April, 2014:

It has been a dream of mine—and I’m sure I’m not alone in this fantasy—to build a house from the ground up with my favorite architectural elements, and bring to it all of the inspiration I’ve found in my travels.

The new Rizzolli book, One Man’s Folly: The Exceptional Houses of Furlow Gatewood, is a glorious compendium of just this very thing—a glimpse into the private and enchanted world of Furlow Gatewood as manifest in four houses—along with gardens and out building—he built on his family’s property in bucolic Americus, Georgia.

I first met Gatewood many years ago. I’d walked my beloved whippet Rupert to the ravishing Rosselli boutique. The lovely southern gentleman, Gatewood, shared a mutual appreciation for sighthounds, (as you can see above). Well, you might imagine the ruckus all the pups would create running about!

Of course, hounds are not the only subject of mutual interest! My admiration for the man extends to his whole aesthetic. I’m wild about Gatewood’s sense of scale, his gutsy furniture, his nearly ceiling high doors and windows – all of these elements join to create the most magnificent impression of excitement and glamor.

From One Man’s Folly

With his encyclopedic knowledge of antiques, architecture and decoration, the self taught Gatewood creates the most splendid confections, sometimes starting with just one incredible window or doorway he had discovered. Needless to say, there are so many lessons to be learned here. Richly illustrated with photographs by Rodney Collins and Paul Costello, One Man’s Folly: The Exceptional Houses of Furlow Gatewood is a must-have for designers and dreamers alike! Do pick up your copy on Amazon here: One Man’s Folly: The Exceptional Houses of Furlow Gatewood