The author guides you through the history and traditions of dining, the art of room decoration, table settings and planning special occasions - all illustrated with specially commissioned photographs that show a number of locations.
Classic Design Styles is a beautifully illustrated chronology of European and American period styles from the medieval to the end of the nineteenth century. Top interior designer, Henrietta Spencer-Churchill shows us room-by-room, how elements of classic decorating styles can be adapted and used in the home today. Over 200 new photographs of previously unseen interiors accompany insider decorating tips and practical advice on how to recreate period living in your own home.In Classic Design Styles well-known author and interior designer, Lady Henrietta Spencer-Churchill turns her attention to the history of American and European classic interior design traditions including: Victorian, Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, Colonial, Federal Style, Queen Anne, Georgian, Empire, and Arts & Crafts. Spencer-Churchill outlines the enduring decorating movements of these classic styles, explaining and illustrating the distinguishing characteristics of each one. She show how elements of these classic decorating styles can be adapted and used today to recreate period living in your own home.The first section is a richly illustrated chronology of period styles and a guide to the history of European and American interiors from the medieval to the end of the nineteenth century. In the second section, Spencer-Churchill takes us on a room by room tour of one spectacular house decorated in each style. She explains in detail the theory and methods behind each look, how to interpret traditional styles for your own home, and the enduring value and allure of each period. Illustrating how to work with an existing room, Spencer-Churchill includes a section on architectural and furnishing details like walls, windows, fabrics and paints. Beautiful and practical, Classic Design Styles is an insider's guide for decorators and enthusiasts of period living.
Having worked in period interiors for all her successful transaltantic career, Henrietta Spencer-Churchill turns to her key area of expertise: architectural detail and how to incorporate period details into your own home. This comprehensive guide to the best of three centuries of the most enduring decorating styles, explains and illustrates the distinguishing characteristics from both the European and American periods, and from the Baroque through the end of the nineteenth century. Henrietta shows how architectural elements of these classic decorating styles can be adapted and used in the home today to produce her trademark understated grandeur. Divided by period, each section begins with a beautifully illustrated introduction and chronology of interior styles, with a guide to the history, nature, and the most enduring aspects of the time. Covering both architectural and furnishing detail, photographs illustrate the best of period features and schemes from real homes, and Henrietta shows how to use influences from the past to create a period feel.
The most important, most visited, and most renowned of all of Britain’s stately homes, Blenheim has been home to the Churchill family for more than 300 years. Regarded as perhaps the greatest of the stately homes and the finest example of baroque architecture in Great Britain, Blenheim is a treasure of English heritage. In this stunning volume, Lady Henrietta Spencer-Churchill, the twelfth generation of the family, takes us on a privileged tour of the palace. Designed by John Vanbrugh and Nicholas Hawksmoor (a protégé of Christopher Wren) in the early 1700s; with stonework, furniture, and tapestries crafted by the best talents of the age; and art and statuary by such notable artists as John Singer Sargent and Joshua Reynolds, Blenheim is filled with artistic commissions that provide a window into the history of England. In addition to the gilded staterooms and acres of landscaped gardens, Spencer-Churchill shows us the family’s private apartments, with their secret corridors and history of illustrious guests, as well as the “downstairs” staff area with its iconic bell system. With beautiful photography of the magnificent interiors and priceless collections, and Spencer-Churchill’s fascinating text, this volume illuminates Blenheim as it's never been seen before.
This magnificent book is devoted to the art of the finishing touch, those all-important details that transform an ordinary interior into a very special, stylish place. Written by an inspired designer who is also an authority on fine arts and antiques, this elegant and accessible book is a visual lexicon, brimming with design ideas and underpinned by a well informed, practical text. Bringing together the very best of Classic European and American style, The Lady Henrietta Spencer-Churchill shows what to look for, how and where to find good pictures, fabrics and objets d'art at reasonable cost, and how best to use and display them. There is sound advice, too, on the care and repair of everythnig from chandeliers and antique mirrors to a collection of old teddy bears. With the help of this book, you can become an instant expert on collecting silver, glass, and ceramics, find out how to use rugs and throws for maximum effect, how to hang pictures, display leather-bound books and make dramatic impact with flowers and fruit. There are also ideas for accessoriing outdoor areas with a confident touch. Illustrated with over 250 exquisite photographs, here is a wealth of inspirational ideas and down-to-earth advice, adding up to an indispensable sourcebok of timeless, classic taste.
Renowned British interior designer Henrietta Spencer-Churchill tours a variety of Georgian housesthroughout the British Isles to give a fa scinating overview of theperiod and how to use the styles in homes today.
The most important, most visited, and most renowned of all of Britain’s stately homes, Blenheim has been home to the Churchill family for more than 300 years. Regarded as perhaps the greatest of the stately homes and the finest example of baroque architecture in Great Britain, Blenheim is a treasure of English heritage. In this stunning volume, Lady Henrietta Spencer-Churchill, the twelfth generation of the family, takes us on a privileged tour of the palace. Designed by John Vanbrugh and Nicholas Hawksmoor (a protégé of Christopher Wren) in the early 1700s; with stonework, furniture, and tapestries crafted by the best talents of the age; and art and statuary by such notable artists as John Singer Sargent and Joshua Reynolds, Blenheim is filled with artistic commissions that provide a window into the history of England. In addition to the gilded staterooms and acres of landscaped gardens, Spencer-Churchill shows us the family’s private apartments, with their secret corridors and history of illustrious guests, as well as the “downstairs” staff area with its iconic bell system. With beautiful photography of the magnificent interiors and priceless collections, and Spencer-Churchill’s fascinating text, this volume illuminates Blenheim as it's never been seen before.
Respected author and designer Lady Henrietta Spencer-Churchill’s newest book inspires us to incorporate time-tested design principles into modern living. A noted authority on period homes and historic styles, Henrietta Spencer-Churchill celebrates the life of great rooms over the years and the evolution of their architectural features and interior decoration. Featuring a stunning selection of historic homes in both England and the United States, The Life of the House reveals the best of architectural and furnishing details from the last three hundred years, with ideas on updating these spaces for modern times. The book is organized by room, including the living room, from formal reception rooms to the modern-day family room; the library, once a gentleman’s retreat and now often a home office or den; the dining room, once a formal status symbol, now frequently a casual open-plan room; and the kitchen, once a servants’ area, now a multifunctional family space. Chapters on creative modern uses of such traditional rooms as ballrooms and conservatories are also included. With photographs of exquisite interiors from every important historical period and Spencer-Churchill’s fascinating text revealing life behind the scenes in these houses, this book is filled with creative ideas on incorporating traditional style into contemporary settings.
In Classic Fabrics Henrietta Spencer-Churchill shares her knowledge of the long history and art of decorating with fabrics, enabling anyone to recognize and use traditional textures and patterns to shape great rooms. The first section of the book examines the history of fabrics, from medieval tapestries and eastern silks, to eighteenth-century Toile de Jouy and the latest innovations in synthetics. This is followed by a series of beautifully photographed rooms that show how textiles are used in the home for curtains and drapes, table linens and bedspreads, cushions and lampshades, and the more specialized canopies and awnings. The final section describes the textures, patterns, and weaves of cottons, linens, wool, silks, satins, velvets, damasks, jacquards, laces, and tapestries. Finishes such as felting, glazing, waterproofing, and moire are explained, and hundreds of fabric samples are reproduced. Illustrated with over 200 vibrant color photographs, Classic Fabrics offers hundreds of inspirational ideas and practical tips.
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