Review
"Though Paolo Moschino and Philip Vergleyen’s French bulldog Jack, who graces the cover of Susanna Salk’s At Home in the English Countryside: Designers and their Dogs, would not be my choice for a canine companion (too precious), the pooch does illustrate the thesis of the book, namely that dogs have the ability to tie a room together in a way that a Ming vase can’t quite. Through seventeen chapters, each featuring a famed British interior designer and his or her dogs—from Labradors to lurchers, Jack Russells to jaunty spaniels—Salk demonstrates how both canine art, and the dogs themselves, can alleviate the frightful grandeur of certain country homes, humanizing us in the process." —NEW CRITERION
"Much to our delight, Salk is back with a follow-up that is sure to have Anglophiles and their canine compatriots drooling. For At Home in the English Countryside: Designers and Their Dogs, out last week from Rizzoli, the author set out with photographer Stacey Bewkes on a road trip through rural England to visit 19 designers, their sprawling estates, and their resident pups. The residences—which range from stately Queen Anne mansions to Tudor farmhouses—are escapist treats on their own, of course, but they are made even more delightful by the four-legged friends who animate their well-appointed interiors. The book captures scenes of levity and grandeur: leggy whippets lounging on chintz cushions; a dachshund trotting down a hornbeam tunnel; a pug posing on a vintage Persian runner. Here, we present a few of our favorite tableaux." —ARCHITECTURAL DIGEST
"Celebrating British country life, At Home in the English Countryside: Designers and Their Dogs (Rizzoli; $50) offers charming design ideas on how to live stylishly with canine companions. From rose bushes to Retrievers and antique porcelain to Cavalier King Charles spaniels, some of Great Britain’s best—like Paolo Moschino and Kit Kemp—take readers on romps all around their dog-friendly abodes." —ATLANTA HOMES & LIFESTYLES
"You will see that even the most elegant, stylish, and well-appointed house is nothing but a shell without its inhabitants, especially the canine kind. At Home in the English Countryside features over 200 pages of beautiful images offering readers a personal, guided tour into some of England’s most spectacular homes and grounds. While we’re all grounded and sheltering in place in our homes, there’s never been a better time to get lost in a gorgeous book such as this." —THE ENTERTAINING HOUSE
About the Author
Lifestyle and design author, Susanna Salk has written many books, including the successful Be Your Own Decorator and The Power of Pattern. She also hosts (and co-produces) the Quintessence "At Home With" video series on YouTube featuring visits with leading tastemakers. Photographer Stacey Bewkes is the founder of Quintessence, a lifestyle blog and the co-producer of the "At Home With" series. Foreword writer Nina Campbell is the doyenne of English interior design today.
