From Booklist
It is difficult not to listen when the "First Lady" of design-made-simple talks. After all, with more than 30 books to her credit, as well as TV shows, print columns, and other professional accomplishments, Gilliatt has mastered the art of showcasing decorating tips in an easily accessible manner. Her method? First, she presents no haute-color photographs of rich and famous interiors. Instead, her plentiful illustrations concentrate on classic shapes with vivid but not phantasmagorical colors, patterns, and textures. Second, she minimizes jargon. Gilliatt includes definitions wherever and whenever possible--about lighting, color, furniture, etc. Third, she features very practical and very creative tips for dealing with at-home issues, such as problem bay windows, discolored tile grout, and storage solutions. Barbara Jacobs
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Book Description
From choosing a color scheme to redesigning an entire house, Mary Gilliatt’s Interior Design Course provides a complete step-by-step road map for success. This book is conveniently organized into two sections. Section One, The Basics, provides tested techniques for mastering the main elements of good design: lighting; color; texture and pattern; and scale and balance. It also includes a valuable overview of historical styles, providing the reader with a quick-reference catalog of common design influences. Section Two, The Specifics, demonstrates an array of creative approaches for walls, windows, floors, and furnishings suitable for any type of room. Readers will discover how to use special paint finishes and fabrics to create exciting wall coverings; innovative ways to bring new life to blinds, curtains, screens, shutters, and other window treatments; tips for choosing the right type of furniture to complete a specific room; and finally, how to combine all these elements together to create a harmonious, one-of-a-kind living space. Finally, the all-important Finishing Touches section demonstrates how to choose the accessories and extra details that help reflect a particular look or style. Plus, this remarkable guide is packed with lavish photography and clear, insightful text that make it easy for readers to utilize these very same no-fail techniques in their own homes. Perfect for veteran decorators as well as novices decorating their first home, Mary Gilliatt’s Interior Design Course is the definitive one-stop guide for creating interiors that are beautiful, unique, and totally one’s own.


About the Author
Mary Gilliatt is an acclaimed international interior designer and writer. Host of a successful television series on decorating, she is the author of over 30 best-selling books on decoration and design. Gilliatt lives in Wiltshire, England.

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