Alidad: The Timeless Home

Min Hogg's brief foreword to "Alidad: The Timeless Home" notes that this Persian-born interior designer entered the field after studying mathematics, statistics, and computer sciences. If this seems initially puzzling, it will, upon further familiarity with this book, appear to be quite the blessing. Alidad's design style, like those of Ann Getty, Howard Slatkin, and the maestros who orchestrated the decor of Yves Saint Laurent's homes, is one of an enveloping, highly-detailed luxury. At the same time, it stands apart in the discipline and editing that Alidad has brought to bear in his use of space, proportion, and pattern. The welcome result is a lasting impression of refinement. In presenting the work of Alidad, Rizzoli chose not to link individual chapters to individual homes. On the one hand, this makes it difficult for the reader to mentally relate pages widely scattered throughout the book to one another. On the other, it has paved the way for a stronger development of theme and design approach, producing in the end a worthy tutorial for better understanding the challenges faced in interior design and the genius that underlies the best results. These themes focus on vision, the creation of home, flow and movement in space, details in made-to-measure furniture and fittings, mood, light, and timelessness. The book has an unusual amount of text, providing interpretations by Sarah Stewart-Smith as well as numerous quotes from Alidad himself. In some of the homes showcased in this book, Alidad has opted either for a modernist look with off-white walls, light-colored furniture, and a generous use of glass, or for a light-colored English garden aesthetic. But the prevailing style that defines Alidad's work, especially when the client lives in the Middle East, is a blend of dark walls, Persian carpets, textured fabrics, and a layering of geometric patterns. Carmine reds, forest greens, and medium-tone yellows predominate in these rooms. Persian and Ottoman touches are used, adding to the effect of richness, but Alidad uses them with discretion. All told then, Alidad's work is exceptionally beautiful and tasteful, and Rizzoli has done a superb job in producing a book to his high standards.

wow! I am slathering over this book! a very well made, handsome book with a beautiful dust jacket, gorgeous detailed photos on each page. Alidad writes descriptions of each of the rooms he features while a running text by Sarah Stewart-Smith is available. Ms. Stewart-Smith's commentary is pretty much fluff but it is fascinating to read Alidad,s motivation and thought process behind each of his fantastical creations. I love that he incorporates completely hidden storage in the most unexpected places. Even the doors to some rooms blend invisibly into the walls. He spares no expense on using only the BEST materials: linen velvet, unexpected ways to incorporate marble, mirrors, tiles, lighting - all in a way I have never really seen in my Elle Décor and Veranda magazines. Another thing I love about this book is that it is easy to see ways to replicate some of his ideas - but in a modified and affordable way. Rather than installing walls of gorgeous stripes of marble, I could use a great quality paint in a similar color and have my own version of the look. Inspiring and dreamy!

The book was very well illustrated and has beautiful rooms from which to gain ideas in regards to details not so much the actual rooms as few of us have so many fine things. I think the look can be achieved although edited. I prefer a book that starts with a glamorous look that I can modify rather than one that is so generic that to doctor the look would take too much thought . Overall a great book for ideas and how to display collections and art.

Beautifully rendered book of Alidad's work. Photography is outstanding descriptions are helpful and altogether a tremendous look into his work. A tremendous source of inspiration for that next little project.

Nice, colorful, interiors, however are quite similar. Priced just right. Quality of pictures is great. Interesting that Mr. Alidad made couple of pictures of "before" unfurnished and unfinished concrete walls in the rooms to make it known that he made his interiors " from scratch"

One of today’s leading designers, catering to those seeking luxury, beauty and sumptuousness. A visual treat to read and dream with.

What an interesting book. Have never seen decorating like this, Each page is a delight to look at. Most people could never afford to decorate rooms like this, but you can use what you see for inspiration in your own home, or just look and marvel. Very happy to have this book.

Have you ever wonder what will be living inside Jennie's bottle.? Wonder no more. Alidad interiors are luxurious and made of layers upon layers of the best. I was surprised that many interiors did not have major art (I imagine that as many of the houses decorated being of muslims they have the rule to avoid human representation), but that did not deter Alidad of making a lush interior full of textures and incredible surfaces to look and touch. A+

This is the interior decorating book I've been waiting for. It is sumptuous,decadent, gorgeous. Each room is full of colour,texture and life. These are all rooms Alidad has created for clients or for himself. His bespoke creations show how layers of colour and furnishings and accoutrements from all genres and of great value or no value can be put together to create wonderful,livable rooms that are exciting and welcoming. The text is very readable and interesting and his comments echo my own ideas and ideals for creating and decorating a home as opposed to a house.

Libro fotografico molto interessante con foto di interni di grande qualità e impatto!

Variedad de comentarios y fotografías acerca del famoso decorador.Muy influenciado por tema de oriente medio.Consigue congelar el momento en la decoración de sus casas.

Great book very inspirational!

Alidad est un grand décorateur méconnu en France me qui mérite pourtant d'être connu pour son savoir faire des mélanges d'ambiances.