Product Description

Travelers have long returned from the East to their homes in the West, bringing back beautiful objects and knowledge of the unique philosophy and aesthetic of Eastern culture. Now global travel is a major influence on interior design, and there is new momentum in the melding of Eastern and Western styles as barriers and restrictions between cultures dissolve.

East Meets West offers inspiration for comfortable, harmonious interiors where differences in the age and origin of objects are unimportant. With her contemporary sense of color, texture, and simplicity, Kelly Hoppen creates rooms in which Tibetan heads are face to face with classical busts on a mantelpiece, and Balinese baskets and Chinese lacquerware complement French furniture and English country fabrics. Textiles, wall and window treatments, and upholstery are key elements in this simple yet exotic style, allowing passage from one century to another without any sense of discord. Kelly Hoppen also reveals secrets of palette and texture that tie diverse influences together.

Over 200 color photographs show Kelly Hoppen's clean-lined and contemporary signature style in spaces constructed with an eye to the function and necessities of everyday life. Whether you are an adventurer or collector, a designer or a home decorator, East Meets West is the new word on easy, sophisticated interiors combining world-wide influences in an utterly personal style.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #664852 in Books
• Published on: 1997-09-15
• Released on: 1997-09-15
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 160 pages

From Library Journal
These profusely illustrated books explore the design styles of two internationally renowned British interior designers. Hoppen shows her personal design style of taking North African and Asian designs and items and incorporating them into contemporary interiors. The layout of the photographs provides a nice juxtaposition of images, such as a green rice paddy or an Algerian wrought iron gate with an interpretation of how that color, shape, or texture is used in residential decor. Stefanidis allows us to visit his home, which he created from cow sheds in Dorset, England. The book proceeds room by room and through the gardens, with the chatty text explaining his approach to interior design and landscaping; it even includes recipes to make the reader feel a welcome guest. Both books are recommended for interior design collections.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author
Kelly Hoppen is a British interior designer whose commissions have taken her from Manhattan and Long Island to London, and have included the homes of prestigious fashion designers and collectors. Her work has been featured in international magazines including Elle Decoration, and in 1996 she was awarded the first British Interior Designer of the Year award.

Bill Batten specializes in interior photography and is renowned for his sensitive lighting techniques. His photographs have appeared in The World of Interiors, House & Garden, and Elle Decoration.

Alexandra Campbell started her journalistic career on House & Garden magazine, and has subsequently worked for Harpers & Queen and Good Housekeeping. She currently writes for The Independent Magazine.

Customer Reviews

Best decorating book in years.
Everything about this book is inspiring. The text is excellent and the photographs explain and illustrate Ms. Hoppen's methods beautifully. Her use of color is new to me and incredibly helpful. The pictures, which show her use of Eastern influences in Western rooms, are stimulating, yet whether simple or complex they illustrate a system of decoration that creates the background for a blissful, peaceful way of life. This book has altogether changed my philosophy about household design.

Diverse in style and color
This book is quite interesting. It shows how the designs of the East can blend harmoniously with the designs of the west. It does not only show the famous Zen design of the Japanese but shows much of the deep colors of Indian and Chinese design. For someone who has no formal background in designing, this book suggests the balance of colors that is simply shown in nature--which the author herself has been inspired with. The designers English design influence though has been displayed much in her style- a little bit too elitist. But indeed, a great book to keep for reference!

Eastern influence on the Western World.
I have always felt a strong pull toward eastern/Asian style of decorating and have found Ms. Hoppen's book inspiring.

I discovered Ms. Hoppen's work when I came across a show about her decorating/design methods on the Style Channel. During the hour long show, she took the viewers on a tour of her London home, which she renovated using her style elements (East Meets West). I fell in love with her simple and subtle use of color, texture and lighting. I went out and purchased her book immediately.

Her photos are wonderful, they follow the text fabulously. Her style is simple and uncluttered, which creates a very comfortable and serene atmosphere that I had been trying to achieve in my own home.

I highly recommend this book.