Great Escapes: Inspirational Homes in Stunning Locations

by Judith H. Miller, Simon Upton (Photographer)

A lucky few are able to escape the mundane realities of life, retreating to homes in some of the worlds most beautiful places. Great Escapes joins the owners, detailing their experiences, and revealing what makes these places so special.'

Genres: Interior Design, Architecture

187 pages, Hardcover

First published August 12, 1999

About the author

Judith Henderson Miller began collecting in the 1960s while a student at Edinburgh University in Scotland. She had since extended and reinforced her knowledge through international research, becoming one of the world’s leading experts in the field. In 1979 she co-founded the best-selling Miller’s Antiques Price Guide and has since written more than 100 books, covering antiques, collectibles, architecture and interior design.

Judith was an expert on the BBC’s Antiques Roadshow, and had also appeared on The Martha Stewart Show and CNN. She was a regular contributor to newspapers and magazines, including Financial Times, The Telegraph, BBC Homes & Antiques and House & Garden. She lectured extensively, including at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London and the Smithsonian in Washington.
She died in April 2023

Reviews

[Mariko Blakemore · Rating 4 out of 5]

While many people who will consider this book may do so for an assumed coffee table appeal, it's actually much more than that.

The images are lovely, yes, but the writing is actually really good. For someone like me who works in the industry, I gained a greater appreciation when I started to read the book. The authors go into detail about the approach to each home as a retreat/escape. They speak about the challenges the designers or owners may have encountered and what was done to realize their final vision. They also talk a little about the philosophy of creating different tranquil spaces for the various clientele, location-specific lessons, architectural elements, etc.

One important connection I made while reading this book was the importance of creating vignettes within an overall design. Vignettes feature heavily in the photography, and are described in detail, and I think this is for a very good reason. When it comes do designing a place of respite and relaxation, your client will experience the space in morsels (a nook to read in, a patio to sunbathe on, a window perch to enjoy morning coffee, etc.), thus, the vignette becomes an even more important consideration in the overall design. No corner can be chaotic, and comfort must be considered as paramount.

[Michael Heath-Caldwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book on amazing houses around the world, concentrating on holiday houses.