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Big, Easy Style: Creating Rooms You Love to Live In
An enchanting space that’s truly unique calls for a sense of humor, whimsy, and an open mind.
From a charmed New Orleans childhood to a successful acting career on Broadway and the award-winning TV show Mad Men to the opening of his popular Big Easy home furnishings boutique, Hazelnut, Bryan Batt has always turned to home design as a creative outlet. To him, the best rooms are unexpected yet refined and, above all, evoke emotion. He doesn’t think twice about hanging oversized decorations from a Mardi Gras float in an elegant dining room or bringing home vintage etchings of sconces when he was actually shopping for real ones. He believes that a vibrant orange wall can be a neutral backdrop for an antique writing desk and earthy accessories, and that an artist’s whimsical bird’s nest sculpture hung in a lavender entryway couldn’t serve as a better welcome into a cozy abode. New Orleans has taught Bryan so much about how to pull together a space that’s fearless and colorful with plenty of panache. With the city as his muse—its strong roots in history, its celebration of tradition, and, of course, the wild festivities of Mardi Gras—he believes that designing a fabulous, livable home that truly reflects a dweller’s passions need not be intimidating.
Big, Easy Style showcases rooms that make Bryan smile, with pages of rich photography featuring the work of many designers—and plenty of Crescent City interiors—framed by his own entertaining maxims on color, pattern, collecting, living areas, intimate spaces, and more. Explore rooms he’s personally designed and others that inspire him; from an old-world kitchen imported straight from the heart of France to a luxurious Art Deco media room, these homes are enticing and unique, and through their surprising details, completely inviting.
Decorating your home to reflect your personality and taste takes practice and patience and can be a daunting undertaking, but Bryan proposes that we not worry about making mistakes, that any decision we make is better than no decision at all. With Big, Easy Style, learn how to put aside your hesitation and surrender to the wild side of home design for a big statement that’s easy to achieve.
"You’ll love his collection of photographs of beautiful New Orleans rooms layered with his design tips and anecdotes of his own design experiences."— Southern Living
"[ Big, Easy Style ] reads like a hard-copy extension of Batt's personality--elegant, gregarious, funny, showman-like. The rooms he's chosen to showcase are painstakingly designed, yet, in that enviable way, appear so easily tossed together."— Susan Langenhennig, The Times Picayune
"With great passion and a zest for creativity, [Bryan Batt] and Katy Danos offer thoughtful tips on color, collecting, patterns and much more along the way. Kerri McCaffety captures the beauty of each room in her inviting photographs. I love Batt's unique whimsy style. How many of us would think of placing giant decorations from a Mardi Gras float in a lavish dining room? Or how about hanging an ornate crystal chandelier in the kitchen? Or what about painting a Chippendale-style chair mellow yellow. But they all work!"—Jeryl Brunner, Stylist.com
"If you've missed Bryan Batt since he left the set of Mad Men in 2009 (he played Salvatore Romano), catch up with him in a decor ode to his New Orleans. [In Big, Easy Style ], we're treated to his vision of making rooms inviting, festive and ultimately setting the foundation for entertaining, which is what this get-down town is all about."— San Francisco Chronicle
"The book is full of Batt's tips. It's like spending an afternoon with someone who you'd like to watch decorate a home."-- Karen Dalton-Beninato, Huffington Post Books
From a charmed New Orleans childhood to a successful acting career on Broadway and the award-winning TV show Mad Men to the opening of his popular Big Easy home furnishings boutique, Hazelnut, Bryan Batt has always turned to home design as a creative outlet. To him, the best rooms are unexpected yet refined and, above all, evoke emotion. He doesn’t think twice about hanging oversized decorations from a Mardi Gras float in an elegant dining room or bringing home vintage etchings of sconces when he was actually shopping for real ones. He believes that a vibrant orange wall can be a neutral backdrop for an antique writing desk and earthy accessories, and that an artist’s whimsical bird’s nest sculpture hung in a lavender entryway couldn’t serve as a better welcome into a cozy abode. New Orleans has taught Bryan so much about how to pull together a space that’s fearless and colorful with plenty of panache. With the city as his muse—its strong roots in history, its celebration of tradition, and, of course, the wild festivities of Mardi Gras—he believes that designing a fabulous, livable home that truly reflects a dweller’s passions need not be intimidating.
Big, Easy Style showcases rooms that make Bryan smile, with pages of rich photography featuring the work of many designers—and plenty of Crescent City interiors—framed by his own entertaining maxims on color, pattern, collecting, living areas, intimate spaces, and more. Explore rooms he’s personally designed and others that inspire him; from an old-world kitchen imported straight from the heart of France to a luxurious Art Deco media room, these homes are enticing and unique, and through their surprising details, completely inviting.
Decorating your home to reflect your personality and taste takes practice and patience and can be a daunting undertaking, but Bryan proposes that we not worry about making mistakes, that any decision we make is better than no decision at all. With Big, Easy Style, learn how to put aside your hesitation and surrender to the wild side of home design for a big statement that’s easy to achieve.
"You’ll love his collection of photographs of beautiful New Orleans rooms layered with his design tips and anecdotes of his own design experiences."— Southern Living
"[ Big, Easy Style ] reads like a hard-copy extension of Batt's personality--elegant, gregarious, funny, showman-like. The rooms he's chosen to showcase are painstakingly designed, yet, in that enviable way, appear so easily tossed together."— Susan Langenhennig, The Times Picayune
"With great passion and a zest for creativity, [Bryan Batt] and Katy Danos offer thoughtful tips on color, collecting, patterns and much more along the way. Kerri McCaffety captures the beauty of each room in her inviting photographs. I love Batt's unique whimsy style. How many of us would think of placing giant decorations from a Mardi Gras float in a lavish dining room? Or how about hanging an ornate crystal chandelier in the kitchen? Or what about painting a Chippendale-style chair mellow yellow. But they all work!"—Jeryl Brunner, Stylist.com
"If you've missed Bryan Batt since he left the set of Mad Men in 2009 (he played Salvatore Romano), catch up with him in a decor ode to his New Orleans. [In Big, Easy Style ], we're treated to his vision of making rooms inviting, festive and ultimately setting the foundation for entertaining, which is what this get-down town is all about."— San Francisco Chronicle
"The book is full of Batt's tips. It's like spending an afternoon with someone who you'd like to watch decorate a home."-- Karen Dalton-Beninato, Huffington Post Books
208 pages, Hardcover
First published October 4, 2011
33 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
September 24, 2011
The Dame's Review :
"The Big Easy..." is a beautifully written book in addition to being a book with gorgeous photographs of homes in lush details and sophisticated tastes. Bryan Batt displays his Renaissance man characteristics not only in acting, it seems, but in writing, decorating and presenting himself as an entertaining man-about-town in New Orleans. This is a book of many surprises, one that you'll be pleased to reference, and have available for friends and family.
I love 1800's period homes. Having been an interior designer myself, and having owned a few houses in that time period, I know the joys and the challenges they can present. Mr. Batt has shown them off and led us through those with panache! It's a real joy to see and read his excitement over the smallest of details that makes a house a home and a room spectacular.
In terms of learning to decorate for oneself, Bryan gives so many practical examples and easy lessons covering such things as:
~ attention to lighting
~ importance and use of paint, which paint co. he uses, and
some color choices specifically
~ sophisticated small things that enhance
~ how to use a splash of strong color for taste and drama
~ bars that set a mood and sparkle
~ art to bring a home to life
It was particularly heartening to read how much support Bryan gives to clients and readers of his book in the very common area of decorating fright. Here, I quote him:
"..never make a decision based on fear; one can never be truly stylish without taking a risk or two."
Regarding our color education and use in our own home design, he urges us to keep our eyes open in nightclubs for colors, in art galleries, museums, books, and when we travel. In "Big Easy..." he also shows the gorgeous home of one of his school friend's, a local New Orleans artist, who employs her own artwork and crafts to fill her house with personality and punch.
I loved when he wrote:
"...think of this (your powder room, specifically,) as a perfect chance to express yourself and get your ya-yas out!"
So funny, and so true! He suggests an antique gold enamel paint, a piece of art inspiration, a theme that can set the tone such as; "The Last Emperor" or "The Secret Garden." I once had a powder room designed around the small mistress eye paintings that were done for noblemen during the Renaissance to carry with them in secret. These beautiful eyes, peeking out of knot holes of alabaster, exotic woods, agate and the like gave me a jewelled palette from which to decorate that little room for guests. It was such fun and I called it my "Little Jewelry Box."
With his homebase of New Orleans, his apparently fabulous decorating shop (it has to be spectacular!) called "Hazelnut," with a nod to his beloved mom; and, including the cultural mix of Mardi Gras...Bryan Batt has shared with us his whole heart and gifts in this special book.
It's visually a treat, it's a happy read, it's helpful and it's a reference for interior decorating. I would recommend it for everyone who loves their home, who wants to gift a loved one or newlywed, or friend; and a decorating professional looking to build her/his reference library.
5 stars
Deborah/TheBookishDame
*Oh, and one more thing; I would love to share with you Bryan's delicious recipe for "Tequila Mockingbird II" his signature drink for parties, but you'll have to get his book to find out for yourself. Yum--mie! I've enjoyed mine while reading "Big, Easy Style: Creating Rooms You Love to Live In" Hope you get a chance to enjoy! Cheers, New Orleans style!
"The Big Easy..." is a beautifully written book in addition to being a book with gorgeous photographs of homes in lush details and sophisticated tastes. Bryan Batt displays his Renaissance man characteristics not only in acting, it seems, but in writing, decorating and presenting himself as an entertaining man-about-town in New Orleans. This is a book of many surprises, one that you'll be pleased to reference, and have available for friends and family.
I love 1800's period homes. Having been an interior designer myself, and having owned a few houses in that time period, I know the joys and the challenges they can present. Mr. Batt has shown them off and led us through those with panache! It's a real joy to see and read his excitement over the smallest of details that makes a house a home and a room spectacular.
In terms of learning to decorate for oneself, Bryan gives so many practical examples and easy lessons covering such things as:
~ attention to lighting
~ importance and use of paint, which paint co. he uses, and
some color choices specifically
~ sophisticated small things that enhance
~ how to use a splash of strong color for taste and drama
~ bars that set a mood and sparkle
~ art to bring a home to life
It was particularly heartening to read how much support Bryan gives to clients and readers of his book in the very common area of decorating fright. Here, I quote him:
"..never make a decision based on fear; one can never be truly stylish without taking a risk or two."
Regarding our color education and use in our own home design, he urges us to keep our eyes open in nightclubs for colors, in art galleries, museums, books, and when we travel. In "Big Easy..." he also shows the gorgeous home of one of his school friend's, a local New Orleans artist, who employs her own artwork and crafts to fill her house with personality and punch.
I loved when he wrote:
"...think of this (your powder room, specifically,) as a perfect chance to express yourself and get your ya-yas out!"
So funny, and so true! He suggests an antique gold enamel paint, a piece of art inspiration, a theme that can set the tone such as; "The Last Emperor" or "The Secret Garden." I once had a powder room designed around the small mistress eye paintings that were done for noblemen during the Renaissance to carry with them in secret. These beautiful eyes, peeking out of knot holes of alabaster, exotic woods, agate and the like gave me a jewelled palette from which to decorate that little room for guests. It was such fun and I called it my "Little Jewelry Box."
With his homebase of New Orleans, his apparently fabulous decorating shop (it has to be spectacular!) called "Hazelnut," with a nod to his beloved mom; and, including the cultural mix of Mardi Gras...Bryan Batt has shared with us his whole heart and gifts in this special book.
It's visually a treat, it's a happy read, it's helpful and it's a reference for interior decorating. I would recommend it for everyone who loves their home, who wants to gift a loved one or newlywed, or friend; and a decorating professional looking to build her/his reference library.
5 stars
Deborah/TheBookishDame
*Oh, and one more thing; I would love to share with you Bryan's delicious recipe for "Tequila Mockingbird II" his signature drink for parties, but you'll have to get his book to find out for yourself. Yum--mie! I've enjoyed mine while reading "Big, Easy Style: Creating Rooms You Love to Live In" Hope you get a chance to enjoy! Cheers, New Orleans style!
May 20, 2012
Nice pictures, but definitely not my style. Writer definitely focuses on himself. I thought the title was misleading since the rooms were more formal and opulent than I expected. I was expecting suggestions for achieving more casual and comfortable surroundings that I would truly "love to live in."
February 26, 2013
Memoir mixed with interior decorating tips. If I had to sum up New Orleans "style?" It would be vivid color, an eclectic mix of old with new. Don't be afraid of the bold. Shiny floors, good antique carpets, lush bedrooms and work collections mindfully. A nice book for a lazy read written by an enthusiastic author.
January 11, 2012
Loved! Great rooms, loved the style. Wonderful photos and charming prose. Somehow doesn't make you feel that a beautiful house is inaccessible(even though of course all of the decor in the book cost $$$. Makes me wish I could go to New Orleans again just to shop at Hazelnut!
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November 11, 2011Love the pictures and ideas but this guy loves himself more than I love his book. I had to stop reading the words and just enjoy the pictures because he was driving me up a wall with a whole book about himself when I wanted a book about style.
January 3, 2013
Thoroughly enjoyed this ode to the Big Easy. The style, the comments on entertainment and the infusion of personal stories were all up my alley! Wish I could go to New Orleans and visit Hazelnut (the store) and see whether Bryan felt like inviting a kiwi to his next soiree...
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September 24, 2011ithink love creting room to live in
July 20, 2012
Not my style...
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews