April 2, 2014

One Man’s Folly: The Party and The Book.

First, thanks so much to Bunny Williams and John Rosselli for hosting this amazing party to celebrate one of the most beautiful books I’ve ever seen: One Man's Folly: The Exceptional Houses of Furlow Gatewood. Second, thanks to Jonathan for including me and for my copy of this stunning book!

And third, I didn’t take one single picture during the party! I am way too short and the crowd was huge! This image and the three below are from the New York Social Diary’s coverage of the party, and if you know exactly where to look, you can see Boy, of Reggie Darling fame. And that’s Furlow Gatewood in the bottom left in the loden jacket. IMG_8051

This was a very personal party, to the point of Furlow having made the pimento cheese and the cheese straws himself. imageI also had a chance to meet and speak with Julia Reed, and if you don’t follow her writing in Garden & Gun magazine, you need to do so right away. She’s a great writer and is HILARIOUS! image

The whole three-hour train trip back to Baltimore after the party was spent reading One Man's Folly: The Exceptional Houses of Furlow Gatewood. The foreword and afterword are both beautifully and personally written by Bunny Williams, imagewho, along with her husband, John Rosselli, are great friends of Furlow’s.

The images in this book are stunning. There is not a bad picture in the lot (although mine of them aren’t great). From the peacocks to the carefully chosen collections, this is such a unique place.

Furlow Gatewood was using architectural salvage for his houses years before anyone else, and he collected pieces from everywhere and everything. He often built houses and rooms around a certain piece.

Every single page has a beautiful image or two, or three. The photographers, Paul Costello and Rodney Collins did such a magnificent job on the hundreds of pictures.

And Julia Reed’s text is funny and personal. She’s got such a way with words, and understands the Southern persona. She gets the whole mix of high and low, like the china pieces mixed with a Dash & Albert indoor/outdoor rug.

I can’t recommend this book enough. It is destined to become a classic, much like Furlow Gatewood himself.

The book will be published on April 22, 2014, but you can click to pre-order One Man's Folly: The Exceptional Houses of Furlow Gatewood.

16 comments:

  1. Thank you for this presentation Meg. What an exciting event to attend and I cannot wait to receive One Man's Folly!

    xoxo
    Karena
    2014 Artists Series

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  2. What a fascinating man to have conceived of such lovely places to live in. This book is definitely on my must have list.

    So happy you enjoyed what looks like a fabulous party.

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  3. How fun! Thanks for the report for those of us who couldn't be there!

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  4. This is definitely on my "get" list. Thanks for the review!

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  5. Julia Reed is a wonderful—and funny writer. I'm looking forward to getting this book. I grew up south of the Mason-Dixon and along with pimento cheese and cheese straws is a great affection for eccentric personalities. My Yankee husband says it's the heat. I, for 40 years, have been telling him there is no greater sin in the South than to be boring!

    Thanks for the cub reporter's eye view.

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    Replies
    1. I am south of the M-D line, too, but never had pimento cheese!

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  6. Just bought the book, breaking my Lenten design book moratorium. I emptied out the garage at the Bienenstock Furniture Library this winter, thus my resolution. However, it will arrive two days after Easter so.......Thanks for the heads up.
    Best,
    Liz

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  7. How exciting for you + them, being from the south can't wait to get a copy! + love his name. Back from UK with a bad case of jet lag. xxpeggybraswelldesign.com

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  8. I've been salivating oer this book since the first publicity appeared. Amazing creation by an amazing individual.
    What a party!!
    Mary

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  9. I pre-ordered this book a few weeks ago and can't wait to get it! The photos I've seen online really intrigued me; they are all so beautiful! What fun it must be to live in the beautiful compound Furlow Gatewood has so lovingly built!

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