First published in 1997. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

The mysteries of interior design are unraveled with this lovely volume full of sound design principles based on professional experience. From paint to fabrics to construction, hundreds of photographs help the reader obtain the desired look every time.

For the design student.

DIV In the world of interior design, thousands of bits of crucial information are scattered across a wide array of sources. The Interior Design Reference & Specification Book collects the information essential to planning and executing interior projects of all shapes and sizes, and distills it in a format that is as easy to use as it is to carry. You’ll also find interviews with top practitioners drawn across the field of interior design. —Fundamentals provides a step-by-step overview of an interiors project, describing the scope of professional services, the project schedule, and the design and presentation tools used by designers. —Space examines ways of composing rooms as spatial environments while speaking to functional and life-safety concerns. —Surface identifies options in color, material, texture, and pattern, while addressing maintenance and performance issues. —Environments looks at aspects of interior design that help create a specific mood or character, such as natural and artificial lighting, sound and smell. —Elements describes the selection and specification of furniture and fixtures, as well as other components essential to an interior environment, such as artwork and accessories. —Resources gathers a wealth of useful data, from sustainability guidelines to online sources for interiors-related research. /div

Publisher Description

"An impressive reference work." - Library Journal (on the 1997 edition) A richly detailed and easy-to-use reference to 500 years of architectural details and styles. Owners and potential buyers of period houses, restorers, architects, interior designers and historical preservationists will find this reference invaluable. The Elements of Style is the most comprehensive visual survey, period-by-period, feature-by-feature, of the styles that have had the greatest impact on interiors of American and British domestic architecture. Compiled by a team of experts, this is the first book on architectural styles that is comprehensive, incredibly thorough, and accessible in its presentation of individual details. This magnificent volume covers more than 500 years of architectural styles from Tudor to Post-Modern and includes American and British vernacular styles. First published in 1991 (with 150,000 copies sold), this new edition is expanded to include the most contemporary styles. Detailed illustrations include 3,000 analytical drawings and historic engravings, 400 photographs in color and 1,000 in black and white. The heart of The Elements of Style is a chronological survey of the primary styles and periods of architectural design. Each chapter begins with an illustrated essay, then covers in detail features such as: Doors Windows Walls, floors and ceilings Staircases Ironwork and hardware Woodwork and built-in furniture Kitchen stoves and fireplaces Essential period architectural details, and more. The book also includes: A useful system of quick reference, employing color-coded tabs showing how particular features evolved over time, and A fully updated resource list with contact information for locating suppliers of those design elements illustrated throughout the book. The Elements of Style is the essential reference for preservationists, architects, interior designers, owners of period homes, and historians.

The styles that have had the greatest impact on American and British architectural details over the past 500 years are presented in more than 1,400 photos and over 3,000 analytical line drawings & engravings.

Now for the first time in an inexpensive paperback edition: the "bible" of First Empire style in interior decor, one of the most important and influential sourcebooks in the history of French design, reprinted from the rare 1812 edition, and essential reading for interior designers, architects, and architectural and social historians.

What is the secret of interior design, and why is every amateur interior decorator afraid of it? This encyclopedia unravels the mystery by outlining sound principles, based on professional experience, that will inform and encourage every eager home decorator. This comprehensive, practical manual for the home decorator and designer, with its wide-ranging survey of current trends and styles, will provide inspiration by showing you examples of the work of designers and artists, past and present, and most importantly, give you the satisfaction of getting the results you want every time.