text: Villa: John Saladino: 9780711229686: Amazon.com: Books
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  John Saladino (Author)
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  From VerandaJohn Saladino is a genius at infusing a house with a sense of drama. The Manhattan designer summoned his muses to grand theatrical effect for his second home, a romantic ruin of a 1920s Santa Barbara estate that he restored during four "relentless" years. It's elegant transformation is the focus of Villa, one of the best design books of 2009—or any year. Graced with breathtaking photography of his sublime work, this unique coffee table tone includes a visually poetic DVD—a fifteen-minute tour narrated by Saladino himself. Together they turn design into veritable performance art.This showstopper of a book by Saladino, a distinguished alumnus of the Yale School of Art and Architecture, fulfills its mission as a master class in interior, architectural and garden design.
  Publisher: Frances Lincoln; Har/DVD edition (March 24, 2009)
  ISBN-10: 0711229686
  ISBN-13: 978-0711229686
  Product Dimensions: 13.1 x 13.3 x 1.2 inches
  Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,284,301 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  5.0 out of 5 starsa dream of a house, a dream of a book
  TOP 1000 REVIEWER on September 17, 2009Format: Hardcover
  When the songwriter and singer Curtis Mayfield was at a low point in his career, he made sure he went to the movies every day. Why? "It's important to dream," he said.Wise man. The "reality" we're sold in the media can't possibly define the limits of our lives. To think so is to invite despair. So we look for beauty, for inspiration. But when we find it in museums, in music or in books, it doesn't always speak to us --- it's not immediate enough, we don't have the vocabulary to process it.A beautiful house? That we can understand. We may not get the subtleties of the architecture or the décor, but we all have walls, windows, floors and furniture --- comparisons are inevitable and immediate.If you're going to look at a home of a professional, you can't go wrong with John Saladino, America's most gifted architectural designer. (Not "interior" designer --- Saladino has a large, holistic sense of what a house can be, and that very much includes its site.) In 2001, he bought a 2,500-square-foot villa near Santa Barbara that was well on its way to ruin. Four years later, it is a treasure and then some --- it's simply one of the most beautiful houses in the world.And now it's the subject of a dream of a book.Villa is 13.5 inches square. It contains an informative and chatty commentary by Saladino, 256 photographs, plans and drawings, and a DVD that gives you a tour of the house and property. Let us hope that Saladino has a state-of-the-art security system, because every page and image is an invitation for you to break in --- not to take anything, just to experience what it's like to walk in beauty."Reality is the enemy," Saladino writes, and so he created an environment that might look natural, but is really sculpted.Read more ›
  3.0 out of 5 starsNice, not great.
  VillaAs other readers have noted, this is an attractive book depicting a beautiful property. My comments relate to the things I would like to have known before buying this rather expensive book.First, there is an excess of outdoor scenes. The garden and surrounding flora, while nice enough, did not seem so remarkable or spectacular as to justify the approximately 95 photos devoted to them.Second, I would like to have seen more full-room views of the villa's interior. Most of the interior photos were chopped-up views of the rooms and small vignettes. Nevertheless, the photographic quality is excellent.Third, the villa was much smaller than I had expected and not many rooms are shown. In my opinion, the interiors were DC (Designer Correct) and understated to avoid criticism for any possible form of excess. Nothing to really complain about, but nothing to write home about either.Fourth, the artsy quality of the DVD was overdone (eyeball-distorting selective focus and lots of infra-red.) The sound balance was poor...when adjusted to listen to the narrator the volume of the background music was ear-splitting. Finally, the DVD content was disappointingly about 90 percent outdoor landscape/10 percent villa interior.The book probably rates 3.5 stars but that option is not offered. It is a nice book but, primarily because it featured trees and bushes more than the villa, it did not merit 4 or 5 stars in this reader's opinion.
  5.0 out of 5 starsThis book is SICK!
  I work in a bookstore and we are all drooling over this fabulous book. I have seen many decorating books but this one is really special. No matter how thick or thin your wallet is anyone could incorporate elements of John's style (get a few grey/green succulents and make a chic planter for under 20$!). If your taste is traditional or modern each is represented amazingly. Must have this book NOW!
  Beautiful! Beautiful! Beautiful! I can't stop looking at the book. Every time I open it, I see something new. It is a delight for the senses. The dvd is a gorgeous piece of art - I just wish it was longer and covered more of the interior. Even though most of us will never live at such a level, I can admire it for it's subtlety and incredible beauty. What an achievement!
  R. Dwayne Harrison
  I am thrilled with this book! It has stunning photographer and interesting commentary by the author by Saladino himself. The CD that is in the back of the book is a film traveling up the long driveway to give you a feel for the setting and features gorgeous cinematography of the exterior and interior as well. A bit pretentiously presented but anyone who enjoys the restoration of an old home complete with furnishings and art will eat this up. I still peruse through this one though I bought it months ago. A great coffee table book!!Dwayne
  A beautiful book !!! Very much like Bunny Williams' An Affair with a House, Saladino transformed a California Ranch into a genuine Provence Bastide- a sort of a Manor House in the french countryside. He was careful enough in his restauration plan not to interfere with the house architectural features and the interior design to, with careful chosen pieces fitted in harmony with the house fixtures. He done the landscapes beautifully also !!! It worth the ride !!!
  5.0 out of 5 starsThe best interior decorating book of 2009
  This is unquestionably the finest interior decorating book of 2009 and because it shows the process of renovating a run down Santa Barbara home of great potential, a great book on architectural preservation as well. It provides a thorough and easily understood commentary about the process of planning and executing the design of a gorgeous villa looking out on the sea, including line drawings on translucent sheets, much like blueprints, but primarily utilizing brilliant before and after photos, room by room.Is an entire book about a single home really reasonable? It was done fairly well by John Stefanidis and a little less well by Bunny Williams, but John Saladino has outdone them all. Just as you could always tell a room by David Mlinaric, Mario Butta, Renzo Mongiardino or David Hicks, Saladino has a signature design style, unlike other decorators such as Billy Baldwin, Sister Parrish or Mark Hampton who were consistent principally in their emphasis on comfort and classicism. Some might have differing opinions regarding this latter group, of course, but Saladino loves classic authenticity combined with modern functionality and certainly achieves an excellent balance here.Importantly, this project permitted Saladino to achieve the zenith of his own particular style of Mediterranean-influence classicism, in no small part due to not having to get client approval for any element of his masterpiece. I suspect his banker was the only one he had to answer to; this is the dream home for anyone seeking the Montecito lifestyle. And so much more tasteful than the vast majority of the McMansions completed pre-2008 in Greenwich or the Hamptons by guys selling bonds or exploiting Bolivian miners while their trophy wives argued over fabric swatches.Read more ›
  5.0 out of 5 starsThis book is a must if you are a Saladino ...
  This book is a must if you are a Saladino fan. Photos are inspirational and give vivid evidence of his vision and genius.
  Published 15 months ago by Luta Licata Sabo
  5.0 out of 5 starsA stunningly beautiful book
  This is a stunningly beautiful book of text and photos of John Saladino's beautiful home above the coast of Southern California.
  Published on March 30, 2014 by Lynn Forres
  Beautiful photographs of the renovation of this historic California property. The text is extremely interesting also. Loved pouring through the pages.
  5.0 out of 5 starsA Great American Designer
  This book is great. I would love to spend a weekend at John Saladino's Villa.JS is truly one of the greatest American Interior Designers we have to date - he's designs will...
  Published on February 8, 2013 by MarSav
  Wonderful book and I loved all the details and the video. I could move right into his house and not change a thing, especially the kitchen.
  Published on August 9, 2012 by GS
  5.0 out of 5 starssaladino villa
  love the book it's one of this bests,i love the quit elegents of his style. i've always admire his work
  Published on August 22, 2011 by lola
  5.0 out of 5 starsAn inspiring and beautiful sanctuary
  The book was recommended to me by a friend (designer/architect).Saladino created a beautiful sanctuary using his long life of experiences; education; a great awareness...
  Published on June 30, 2010 by WildFlower
  5.0 out of 5 starsA design adventure - just wonderful!
  Reading this beautifully designed book is like taking a trip abroad. It details a loving restoration with the superb style for which the author is famous.
  Published on April 14, 2010 by House book adict
  5.0 out of 5 starsJohn Saladino my favorite designer....
  I saw this book on a coffee table in one of my design magazines.I was so excited I imediately looked on Amazon and there it was,at a discounted price.
  Published on December 22, 2009 by SANDRA LINDSELL
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