The New Hacienda

Rating:
Summary: Book Review--New Mexico Magazine
Review: "Mexican Country Style" and "The New Hacienda"
Both of these books are helpful in understanding the reinterpretation of Mexico's indigenous styles and architecture, in the latter case, particularly the transformations that haciendas surviving the land reforms have undergone in recent years...In "The New Hacienda", colonial antiques and historic objects are shown intermingled with contemporary notions of art and comfort, rendering a visually pleasing balance between old and new. Also included is a guide to Mexican haciendas, which may be visited...Both of these books will thrill anyone with an interest in interior design.
--New Mexico Magazine, March 2000

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Summary: Veranda Magazine, December, 1999
Review: "Like a great wave reaching shore, the popularity of Mexican style washing from West to East has beached. Its rusticated furnishings, no longer considered orphans of style, can be seen in all manner of homes from coast to coast. The splendor of this regional style is celebrated in The New Hacienda by Karen Witynski and Joe P. Carr. They offer an insightful first-person account of their experience discovering the region and stress the importance of the hacienda to Mexico's architectural and decorative vernacular... The volume concludes with an extensive source guide of retail outlets, architects and hacienda hotels."

Rating:
Summary: Book Review--New Mexico Magazine
Review: "Mexican Country Style" and "The New Hacienda"
Both of these books are helpful in understanding the reinterpretation of Mexico's indigenous styles and architecture, in the latter case, particularly the transformations that haciendas surviving the land reforms have undergone in recent years...In "The New Hacienda", colonial antiques and historic objects are shown intermingled with contemporary notions of art and comfort, rendering a visually pleasing balance between old and new. Also included is a guide to Mexican haciendas, which may be visited...Both of these books will thrill anyone with an interest in interior design.
--New Mexico Magazine, March 2000

Rating:
Summary: Better Homes & Gardens Decorating Magazine, Spring 2000
Review: "The New Hacienda covers the transformation of Mexico's historic haciendas into modern country homes, taking the reader to the sometimes hidden places where these unique gems have been restored. Originally the homesteads of Mexico's cattle, coffee, sugar, and wheat producers, haciendas incorporate Spanish and Mexican elements. Witynski and Carr show their love of the hacienda's strong architectural and interior features, including altar tables, hand-painted tiles, sturdy doors, courtyards, and painted walls, with every turn of the page. Today, these features are the touchstones for a revival of hacienda design. --Better Homes & Gardens Decorating Magazine

Rating:
Summary: New Mexico Magazine, March 2000
Review: "The New Hacienda, with more than 100 color photos, is a feast for the eyes as the authors reveal the modern-day transformation of haciendas. Colonial antiques and historic country objects are shown intermingled with contemporary notions of art and comfort, rendering a visually pleasing balance between old and new. Both The New Hacienda and Mexican Country Style will thrill anyone with an interest in interior design." --New Mexico Magazine

Rating:
Summary: Absolutely beautiful!
Review: Karen Witynski and Joe Carr have done the impossible and have created, a beautiful follow-up to Mexican Country Style. The inviting cover pulls you into each chapter and the spectactular photography demands you turn every page slowly and take in the narrative as it describes hacienda lifestyles. You will return to this book again and again.

Rating:
Summary: Absolutely beautiful!
Review: Karen Witynski and Joe Carr have done the impossible and have created, a beautiful follow-up to Mexican Country Style. The inviting cover pulls you into each chapter and the spectactular photography demands you turn every page slowly and take in the narrative as it describes hacienda lifestyles. You will return to this book again and again.

Rating:
Summary: An eye-opening source book of interior design
Review: The collaborative effort of Karen Witynski and Joe P. Carr (joint owners of Texture Antiques, an Austin, Texas-based interior design firm and gallery specializing in hacienda style, Mexican colonial furniture and architectural elements), The New Hacienda is an eye-opening source book of interior design showcasing ideas drawn from Mexico's remote country estates. Full-color photography and raptly descriptive text combine to present the flavor and history of homes on both sides of the border. An impression-forming and memorable showcase spotlighting deep brown and yellow colors, and artifacts of Mexican culture. Also very highly recommended is the Karen Witynski and Joe P. Carr collaboration, Mexican Country Style

Rating:
Summary: The New Hacienda--Latin Style Magazine; 9/01
Review: The New Hacienda garnered the prestigious La Pluma de Plata (Silver Pen) Award from Mexico's Ministry of Tourism. Presented to authors Witynski and Carr by Mexican President Ernesto Zedillo, the award is a testament to the book's distinctive celebration of Mexico's restored haciendas.
--Latin Style Magazine, September 2001

Rating:
Summary: Inspiring Book
Review: The New Hacienda is a beautiful and inspiring book for anyone who loves Mexico's art, design, and hacienda-style culture. From traditional architectural elements to colonial antiques, the book reveals many rich details for those seeking ideas and inspiration in creating a hacienda-style home of their own. I found the book's Resource section especially helpful for contacting design sources here in the states. Also, after writing the authors at their site I found out that they have restored a colonial hacienda in the Yucatan which is now available as a vacation rental and Mexican Design Center.