The Best of Architecture Meets Interior Design in 'America's Finest Rooms'

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed)
Mar 25th 2011 at 10:01AM

Refinement is not about expense, notes Thomas Jayne in his new book "The Finest Rooms in America," a definitive, luxuriously illustrated record of the country's best interior design from the 18th century to the present day. Jayne, a top-drawer interior designer and scholar of American decor, includes a complete cross section of rooms covering a broad range of American periods and styles, beginning with the Tea Room at Thomas Jefferson's Monticello.

The rooms range from opulent to rustic, and traditional to modern, spanning the breadth of the country. Among those featured are the dining room at George Washington's Mount Vernon, the dressing room at Vizcaya in Miami, the living room at Frank Lloyd Wright's Hollyhock House in Los Angeles, the dining room at the Saarinen House at Cranbrook, Michigan, and the living room by Frances Elkins at Casa Amesti in Monterey, California.

Gallery: The Finest Rooms in America

Some belong (or belonged) to well-known names like Oscar de la Renta, Mark Hampton, the du Ponts and Mark Twain. Many of the rooms have never been published before while others are cherished classics. Jayne places each room in its historical and design context, identifying the elements that contribute to its success and merit the moniker of America's Finest.

Check out the gallery above for a preview!

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