As leading shelter magazines shrink and fade away, we have fewer chances to wander vicariously into other peoples’ homes. Which is why Wendy Moonan’s new book, “New York Splendor: The City’s Most Memorable Rooms,” out this month from Rizzoli ($85), is nothing less than a public service.
Here are 112 spaces flaunting immaculate details, luscious valuables and clever design tricks. Ms. Moonan seeded her collection with some legendary interiors, like Gloria Vanderbilt’s Upper East Side bedroom where almost every surface was covered in patchwork, and the four-story penthouse that the architect Paul Rudolph built onto his Beekman Place townhouse and into which he inserted 27 largely transparent levels.
But many of the rooms will come as a revelation. Speaking at an Upper West Side cafe earlier this month, Ms. Moonan, a longtime design journalist, said her main interest was celebrating the professionals who have embedded sanctuaries, spas and palaces into New York apartments and townhouses.
“I’m letting these talents show their stuff,” she said. “Some of these architects and designers I’ve been following for 25 years.” (This interview was edited and condensed.)
I worked at Town & Country for 12 years; I was the back-of-the book editor. I assigned all the stories on art and antiques, but I wrote the house stories myself. Then I went to House & Garden. I was there for a few years and also constantly scouting in New York. And then I went to Architectural Digest. I would say maybe about a third of the book was from my personal scouting and the rest of it was new scouting.
The book includes many waves of fashion and decorating, whether it’s English country, French chateau or totally minimal. But it’s not supposed to be comprehensive in any way. It’s very eclectic. It’s my personal taste.
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