Thad Hayes, the Tailored Interior,
Published by Rizzoli.
Reviewed by Annie Kelly

For anyone that likes accomplished and sophisticated interiors there are quite a few new books out there. From Michael S. Smith Houses, to Jeffrey Bilhuber:Defining Luxury, and Modern Luxury by Richard Mishaan, here is another to add to the growing pile. Thad Hayes, the Tailored Interior published in April by Rizzoli.
This is not a “how-to” book; it is written and laid out like a traditional magazine and happily the captions are extensive and descriptive. Hayes was lucky to have the accomplished Scott Frances take most of the photographs, and the book is beautifully laid out. However room after room of elegant furniture and pastel walls look as though they need an invasion of children and dogs to break the chilly perfection of each space.

As Charles Gandee notes in his introduction to the book “At first glance, Hayes's obsession with order can appear intimidating: looking through the glossy, perfectly organized stacks of laminated photographs that document each of his projects, you search in vain for something-anything-amiss.”
“I'm there for every shoot,” explains Hayes, who does not suffer loose ends or random clutter. “People do actually live in these spaces,” he reassures. “But it's true, I do 'style' each shoot.'”

Thad Hayes, the Tailored Interior (italics) takes us through twenty-one of his decorating projects, which range from mainly New York apartments, to a Tudor Revival in Texas, as well as an attractive and historic Palm Beach Florida oceanfront property. Hayes gives each place symmetry, clarity, and elegance and it is easy to see why he is at the top of his field. 1stdibs readers would probably enjoy the East End Avenue apartment Hayes decorated for an art dealer as he confidently handles furnishings by Jean Royere, Maurice Jallot, Rene Prou, and Jean Pascaud with his client's large collection of modern paintings and photography. My favorite is the upstate country house Hayes decorated for New York clients, perhaps because it is the only house that could absorb a mess without insult. Here he was able to break from his Manhattan-based portfolio and indulge in his “....passion for things American, naïve, and handmade which he honed years ago when he owned an 1830’s farmhouse in the Catskill Mountains and developed an affinity for folk art.”

According to Gandee, “Rigorous and restrained is how Hayes characterizes his work, though the word reserved also captures something essential about his approach to design. The same could be said about the designer's personality, which is calm, considered, and as even-keeled as his interiors.”
In today's world, that is an excellent advertisement for this very competent decorator.
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