The Home Within Us: Romantic Houses, Evocative Rooms

I love books, my entire house is loaded with books in every room, except my kitchen. Before I bought this book I read the reviews. While I thought the unfavorable reviews made me 2nd guess buying the book, the cover was so captivating to me, so I took a chance. THIS BOOK IS ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL. Turning each page made me feel I was on a journey , a vacation yet at home. The rooms are gorgeous, soft tones color, spectacular decor and the perfect furniture for each room, The architecture is to die for, so unique, different and exciting. Not sure what some reads found unattractive. These rooms are classy, and each room pictured draws you into its spaces we all will probably never own, that is why I by books of decor and architecture. I highly, highly recommend this book over those who did not recommend it. Try this book for yourself, I am glad I purchased it. I received it today and I am in love with it. I my another one to take and leave at my weekend beach house.

Display on coffee table!

THE HOME WITHIN US: ROMANTIC HOUSES, EVOCATIVE ROOMS is far more than another fine Rizzoli book on architecture. This is a collection of the art of Bobby McAlpine, a meditation on the impact the space where we live has on our peace of mind and our sense of art and beauty. Written by both McAlpine and Susan Sully, this elegant book, photographed splendidly by Mick Hales, explores homes that bear the imprint of McAlpine. The homes range in architectural types and sizes, but there is a constant present: good taste and quality craftsmanship are married to interior design that shows a profound respect for the building itself and the lines of the design created either by McAlpine or simply enhanced by his impeccable taste.Homes such as these may not strike the viewer immediately as 'noticeable houses', but that is also part of the designer's drive: let the dwelling speak for itself, opening the structure to interpretation of romantic concepts. He is as likely to appreciate the rooflines and the shingles that cover those roofs as he is to praise the approach of the entry ways of these homes - welcoming parlors that invite the guest to enter and grow to know the secrets of the home. For McAlpine each home he shares has great significance and he sees his mission as one to enhance the lines, the atmosphere, and the comfort of the home as a palace of solace. This is a poetic book, written in a style that in not only interesting but also endearing, a book that invites repeated readings and motivation to re-think our own domiciles. Grady Harp, August 10

Have long been an admirer of Bobby McAlpine and have wished he would publish a book. This is marvelous and has already become one of my favorites. Several but not all of the houses shown were previously published in Southern Accents and elsewhere -- and it is wonderful to have them together here with the author's narrative. One of the things that makes this book especially interesting is the feature on the architect's own house which is shown in three quite different iterations. It is fascinating to see how the same space looks dressed in three quite different schemes.McAlpine's narrative relates some of his design choices, for example, the preference for a smaller entrance at the side of the house rather than the grand center entrance, the interest in natural stone and limed antiqued wood, and patina of all sorts. McAlpine gave me a real appreciation for the use of dark. Seeing these rooms, I understood that one does not require pastel walls to have an experience of light in a room -- on the contrary, sun flowing into a room with dark walls can render a much richer experience of light. Seeing his rooms in the eighties gave me the courage to paint the light walls of my sunroom dark, dark green, and I have loved it. Of course McAlpine is not unique in using dark, but he has done it so skillfully and compellingly.If you like patina'ed surfaces, stone and brick, dark, dare I say, somewhat masculine and oversize furnishings, nuanced colors, antiques -- if you like Saladino and Tarlow and VerVoordt -- you will most likely enjoy this book.

This book gives a lovely glimpse of the select output from architect Bobby McAlpine and his firms. His body of work is more akin to a talent and style not seen since the early last century with architects like Harrie Thomas Lindeberg or Mellor, Meigs & Howe. These are gracious, intricate, lovely and very inviting structures inside and out.He's been served well by clients who must have the resources to build such structures and more importantly appreciate the stately old world feel. Not a hint of McMansion or chest-thumping loud architecture that so many homes of today sadly exude. McAlpine could design and build a dog house and I suspect it would be more visually inviting then most homes, even those of the 'well heeled', built in the last 50-years.A comparable contemporary firm would be Fairfax & Sammons, who also have had a book issued in the last decade on their output. If you have that publication you'll certainly appreciate this one.Some publications such as Southern Accents and Veranda have showcased his work (he's been based in Alabama) but otherwise he's not receiving the widespread accolades he deserves. Perhaps this book will change that. 'The Home Within Us' is not without some quirks - no detail accompanies the homes shown so no idea when they were built or even where they stand. Some of the pictures appear to have been sourced from prior photo shoots so sometimes the pictures themselves look dated. And perhaps a good thing as it reflects well on what he's accomplished I was hungry to see even more exterior and facade detail shots.

its a beautiful book

Dieses Buch ist von einem genialen Architekten und Innenarchitekten zusammengestellt und man darf genau das erwarten!Es ist ganz einfach ein Genuß, diese stimmungsvollen Bilder anzuschauen, abzutauchen in wunderschöne Raumkompositionen, die niemals überladen oder "gestellt" wirken, sondern so wie man es selbst gern möchte, ganz zufällig perfekt!

beautifully done. excellent pictures.