Essential Elegance: The Interiors of Solis Betancourt Hardcover – November 2, 2010

The interior design work of Solis Betancourtil is always extraordinary, and this book showcases their fine rooms and garden spaces. If you enjoy a great look at interior design, I highly recommend this book!

The book arrived and you could immediately smell the musty (which isn't a deal breaker most of the time) I love the smell of old books but more of a drier old book smell of age--not of mildewy musty type smell ; /, but then I went to open the front cover and the front cover was not even attached to the spine. I'm disheartened about the condition, but I will keep the book and have to take it to be repaired and aired out

Beautiful, inspiring book with plenty of photos to illustrate the sophistocated style. This book would be a lovely addition to your decorating library.

The interiors of Solis Betancourt are absolutely astonishing. While always elegant and refined, this book clearly demonstrates that every project designed by Solis Betancourt has a different personality that adapts to the client and location. I am very impressed with the versatility that Solis Betancourt shows in this book, with magnificent and fitting interiors from a luxurious apartment in Park Avenue in New York City to a beach house in Puerto Rico. This book is an absolute delight! I recommend this book to everyone who appreciates great taste, interior design and architecture; it is certainly a must-have.

This is a good one for your collection - I initially went through it and thought about the rooms that would make me happy to live in. But, it has become a study now. I think there is a lot to learn by simply studying the elements of his designs.

Ugh, so disappointed with this book - I feel totally cheated! Looking at the cover I expected to see out of this world, breathtaking designs with arresting contrasts, sumptious colors, Veneian gold and marble, rich Lyonesse fabrics and the like. Kind of like a smaller, simpler and a little more modern version of the Hermitage or Versailles. After all, it's all on the cover, right? Wrong! Plain, plain, beigy plain inside! I agree it is elegant, understated etc. So should be the cover! The book is all about "understated", that's for sure. A total disappointment for someone like me, who craves theatrical and over the top - but in good taste, like the cover picture here! Instead it is boring - exactly what it is.

If you are into elegant interiors, this book is a must. Every page has unique ideas and inspiration. I own many decorative books, and I put this one at the top.

Of course this is a beautiful book. The interiors are wonderfully attractive and well executed. Mr. Betancourt shows his style, but past the front cover and the article that follows it, the interiors do little to stir the imagination and don't create any real aesthetic appeal. Nothing is wrong; but nothing is "out of this world," "drop-dead" gorgeous. The front cover is what lured me to buy it. Not the worst, but certainly not the best. The cover is beautiful if you want a great coffee table book!