Of the many monographs examining interior design, Pied-a-Terre is set apart in this first exploration of the subject, an increasingly popular concept as.  Successful designer Magdalena Keck fills a niche for those who seek inspiration and practical guidance on the subject in spaces previously unexamined in book form.  Focusing on 13 luscious and surprisingly large environments, every reader will find both practical and inspirational information that can be translated to his or her personal goals and interests.  Keck offers up sensorial design, theory of proportion, anthropology of the senses, and visual studies and perception--all crucial to creating the extraordinary designs presented here.  Each elegant and surprising project features descriptive photographs, a concept description, and schematic floor plans.  Moving from an introduction that describes the designer’s overall ethos regarding every home environment, Keck’s designs for the home vary from a Bowery Penthouse and a Park Avenue apartment to a Brooklyn Terrace and a Tribeca Loft.  Elements can be as varied vintage furnishings, fine art, an oasis of wild grasses, or industrial appliances.  The thirteenth apartment of this baker’s dozen, is not in New York City, but instead in gorgeous Miami, another outpost of glamor and luxury, and in this case a beach townhouse is featured.  Although one usually thinks of a pied-a-terre as a small space, the wonder of this book is that the spaces are pieds-a-terre for those with expansive lifestyles and budgets. Pied-a-Terre is an innovative book for those with an interest in contemporary, comfortable designs without stylistic mannerisms.