Lifting the Curtain on Design

by Vicente Wolf

Simplify, Connect, Expand. These principles, each fundamental to the practice of design, provide the framework for interior designer Vicente Wolf’s engaging new book. Wolf is famous for his modern and elegant style, always guided by integrity and simplicity. Lifting the Curtain on Design delves into his selected themes from myriad viewpoints: through the prism of international travel, via the detailed focus on a single project, and finally by means of the sweeping perspective of a seasoned design mind.

Wolf, an inveterate voyager, leaves his New York studio once a year to immerse himself in the culture of a distant land. In this volume, illustrated entirely with his own photographs, he recounts a trip to Namibia: with its sand dunes and sunsets, this southern African country is “a landscape that has been reduced to its essence.” A journey to Papua New Guinea makes clear the connections between cultures, as well as the connections that may be fostered through skilled design. And Bhutan is a lesson in expanding horizons and experiences.

It is in Wolf’s design that the essence of his three principles, suggested in his travels, is fully illuminated. In a step-by-step account of two recent interiors—a traditional apartment and an open loft—Wolf describes his initial design process, the various phases of construction, the expert selection of color palettes and furniture, and the final installation of art and decorative objects. He also explains the development of the dramatic tablescapes for which he is so well known, which balance style, form, and color with humor and ease. Finally, a dazzling presentation of Wolf’s current projects touches on grand design gestures and minute yet indispensable details. Lifting the Curtain on Design offers a glimpse into the mind of the designer at work, from inspiration through implementation to unforgettable finished room.

Genres: Interior Design, Design

224 pages, Hardcover

First published October 19, 2010

Reviews

[Florence]

This beautiful coffee table book written by Vicente Wolf inspires the reader with his travel photos and those of various job sites; he explains the design process, his choices, artistry, and unusual decor (purchased during his annual travel) specifically for his clients. Amazing!

[False · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not really my taste, and he does have a definite design. He delights in gutting interiors and restructuring them. Would if we all could afford that. He is big on ethnic pieces he seems to get predominately in Thailand. Large bronze discs, carved heads, beaded pieces all held on iron stands. Asymmetrical mirrors and paintings over mantels and tables. Ethnic chairs in mother of pearl and carved woods, wicker and cane mixed with the very modern. His color palette runs heavy on blues, browns and grays.