Atmosphere: The Seven Elements of Great Design

There are three sections in this book:Part 1: The 7 Elements of Great DesignPart 2: Atmosphere at HomePart 3: Details Complete the DesignIn the first section Howard, covers his elements of design: Style, Scale & Proportion, Rhythm, Light, Color, Texture, and Sound. As a layperson with a small library of design books, I found this section a bit tedious and boring to read. The first 6 elements are things that are commonly discussed in design books, with sound being the only concept that was a bit unique. For me, this section didn’t add anything of value. Perhaps someone new to design books might find something helpful, although with only 1-2 pages of text and mostly photos this is not a how-to book.The second section is the heart of the book where Howard showcases 5 of his projects, including his own home in the Hamptons. There are lots of neutrals throughout, although he does also use blue and a few other colors here and there. As I read the chapter on the designer’s home and he mentioned that it was built by Bobby McAlpine, I felt a certain ‘ah-ha’ moment as there is a certain similarity in Howard’s style. I pulled out McAlpine’s Poetry of Place and confirmed my feeling, although McAlpine’s interiors have more drama and interest.In viewing each of the kitchens in this book, I felt that the designer needed to spread out of his comfort zone as they all seemed very similar. Lots of white marble, most with white cabinets (although one adds black as well), and even similar light fixtures show up in a few of them. The kitchens are large and with all the white and bright surfaces, they also seem a bit industrial.I would have liked more variety in the different projects, although he did have one beautiful dining room, I found most of the homes a bit too similar in décor for my preference. Lot of neutrals and modern art, mixed with more classic yet modern furniture.The third section, Details Complete the Design, seemed like an afterthought. With only one page of text, 5 pages of photos it didn’t add much to the book.

James Howard is so talented! This book captures his brilliant work! It is beautiful and a good read. I highly recommend and put it in all my clients bookcases or on their coffee tables.

Very talented designer with a classic, luxury portfolio. Obviously, his clientele have money, but the ideas and beautiful design can be an inspiration for anyone with any budget. I wish there were more of his projects shown rather than just a limited number of homes. As an interior designer, it was very enjoyable to see his work.

This book is great if your looking to style up your glam decor. Gives a lot of great ideas. The only thing was it had limited pics. It looked like all the pics were of the same room. I like to see a variety of designs used in different rooms. But the book is worth the money.

This new book is well worth the cost, as it is of top-rate quality and reflects the new trends in interior design, so not the old heavy traditional rooms, but bright, light, and stunning new designs and spaces. Highly recommend. Holds place of honor on my coffee table for friends and family to enjoy, too ! Thank you.

I have been a fan of talented Mr. Howard's work for some time on Instagram and now he has added this beautiful book for us to enjoy. As expected, it's filled with one gorgeous interior image after another, but it is also thoughtfully written. In addition I appreciate the high-quality of the book itself - nice, heavy pages, not flimsy like a magazine. I believe this adds to the pleasure of a great book.

Would appeal to those who gravitate to homes with beautiful architecture and comfortable spaces . the color schemes he uses are soft and quite lovely. I also bought in hardcopy to have as a reference.

Beautifully shot and well written, I got excited when first reading “Atmosphere.” By the end of the book, the rooms started to run together, becoming repetitive in detail and color. There are some insightful comments in the first section and aspirational designs in the second one; lots of high end details to inspire you throughout. The Howard family are a talented lot!

Uso como decoracao

Great book and photos! Happy to have it as part of my collection!

‘Soul of the Home’ awakened my soul. Thank you @tarashawdesign for writing this book. Thank you for sharing your gift/talent.

Seamless book ... the thread from Mrs Howard's books to Mr. Howard's is fine and reflexive! Lots of great material. It's clear that they are partners (and business partners) for a good reason. Excellent!

I have many interior design books. Somehow they seem to roughly fall into two camps. Some are full of beautiful pictures of extraordinary homes but not much in-depth explanation that can have wide application. I guess the designers either can’t be bothered to or are not able to explain the thinking behind their design. Some are like manuals, practical and down to earth, but results achieved can sometimes feel a bit predictable.I was initially reluctant to buy this book, thinking it’s going to be just another one in the former camp. However the book has impressed me. It is indeed filled with inspirational pictures, some are perhaps not the most cutting edge fashionable which in fact make them rather reassuring in a wasteful trend-led world, but it is packed with detailed explanations aimed at drawing out timeless principles. Every picture is accompanied with a detailed “why”. I attach a random page here as an example.The author has talent, professional training and decades of real life experience, and he is ABLE to share his insights. I highly recommend this book. It deserves far more attention.