Trompe l'Oeil at Home: Faux Finishes and Fantasy Settings [Hardcover]

Karen S. Chambers (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 15, 1991

With a breathtaking collection of photographs, this volume shows how rooms can be magically transformed through tromp-l'oeil murals, objects, paintings and fabrics, as well as with painted faux finishes that dazzle and beguile the viewer. These ingenious techniques turn wodden floors into opulent marble expanses, adorn plain walls with neoclassical moldings, upgrade ordinary furniture to period pieces, and add sumptuous garden views to windowless rooms.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Karen S. Chambers writes about home design from a knowlegeable perspective of a fine arts background. She has acted as assistant curator at the Conemporary Arts Center, Cincinnati, as well as sat on numerous art panels, curated exhibitions, and working in a number of New York City art galleries. Her work has apeared in a variety of peridicals, including The Designer Craft International and New Work.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Rizzoli (September 15, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0847814203
• ISBN-13: 978-0847814206
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 10.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #160,627 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #22 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > Interior Design > Style

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

68 of 70 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars An Illustrated History of Trompe L'Oeil, January 6, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Trompe l'Oeil at Home: Faux Finishes and Fantasy Settings (Hardcover)

This book is a photographically illustrated essay on the history and current usage of trompe l'oeil. Trompe L'Oeil at Home has its inspiring moments but is definitely not a "how-to" manual. There are no instructions or diagrams on how to achieve any of the paint effects or murals shown. Most of the photos are from grand settings (estate homes, museums) or are ceramic dishes, fashion shots, building exteriors, movie sets, or pictures of wallpapers and borders. Less than half of the murals and projects would be used in an average home. Thus the book's title is misleading. The photographs selected for this book are primarily formal but some smaller projects are shown (bathroom "window", kitchen "shelves" etc.) The "Window with a View" (p.126) and its companion painting (untitled, p. 180 and back cover of the dust jacket) are wonderful examples of trompe l'oeil in the home. I wish more of the book was like that. There are no murals or projects with children's themes at all. For its type, this illustrated essay is an average read. If you are looking for something to inspire you in your work within the family home, or if you are looking for a "how-to" manual, you'd best keep looking.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Trompe L'Oeil at Home: Faux Finishes and Fantasy Setting, October 7, 2004

By 

M. McCaleb - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Trompe l'Oeil at Home: Faux Finishes and Fantasy Settings (Hardcover)

While there are dozens of books available with how-to instructions for a relatively small number of trompe l'oeil painting projects, very few provide a wealth of images for inspiration to let you see the possibilities. This book fills that void with a wide variety of settings, images and finishes ... enough to make you want to grab those how-to books collecting dust and plan your next (or first) attempt at trompe l'oeil!

5.0 out of 5 stars An Inspirational Bible for Trompe l' Oeil Artists, December 27, 2007

By 

colorful-one (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Trompe l'Oeil at Home: Faux Finishes and Fantasy Settings (Hardcover)

This book is full of inspirational finished projects in their setting. Muralists will love the treasure trove of ideas presented here. There is something for any setting here, from the grandiose mansion to the modest home. Highly reccomended to the serious decorative artist!