The Victorian Home: The Grandeur and Comforts of the Victorian Era, in Households Past and Present
To recreate the Victorian style of decorating may conjure up  nightmarish visions of over-the-top, frilly curtains and heavy,  depressing colors. Luckily,Ellen M.  Plantereveals how to tastefully transform any room into an  elegant and comfortable living space--frills are not compulsory!The Victorian Homeis not only a beautifully written design  guide to reviving rooms from this era, it's also a fascinating history  lesson on the culture of the mid- to late-19th-century gentrified  society in Britain. For this privileged class, the home was the  "center of the universe, a safe haven from a rapidly industrializing  society." Therefore, every chair, ornament, and light fixture was  carefully chosen and exquisitely arranged to create a look of maximum  opulence. Today, the reasons to "go Victorian" are much simpler. This  look can be a lovely addition to any home--a look that is both  timeless and elegant. The rooms photographed inThe Victorian  Homereflect the wonderful versatility of this era. Some rooms  merely capture the essence of the period in the style of the fireplace  or the choice of wallpaper. Other rooms duplicate the era in every  minute detail, right down to the arrangement of dishes and cutlery on  a dinner table. Throughout this elegant book are useful sidebars  providing tips and techniques for Victorian decorating, and a  comprehensive index of expressions and terms. Viva Victoria!--Naomi Gesinger