Books: Bunny Williams’ ‘A House By The Sea’

Bunny Williams — one of America’s best known and most acclaimed decorators — and I have something in common. We both love rescue dogs.

I learned about this connection at a book signing Bunny attended in November for the launch of IDMC, and her latest book from ‘A House By The Sea’ (Abrams). As it turns out she and her husband John Rosselli have been rescuing dogs for decades — several of which live exclusively at their home in the Dominican Republic. It’s a dog’s life!

And it is the house, La Colina, in Punta Cana that takes center stage in Bunny’s latest volume.

In her introduction to the book Bunny shares how she found her way to this island paradise (hint: Oscar de la Renta), and about how the book took shape with the help of her architect friend Gil Schafer III, and several of the guests Bunny and John have entertained in the Dominican Republic over the years.

.

“John and I have been blessed to have so many friends and family members enjoy our Punta Cana house over the years. Now we invite you to be our guest—and stay for as long as you’d like!”

– Bunny Williams

.

A logical follow-up to her fantastically successful 2005 book An Affair With A House, which provided a look inside her Connecticut estate, A House By The Sea takes you on a sumptuous virtual tour through La Colina, and its honest and forthright decoration.

There’s a fully realized relationship between locale and home – uncanny to some while deliberately considered by Bunny – that will draw you in to every image: slipcovers ever-so-slightly eased like a poolside kaftan; weathered woods that conjure sea vessels and Christopher Columbus on his first stop in the Americas; and a color scheme that invites you to “bring the outdoors in.”

And there’s more than just stunning visuals in this tome; Bunny offers sage, insightful advice on decorating tropical spaces, entertaining, cooking, and gardening (perhaps some of my favorite images in the book are of the gardens.)

With principal photography by the talented Francesco Lagnese, A House By The Sea is an instant classic, and the perfect holiday gift for the design aficionado on your list.

Here’s the link to the book’s Amazon page. Happy Holidays.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *