Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #27500 in Books
• Published on: 2008-10-28
• Released on: 2008-10-28
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 288 pages

Amazon.com Review
Product Description

“Nature’s quintessential color combination of blue and white never ceases to amaze me. The look of pristine snow against deep blue Aspen skies; spires of blue and white delphinium in a garden; Connecticut’s spring mornings where the apple blossoms and nodding heads of white narcissus are in contrast to soft blue skies and vibrant green grass—these and many more images found in nature have informed my work for the last thirty-five years. From fashion to interiors, and tabletop to gardens, the presence of blue and white is a constant in my past collections as well as throughout my previous eight books. It seems natural that I would eventually do a book on living and designing with this seminal color combination.” —from the Introduction

This private tour of the dazzling homes of legendary style-setter Carolyne Roehm showcases her favorite color combination in more than three hundred glorious photographs.

From the time designer Carolyne Roehm rented her first small apartment in New York in her twenties, she has loved blue and white. In that one-bedroom flat, she draped the walls, chairs, sofa, and a canopy bed in an inexpensive blue and white sheeting fabric designed by her boss, Oscar de la Renta, and began collecting blue-and-white porcelain from around the world—initially bargain reproductions and eventually museum-quality pieces—from China, Japan, Portugal, the Netherlands, and elsewhere.

Today, Carolyne Roehm presides over a magnificent duplex in Manhattan, an antique-filled stone house in Connecticut, and a chic yet rustic home in Aspen, all of which contain rooms decorated in blue and white, featuring accents from her collections of china, ceramics, glassware, linens, furniture, and decorative pieces. These rooms employ the whole spectrum of blues, from delicate sky to the deepest, boldest navy, evoking moods ranging from tranquil to vibrant.

In A Passion for Blue and White, Carolyne Roehm takes us inside her homes (including her former pied-à-terre in Paris) in never-before-seen photographs of these stunning rooms. She also reveals how she has used blue and white to magnificent effect outdoors in Connecticut around her pool and in her gardens—and even how she used the combination in designing a wedding for a friend.

She provides inspiration for tabletop design, flower arranging, and gift-wrapping, suitable for all budgets. Her ceramic, textile, and glass collections (endless sources of her creativity) can be emulated by anyone with trips to flea markets, thrift shops, and inexpensive import stores as well as antique stores and galleries.

A swatch of French fabric began Carolyne Roehm’s lifetime love affair with blue and white. In this book, she demonstrates through her own decorating and designs, how this combination works its magic on everything from upholstery and drapes to napkins and tablecloths, wrapping paper and ribbons. For anyone with a passion for blue and white, here is the ultimate style guide and Carolyne Roehm’s most gorgeous book yet.

Amazon.com Exclusive: An Interview with Carolyne Roehm

Q: Reviewers are calling your new book “gorgeous” and your “most self-expressive book”. What inspired you to write A Passion for Blue and White?
CR: Blue and white has always been a big part of my world, and this passion is reflected in the books I’ve done, whether the subject matter was flowers, entertaining, or creating beautifully wrapped gifts. It seemed natural that I would eventually do a book on living and designing with this seminal color combination. Blue and White gives me a design focus – one that’s endlessly rewarding.

Q: What will the reader find in the book?
CR: Blue and white has been a constant in my interior design work. The book is filled with photos of interiors and outdoor spaces enhanced by collections of ceramics, textiles, porcelain, dishes and linens. I’ve always been inspired by nature and no other combination is as omnipresent as glorious blue and white so I’ve included an endless assortment of ideas for arranging flowers, gardens and bouquets for every season. This is really a book about creating a beautiful environment with style and ease. I’ve also included wonderful ideas for wrapping paper and ribbons, napkins, drapes and linens. Of course I didn’t feel this book would be complete without including a plethora of information on the meaning and history of blue and white, and its use in all of the decorative arts.

Q: Since the holidays are upon us, do you include suggestions that may be useful for the upcoming season?
CR: Yes. During the holiday season, I sometimes stray away from a red-and-green theme and use a blue and white color scheme that works surprisingly well with a green wreath or urns filled with narcissus.

At Christmas, blue and white pieces can show off the traditional deep red flowers of the season including amaryllis, berries and roses.

Q: Do you have other holiday ideas that don’t involve flowers?
CR: Yes, I’ve included photos of holiday cards, invitations, gift tags, menu cards and gift wrap that is beautiful when created in a blue & white color scheme. Elegant card stock is a luxury but it’s incredibly simple and satisfying to use the computer to make invitations, menu cards or holiday gift tags. Guests feel you’ve taken the time to create something special when it’s made by hand.

Q: Any suggestions for those on a budget?
CR: Absolutely. The best thing about blue & white is the ability to collect and display so inexpensively. Chinese porcelain is readily available and inexpensive fabrics can always be purchased at discount outlets. A few of my favorite table setting ideas include mixing white porcelain with a blue and white tablecloth and using white carnations in the centerpiece. It creates a dramatic table inexpensively.

The right flower arrangements can be made inexpensively any time of the year. One of my favorite combinations is mixing white cosmos from the cutting garden with frilly Queen Anne’s lace to create a fresh and simple bouquet. Simple daisies in a cobalt blue glass create a dramatic effect and nothing is more cheerful than bright yellow sunflowers in deep blue glass.

Q: Any final comments?
CR: This book is my personal story of designing and living with this magical color combination. I hope in some small way it will inspire others.

A Look Inside A Passion for Blue and White
(Click on Images to Enlarge)

For the Living Room	For the Bedroom
In the Garden	Interior Arrangements
Floral Arrangements	Tablescapes
For the Holidays	Decorative Arrangements

About the Author

CAROLYNE ROEHM is the author of A Passion for Flowers, A Passion for Parties, At Home with Carolyne Roehm, the four Seasonal Notebooks, and Presentations. After working with Oscar de la Renta, she started her own fashion house in 1985. She created her Web site, www.carolyneroehm.com, where she has an online magazine. She sells and designs products and does select decorating projects. Carolyne divides her time among her exquisite homes in Manhattan, Connecticut, and Aspen, Colorado.

Customer Reviews

Very Very BEAUTIFUL!!!
I love all of her books and this one is no exception.
This book is packed with ideas about flowers, color, table decoration and just living in general. The photographs are so saturated that you feel as if you're in the book! If you appreciate beauty, you will get pleasure just from leafing through it!
If, on the other hand, you're the jealous type and you're going to miss all of the beauty by focusing on the cost of everything- save your money.
If you're creative and you're inspired by someone who has tremendous energy and creativity- this book is packed with ideas for you!!
I love it!

This book is perfection!
This ingenious and talented author has really out done herself with her newest and 9th book! What an exquisite presentation of my favorite decorating palette. The over-sized book, with smooth pages that are luxurious to the touch, is filled with endless inspiration for dining, decorating, gardening and entertaining. This book goes beyond the theme of blue and white, by demonstrating how those basic colors can be the backdrop for other accent colors. Carolyne Roehm just does it better than the rest of us, and I intend with this book to learn how! With A Passion for Blue and White by my side, I shall carry off my next decorating project or dinner party with aplomb! Her website is a companion source for this wonderful book as well. This would make a beautiful gift - or a well-deserved treat for yourself! Even better, bundle this up with A Passion for Parties and A Passion for Flowers-now there's a gift that can't be beat.

homerun for roehm
This book follows in Roehm's tradition-- lavish photography combined with charming text wrap-arounds. I will use the book, as I have her others, as a source of inspiration when I need something new for a room or a party. This book is a treasure that I'm sure I will consult often. In addition to being a visual treat and a source of ideas, this book gives us little glimpses into her life-- sort of a coveted back stage pass. Roehm has a way of bridging social and economic gulfs. Although she is clearly quite wealthy, a lot of her ideas are affordable and guaged to my much more modest means. I also have found some great deals on her web site, again combined with high design content.