Customer Reviews

Classic Interior Design: Using Period Features in Today's Home

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I guess, I'm a bit dissapointed w/ the book as I got mislead by its cover and sub tittle "Using Period Finishes in Today's Home". I thought I would find samples of classic interior design which applied in "today's home = non stately home", but the fact was - most of the pictures shown models of classic interior in the grand estate houses. I was hoping to get samples on how we can decorate our "non manor" home w/ classic interior objects. Also, lots of pictures are repetition from her other books and some are dated.

Unless you have that kind of mansion, then this book might please you. Otherwise it might only perfect as a coffee table book - not for someone who is looking for inspiration for their "regular/non stately" home. Perhaps, it would be great for someone who wants to learn on interior details in some periods of era.

For my next time purchase - maybe I should buy a book with some reviews on it?.

First, I'd like to agree with another review that I read that this book is definitely not for decorating the average home. And if you're thinking that this book applies to you because you live in a million dollar neighborhood or an estate home, still wrong. This book is a classic example of you write about what you know about. Written by "Lady Henrietta Spencer-Churchill, the daughter of the 11th Duke of Marlborough, whose family home is Blenheim Palace," the book is meant for decorating a palace, resembling homes you'd find in "Unique Homes Magazines."

Second, The taxonomy in the book was disappointing. You'd think that a good writer would be able to to gather thoughts well and organize them before putting them on paper. Instead of categorizing by interior/architectural structure (fireplace, lighting, furniture, etc.)and then by period (Georgian, Victorian, etc.), the author did the reverse and by doing so wasn't consistent with interior/architectural structures by period; lighting was left out of some periods and fireplaces was left out of others, among other things.

CLASSIC INTERIOR DESIGN, Henrietta Spencer-Churchill's 2003 book, is one of her best despite the misleading subtitle USING PERIOD FINISHES IN TODAY'S HOME. The book offers wonderful photo examples from Europe as well as the United States, mostly by Fritz von der Schulenberg, in seven chapters: BAROQUE & QUEEN ANNE STYLE, GEORGIAN STYLE, COLONIAL STYLE, FEDERAL STYLE, AMERICAN EMPIRE STYLE, REGENCY STYLE, and VICTORIAN STYLE. Although the interiors are not identified as to location, nor is credit given to interior designers or architects, this book greatly benefits from the diversity lacking from other books by Lady Spencer-Churchill which showcase her own design work. Wisely, the particularly chic Manhattan apartment of the late Bill Blass was chosen for the dustjacket cover as it serves as bait; sadly, there are only two additional photos within the book and minimal captions provide the only text as a reference to the grand Sutton Place apartment decorated with the help of Mac II. A couple of shots of Blass's charming Connecticut home also appear elsewhere in the book.

Not really fulfilling the promise to be the guide of how to use period details in today's homes, it is an attractive collection of interior photographs none-the-less. Professional decorators and talented amateurs will find inspiration, but those looking for a do-it-yourself manual will be disappointed.

This handsome book takes the long view regarding ways to incorporate historical design elements.

This isn't shabby chic, it is full-on, unapologetic, expensive chic chic. And, as one might expect, the lushness and taste exhibited here creates a fully-enveloping design aesthetics -- something far beyond "theming." If you are looking for ideas for Victorian, Georgian, Regency, or American Empire interiors or flourishes, this is a rich and beautfully-photographed resource.

Hardcover, cloth over boards with a sewn binding in dustjacket. 176 pp. Color illustrations throughout. Glossary. Index.

This Book Isnt Very Good Althought The Pictures Are Beautifuly Taken They Only Apply To Mansions, The Furniture Is All Antique (being AN Antique Collector it looked very tacky). Check It Out Of The Library Dont Waste Your MOney