New Classic Interiors (italics) by Alessandra Branca
(Stewart Tabori & Chang, October 2009)
Reviewed by Annie Kelly

When I first heard about this book I wasn't sure I wanted to review it. The title, New Classic Interiors (italics) sounded like many other new books out today, so I didn’t know what to expect.

But when I got into Ms. Branca’s book, I loved it for its big bold graphics, fabulous colors, and pages packed with great ideas. The book designers, Doug Turshen and David Huang, give New Classic Interiors (italics) a lot of flair and style which they manifest in combination of Branca's terrific color sense, ultimately giving her ideas punch and focus throughout the book. Having skilled photography to work with is also a big help – Thibault Jeanson (the principal photographer) and the other contributing photographers are from the top of their field.

The book explains how Branca’s Italian heritage has given her work a sense of balance and proportion. "To be born in Rome is to be born with the design gene," writes Branca, and it is obvious that she has embraced credo this with open arms. New Classic Interiors (italics) begins at her home in Rome and then shows her own apartments in Chicago and New York which she enlivens with other projects in Los Angeles, Southampton, and Florida. Her favorite color combination is red, black and white, and the book shows what a fool-proof combination this is even when the walls are black – yes really!

Another favored mix is red and yellow which makes a big-city apartment in winter look warm and welcoming. I like Branca's fabric choices and wish she had mentioned more about them in the captions. Her rule is "The more sophisticated the fabric, the simpler you should treat it," which is why her Fortuny cushions are made without elaborate welting and gimp. In the back of the book Branca credits Carolina Irving, Claremont, Bennison, and Rogers and Goffingon as fabric sources, any of which is a great start for any room. Another tip is her use of stripe, which she says "are like architectural columns. They raise your eye." Branca also uses them on floors (which make the room seem larger) and on upholstery where they go beautifully with pattern.

"I love a tented room. It immediately says that something fun is about to happen here," writes the designer. She shows a couple of her favorites, but this is an idea that should be used more often as it can hide a myriad of unwanted details as well as creating instant atmosphere. Branca demonstrates how she useful tenting is by her transformation of an enclosed terrace into a children's imaginative play space.

Branca includes a couple of layouts of living room arrangements – often the largest all-purpose room where most of us could use some help. "I'll often put a table behind a sofa because it can double as a desk, a serving area for drinks, or even be turned into an informal place to have dinner," she writes. As an Italian the designer was born with a love of food, and New Classic Interiors (italics) shows many colorful and chic dining spaces ready for dinner with family and friends. "...but to keep the table from looking too formal, instead of candles in classic white, try orange," is a clever suggestion. Together with a huge bunch of orange tulips on a white tablecloth, this room gets a quick fix of drama – and that's what good decorating is all about!