Review by Booklist Review
Two new glossily illustrated home-decorating guides highlight regional trends in the U.S. The Santa Fe life-style represents a blending of Indian, Spanish, and Anglo cultures, and this interesting mix is well portrayed in Mather and Woods' look at how and where Santa Fe lives. From adobe ranches to solar homes, these buildings are distinctly Santa Fean in their expression of a relaxed southwestern style. The importance of regional architecture and artifacts is well brought out in both the numerous photographs and the text. Sources for Santa Fe style, mainly in Santa Fe itself but also in outposts throughout the U.S., will help readers achieve an authentic reconstruction of this currently popular look. Index. From the transplanted prairie style of Greene and Greene and Frank Lloyd Wright to the contemporary residences of architect Frank Gehry, Freestyle charts Los Angeles' comparatively brief reputation for interiors of distinction. With stops for 1950s kitsch and Memphis postmodernism, Street-Porter evaluates L.A.'s contribution to the California style. Again, the interet here is divided about equally between pure architecture and room design, as the book purveys an enticing catalog of high-style trends that are slightly bent by West Coast fantasy and laid-back irreverence. Index. JB.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
