Rattan carries an air of relaxation, sunshine and a laid-back exoticism.  Think Raffles Hotel or lounging on the first-class deck of the QE2. Over the last few years, it is increasingly becoming popular among high-end designers and decorators, popping up in fashion advertising and shelter magazine spreads. This is the first book to celebrate rattan, its history, craftsmanship, and design potential to be published in nearly 40 years.

Long fascinated with rattan's versatility, designer Lulu Lytle examines the enduring appeal of this sustainable tropical palm in RATTAN: A WORLD OF ELEGANCE AND CHARM. The first book in decades to examine the history and craftsmanship of rattan furniture, this insightful tome showcases rattan's appeal through archival images of beautiful interiors including Madeleine Castaing's winter garden in Paris, Michael Taylor's own Californian beach house, the Titanic's Café Parisian and the Billy Baldwin designed Mr. Kennedy's beauty salon in New York City. Rattan's many personalities are explored through its inclusion in settings as diverse as Impressionist paintings, flamboyant nightclubs and pared down contemporary drawing rooms.