Underground Interiors: Decorating for Alternative Life Styles

by Norma Skurka, Oberto Gili (Photographer)

Book by Norma Skurka

Genres: Design

Paperback

Published January 1, 1972

Reviews

[Sloweducation · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are many quite interesting rooms photographed in this book. It features psychedelic era interior design, mostly the expensive looking houses of various fashion designers, architects, and artists. Some of the rooms are very tacky. Skurka is an especially bad writer, and her blurbs are shallow and self-congratulatory. There's a lot of talk about ironic living spaces. One architect has a room decorated entirely with ornate military uniforms and Fascist helmets that he calls an anti-war statement. The book has a mild anti-furniture agenda. Foam is a common building material. There's lots of flashy colors and a whole section on surrealistic living spaces. What else could I give it but five stars, for there's something about the design that is beyond criticism. High quality post-counterculture kitsch.