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Winfield House | 
 enlarge | Authors: Maria Tuttle, Marcus Binney
Creator: James Mortimer
Publisher: Thames & Hudson
Category: Book
List Price: $60.00
Buy New: $39.95
You Save: $20.05 (33%)
New (10) Used (1) from $39.95
Avg. Customer Rating:  2 reviews
Sales Rank: 533196
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 172
Shipping Weight (lbs): 3.8
Dimensions (in): 12.8 x 10.8 x 0.9
ISBN: 0500976783
Dewey Decimal Number: 720
EAN: 9780500976784
ASIN: 0500976783
Publication Date: May 26, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
The first book on Winfield House in its seventy-year history.
Winfield House, a beautiful home set in twelve acres of Regent's Park in London, was built in 1936-37 by the Woolworth heiress Barbara Hutton. After World War II she gave it to the United States government for use as the official residence of the American Ambassador to the Court of St. James's.
In this handsome book, James Mortimer's glorious photographs and a text by Maria Tuttle, the wife of the present Ambassador, reveal every aspect of the elegant house and garden, providing personal insights into the life of the house and its role as a tool of modern public diplomacy. The distinguished architectural historian Marcus Binney contributes an informative introduction to the history and design of this remarkable house. 175 illustrations, 158 in color.
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| Customer Reviews:
 the limits of luxury May 25, 2008
0 out of 4 found this review helpful
0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars Luxury and Politics, 29 May 2008
By Collector "Collector" - See All My Reviews
There is nothing inherently wrong with coffee table books on mansions and their decorative arts. In this case, however, there are extenuating circumstances. The husband of the author is the present U. S. Ambassador to Great Britain and the couple is living at Winfield House while willingly supporting the Bush administration and representing its policies to the world -- from this plum of an ambassadorial assignment. Given this historically failed administration (perhaps the worst in the history of the U.S.) which has perpetrated worldwide a massive degree of death, misery, and injustice (not to mention possible deception, corruption, and war crimes), a certain moral deafness accrues to the publication of this luxury book by the Ambassador and his wife. If their goal was to make a personal meritorious contribution to the world from their position of governmental privilege, I suggest an orphanage in Iraq or a donation to any Veterans Administration Hospital in the U.S. Given the political realities that surround the creation and publication of this book, it demonstrates the moral limits of the adulation of luxury and aesthetics. Mr. and Mrs. Tuttle are well intentioned I am sure. But their significant expenditure of time and money to create this book demonstrates their extreme removal from truly recognizing the larger human condition beyond the confines of their borrowed residence and life-style, received in payment for their powerful support of the Bush policies. From this point of view, and from this point in history, the creation of this book strikes me as a morally unconscious and callow. Many people may disagree with me, but this is how I see it. As to the book, it is very well produced with good plates and color and text on the history of the house. The photographs are on the stiff side, and show the mixtures of period styles and mundane American contemporary that was the hallmark of the Los Angeles decorators, Ted Graber and William Haines, who worked on the house in the latter part of last century. The Tuttles have also added works of Modern and contemporary American art, which are always of high quality though not always of exceptional quality. The effect of their additions of works of art is in keeping with the conventional taste of upscale decorating today. Good examples, some attractive decorative arrangements of works of art within decor, but nothing unusually inspired or revealing, in terms of selection or juxtaposition.
Please note this is a review that considers attributes of this book in many aspects. It should be retained, and not banned as an opinion.
 Beautiful Edition May 23, 2008
3 out of 4 found this review helpful
Mrs. Maria Tuttle provided readers with a very special insight into the Winfield House. Having attended many receptions in the home, this book will always hold a special place in my heart. Mrs. Tuttle did an outstanding job of giving readers a personal view of life at the mansion. The photographs are breathtaking along with being quite beautiful. I especially like the pull-out pages to give readers a panoramic view of some of the most favorite rooms. There are over 175 photographs of the many intricate and artistic details of the home. Elegant table settings for various events show just how much the Ambassador's home is used throughout the year. Browsing through each page gives the reader a wonderful experience of actually being in the home. Most guests who come to Winfield House for various receptions never get to go upstairs and often wonder if the private quarters upstairs are just as splendid as the public rooms downstairs. This book will let readers go behind the scenes and explore the private rooms of the home. Also loved the photographs of the outside of the home and the wonderful gardens in various seasons. Loved seeing photos of the Queen at Winfield House in her younger days. The book is a must have. Thank you, Maria, for a very excellent job.
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