Examining the unique characteristics of light and air in different regions of the United States, a complete guide to using color explains how to enhance available light through the use of paint colors and how to make the best color choices for our homes. 20,000 first printing.

"[This] book is part memoir, part decorating manual, part entertaining guide, but most of all it's a portrait of a creative couple and their very beautiful, utterly comfortable home."-

"In Crossing Boundaries, Wolf shares his journeys to Ethiopia, Borneo Madagascar, Syria, and Myanmar. Each voyage is represented by exquisite photographs paired with personal, often humorous travel narratives. The author is a keen observer, captivated especially by individual forms of expression: the colors and patterns of clothing, the forms and features of architecture. Once home, Wolf incorporates - both subtly and not so subtly - the influence of his travels into his refined interior spaces in striking color combinations (the pinks and fuchsias and lavenders of Myanmar); skillful assemblages of artifacts (Ethiopian horn cups and chieftain's chairs); and graceful formal compositions (the symmetry of a Syrian garden court)."--BOOK JACKET.

Branca learned early that even formal beauty was meant to be intermingled with everyday life, and that the well-lived life takes place not in stiff and somber surroundings, but in artful structures graced with a comfortable elegance and wit.

Suzanne Kasler is known for her classically inspired rooms, pretty palettes, and comfortable spaces. She brings Southern charm, European sensibility, and a respect for architectural details to her interiors. Her neutral palette, spiced with hits of color, creates warm spaces that are elegant yet inviting. Inspired by fashion, Kasler uses a scarf as a throw, adds grosgrain or satin banding to the bottom of a chair cover, accents draperies with Chanel-like piped borders, or embellishes a bed frame with delicate handpainted patterns. It is these exquisite haute couture details that drive her design aesthetic. Kasler’s mélange of antiques, midcentury pieces, and modern furniture makes her layered interiors attractive and livable. Lavishly illustrated, this beautiful volume showcases a range of Kasler’s projects, from a luxurious Georgian mansion in Atlanta’s Buckhead to a sophisticated farmhouse in Tennessee and a beach house in Watersound, Florida. Offering a wealth of original design ideas that are refreshing and full of verve, Inspired Interiors is a welcome addition to any library of interior design books.

Simplify, Connect, Expand. These principles, each fundamental to the practice of design, provide the framework for interior designer Vicente Wolf’s engaging new book. Wolf is famous for his modern and elegant style, always guided by integrity and simplicity. Lifting the Curtain on Design delves into his selected themes from myriad viewpoints: through the prism of international travel, via the detailed focus on a single project, and finally by means of the sweeping perspective of a seasoned design mind. Wolf, an inveterate voyager, leaves his New York studio once a year to immerse himself in the culture of a distant land. In this volume, illustrated entirely with his own photographs, he recounts a trip to Namibia: with its sand dunes and sunsets, this southern African country is “a landscape that has been reduced to its essence.” A journey to Papua New Guinea makes clear the connections between cultures, as well as the connections that may be fostered through skilled design. And Bhutan is a lesson in expanding horizons and experiences. It is in Wolf’s design that the essence of his three principles, suggested in his travels, is fully illuminated. In a step-by-step account of two recent interiors—a traditional apartment and an open loft—Wolf describes his initial design process, the various phases of construction, the expert selection of color palettes and furniture, and the final installation of art and decorative objects. He also explains the development of the dramatic tablescapes for which he is so well known, which balance style, form, and color with humor and ease. Finally, a dazzling presentation of Wolf’s current projects touches on grand design gestures and minute yet indispensable details. Lifting the Curtain on Design offers a glimpse into the mind of the designer at work, from inspiration through implementation to unforgettable finished room.

A master of his craft, interior designer Smith offers advice and lots of inspiration to create the perfect home, in this follow-up to "Michael Smith's Elements of Style." 200 illustrations.

Interior design.

It’s one of a homeowner’s biggest decorating challenges: deciding what lighting will both provide the desired effect and complement the overall décor. So if you’re in the dark about how to brighten up a space, the pros at House Beautiful have many stunning solutions. You’ll learn about fixtures ranging from simple sconces and Tizio lamps to wacky kitchen treatments to grand crystal works of art, and see how light changes the look of a room. Whether you need a simple reading lamp or a way to focus dramatic attention on your favorite works of art, every photo and page is loaded with smart suggestions.