Through a Designer's Eye - Hardback Book - A Focus on Interiors - by Matthew Patrick Smyth - 9781580935418 - Monacelli Press

Through a Designer's Eye presents Smyth's recent work ranging from a traditional Park Avenue apartment and an edgy Tribeca loft in Manhattan to waterfront houses in Florida, New England, and Long Island that demonstrate his skills in responding to context and eliciting preferences of clients to create a unique environment for each. Nowhere is this better seen than in his own house in Salisbury, Connecticut, an unexpected 1970s prefabricated deck house now elegantly appointed with an eclectic mix of furniture, objects, and works of art he and his partner have collected over many years. Smyth's engaging, first-person narrative references formative experiences with theater and photography and focuses on five elements of interior design - appreciating of artisanal and handcrafted elements, understanding of history and context, evaluating light and seasonal change, weaving furnishings and art into a coherent mise-en-scene, creating an inviting atmosphere - that contribute to successful spaces. Illustrating the text are lush photographs of completed rooms, interspersed with Smyth's own vignettes and details, which add a unique visual layer to the presentation.