Close Modal

Architectural Digest

Autobiography of a Magazine 1920-2010

Look inside
Hardcover
$65.00 US
9.38"W x 11.25"H x 1.36"D   | 76 oz | 6 per carton
On sale Oct 09, 2018 | 320 Pages | 9780847862757
The first and authoritative story of the rise of interior design from an intimate trade industry to celebrity decorators of today, as seen through the eyes of Architectural Digest and intimately told by Paige Rense--the magazine's iconic former editor-in-chief for over four decades.

Respected as the international authority on architecture and design, Architectural Digest magazine gives readers an exclusive look into the most spectacular properties and private homes of celebrities and cultural figures, highlighting the work of the world's top architects, designers, and interior decorators. This volume celebrates the evolution of the revered magazine as told through the voice of its legendary editor for four decades, Paige Rense. An epic visual history of the magazine's meteoric rise penned by Rense, this volume documents exclusively and intimately the renowned magazine's history and cultural significance, and celebration of the ever evolving homes and lifestyles.
This volume is full of candid recollections, commentary, archival covers, and interior shots of the magazine and also features the work of the world's top architects and interior designers such as Mario Buatta, Philip Johnson, Tony Duquette, and Sally Sirkin Lewis, as well as the homes of celebrities like Truman Capote, Sonny & Cher, Elton John, Diane Keaton and Ralph Lauren. Each chapter, written in the first person--is followed by lavishly illustrated anecdotes from Rense's memories of past issues. As the editor who gave readers a glimpse into the most enviable homes around the world, Rense is uniquely qualified to tell the story of Architectural Digest, a tale that her nearly one million loyal fans and readers of the magazine will be eager to read.
"In short: this book is a must for every well informed interior design library." —INTERIORDESIGNMASTERCLASS.COM

"Rense, who served as editor-in-chief of Architectural Digest for 35 years, assembles this visual history of the magazine with archival covers, interior spreads, and examples of the work of the world's top architects and interior designers" — Publisher's Weekly

"Discover the roots of the "high-end-residential" phenomenon that began with Architectural Digest, in Paige Rense's photo-rich, tell-all account." —Architectural Record


"Every era of interior design is included, and each chapter of the book is lavishly illustrated with archival covers and page spreads from past issues, while Rense provides pithy anecdotes about putting them together and the sometimes prickly personalities she encountered along the way – as well as many gracious boldface names who were simply happy to celebrate their good taste. We're sure you've already added a copy to your cart, but if not we suggest doing so post haste as no design library is complete without it." —AIROWS.COM
Paige Rense became editor-in-chief of Architectural Digest magazine in 1975, turning a provincial black-and-white Los Angeles publication with a circulation of 50,000 into an international superstar with a monthly readership of 5.4 million. She is also a published author and the founder of the Arthur Rense Prize poetry award. She has been the recipient of: The Museum of Arts & Design Achievement Award (2006), The American Academy of Achievement Award (2000), The Pratt Institute Founder Awards (1997), The Interior Design Hall of Fame Award (1985)

About

The first and authoritative story of the rise of interior design from an intimate trade industry to celebrity decorators of today, as seen through the eyes of Architectural Digest and intimately told by Paige Rense--the magazine's iconic former editor-in-chief for over four decades.

Respected as the international authority on architecture and design, Architectural Digest magazine gives readers an exclusive look into the most spectacular properties and private homes of celebrities and cultural figures, highlighting the work of the world's top architects, designers, and interior decorators. This volume celebrates the evolution of the revered magazine as told through the voice of its legendary editor for four decades, Paige Rense. An epic visual history of the magazine's meteoric rise penned by Rense, this volume documents exclusively and intimately the renowned magazine's history and cultural significance, and celebration of the ever evolving homes and lifestyles.
This volume is full of candid recollections, commentary, archival covers, and interior shots of the magazine and also features the work of the world's top architects and interior designers such as Mario Buatta, Philip Johnson, Tony Duquette, and Sally Sirkin Lewis, as well as the homes of celebrities like Truman Capote, Sonny & Cher, Elton John, Diane Keaton and Ralph Lauren. Each chapter, written in the first person--is followed by lavishly illustrated anecdotes from Rense's memories of past issues. As the editor who gave readers a glimpse into the most enviable homes around the world, Rense is uniquely qualified to tell the story of Architectural Digest, a tale that her nearly one million loyal fans and readers of the magazine will be eager to read.

Praise

"In short: this book is a must for every well informed interior design library." —INTERIORDESIGNMASTERCLASS.COM

"Rense, who served as editor-in-chief of Architectural Digest for 35 years, assembles this visual history of the magazine with archival covers, interior spreads, and examples of the work of the world's top architects and interior designers" — Publisher's Weekly

"Discover the roots of the "high-end-residential" phenomenon that began with Architectural Digest, in Paige Rense's photo-rich, tell-all account." —Architectural Record


"Every era of interior design is included, and each chapter of the book is lavishly illustrated with archival covers and page spreads from past issues, while Rense provides pithy anecdotes about putting them together and the sometimes prickly personalities she encountered along the way – as well as many gracious boldface names who were simply happy to celebrate their good taste. We're sure you've already added a copy to your cart, but if not we suggest doing so post haste as no design library is complete without it." —AIROWS.COM

Author

Paige Rense became editor-in-chief of Architectural Digest magazine in 1975, turning a provincial black-and-white Los Angeles publication with a circulation of 50,000 into an international superstar with a monthly readership of 5.4 million. She is also a published author and the founder of the Arthur Rense Prize poetry award. She has been the recipient of: The Museum of Arts & Design Achievement Award (2006), The American Academy of Achievement Award (2000), The Pratt Institute Founder Awards (1997), The Interior Design Hall of Fame Award (1985)