The Desert Southwest: American Design

This oversize volume spotlights architecture and interior design of New Mexico, Arizona, Texas and California, where the Spanish tradition of adobe structures still flourishes. There are historical and geographic notes on each state (""Arizona, its name derived from two Indian words meaning `little spring,' covers some 114,000 square miles . . . . vast, seemingly endless mesas suddenly fall off into canyons too spectacular for the heart and eye to comprehend in a single glance''). Spectacular also aptly describes the houses featured here. Some are renovations, others are new, futuristic constructions that incorporate traditional Southwestern styles. They are distinguished by Indian, Mexican and Spanish touches, from handwoven rugs to straw-inlay crosses, yet can comfortably accommodate art deco or classic French decor. The text, by Phoenix design writers Burba and Panich, sparkles; Moore's photographs are gorgeous, particularly when the houses are pictured nestling in the breathtaking mountains and deserts of the Southwest. Moore is a Tucson-based freelance photographer. (October 1)