Simplicity

by Nancy Braithwaite, Dara Caponigro (Foreword)

Interior designer Nancy Braithwaite’s long-awaited first book is a striking tutorial in the power of simplicity in design. In the world of interior design, Nancy Braithwaite is known for her single-minded devotion to the principle that has guided her work for more than forty years: simplicity. Braithwaite’s work is luxuriously minimalist, its beauty inextricably tied to its Shaker-like purity. While her work varies from art deco to country, the underlying rules remain the same: every element should strive to be simple and powerful without compromise, and every room must have a level of power that comes from commanding scale, repetition of elements, subtleties of color, or the sheer beauty of forms. In Braithwaite’s world, excess is not opulent. Simplicity is opulent. Braithwaite takes the reader deep into her singular vision. Divided into five sections, the book begins with her manifesto on simplicity and the aspects of design used to achieve it, including architecture, scale, color, texture, pattern, and composition. She then presents three categories of style—country, classic, and contemporary—and explains and illustrates each with iconic rooms from her portfolio. Finally, she presents several houses as case studies, displaying the power of these principles in action and emphasizing the importance of craftsmanship in design, from a stunning modern seaside retreat on Kiawah Island, South Carolina, to her unforgettable country house in Atlanta.

Genres: Coffee Table Books, Interior Design, Nonfiction, Design

296 pages, Hardcover

First published October 7, 2014

Reviews

[Emily Vander Ark · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pretty pictures. Helpful to anyone who has huge spaces, a huge budget, a live-in gardener, and a fondness for oversize animal figurines.

[Barbette · Rating 3 out of 5]

This would be a five star book if Braithwaite had included only one of its three sections: "Country." I am not a fan of country decoration, but Braithwaite has a unique gift with the genre. She makes country interiors that are minimal, smart, and beautiful to look at. Her manipulation of textures, painted surfaces, and neutral hues is extraordinary.

By contrast, the beach house featured in the "Contemporary" section is uninviting and borderline terrifying. The only note of soul and warmth in it comes from the extraordinary sweet grass basketry of master artisan Mary Jackson.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved the intro. Found a few pictures that are what I’m looking for.

[Brandon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautifully curated spaces, whimsical in the devotion to solitary color palettes.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

A feast for the eyes.