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The Victorian House Book : A Practical Guide to Home Repair and Decoration
The homes built during the Victorian period are appreciated for their architecture, romantic interiors, and their often whimsical details. With a host of Victoriana this ample volume is an essential guide to this rich, eclectic, and arguably most popular American house style. Historical information is combined with design ideas and advice on how to decorate, renovate and maintain a Victorian house. Whether you live in a Victorian or just want to create the look and feel of one in your own home, this book is full of inspiring ideas, organized in a step-by-step, room-by-room fashion. The proper fixtures, fittings, colors, finishes, and furniture styles are discussed and construction features are highlighted. Also included are a trouble shooting guide for maintenance and a source directory. Author Robin Gould has acquired an international reputation as a designer of interiors ranging from small studio apartments to the cabins of motor yachts and private jets. During the course of his career he has worked for many well-known clients, including Joan Collins, Desmond Morris, LuLu and the royal family of Saudi Arabia. Gould designed the interiors of Browns' and Ralph Lauren's London clothes stores, which have since been copied around the world. Co-founder of Designer's Guild in London, he has restored and designed a wide variety of Victorian houses. His previous book, The Finishing Touch , has been translated into four languages.
Hardcover
First published October 1, 1989
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June 19, 2019The book is GORGEOUS. Glossy photos accompany the words of the author who clearly knows his shit when it comes to Victorian houses. Highly recommended for anyone thinking of renovating a Victorian house or interior designers.
July 20, 2013
This may be a practical guide to home repair and decoration, but it could be a coffee table book. The pictures are stunning and the amount of detail shown in Victorian houses amazing. Know this is a book I'll return to page through frequently and wish I had one of those gorgeous brownstones to live in. WOW!
July 13, 2022
The Victorian period encompassed the reign of Queen Victoria of England, but it also saw great changes in English and American architectural and decorating styles. Also included are occasional references to Australia.
This book has lots of gorgeous photos of Victorian period houses and decorating schemes, including sometimes contemporary paintings. Among other things he talks about the differences between British and American styles and nomenclature., and when styles came in and went out.
Chapters and their subdivisions are:
1. The Victorian Inspiration (standard house types)
2. Exterior features (the masonry house, the row house, the balloon frame house, the front entrance, external walls, roofs and gables, exterior color schemes, decorative ironwork, windows)
3. Fixtures and Fittings (planning ahead; halls, stairs and landings; interior walls, ceilings and their dressings; joinery; bookshelves and cabinets; fireplaces; floors and floor finishes; tiles; decorative glass; lighting; brassware, metalwork and porcelain fittings)
4. Decorating in Victorian Style (period decoration; color and paint effects; wallpapers; carpets and floor coverings; curtains and blinds; furniture and upholstery; drawing rooms; dining rooms; studies, libraries and billiard rooms)
5. Kitchen and Bathrooms (kitchens, bathrooms)
6. The private rooms (bedrooms and nurseries)
7. Gardens (railings and garden walls; gazebos and summer houses; conservatories; furnishing the garden)
Technical Advice
8. Keeping Faith with the Past (assessing the condition; the external inspection; the internal inspection; structural alterations; conversions; additions; heating and insulation; energy conservation; adapting Victorian fixtures and fittings; care and maintenance)
Suppliers of Goods and Services
Museums and Associations
Highly recommended to anybody who likes old houses, especially anybody who has or contemplates owning one. What to look for both positive and negative. What to do to keep it as much in period as possible.
This book has lots of gorgeous photos of Victorian period houses and decorating schemes, including sometimes contemporary paintings. Among other things he talks about the differences between British and American styles and nomenclature., and when styles came in and went out.
Chapters and their subdivisions are:
1. The Victorian Inspiration (standard house types)
2. Exterior features (the masonry house, the row house, the balloon frame house, the front entrance, external walls, roofs and gables, exterior color schemes, decorative ironwork, windows)
3. Fixtures and Fittings (planning ahead; halls, stairs and landings; interior walls, ceilings and their dressings; joinery; bookshelves and cabinets; fireplaces; floors and floor finishes; tiles; decorative glass; lighting; brassware, metalwork and porcelain fittings)
4. Decorating in Victorian Style (period decoration; color and paint effects; wallpapers; carpets and floor coverings; curtains and blinds; furniture and upholstery; drawing rooms; dining rooms; studies, libraries and billiard rooms)
5. Kitchen and Bathrooms (kitchens, bathrooms)
6. The private rooms (bedrooms and nurseries)
7. Gardens (railings and garden walls; gazebos and summer houses; conservatories; furnishing the garden)
Technical Advice
8. Keeping Faith with the Past (assessing the condition; the external inspection; the internal inspection; structural alterations; conversions; additions; heating and insulation; energy conservation; adapting Victorian fixtures and fittings; care and maintenance)
Suppliers of Goods and Services
Museums and Associations
Highly recommended to anybody who likes old houses, especially anybody who has or contemplates owning one. What to look for both positive and negative. What to do to keep it as much in period as possible.
August 11, 2011
Gorgeous photos, lots of interesting information
February 28, 2016
The best part of this book is the door furniture. Such nice escutcheons!
Also killer line drawings.
Also killer line drawings.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews