Here is an authoritative look at the way American Victorian houses were decorated in the 19th century, covering all aspects of interior design: floor coverings, woodwork, window treatments and draperies, walls and wallpaper, and ceilings. 225 pictures and drawings; 16-page color insert.

The best craftsmanship in home furnishings of the late 19th century is documented in this beautiful study. An overview of Victorian architectural antiques, stained glass windows, furniture, art glass, lighting devices, match holders, and poster art appear in chapters that explain the development of the forms and show examples in over 400 color photographs. Period room settings as well as single items are featured

Victorian Exterior Decoration provides a foolproof system for choosing the colors that will best suit the particular style of any house.

For several years this has been the standard text on nineteenth-century British furniture, which continues to be the focus of an extraordinary growth of interest in the United States and throughout Europe.This exhaustive survey of a rich and rewarding chapter in the history of the decorative arts contains an astonishing range of photographs and drawings: more than six hundred illustrations, many of them in color, offer a uniquely comprehensive look at nineteenth-century furniture from the Gothic Revival to Art Nouveau. Every major designer is represented, including William Morris, Charles Rennie Mackintosh, Christopher Dresser, and the choice of pictures includes a wealth of little-known furniture from private collections, much of which has never before been illustrated.A cheerful text enhanced by lavish picture layouts. -- The New York Times

A classic blue-and-white design scheme has timeless appeal, whether used for whole-house interiors or simply to provide a cheerful note here and there.