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White Webb

Italy of my Dreams – The Story of an American Designer’s Real Life Passion for Italian Style

Design Log

7 Apr
italy-of-my-dreams

After a long, cold winter, spring blossoms finally emerge to inspire and delight. And so, after ten years of working on my first book, it is finally ready to face the world.

italy-of-my-dreams-bookItaly of my Dreams shares my story of the many ways Italy has transformed how I see beauty and how it influences my personal style, even today. The nearly 200-page book takes an in-depth look at four of my own homes (past and present) to show how each one was inspired by different aspects of Italian design. From Roman and Florentine villas to Venetian palaces and finally to Palladio, each chapter offers a history and visual study of timeless style.

Published by Pointed Leaf Press, a leader in books on design, art and lifestyle, Italy of my Dreams is a bit different from other designer tomes. Rather than a survey of unrelated design projects, everything in this book is connected and highly personal. I share my development as a young designer growing up in the Texas Panhandle followed by my first discovery of Italy. Each chapter begins with a history of a particular type of Italian house, then goes on to show how that style influenced great American tastemakers such as Thomas Jefferson, Stanford White and Edith Wharton. Finally, the idea is brought to the present with stunning photographs by Art Gray of my own Italian-inspired homes.

From its introduction by John Loring to the epilogue that shares how Italian style quietly seeps into the work of White Webb, Italy of my Dreams is filled with inspirational imagery, personal stories and a deep love for Italy.

Click here to purchase directly from the publisher.
Click here to purchase from Amazon.

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To add a touch of drama to a NYC loft, we designed To add a touch of drama to a NYC loft, we designed a folding screen inset with antiqued mirror as a backdrop for a stunning Buddha figure.  Set atop an architectural fragment we repurposed as a console and flanked by gorgeous Klismos chairs, it’s a study in serenity and beautiful forms.  📸 by @artgrayphoto  #whitewebbinteriors #interiordesign #nycloft #foldingscreen #nycinteriors
Marveling in the clipped perfection of these topia Marveling in the clipped perfection of these topiary gardens @chateaudelaballue  #designinspo #landscapedesign #gardendesign
Dog people, cat people and bird people are a breed Dog people, cat people and bird people are a breed among themselves. Matthew recalls the memories of past lives of his beloved dogs from childhood onward, through old photos and other meaningful objects. Not that he needs reminding of their existence or their love. The exhibition catalog of “designers and their dogs” titled BARK, with photos by @andrewfrenchphotographer was produced by @samanthanester 
#dogs #beagles #dachshunds #bassethounds #hounds
For a home we designed in New York’s Hudson Valley For a home we designed in New York’s Hudson Valley, a pair of antique globes set the stage for some serious exploration in the library just beyond.  📸 by @artgrayphoto  #interiordesign #hudsonvalleyhomes #hudsonvalleyinteriordesigner #library
Some juicy color whets the appetite on an outdoor Some juicy color whets the appetite on an outdoor dining patio we designed in New York’s Hudson Valley.  📸 by @artgrayphoto
Repost from @modern.architect. It’s AI, but who’s Repost from @modern.architect.  It’s AI, but who’s up for making it real?  We love the melding of old and new in this visionary seaside design by @matitectura.
Three of these clocks have been in Matthew’s colle Three of these clocks have been in Matthew’s collection for more than twenty years, all have stories. The rooster clock is carved wood, possibly Italian, or perhaps Scandinavian? The most recent addition and most simple in design holds layered meaning that is deeply felt. This English clock from the 1930s gets wound every Sunday and keeps excellent time, each quarter hour heralded by resonate chimes. Matthew loves old clocks so much he wrote a book on the topic! @abbevillepress #antiqueclocks #clocks #clockchimes
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