes a complete back index with all of the best resources for turning your dreams into reality.

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Elle Decor, November 2006 Issue
Editors of Elle Décor Magazine
Manufacturer: Hachette Magazines, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Single Issue Magazine

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ASIN: 1580606180

Average customer rating:

Disappointed

Bathrooms (Elle Decor Portfolios)
Editors of Elle Decor
Manufacturer: Filipacchi
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Decorating | Interior Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

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Living Rooms (Elle Decor Portfolios)
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Patios and Verandas (Elle Decor Portfolios)
Decorating Ideas

ASIN: 2850187321

Customer Reviews:

Disappointed.......2002-12-17

I love Elle Decor magazine, but I did not care for this book, or any of the other ones in this series for that matter. The photos are decent, but the decor in the pictures don't seem to be as good as it is in the magazine. I think that there are other books on bathrooms that would be more satisfying.

Average customer rating:

Living Rooms (Elle Decor Portfolios)
Editors of Elle Decor
Manufacturer: Filipacchi
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Decorating | Interior Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

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Bathrooms (Elle Decor Portfolios)
Bedrooms
The Elle Decor Home
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Patios and Verandas (Elle Decor Portfolios)

ASIN: 2850186465

Book Description

As the central room of the home where one can relax and linger, today's living room must be both convivial and comfortable.Living Rooms visually guides the reader on a tour of unique and innovative living rooms-from those of renowned interior designers to those of ordinary individuals-offering the reader the opportunity to discover how to express refinement and re-create various decorative styles with a myriad of design combinations.Whether striving for a sleek, modern look or preferring to stress old-style elegance, this book provides inspiration for how to arrange your living room to best express your taste and imagination.

Average customer rating:

Disappointed

Kitchens
Elle Decor , and Filipacchi Publishing
Manufacturer: Filipacchi
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Decorating | Interior Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Decoration & Ornament | Interior Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

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Patios and Verandas (Elle Decor Portfolios)
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ASIN: 2850187402

Customer Reviews:

Disappointed.......2002-12-17

Average customer rating:

Cute little book

Decorating Ideas
Elle Decor , and Filipacchi Publishing
Manufacturer: Filipacchi
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Decorating | Interior Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

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Customer Reviews:

Cute little book.......2006-01-29

This is a cute, little book. It contains about 120 pages and is small in size, but big with photographs and ideas. The foreword says the book was written to share tricks of the decorating trade and help you create a personal style for your own interiors. I took 1.5 stars off because there was not much info on how to create your own personal style. My score for this book is really 3.5 stars

The "Curtains" chapter had beautiful pictures of curtain styles. There were two pages that showed only the top of the curtains using various styles. I thought this was helpful and provided some tops I had not seen before. Another one of my favorite chapters was "Shades." It covered roman shades, pull down shades and blinds. The "Paint" chapter was nothing new. You've seen it all before in other paint technique books (and they generally do it better). The Furniture, Table Tops and Screens chapters were also well done.

Very small book with big ideas and pictures, but it won't help you create your own style.

Elle Decor So Chic: Glamorous Lives, Stylish Spaces (Elle Décor)

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Elle Decor So Chic: Glamorous Lives, Stylish Spaces (Elle Décor)
Margaret Russell , and Editors of Elle Decor
Manufacturer: Filipacchi
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Household Hints | How-to & Home Improvements | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

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Tony Duquette

ASIN: 1933231270

Book Description

We are always curious and fascinated as to how the "other half" lives. What kind of furniture do Ben Stiller and Christine Taylor have in their Hollywood home? Is Ralph Lauren's Montauk compound English country-style or modern rustic? How does Roberto Cavalli entertain at his medieval villa near Florence?So Chic answers these questions and unveils the beautiful and luxurious homes of these trendsetters. This gorgeously illustrated book presents a rare glimpse into the world of high-style interiors and offers up an impressive array of the ravishing homes ranging in locale from Manhattan to Marrakech to Malibu. Get an exclusive peek into: * Sarah Jessica Parker's 19th century farmhouse in Bridgehampton * Leonardo Ferragamo's mansion outside of Florence * Liza Bruce's vibrant apartment in exotic Jaipur * Donatella Versace's magnificent duplex in Milan * Muriel Brandolini's Upper East Side townhouse in New York City * Michael Smith's Bel Air houseFrom a hacienda in Hollywood to a bohemian loft in Manhattan's West Village, these envy-inspiring rooms will captivate and transport you into a world filled with glamour, decadence and grand opulence.

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