Harlem Style: Designing for the New Urban Aesthetic

This sleek design guide celebrates the aesthetic of well-to-do urban dwellers living in townhouses on Harlem's East Side and lofts in a converted Chicago shirt factory. ""Harlem style"" may be eclectic (exposed structural elements or faux Louis furniture, minimalist bedrooms or bric-a-brac-stuffed dining rooms) but it's always, assures designer Shade, ""modern, worldly, fashionable, hip...with a distinct and identifiable ethnic twist."" With an engaging mix of history (exploring how and why Harlem became the epicenter for African-American culture and design) and high-gloss style (featuring abundant and lavish photographs by Peter Madero, whose work has appeared in House and Garden and Architectural Digest), this volume offers readers a balance between social trends to consider and decorating ideas to copy. From blending of textures-pairing the clean geometric lines of a leather bed frame with the wild lines of a musk ox rug-to accenting with color against a monochrome palette, the rooms shown here reveal a spirited, natural approach to decor that can add a little Harlem style to homes everywhere. A resource list names retail stores, trade showrooms and designers familiar with this urban vision. 90 color and 10 b&w photos.