Customer Reviews

Hints on Household Taste: The Classic Handbook of Victorian Interior Decoration (Dover Architecture)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

We'd bought an Eastlake Victorian which had been restored inside and out. As we desired to furnish appropriate to period (1890), this book was a fine beginner's/general guide to style lines, detail, and what to avoid. Also helpful in choosing furniture pieces, draperies, and objets d'art. No color pictures except the cover, so one might want to purchase another similar book with pictures of restored rooms in similar homes for color guidance, trims, room set-up, etc.

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 and where to do every room from the screens to the windows to the walls to the floors. His simple diagrams and easy to read explanations made restoring much easier. With still a few rooms to finish, the book never leaves my bedside table (which, of course, is Eastlake style!)

Charles Eastlake, (who is credited, innacurately, with the "Eastlake" style of architecture and furniture design) wrote a serialized guide to interior design concepts and theory. He's very opinionated about the evils of modern (c. 1880-90) architecture. I found this to be an enjoyable read, and got some great ideas about the decoration of several rooms in my 1903 Victorian house.

Purchased the book because of its influence of this author on William Morris and the later Arts and Craft Movement. The author spoke as an architect who emphasized purchasing well crafted items and goods for the home, and design the entire home with one simple theme throughout the entry hall to the bedrooms. It had an influence on the Arts and Craft designers who started to incorporate textiles, pottery, furniture, and metal works for all of the customer's needs.

Beyond the historic references, the book was revealing to the modern designer and family seeking household purchases. All of us inherit lousy furniture and then buy one item at a time, and wonder why the house does not fit together. The author clearly states that we must know and seek out specific items that fit and go together to create a livable

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.

Restore your old Victorian era home to what it could have been like when it was first built.

This is NOT was I thought it was. I was hopeing for a cool book with nice pictures and ideas for victorian decorating but this is mostly a READING book about the subject. It think it goes more into the history of Victorian decor and do's and donts more so than picture ideas.

This book is extremely helpful in my search for proper design of this period. The service of the dealer was excellent.

It was nothing like I thought it would be. If I had an opportunity to see inside the book I wouldn't have bought it.

Maria Gray