Caribbean Elegance

Rating:
Summary: Caribbean Elegance
Review: Michael Connors and Bruce Buck have given me a fun and educational experience in their creative endeavor "Caribbean Elegance". I hope to see more of each individual island's gift to its historical history provided by their craftsman and furniture makers. Especially fascinating were their fabulous Cuban ventures, which makes me feel they only scratched the surface leaving lots to encounter in future. This one is an asset to any coffee table collection!

Rating:
Summary: A tantalizing lesson in Caribbean furniture and history
Review: Michael Connors and Bruce Buck have given me a fun and educational experience in their creative endeavor "Caribbean Elegance". I hope to see more of each individual island's gift to its historical history provided by their craftsman and furniture makers. Especially fascinating were their fabulous Cuban ventures, which makes me feel they only scratched the surface leaving lots to encounter in future. This one is an asset to any coffee table collection!

Rating:
Summary: Caribbean Elegance
Review: Reading this book is like being invited to an elegant house party in the Caribbean. You then enter a world of magical realism, in which you sit in the veranda of an 18th century "Great House" with beautiful ocean views, and your pick of antique "planters' chairs," with cool drinks waiting on a "cupping table." You listen to tales of planters and merchants, of sugar cane fields and slaves turned artisans. The material culture of the Caribbean is presented here, seen through the lens of historical events, the experiences of the wealthy and those who served them. You learn wonderful details about the subtle differences of styles on the Spanish, Dutch, English, French and Danish islands. The photographs are beautiful and range from vistas to architecture to furniture and their details. It is also a very scholarly work, of interest to anyone who loves antiques, craftsmanship, history and the Caribbean.
This book is truly an experience you can come back to again and again, and discover something new (or old...).

Rating:
Summary: Magical Realism
Review: Reading this book is like being invited to an elegant house party in the Caribbean. You then enter a world of magical realism, in which you sit in the veranda of an 18th century "Great House" with beautiful ocean views, and your pick of antique "planters' chairs," with cool drinks waiting on a "cupping table." You listen to tales of planters and merchants, of sugar cane fields and slaves turned artisans. The material culture of the Caribbean is presented here, seen through the lens of historical events, the experiences of the wealthy and those who served them. You learn wonderful details about the subtle differences of styles on the Spanish, Dutch, English, French and Danish islands. The photographs are beautiful and range from vistas to architecture to furniture and their details. It is also a very scholarly work, of interest to anyone who loves antiques, craftsmanship, history and the Caribbean.
This book is truly an experience you can come back to again and again, and discover something new (or old...).

Rating:
Summary: Caribbean Excellence!
Review: This book is a fabulous stroll through the history of all the caribbean islands complete with wonderful photographs. Influences on the design linked with a glimpse into life on the islands make this an engaging book difficult to put down.

Rating:
Summary: Caribbean Elegance
Review: This book was exactly what I was searching for. Not only is it visually stunning, but it provides a wealth of historical information on Caribbean style and furnishing. A wonderful resource if you want to understand how this very unique style of interior design came to be.