Reviews for Passion for Blue and White

The average rating for Passion for Blue and White based on 2 reviews is 3.5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2009-01-05 00:00:00 Cole Howell Beautiful fashion photography of rooms, dinnerware, and textiles all in blue and white are paired with some generally bland text.The photographer's name is buried deep in fine print on the last page even though the book's only feature of interest is the photography. Criticizing the book as an empty ego project is tempting. Most of the rooms are in homes owned by Roehm, and the textiles and linens resemble products available on her website. On one level this is obviously part of a branding project designed to create a Carolyne Roehm brand similar to Martha Stewart. On another level the book reflects an interest in the details that make outstanding home furnishings. Each room shot is succeeded by closeups of the pieces that make up the room, and those pieces are inherently interesting even if the majority of them wouldn't fit into the style or budget of the ordinary American home. As an old home furnishings retailer I am pleased to see a book where the details are highly valued. Who is Carolyne Roehm? She was born Jane Smith in Missouri and came to New York as a design assistant to Oscar De La Renta. Her second marriage was to Henry Kravis, the head of KKR,the private equity firm took over RJR Nabisco in Barbarians at the Gate. The same year that she married him she started her own ready-to-wear line and later expanded to couture. She later divorced Kravis and shut down the clothing business. Currently she produces coffee table books, of which this is one, and operates her mail order business. Interestingly the house she got in the divorce burned down, and she managed to get Kravis to build her a new one. All and all, great food for a soap opera.

Review # 2 was written on 2011-03-18 00:00:00 Bridget Thomas Beautiful coffee table book!