In with the Old: Classic Decor from A to Z

by Jennifer Boles

The Peak of Chic blogger Jennifer Boles--who counts Newell Turner, Alexa Hampton, Stephen Drucker, and Veranda founder Lisa Newsom among her loyal readers--presents a charming encyclopedia of 100 of the most stylish decorating details (chintz, striped walls, and orangeries) that were favored by the great tastemakers of the twentieth century. Best of all, Jennifer gives helpful tips on decorating with these traditional flourishes today.The 1930s to the 1960s were a grand time for they saw Chippendale chairs and grotto furniture, house stationery, monograms, tented rooms, and vanities--much of which has since been forgotten or taken for granted. In In with the Old Jennifer Boles breathes new life into gracious living with 100 entries organized from A to Z on her favorite decorating essentials of the past. Each entry explores curious facts, anecdotes, and timeless advice plucked from the legacies of Billy Baldwin, Dorothy Draper, Sister Parish, the Duchess of Windsor, and other tastemakers whose influence continues today. With a foreword by Alexa Hampton and charming illustrations and photographs, In with the Old is a guide to stylish living that will inspire and delight.

Genres: Nonfiction, Design

332 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

Jennifer Boles was born and raised in the South, where her love of beautiful homes and gracious living was fostered by her house-proud parents and their decorator, a true Southern eccentric with great style and maddening business practices.

After a decade of working in the business sector, Jennifer pursued her love of both interior design and writing by founding her much-loved blog, The Peak of Chic, in 2006. Over the years, Jennifer’s postings on Dorothy Draper, Elsie de Wolfe, English Country House Style, 1930s decor, society hostesses, Jazz Age cocktails, and all of the other tokens of classic design and style have earned her legions of worldwide readers, not to mention a coveted spot in the Design Bloggers Hall of Fame.

A freelance writer and a Contributing Editor to House Beautiful, Jennifer and her blog have been profiled in House Beautiful, Town & Country, New York Times, Departures, Elle Decor, Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles, and other publications. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, Jennifer is a frequent speaker at designer show houses, antiques and garden shows, and design centers across the country.

Reviews

[Abby · Rating 4 out of 5]

A readable review of traditional design trends (with mostly French terms), drawing heavily from whatever classic American designers such as Billy Baldwin, Dorothy Draper, and Elsie de Wolfe did with rooms. It is just the sort of education I was looking for, but it is also written in an extremely fussy manner. I suppose that comes with the terrain. Still, I am glad to know the names of some of these things I’ve been noticing in my study of Anglo-American interior design and appreciate being taught more about their history and origin.

[Jean Grant · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a delightful book, written with intelligence and a light touch. It's also beautifully designed, even more so than one would expect of book on decorating, I learned a lot: andirons, blanc de chine, folies, portieres. Curious how the French have dominated classic home design. It was fun to read, plus it'll make my browsing at antique fairs more intelligent. Now I'll be hunting for passementerie, singerie, sunburst motifs, and a Parsons table. Jennifer Boles is no snob, but someone I bet would be fun to go antiquing with.

[Kelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

You know how classic Hollywood was all brassy Golds + palm tree prints + bamboo chairs and light creamy yellows, this is how this book feels. Old Hollywood style but the kind that your grandmother had in her home. I bought this book because in some ways it reminded me of both my grandparents houses growing up. My granny’s blue wedge wood or my Mimi’s gold mirror and yellow cream walls. It’s classic pieces or styles that are always timeless. It’s the perfect nostalgic design book to have. I haven’t read much of it. But I pick thru it and will read different paragraphs. I think it’s interesting to read the real names of some iconic styles and furniture I never knew much about but always remembered.

[Kate Standiford · Rating 1 out of 5]

Couldn't bear to actually read this, flipped through and read a few of the entries simply out of the desire to understand what the possible justification for why these things were considered "classic design inspirations". Please, please, please, let no one consider these things to be real suggestions for design and decor. Some things should be left in the past and never ever seen again. The author can never convince me that card motifs, dog paintings, "Blanc Dr chine", tented rooms or any myriad of other highlighted things in this book will ever be signals of good design or anything other than kitschy, and often tacky additions to decor.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautifully photographed, and I enjoyed reading about classic design techniques as they are by far my favorite. I love the home decorating style of the 50's and 60's the most with a little of the 20's through the 40's thrown in.
But as with many design books, some of the ideas here will not work unless you have a very large house with very large rooms.

[Wenny H · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love it. A taste of opulence, entertaining yet informative - a nice change from the usual spread of pretty pictures only. It’s not the most practical book, but it serves its purpose as a source of inspiration, providing names of things to search with for when one is in search for some at-home luxury additions.

[Stephanie Toigo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is incredible! She truly is an expert in the design icons and history. If I were teaching an interior design history class, this would be required reading. All of the important concepts from Acrylic Furniture to Zebra Print. You will win trivia and impress your friends!

[Aria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting library find. Lots of French terms. Though many (if not most) elements can’t be practically applied, it is fun to see the pictures and a hint of history behind them.

[Nick · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book to be helpful in putting names and backgrounds to some furniture items and styles that I have appreciated over the years.

[Manny Villa]

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[Rhode PVD · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok, it's delightful. Especially fun as a personal quiz to see how many of these classics you have in your own home. (I had perhaps a frightening high number). That said, it's also frustratingly light. The book has coffee table heft physically, but the content is so light. Each chapter is about 3 pages long, including large photos. Frankly it reads a lot more like a bunch of blog entries than it does as a book. And let's face it, if you love this stuff enough to buy a hardcover book on them, you already know everything about them in her summaries. I wanted more. I deserved more. Come on!

P.s. In no way does a TV tray fit in as a lovely and fun design classic. Nope.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

A catalog of eras gone by. Good recommendations on further reading within the book. You will likely leave with a fee takeaways to use in your own decor, but the real benefit is the nostalgia. I'm halfway through and have at least 20 page markers.

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

A guide to grandma's house

It was interesting to learn the names for some items, but the long descriptions of which designer used entirely too much of a certain item or motif got tiring. I would have preferred a more visual guide.

[M · Rating 5 out of 5]

8000823 beautiful design history book.