The Georgian Style: Living with Refinement, Propotion and Elegance [Hardcover]

Henrietta Spencer-Churchill (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 15, 1997

In Classic Georgian Style Henrietta Spencer-Churchill explores the Age of Elegance, a heritage which is strongly evident in her own classic style. She tours a variety of Georgian houses and estates throughout the British isles to give a fascinating overview of the period (1700-1830).

Looking first at the styles and fashions of the time, we are given a real sense of Jane Austen's England-- the refined elegance of the furniture, the classic lines of the architecture and the rolling slopes of Capability Brown's landscapes. Next comes a detailed look at Georgian exterior elements-- the architecture in its setting, including town and country buildings, cottages and grand estates, courtyards and lodges, follies and outbuildings. Moving indoors, we examine the rooms and decor in fine detail, from hallway to living room, staircase to bedroom, with all the furniture, moldings, finishes and textiles that made the era unique.

A final, invaluable section in this complete source of Georgian style provides a palette of paint colors and short biographies and style guides of the influential architects, cabinetmakers and craftsmen of the period, such as Robert Adam and George Hepplewhite.

Illustrated throughout with specially commissioned color photographs and original architectural drawings and plans, Classic Georgian Style is an essential resource for details of the period. Lade Henrietta Spencer-Churchill's own decorating sense informs her authoritative discussion of the style to allow an understanding of the spirit of period decoration and its place in today's interiors. This is a beautiful guide for decorators, collectors and those who cherish the refined tastes of Georgian England.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

As with her other books, Classic English Interiors (LJ 10/15/92) and Classic Fabrics (LJ 1/97), Spencer-Churchill presents a lavishly illustrated primer on the subject even when claiming that it is "not meant to be an historical reference book." Beginning with a review of the Georgian and Regency period in England from 1714 to 1830, the author mostly focuses on the landscaping and interior design that define Georgian style. She concludes with a glossary and design directory that discusses those people who shaped the style, including 16th-century architect Palladio, cabinet-maker Thomas Chippendale, and landscape architect Humphrey Repton. Purchase where there is an interest in Georgian design or 18th-century England.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

In interior design, there is absolutely no substitute for visuals--photographs, illustrations, etc.--as major teaching aids. Designer, author, and British TV host Spencer-Churchill wisely lets her four-color pictures do most of the instruction as she tackles the subject of Georgian style. Encompassing the reigns of four King Georges, and including four different artistic movements, Georgian interiors and exteriors have become synonymous with the age of elegance prominent from 1700 to 1830. Photographs peek into every room and corner, featuring the stateliest terraced city houses to humble gatehouses. Accompanying text discusses general design trends, whether the 1616 introduction of marble floors to England or the application of coffering, ornamented recessed panels that form a pattern. Ten well-known and influential architects cum designers are profiled, including such household names as Chippendale, Hope, and Sheraton. Barbara Jacobs

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Rizzoli (September 15, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0847820424
• ISBN-13: 978-0847820429
• Product Dimensions: 12.1 x 9.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #642,102 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stylish, and jaw-droppingly jealous making., December 12, 2000

By 

A. Woodley "Patroness, Janeites, the Austen list" (New Zealand) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Georgian Style: Living with Refinement, Propotion and Elegance (Hardcover)

Georgian Style, think of those beautiful curved terraced houses in Bath in their soft-buttery colours. It was an age of clean lines and classical influence.

It would be unfair to say that, being the daughter of the 11th Duke of Malborough, it is natural that Henrietta Spencer-Churchill should have all the advantages to publish a book like this. Not only would she have been bought up in beauty such as this at Blenheim and probably a host of other stately-home-ish settings - but no doubt she has the connections to get this published.

Spencer-Churchill's book certainly rises well above the ordinary. It is beautifully illustrated, her points are simply put and they are generally very clear. She has chosen to illustrate 130 years of interior, exterior and architectural design - from 1700 to 1830 - broadly the Georgian era . With a time frame this broad this book can certainly not qualify as a deeply academic study of the transition of the design. However she illustrates the broad designs trends and how they flowed into one another. She also picks some of the main names of the period (Robert Adam, Capability Brown and so on) and puts them into historical perspective.

The styles and their advent are explained, but also much about how design was influenced from the Chinese influence to the invention of wallpaper. Even the type, and use of colours and the range of colours available gets a mention.

As an interior designer herself, Spencer-Churchill no doubt has a feel for this sort of thing. I was a little disappointed because I felt with a few areas such as window treatments, she often failed to explain if these were original designs of hers based on previous drapes, or 'a georgian style' she had dreamt up. I would have liked to have seen more of Ackermann's period prints for instance - as they showed quite breath-taking interior detail of the latter part of Georgian age.

Occassionally too I found myself grating my teeth as she illustrated a 'Georgian' ideal, but failed to point out at what period in the 130 year time span she was talking about it would have been relevant. But I am being really picky about that.

Overall I found this an absolutely breath-taking book. It at once made me sick with jealousy that I didn't have one of these beautiful homes. I found her style easy to read, informative and if nothing else the illustrations are so beautiful I would keep it simply to look at them.

This is a great book for fans of the Regency period, Heyer or Patrick O'Brian type of books. It is also lovely if you just like beautiful things.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Architecture A Plus, Decorating B Minus, February 13, 2009

By 

Classicdude (River City) - See all my reviews

In this 1997 first edition published in the U.S. by Rizzoli, examples of British houses from 1700 to 1830 are shown with the architecture of the exterior, the interior and the furnishings. The fourth section gives an overview of the period's most famous designers, a color chart from Fired Earth, examples of wallpaper from Cole & Son, and a glossary of terms. While the architecture is all first rate, the decorating, presumably projects by Lady Churchill, is pleasant but not high style. The text follows accordingly, stronger and more informative for architectural aspects than for decorating suggestions. Americans might be confused by the inclusion of Regency and Adamesque architecture and furnishings into the category of Georgian, as we in the U.S. usually make distinctions among the stylistic trends. British house enthusiasts will enjoy this book, but those seeking examples of sophisticated decorating will want to look elsewhere.

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Inspirational Architecture; Decorating, Not So Much, February 16, 2009

By 

Classicdude (River City) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Classic Georgian Style (Paperback)

See my review for the 1997 hardcover edition. U.S. readers might be confused with the inclusion of Regency and Adamesque (what we call Federal) architecture into the catagory of Georgian, but the British houses are all top notch and great models for study. The decorating is more of a Use-What-You-Have variety, pleasant but not particularly noteworthy. Presented in a very attractive book, the lack-luster decorating was not a detriment to the building of Lady Spencer-Churchill's career, however, so it may be more a matter of taste.