Charles Faudree's Country French Living

October 31, 2005
Though it's rare for Tulsa and Paris to be mentioned in the same breath, interior decorator Faudree (Charles Faudree's French Country Signature) has made a handsome living by bringing a bit of the French to the Midwest. Famed for his Parisian buying trips, where he negotiates with flea market vendors using a pen and paper, Faudree confides "a signature piece doesn't have to be expensive. You can get the look without the seventeenth-century armoire." The look the designer refers to is typified by floor-sweeping silk draperies and overstuffed chairs upholstered in merrily patterned fabrics long on luxury. Faudree's obsession with textiles is evident on every page, and far from simply focusing on predictable pastoral-themed toile to recreate the charm of French country cottages, his experiments with dragon-fly prints, check patterns and rich golden embellishments have formed his signature style. A testament to the author's knack for gilt-edged comfort (including the liberal use of painted furniture, ornate mirrors and pottery displays), this book, and Faudree as an unpretentious guide, will please readers looking to spruce up their maisons.

January 15, 2006
These three books feature the works of professional interior designers based in the United States -Drake in New York, Faudree in Tulsa, and Smith in Los Angeles. Drake, inducted into the Interior Design Hall of Fame, counts among his clients Madonna and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, whose official residence, Gracie Mansion, is featured here. He discusses the use of color, texture, and light in his dé cor. Faudree ("Charles Faudree's French Country Signature") presents interiors in a cozy, livable, French country style, with antique European furniture and decorative accessories alongside modern pieces. And Smith, whose celebrity clients include Rupert Murdoch and Rob Reiner (whose homes are also depicted) visits more than a dozen of his clients' homes and offers advice on how to work with a designer, where to find antiques, and how to select color, beds, and window treatments. Each book is filled with color photos that depict previous commissions and text that explains the respective designer's approach to dé cor. All three are recommended for large interior design collections.

Copyright 2006 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.