Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
At the turn of the century, the wealthiest Americans, including the Vanderbilts, Whitneys, Rockefellers, and Lehmans, flocked to the Adirondacks to create the expansive summer retreats known as the great camps -- built and furnished almost exclusively with materials found in nature.
This unique book begins with a fascinating history of the Adirondack region and the rustic architecture and decorating style it inspired. Complete sections on exteriors, furniture, and details are supplemented with historical sidebars and special tips on how to re-create the look of an Adirondack retreat at home. A Sources section identifies architects, builders, interior designers, manufacturers, and retail stores that feature camp merchandise. And a list of area lodgings and restaurants is handy for anyone who wants to visit the Adirondack region.
Synopsis
In the northeast region of New York State lies the Adirondack Park: six million breathtaking acres of natural beauty. In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, America's most prominent families came to the area to build the expansive summer retreats known as the Great Camps. Built and decorated with the region's natural resources, the camps reflected the serenity and indelible power of their surroundings--and the rustic Adirondack style was born.
People are once again flocking to the area -- building new vacation retreats or restoring existing camps -- and creating fresh new perspectives on this classic American style. Author Ann Stillman O'Leary takes you through the rich and interesting history of the Adirondacks with an in-depth look at how its trademark building and decorating style is being interpreted today.
The book's introduction, written by Elizabeth Folwell, the editor of Adirondack Life magazine, provides an overview of this distinctive area and the original owners and builders of the Great Camps. The remaining chapters explore the region's finest camps, both inside and out. More than 200 full-color and historical black-and-white photographs highlight all the elements unique to this style, from exterior stonework and twig filligree to interior fabrics and wall decor. A featured section shows how Adirondack furniture uses every bit of the tree, from root and burl to bark and branch, with amazing results. A thorough source guide identifies architects, builders, interior designers, manufacturers, craftspeople, and retail stores featuring camp merchandise, and a list of area lodging lets you experience the Adirondacks firsthand.
AdirondackStyle, the first book to take a comprehensive look at rustic design today, celebrates -- in words and images -- a style that is being referenced in homes from Maine to California.
About the Author
ANN STILLMAN O'LEARY is an interior designer who has been a product manager for home furnishings in New York City and has designed accessories and greeting cards for Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdale's, Macy's, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Brentano's. She lives in Lake Placid, New York.
GARY R. HALL has taken photographs for national publications such as Town & Country and Country Inns, and has exhibited widely.