Make It Fabulous: The Architecture and Designs of William T. Georgis - Hardcover

Georgis, William T.; Albrecht, Donald; Shivers, Natalie

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1580933319 ISBN 13: 9781580933315

Publisher: The Monacelli Press, 2013

Synopsis

Sumptuous and scrupulous in equal measure, the work of William T. Georgis is a glamorous blend of high-style architecture and expressive, innovative applications of the traditions of the decorative arts. In the twenty years since he founded his namesake firm, Georgis has created a dazzling portfolio consisting primarily of houses and apartments; other projects include restaurants, commercial interiors, and galleries. Georgis melds elegant architecture, imaginative furniture and fixtures (often custom-designed), and a layered assembly of art and objects with what he terms "a bit of magic." A thoughtful eclecticism, informed by an extensive knowledge of art, architecture, and the decorative arts, characterizes all his work.

The first monograph on Georgis, Make It Fabulous presents sixteen houses and apartments in New York City, Long Island, Florida, Montana, and California. All the residences were designed around important art collections and often include specially commisioned pieces. Among the projects showcased are Georgis's own homes, a smoked-glass townhouse in New York and a vacation house that hangs over the bay in La Jolla, California. Also included in the volume are Chinatown Brasserie, a theatrical eatery in lower Manhattan, and the interiors of historic Lever House, a respectful restoration of a modern masterpiece.

Along with lavish, large-scale photography, each project features the architect's trenchant commentary on the architecture, the decoration, and the process. Perceptive essays by design historians Donald Albrecht and Natalie Shivers illuminate Georgis's relationships with his clients, or "patrons," and the creation of narratives in his work. Multifaceted and multilayered, just like the work, this inventive volume is a virtuoso tutorial in the world of fabulous.

About this title

About the Author:

William T. Georgis established his New York-based architecture and interior design firm in 1992. He has designed numerous residential projects, including townhouses, apartments, vacation houses, and a private jet. He has also designed the Tiffany & Co. Foundation Gallery at the Museum of the City of New York, restaurants, condominiums, and commercial projects.

Donald Albrecht is the curator of architecture and design at the Museum of the City of New York and a leading expert on twentieth-century architecture and design. He is the editor of Paris/New York: Design/Fashion/Culture 1925-1940, author of Cecil Beaton: The New York Years, and co-editor of Eero Saarinen: Shaping the Future.

Natalie Shivers is associate university architect at Princeton University. She has served as an editor for books and exhibitions on architecture and design at major museums around the country, and she is the co-author of L.A.'s Early Moderns: Art, Architecture, Photography.

Review:

“The architect William T. Georgis makes glamorous and naughty environments for ‘merchant princes,’ as he describes his clients: art-world and real-estate heavies like Aby Rosen, for whom he renovated the interiors of Lever House in Manhattan. Sixteen of Mr. Georgis’s projects are collected in Make It Fabulous: The Architecture and Design of William T. Georgis. The monograph manages to turn the polite conventions of design books upside down.” —The New York Times

“For his first monograph, AD100 architect and designer William T. Georgis didn’t opt for an eponymous title. That would be too simple, especially for someone known for such distinctive and, occasionally, challenging spaces. Instead, he went with the directive he most often hears: ‘I’m always having clients say, “Oh yeah, just make it fabulous.”’ And fabulous the book is.” —Architectural Digest
 
“Make it Fabulous will drive connoisseurs of design porn wild.” —Vanity Fair
 
“A gorgeous coffee-table book from architect and designer William T. Georgis will give you serious real estate envy. From Park Avenue penthouses to Palm Beach vacation homes—and even a Chinese restaurant—Make it Fabulous explores the public and private spaces created by Georgis, renowned as both an architect and a decorator." —Entertainment Weekly

“Architect and interior designer William T. Georgis is known for his ability to blend high-style architecture and modern decorative arts, and now he’s giving out all his insider tips in his new book, Make It Fabulous: The Architecture and Designs of William T. Georgis. The 248-page tome offers an in-depth look at 16 houses and apartments he worked on throughout his career, spanning from Park Avenue to La Jolla, California.” —InStyle.com

“Uptown but impertinent.” —Elle Decor

“Georgis, who boasts a seriously boldface clientele, is famous for his exceptional interiors. He favors an integrated approach that includes designing custom furniture and accessories—no real surprise, considering Georgis grew up admiring the works of Frank Lloyd Wright and later studied under Michael Graves at Princeton." —Modern Luxury Interiors California

“‘I love to shock,’ Georgis concedes in Make it Fabulous. Yet careers built singularly on shock value have a short shelf life. What elevates his interiors above tongue-in-cheek one-liners are the multiple layers of art and design knowledge, historical context, and narrative thrust that underpin them.” —Introspective Magazine

About this edition

• Publisher: The Monacelli Press
• Publication date: 2013
• ISBN 10: 1580933319
• ISBN 13: 9781580933315
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 240