[.ca] The Decoration of Houses (ISBN 0380728591)

From Amazon.com:
Alexandra Stoddard has reinterpreted and restated for a late-20th-century audience the basis of Edith Wharton's and Ogden Codman Jr.'s 1897 The Decoration of Houses, then a groundbreaking book. Stoddard's approach to interior design is sensitive, holistic, practical, and thorough, building a solid aesthetic on classical design principles. Readable and appealing, the book offers a thoughtful analysis of the intersection of architecture with personal style, interspersed with concrete and sensible suggestions for the decoration and use of floors, walls, furniture, and storage space. As in Stoddard's other books, her warm personality comes through on every page. (You have to love a woman who says, "Most rooms are improved by the presence of books.... A house with many books is a house with many mansions.")

Wonderful advice and real-life examples:
This book is one of my all-time favorite design books. I read it over and over again. Alexandra's positive style of writing and emphasis on the personal statement a person makes when beautifying one's home is a joy to read. I am converted to her beleif that all homes should have wood floors and a personal collection. Her experiences with various clients are funny and interesting, and her enthusiasm is so catching! A must read!

Beautifully Written and Very Helpful:
If you love Garden and English Country styles this book is a must for your library. It includes information about color and fabric to hanging chandeliers and dealing with contractors and everything between. It also includes a wonderful index that is easy to refer to after you've enjoyed reading it cover to cover. It is written in Alexandra's fun and personal style with bits of wisdom from many of her favorite authors. Don't miss this book!

A Useful Book for People Decorating Their Homes:
Stoddard is an interesting writer. She is well-read and her work usually reflects her general rounded background. This book, unlike most of her others, gets down the the nitty-gritty of design. The illustrator does an amazing job rendering the different pieces of furniture, so that the reader can actually decide what style he or she prefers before wandering into stores. Stoddard gives tremendous detail about the basics and the essentials of design, as well as the practical point that if you don't like it you shouldn't do it. This book is indispensible for people who are decorating or redecorating their home.