Redeeming Features

by Nicky Haslam

Nicky Haslam's career as interior designer and contributor to 'Vogue' and 'Tatler' has brought him into contact with the rich and famous: Lucian Freud, David Hockney, Noel Coward, Andy Warhol, Jack Kennedy, Marilyn Monroe and many others.

368 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

Reviews

[Jill Meyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're up to date on your stylish Brits and Amos, you'll love Nicholas Haslam's autobiography, "Redeeming Features". Haslam was born to a wealthy and connected family in the early days of WW2. The youngest son - of three children - he was raised in a country home safely located outside London and the German bombings. After the war, he was stricken with polio and was bed-bound for a couple of years. He later was sent away to school, and then on to Eton. However, Nicky made a life outside of his four walls at Eton. Realising early his sexuality, he mainly used Eton as a base for his real life in London, amid the clever and trendy people he befriended. Haslam has lived life to the fullest, it seems, in his 70 years. He is currently an interior designer of note, and also writes for both shelter and style magazines. He's lived - and loved - in many places; London, the south of France, Morocco, Jamaica, Barbados, Los Angeles, and, for a short time, northern Arizona! Haslam "names names", but never in a mean way. His writing is delightful and the reader is introduced to many unforgettable characters Haslam has met, worked with, and loved in his life.

I can't really recommend this book to the average reader. I think if you didn't "know" at least most of the names he writes about, you wouldn't enjoy it. For those of us who do "know" the names, "Redeeming Features" is a fun read.

[Grace · Rating 1 out of 5]

So I bought this book for £1 on the library sale table, with no idea who Nicolas Haslam is, just because it had an interesting blurb and a great cover. This is where I should have slapped myself on the wrist because you really can't judge a book by its cover and I know this from previous experience so now for me this book optimizes this pitfall. It's terrible, poorly written with sentences which go on forever, a million name drops per page and the worst part is that there is a fascinating story just screaming to be let out! I struggled through over a hundred pages then just had to stop, if only he'd got someone else to write this for him! If only an editor had properly gone through this and been stricter before publication, the list of if only's in endless. I feel horrible writing this review about a seventy-two year old man, your meant to respect your elders, but really he comes across as someone who talks a lot but doesn't read. There's a vast vocabulary used throughout but it completely lacks any articulation. For those who don't know who Nicola Haslam is he's a famous British interior designer and socialite who throughout his life rubbed shoulders with the great and the good of English society. Sounds interesting doesn't he? Such a shame it's just a list of people who he barely knows, but who's names people might recognize. Don't waste your time or you money on this tripe.

[Meredith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although the first few pages didn't grab me, I really fell into this after the first chapters and thoroughly enjoyed his descriptions of life in London, and New York and Arizona (!) and Los Angeles. Cole Porter, Mick Jagger, Diana Vreeland, Diana Cooper, Princess Diana - he frequented them all. Lots of wonderful parties and houses and fashions. Good fun.

[Carla · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too much work to finish, especially for such a fluffy gossipy memoir. Name dropping doesn't begin to cover it.
All memoir, it seems to me, is an edited version of a life.In Haslam's case, what I'd really like to know about is what he leaves out.

[Leeleewells · Rating 3 out of 5]

so much of NY/LON society and dripping with neat facts from the 60's to present. Heavy on the name dropping, but inclined to research into different people, places, and most importantly design. Great example of someone being at the right place at the right time.

[Maureen Flatley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous! Could not put it down!

[Kurt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book. It connected the dots for me with my over-25 year collection World of Interiors magazine. A must read for anyone interested in the inner circles of decorating-design-society.