Acanthus Press, LLC

Chicago apartments; a century of lakefront luxury.

Arranged by location, rather than year built, this heavily illustrated volume surveys Chicago's luxury apartment buildings and the apartments within from the 1890's through the 1990's. Each entry includes the address, architect, builder, and date built, and a short description detailing the building's architectural and financial features. Ground plans are included for apartments in most of the buildings. Harris (art history, U. of Chicago) provides a lengthy historical introduction. The volume is oversize (8.75x11.25 inches) and includes a wealth of period photographs in high quality b&w plates. (Annotation ©2006 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Elsie de Wolfe; the birth of modern interior decoration.

Considered the mother of interior decoration, Elsie de Wolfe introduced light and air into previously dark and cluttered Victorian interiors, and insisted on comfort, livability, and beauty. While all her clients were wealthy, her influence extended to a wide audience of women through books, magazine articles, and radio broadcasts. This oversize (10.25x12.25 inches) volume showcases 29 of her important projects, from the Conde Nast apartment in New York, to several residences of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. Newly restored archival photographs accompany text by decorative art scholar Sparke. Includes a catalog of known projects and an extensive bibliography. (Annotation ©2006 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Great houses of New York, 1880-1930.

With anecdotes about the owners brightening the survey of the mansions, their construction, and architectural features, this text contains 43 entries, each illustrated with a wealth of period photos of the building's exterior and, especially, interior rooms and decor. An introduction discusses New York City's architectural history. An appendix with biographies of the architects is provided. (Annotation ©2006 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Mastering tradition; the residential architecture of John Russell Pope.

Classical tradition and a mastery of proportion, massing, and scale characterize the architecture of John Russell Pope (1873-1937), who is best known for his large public commissions such as the Thomas Jefferson Memorial, and the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. This oversize (9.25x12.25 inches) volume displays 36 of his residential projects, which are lesser know but also important works. Black & white photographs, plans, and drawings illustrate text by architect and historic preservationist Garrison. A catalog of Pope's houses, clubs, and mausoleums appears at the end of the text. (Annotation ©2006 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

North Shore Boston; houses of Essex County, 1865-1930.

The grand, even grandiose, mansions of Boston's North Shore are profiled in this 9.25x12.5 inches volume, which includes many original photos of the interior, exterior, and grounds in high quality b&w plates. The history of the house, its construction, style, and architect are described; a section of architects' biographies is included. Among the houses are Indian Hill in West Newbury; Moraine Farm in Beverly; Netherfield, Swiftmore, High Wall, and Avalon, all in Pride's Crossing (Beverly); Greycourt in Methuen; and Blynman Farm in Machester-by-the-Sea. Fox (a preservation consultant) begins the volume with a lengthy introduction to the area's history in this era. (Annotation ©2006 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

North Shore Chicago; houses of the lakefront suburbs, 1890-1940.

Architect Cohen and historic preservationist Benjamin look at private residences that were built over a period of 50 years in Chicago's wealthy North Shore district, home to some of the region's greatest industrial and merchant families. The authors begin with an overview and history of the region, provide information on the Chicago architecture community of the time, and explain the criteria used in selecting the houses that appear in this volume. The book is organized into five sections that each cover a ten-year period, beginning with 1890 and ending with 1940, and is illustrated with floor plans and over 300 duotone photographs. Appendices include architects' biographies, and a photographic portfolio of houses. (Annotation ©2006 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)