Wallworks: Creating Unique Environments With Surface Design and Decoration

by Akiko Busch

Shows how to use trompe l'oeil, faux finishes, stenciling, tiles, glass, wallpapers, fabric, tapestries, wallhangings, and architectural screens to decorate interior walls

Paperback

First published January 1, 1988

About the author

Akiko Busch has written about design and culture since 1979. She is the author of Geography of Home: Writings on Where We Live and The Uncommon Life of Common Objects: Essays on Design an the Everyday. Her most recent book of essays, Nine Ways to Cross a River, a collection of essays about swimming across American Rivers, was published in 2007 by Bloomsbury/USA. She was a contributing editor at Metropolis magazine for 20 years. Her essays have appeared in numerous exhibition catalogues, and she has written articles for Architectural Record, Elle, Home, House & Garden, Metropolitan Home, London Financial Times, The New York Times, Traditional Home, Travel & Leisure and Wallpaper*, among other publications. In Fall, 2005 she served as a Richard Koopman Distinguished Chair for the Visual Arts at the Hartford Art School at the University of Hartford. She has lectured widely on architecture and design and has appeared on public radio in the U.S. and Canada. Currently, she is a regular contributor to The New York Times Sunday regional section.

Reviews

[False · Rating 2 out of 5]

I added cover photograph for this book. I checked out this book as I am currently reading all of Akiko Busch's work. Like many design books, this one has dated itself from it's 1988 publishing date--a lot of styles, including pickled wood, that haven't continued into the present.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took me a surprisingly long time to read through this book- even though it is relatively thin, and has lots of pictures, it would do it a disservice to NOT read through the sparse text and descriptions of the work pictured inside.

This is one of those 'how decorators treat walls' kind of books, and it's certainly fun eye-candy and interesting to read on a casual level, but it is actually deeper too- it talks a great deal about WHY people use the techniques and styles shown... what artists or historical examples made them popular?

It wasn't the best of it's kind, but I still enjoyed it- I think it would be fun for most anyone who likes 'decor' books, but especially to those curious about WHY some styles are the way they are, what defines them, and why they are popular. (or were!)