Reviews (3)

Outstanding Book -Dont miss it
This is an outstanding book, with plenty of pictures - great insider material on furniture and architecture.And I already have a design MA with my own firm.

Underwhelming and overpriced
The text of this volume is decent and well organized but in the area that most designers are interested in, visual examples, it is sorely lacking. A very minimal section of color photographs (which jump from Roman to the Renaissance. No sign of the Gothic)and a series of low contrast black and white ones are augmented with a series of uninspired drawings. All of this might still be helpful and useful were it not for the price. There are many volumes on furniture and decor that have come on the market recently which are superior in their content and priced more reasonably.

Better for furniture/antiques dealers than designers
This book is a good encyclopedia of the history of interior design going back to ancient era- it catalogues the general overview for each period chronologically, explaining the function and materiality of a space or piece of furniture.The book is particularly nice for classifying particular styles of furniture and may be more suited to an antiques dealer or furniture dealer than a professional interior designer.The major problem i have with the book is that most if not all of the photographs are black and white, and it completely skips the modern era of design, pretty much ending with the turn of the 19th century.No mention of my favorites like Mies van der Rohe or Mr. Wright.This absence somehow makes this book seem incomplete. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Design - Furniture    3. Furniture design    4. History    5. Interior Design - General    6. Interior architecture    7. Interior decoration    8. Architecture / Decoration & Ornament    9. Furniture & cabinetmaking    10. History Of Art / Art & Design Styles    11. Interior design   

Reviews (4)

Not Worth It.
Except for the picture on the cover, the photos are uninspiring and frequently ugly.The text is not very helpful.

It is "impossible to become Italian" , but you can try ...
If you actually read this book and don't just glide, sighing andsalivating, from one gorgeous photo to the next, you can understand theItalian character as well as the different Italian styles of living anddecorating.The author tells us it is impossible to become Italian but shefocuses immediately on the things Italians consider important: proportion,balance, smooth surfaces, natural materials, food, family (and notnecessarily in that order...) and she also explains the many influencesover the centuries (Greek, Roman, Ottoman, and more) and you learn a bit ofHistory, Archeology, Art (and now I've made it sound stuffy and boring, andit is just the opposite!). She very, very wisely includes a whole chapteron "regional flavor" and points out the vast differences betweenthe different regions (confuse a Neapolitan with a Venetian at your ownperil) and their living styles.She gives wonderful explanations of thedifferences between loggias, porticoes and pergolas, shows ten kinds ofpasta, four kinds of cheese, six ways to prepare coffee and even gives menuplans and recipes!

capture Italy and bring it home
The focus of this book is "creating the feeling of Italy in your home room by room". The author takes us on a tour of each of the major rooms of a typical home: the living room, the bedroom, the dining room, andthe kitchen. In each section she goes into great detail about what theItalian style of decor is and how you can replicate that for your own home.The book is full of many colorful photos, which go a great way in helpingto visualize what your home might look like. The book also helps to capturethrough side stories very aspects of Italian life ("warm and stylishhomes, irresistible food, simple elegance of Italian entertaining")that make the thought of turning your interior into this type of theme allthat more appealing. She talks about regional (Tuscany, Venice, etc) designinfluences and also a full chapter on food and wine. She also provides alist of resources from which you can find some of the materials that canturn your home into that dream Tuscan villa or Venetian apartment. If youare looking to remodel your dwelling and thinking that you want to besurrounded by the grace of Italian living then you should definitely checkout this book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cookery, Italian    2. Decorating    3. Decorating - General    4. Home Improvement / Construction    5. House furnishings    6. Interior Design - Style Books    7. Interior decoration    8. Interior design    9. Italy    10. Residential Interior Design    11. House & Home / Decorating   

Reviews (1)

Wonderful Examples
I really liked this book, as well as Moroccan Style.I felt this book was a little more comprehensive on the styles by region of Morocco and showed more traditional design. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Africa    2. Architecture    3. Criticism    4. Design    5. Interior Design - General    6. Interior Design - Style Books    7. Residential Interior Design    8. History Of Art / Art & Design Styles    9. Morocco   

Reviews (1)

Magnificant Redecoration of Older French Homes
This magnificant book consists of photographic studies of some 22 homes in the Provence and Cote d'Azur regions of France. These homes are primarily older (as much as 300 years) that have been seriously redecorated to make them into jewels of plesant styling.
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Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Architecture, Domestic    3. Decorating    4. Decorating - General    5. Dwellings    6. France    7. House & Home    8. Interior Design - Style Books    9. Interior decoration    10. Pictorial works    11. Provence   

Reviews (1)

My favourite book!
It is my first time to read this kind of "ELLE Deco" book. So amazing!Very beautiful pictures, good photography..... after reading this book and seeing those beautiful photographs.... I really want to go thosecharming places!If you love travelling... or if you like architecture,or interior design, or just like good life-style... I strongly recommendyou to read this book!I love it so much! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Decorating    3. Design - Decorative    4. Home Improvement / Construction    5. Interior Design - General    6. Interior Design - Style Books   

Reviews (2)

GREAT book for novice decorators.
This is a great book if you are looking for new ideas for your home and you don't want to spend a fortune.Also a great book if you want to NOT do what everyone else is doing!

An exciting book
I can't think when a new decorating book excited me as much as this one. I buy a lot of decoratingbooks, but New Classic Style is so chicyet so helpful all at the same time. The premise, which is carried out stylishly by thephotos,involves mixing classic furnishings from all eras and genres to create "personal" style. The book is so what I'm all about and what I see my friends doing. I've never seen a book on how to create your own mix before. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Decorating    2. Decorating - General    3. Furniture    4. Home Improvement / Construction    5. House & Home    6. Interior Design - Style Books    7. Interior decoration    8. Interior design    9. Home furnishing & decoration    10. House & Home / Decorating    11. House maintenance    12. modern; style; collections; eclectic; decorating   

Subjects:  1. Architectural & Industrial    2. Architecture    3. Beverages - Wine & Spirits    4. History    5. History - Specific Styles    6. History: World    7. Home Improvement / Construction    8. House & Home    9. Interior Design - General    10. World - General    11. Architecture / Interior Design    12. Castles    13. House & Home / General    14. Interior design   

Subjects:  1. Art    2. Asian    3. Decorating - General    4. Home Improvement / Construction    5. Interior Design - Style Books    6. ASIA    7. Interior design    8. Singapore   

Reviews (5)

Well worth the money.

great for all skill levels!
I bought this book as a just in case my other book didn't have all the information I needed but I ended up using this book as my main book to do my house. Great illustrations and explanations.

A Great Resource!
I bought this book in preparation for painting rooms in our first home. Having always rented, I didn't know what all was required in preparing your surface or how to choose the proper application tools. This book started from the beginning and included these topics. The examples throughout the book are marvelous and the directions for achieving such great effects, as stenciling, colorwashing, stippling, sponging, ragging, etc. are easy to understand. The instructions also include applying the these techniques to not only walls, but objects like picture frames, candlesticks and furniture if appropriate. A must have for anyone who is redocorating their home and wants to stretch their budget a little further by using paint techniques. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Amateurs' manuals    2. Construction - General    3. Decorating - General    4. Decorating - Painting/Wallpapering    5. Do-It-Yourself    6. Home Improvement / Construction    7. House & Home    8. House painting    9. Interior Design - Style Books    10. Interior decoration    11. Home furnishing & decoration    12. House & Home / Decorating   

Reviews (3)

Rich, but in the same kind of room
A wide range of (mostly) rather luxurious rooms filled with everything and anything chinese. But you won't find much of authentic traditional chinese homes here (and indeed the dustjacket clearly announces this). Although the rooms are sometimes packed with chinese things, they almost all still feel western/international/chinese, mixed in different proportions. That said, the photos are great and it's a joy to visit all these apartements and houses and select your favourites. Since each place only gets two (or three) spreads generally, a string of different locations can be presented and you're invited to more rooms and settings than anyone can digest at one read-through. And that's great, you can return again and again to this very rich book.

Lovely Photos, So-so Text
This is an enjoyable book introducing many different places -- mostly residential, but also some hotels and restaurants -- with a variety of Chinese designs. Lovely book for collectors and anyone interested in China
Reading this was a pleasant surprise, but what impresses most about this beautifully-designed book is not that it opens up all the elements of Chinese style and how its used in modern living -which it does in a interesting way. Read more

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Asian influences    3. China    4. Design & Drafting    5. Home Improvement / Construction    6. Interior Design - Style Books    7. Interior decoration    8. Home furnishing & decoration    9. Orientalism   

Reviews (3)

Well-Written but Few Illustrations
Well-written and informative, but did not fill the need I had. I was looking for something with illustrations and the few line drawings included did not help. Still, I rate it four stars, because it was well-written.

Authentic Victorian Decorating as easy as 1-2-3
Moving from a country primitive home to a 1890's Victorian home that needed restoration in every single room, this book was my bible!Charles Eastlake (credited with wonderful Eastlake style)explains how, why andwhere to do every room from the screens to the windows to the walls to thefloors.His simple diagrams and easy to read explanations made restoringmuch easier.With still a few rooms to finish, the book never leaves mybedside table (which, of course, is Eastlake style!)

Excellent first-gen. guide to Vic interior design thought.
Charles Eastlake, (who is credited, innacurately, with the"Eastlake" style of architecture and furniture design) wrote aserialized guide to interior design concepts and theory.He's veryopinionated about the evils of modern (c. 1880-90) architecture.I foundthis to be an enjoyable read, and got some great ideas about the decorationof several rooms in my 1903 Victorian house. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 19th century    2. Decorating    3. Decoration & Ornament    4. Decoration and ornament    5. General    6. History    7. Home Improvement / Construction    8. Interior Design - Style Books    9. Interior decoration    10. Victorian style    11. Architecture / General    12. Home furnishing & decoration   

Reviews (6)

Easy Living by Terry Conran
Purchase this book if your objective is to get good ideas on the An easy book from the master
Easy Living is another masterpiece of the master. What can I say? It seems that, as he gets older, he turns more and more easy living himself. Beautifully written
This book was marvelous. I enjoyed the fact that the book had no strict guidelines about decorating, just a kind of common sense approach. Now, if you are looking for step by step, (which I was) this may not be for you. But give it a try anyway. It may surprise you! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Decorating    2. Decorating - General    3. Handbooks, manuals, etc    4. Home Improvement / Construction    5. House & Home    6. Interior Design - Style Books    7. Interior decoration    8. Interior design    9. Residential Interior Design    10. Home furnishing & decoration   

Reviews (7)

Mexican Country Style
Nice book, but more of a reference book than help in design.

An Interesting readwith subtle photographs
I was looking for a coffee table type, picture book to flip through for inspiration for a "themed" project. This book has beautiful, quite subtle, photographic illustrations. Not as over the top as I had thought I wanted. But it is the writing of the authors that delight! Once I settled down and read the text I realised that it had a lot to teach me. A thoughtfully written and illustratedbook which has positively influenced me and exceeded my initial expectations!

Mexican Country Stlye
Mexican Country Style was received as a a Christmas gift in December, 2000.Originally used as a "coffee-table" book, once I started to read the descriptions with each photograph I was hooked.Not only will you be able to navigate the architectural terminology like a pro, you will also get a glimpse of the past as only a tourist does when he travels with a guide from the area.Joe and Karen's personal travels' are documented with breathtaking color photos and detailed accounts of their visits into the heart of Mexico.Once you begin reading the book, you will not want to put it down until the very last page!!Mexican Country Style is a great read and an educational journey for the soul. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Decorating    2. Decorating - General    3. Home Improvement / Construction    4. House & Home    5. Interior Design - Style Books    6. History Of Art / Art & Design Styles    7. House & Home / Decorating    8. Interior design    9. Mexico   

Reviews (1)

Spectacular
This is a sensational book.
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Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Design - Decorative    3. Interior Design - Style Books    4. Mexico    5. Pictorials    6. Travel    7. Interior design    8. Photographs: collections    9. Residential buildings, domestic buildings   

Reviews (2)

The Essentials of Modern day living
This book has lovely photographs through out the pages.If you wish to find help someone achieve classic looks with modern touches. I wouldn't put it in the catagory with architecture, but Home and garden is right on the button. It shows many modern fixtures and various decorating styles which carry a clean open space environment that is seeked in a our modern day living. I enjoy going back to this book always for inspiriation. It has variation in bold or simple styles. If you are looking for a affluent look you will not find it here. If you seek artistic modern day looks this is your book.

Pass up this Non-Essential Book
I was greatly disappointed in this book.I asked for it as a birthday present and promptly returned it.This book is not for people seriously interested in modern interior design or architecture.The book was MarthaStewart-type fluff.While filled with photographs, even those were barelyinteresting and certainly were not memorable. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Architecture    3. Decorating    4. Decorating - General    5. Decoration & Ornament    6. History    7. Home Improvement / Construction    8. Interior Design - General    9. Interior Design - Style Books    10. Interior decoration    11. Interior decoration accessories    12. Residential Interior Design    13. Themes, motives    14. United States    15. Home furnishing & decoration    16. Interior design   

Reviews (8)

An eye-opening source book of interior design
The collaborative effort of Karen Witynski and Joe P. Carr (joint owners of Texture Antiques, an Austin, Texas-based interior design firm and gallery specializing in hacienda style, Mexican colonial furniture and architectural elements), The New Hacienda is an eye-opening source book of interior design showcasing ideas drawn from Mexico's remote country estates. Full-color photography and raptly descriptive text combine to present the flavor and history of homes on both sides of the border. An impression-forming and memorable showcase spotlighting deep brown and yellow colors, and artifacts of Mexican culture. Also very highly recommended is the Karen Witynski and Joe P. Carr collaboration, Mexican Country Style

Inspiring Book
The New Hacienda is a beautiful and inspiring book for anyone who loves Mexico's art, design, and hacienda-style culture.From traditional architectural elements to colonial antiques, the book reveals many rich details for those seeking ideas and inspiration in creating a hacienda-style home of their own.I found the book's Resource section especially helpful for contacting design sources here in the states.Also, after writing the authors at their site I found out that they have restored a colonial hacienda in the Yucatan which is now available as a vacation rental and Mexican Design Center.

Book Review--New Mexico Magazine
"Mexican Country Style" and "The New Hacienda"Read more

Subjects:  1. Decorating    2. Decorating - General    3. Domestic    4. Home Improvement / Construction    5. House & Home    6. Interior Design - Style Books    7. History Of Art / Art & Design Styles    8. House & Home / Decorating    9. Mexico    10. Palaces, chateaux, country houses   

Reviews (1)

beautiful pictures
Beautiful pictures of inspirational homes. On how/why people became owners of their house and on how it is decorated. Not endless pictures of homes, but in-depth stories of remarkeble homes.
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Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Architecture, Domestic    3. Domestic    4. Interior Design - Style Books    5. Lakeside architecture    6. Seaside architecture   

Reviews (1)

Beautiful Book of Beautiful Boats
In this spectacularly illustrated and printed book, some of the most dramatic designs of yache interiors are illustrated. These boats are a long way from their sisters from the past. Modern design techniques, including using computers to assist in the design and new materials with which to implement them have enabled yacht interiors to create a dramatic impression that simply wasn't possible before.
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Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Interior Design - General    3. Interior Design - Style Books    4. Interior design    5. Ships & shipping: general interest   

Editorial Review

To recreate the Victorian style of decorating may conjure up nightmarish visions of over-the-top, frilly curtains and heavy, depressing colors. Luckily, Ellen M. Plante reveals how to tastefully transform any room into an elegant and comfortable living space--frills are not compulsory! Read more

Reviews (5)

Wonderful!
This book is loaded with color photographs! I went through this book several times before putting it back down.It's a must have if you are trying to get decorating ideas for a victorian room.

Lovely to Look At!
This is a beautiful book to dream by.I bought one because we are building a Victorian home, but this would be enjoyed by anyone who loves Victorian style and design.Lovely!

Excellent resource
I could not have decorated my recently renovated 100 year old Victorian home without this book.Friends and family think Ihave great potential as a decorator, little do they know. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Antiques & Collectibles    2. Collections, Catalogs, Exhibitions    3. Decorating - General    4. General    5. Home Improvement / Construction    6. Interior Design - Style Books    7. Photo Essays    8. Sale Books   

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Design & Construction    3. Do-It-Yourself    4. House & Home    5. Interior Design - Style Books    6. Architecture / Interior Design