David Hicks is considered to be among the foremost interior designers of the 20th century. From the decoration of his own house in London in 1956&;in powerful colors that heralded an end to the drab, postwar English look&;he set the pace for interior design both in Europe and America. David Hicks: Designer looks at the most vital period of his career, from 1958 to 1979. Presenting 200 original color photos, many never before published, it displays a decorating oeuvre that ranged from apartments for Helena Rubinstein, the Niarchos children, and the Prince of Wales to yachts, private jets, and the glamorous New York offices of British Steel. Central to the book are the interiors of his own houses, where he mixed antique and modern with a groundbreaking command of style and color. This book is a splendid overview of the entire range of the designer&;s vision and talents, with chapters on English and New York interiors interspersed with sections on his designs for stores and offices, furniture and carpets, fabrics and wallpapers, tablescapes, graphics, and books.
The first section of this unique book is written by David Hicks' son, Ashley. Ashley gives a personal biographical account of the development of his father's work; descibing his influences, how he got started, his first commission, trials and tribulations in America, the peak of his career, success and finally the later stages of his life. Ashley describes for us his family homes, which his father decorated, mixing antique and modern with a command of style and colour that was made hugely influential by the publication of his nine books on interiors. These have become style bibles for many of today's designers, both young and old, including Gucci's Tom Ford. The second section of the book uses over 200 original colour photographs to illustrate the full range of the designer's vision and talent. These stylish images show a design oeuvre that ranged from apartments for Helena Rubenstein and the Prince of Wales, through yachts and private jets to the surprisingly glamorous offices of British Steel in New York. In addition, the book features his sculptures, drawings, sketches, furniture and fabric designs, photography and famous geometric carpets.
David Hicks: Designer is a fitting tribute to a glittering career and a uniquely charismatic man.
