Ashley Hicks Books

David Hicks Scrapbooks By: Ashley Hicks The most famous British designer of his day, David Hicks (1929–1998) wowed the English decorating world with his bold geometric prints, electrifying color combinations, and quirky mix of antique and contemporary furniture. Thanks to his prodigious talent, his gift—and penchant—for publicity, and his connection to the royal family through his marriage to Lady Pamela Mountbatten (cousin of Prince Philip), Hicks attracted an A-list clientele drawn from the aristocracy, media, and fashion. For decades, Hicks documented every salient moment of his life in scrapbooks, amassing 24 volumes in all. They contain press clippings, party invitations, swatches of his signature textile patterns, sketches of interiors...

Inspirational and visually on trend, Ashley Hicks's latest work is a pattern book for the 21st century. Offering insights and revelations, Hicks's own exquisitely quirky and colorful historicist interiors are discussed with designs from the recent and faraway past. Ashley Hicks has created a mix of manifesto, souvenir album, and confession in this collection of noteworthy rooms--featuring his own one-of-a-kind interiors along with rooms that have inspired him. The manifesto aspect is rather limited, since Hicks is not a great believer in aesthetic rules or the value of so-called good taste, but as a souvenir album, it charts Hicks's personal creative journey of the last few years, illustrated with photographs of some favorite historical interiors and objects that represent a mixture of source material and inspiration. The book's twelve chapters reveal Hicks's creative process, how he approaches different themes in his own interiors, furniture designs, and works of art, and how these themes can be applied to the works of others. Such subjects as flowers, color, layers, form, pattern, and memory are presented in the context of actual projects. Historical and recent interiors are discussed for their decorative value--notable rooms and architecture include the Pantheon in Rome; Emperor Maximilian's tomb in Innsbruck; the Royal Pavilion, Brighton; and the Petit Trianon at Versailles. Hicks has created a book for devotees of decorating and the history of interior design. About the author Ashley Hicks is a British author, architect, interior and furniture designer, and photographer. He is the son of Lady Pamela Hicks and the legendary decorator David Hicks. His personal Instagram profile has amassed over 200,000 followers. Christian Louboutin is a celebrated French shoe designer.