American Decoration: A Sense of Place - Hardcover

"Pulling from his extensive knowledge of historical interiors, Thomas Jayne designs rooms that are an artful mix of decades and centuries gone by blended with a graceful nod to modernity. A perfect coffee table book for those who love the beauty of antiques but still want relevant, relatable designs." --Traditional Home

"Thomas Jayne has a gift for honoring the past in a timeless way. American Decoration: A Sense of Place serves as a project-by-project exploration of how he achieves his work, and what it takes to create a truly classical room.... He isn't replicating the past; he's paying homage to the very best of it." --Veranda

"In his latest book, Jayne showcases the aesthetic traditions of the past that have most influenced his own work and reveals his methods for synthesizing old and new." --Lonny magazine

Interior designer and decorative arts and antiques expert Thomas Jayne follows up his essential 2010 compendium The Finest Rooms in America with this new collection of his own work.

Thomas Jayne possesses a unique dual vision—he keeps one eye focused on the aesthetic traditions of the past, and the other looking forward: innovating, creating, and imagining interiors to suit modern sensibilities. His reverence for traditional ideas does not restrict Jayne’s understanding of what makes a beautiful room—rather than seeking to replicate and repeat the exact décor from past, Jayne finds inspiration in the distinctive histories of the spaces in which he works. In every project he undertakes, he draws on his rich academic background in the decorative arts to design interiors that harmonize with their historical settings, yet also connect intimately to the active and modern lives of families who call these remarkable buildings home.
 
Jayne believes that American interior decoration is unique in its combination of elements from European and Asian cultural traditions with indigenous ideas and materials, in its emphasis on comfort and livability, and in its human scale. Presented here for the first time, his projects reflect this sensibility, drawing from established traditions and reinterpreting them for contemporary life. Drawing on the legacies of Albert Hadley and Sister Parish, Jayne insists on authenticity and comfort, incorporating elegant antiques and art with a subtle but warm palette and a welcoming setting.
 
In this richly illustrated collection of both city and country residences, Jayne reveals the inspiration and thought behind each design, identifying elements from the architecture, the clients’ collections of art and antiques, and from the site itself that serves as the basis for the decoration of the rooms.