Colonial Homes Classic American Decorating [Hardcover]

Rosemary G. Rennicke (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1999

A source of both inspiration and practical ideas, Colonial Homes Classic American Decorating profiles six homes and explores indepth the specific elements that contribute to the overall look:color and pattern, fabric, furniture, and finishing touches. Readers are given the "big picture" -- an overview of the basic tenets of good design at work -- and then shown how to achieve it.

Rather than focusing on a narrow definition of "colonial," Colonial Homes Classic American Decorating features a classic Virginia farmstead, an 1818 Federal period house, a New York City apartment, and a Washington, D.C. townhouse. The homes are located in various regions of the country, and the story behind each captures the owners' passions.

A chapter on color and pattern instructs readers on the use of specific elements to enliven a room's dicor -- stenciling, floor painting, faux finishes, and wallpaper. The fabrics chapter covers slipcovers, window treatments, bed coverings, and rugs. The home furnishings chapter illustrates how homeowners have incorporated antiques and reproductions. Finally, a chapter on collectibles and finishing touches discusses how everything from artwork to candlesticks contributes to a classic American decor.

For a fresh look at home decorating -- and a new perspective on what constitutes classic Colonial Homes Classic American Decorating is thebook of choice!

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

These three books are beautifully illustrated with photographs of contemporary interiors. In the Waverly book four stylesAEnglish country, clubby elegant, lighthearted and eclectic, and high-style ColonialAare shown for living rooms, bedrooms, and dinning rooms, all sporting Waverly fabrics and wallpaper. The advantage of this book is the availability of Waverly products so that one can achieve exactly the look depicted. The book from Traditional Home focuses on designers who style a home in the classic look favored by the magazine. Like the Waverly book, this title gives do-it-yourself projects at the end. Rennicke's book takes a look at how the American Colonial style has been interpreted today. Illustrated with pictures of homes in the South, the Midwest, and New England, this book gives an overview of its interpretation of classic American style and then focuses on the use of color, fabric, and the like to explain and depict how to achieve this decorating style. Recommended particularly for its focus on American design.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

COLONIAL HOMES has established itself as an authority on decorating indistinctive, American style.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Hearst Books; 1st edition (April 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0688164676
• ISBN-13: 978-0688164676
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 9.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #551,575 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

58 of 59 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A sumptuous collection from the pages of COLONIAL HOME, July 26, 2002

By 

Catherine S. Vodrey (East Liverpool, Ohio United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Colonial Homes Classic American Decorating (Hardcover)

Poor "Colonial Home" magazine. After decades as the premiere magazine of antique American homes, it changed its name to "Classic American Home" and then was out of business in the ad-pages slump that followed September 11th, 2001. It was a great loss to those who love viewing and learning about historical American homes.

Fortunately, even if you were never a "Colonial Homes" subscriber, you can still indulge your love for classic American style via Rosemary Rennicke's lovely "Classic American Decorating." The homes features herein are all taken from the pages of the magazine, and they amply show the magazine's high quality and standards. There is no country-kitschy stuff here--everything is distilled to its purest essence, whether it is a keeping room in an 18th century Connecticut home or the bedroom in a high-rise Manhattan apartment building.

The book is divided into chapters covering architecture, furniture, accessories, and so on. The photography is handsome, and the book design is pleasing to the eye. Rennicke's text is admirable not only for its insight, but for its restraint. She leads the reader gently along, pointing out what is of interest without being intrusive or overly pedantic. This is a coffee table book home-lovers will turn to again and again for a sweet indulgence in domestic day-dreaming.