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Here's a list of recommended books in Interior Design, chosen by your Guide for their outstanding features and editorial excellence. As a result of a commercial relationship between The About.com, its Guides and Borders.com online booksellers, these titles can be purchased directly from Borders.com by following the links below. (Note: Borders.com is solely responsible for fulfillment of book orders placed through these links.)

Mary Engelbreit's Children's Companion
by Engelbreit, Mary / Lyons, Charlotte / Martin, Barbara E.
Mothers and grandmothers alike will adore this book. Taking a fresh approach to decorating children's rooms, Mary Engelbreit brings a sense of beauty, order and whimsey to decorating. Inspiring sections for infants, boys, and girls. Chapters on parties, playhouses, and projects are an added bonus. A wonderful shower gift. Beautiful! Hardcover.

Antiquespeak
by Kathryn B. Hiesinger, George H. Marcus
Subtitled: "A Guide to the Styles, Techniques, and Materials of the Decorative Arts, from the Renaissance to Art Deco". This is a handy reference book for antique lovers, full of good information. Arranged alphabetically, it will serve as a reference book and teacher, explaining 200 decorative arts terms. Some of the larger terms ("Victorian") are explained in depth. Also included is a useful timeline style chart and bibliography. Paperback

Arts & Crafts Design in America
by James Massey, Shirley Maxwell
A state by state guidebook to nearly 300 examples of the Arts and Crafts style in the U.S., including 25 Greene and Greene designs. The tour features architecture and interiors as well as furniture and crafts from the works of Frank Lloyd Wright, Stickley, and Tiffany, and gives visitor information on museums and buildings open for tours. Paperback

American Country
by Skolnik, Lisa
Fresh examples of American country style show how "country" varies by region while maintaining its comfort, practicality, and utter originality as it criss-crosses the U.S. Wonderful rooms filled with country furniture and accessories that are simple, quaint, sweet, and sturdy. Hardcover.

Cabin Fever: Rustic Style Comes Home
by Carley, Rachel
This book is like a weekend in the country. Two dozen retreats and 200 photos will give you "cabin fever" as the author takes you on a tour of log cabins, country retreats, stone fireplaces, Adirondack chairs, cozy rugs, Arts & Crafts furniture, and motifs ranging from fishing to cowboys. Cabin owners will be inspired to redecorate, while the rest of us reach for the phone to call a real estate agent. Hardcover.

Country Living Colors: True Colors
by Country Living Magazine, Rachel Newman, Donna Sapolin
Country colors in several different schemes from neutrals and pastels to primary colors. Photos illustrate how each can be used to achieve a country look. A very pretty book that will give you lots of ideas. Hardcover.

Easy Country: A New Approach to Country Style
by Cargill, Katrin
The country look has a wide variety of looks, and many of them are illustrated here: English country, Shaker, Mediterranean, simple Swedish decorating, modern country. Sections on colors, furnishings, and rooms, as well as a fabulous source list of antique shows, fairs, stores, and resources for country furniture and accessories. Hardcover.

Brunschwig & Fils Style
by Irvine, Chippy / Douglas, Murray
This book celebrates 100 years and 17,000 designs from Brunschwig & Fils, regarded by many designers as the "Rolls-Royce" of fabric, furniture, and wallpaper. 200 photos of Brunschwig & Fils rooms done by well known decorators. Also an excellent section at the back with advice for aspiring designers and students. Hardcover.

Decorating Hints & Tips
by Cassell, Julian / Parham, Peter
A well-planned book with color-coded pages, jam-packed with information. Look up any decorating topic (color, paint effects, tiles, etc.) and get a complete but concise guide with small photos and handy illustrations, checklists, charts and troubleshooting strategies. A book that is so useful you might want to carry it with you while you shop. Paperback.

Decorators Fact File
by Parikh, Anoop
A unique and helpful spiral-bound organizer and project book that includes graph paper and pouch to keep your own samples. Checklists, color coded pages, and advice on all aspects of a decorating project. Also includes instructions and photos to illustrate how to make curtains, stain floors, stamp walls and more. Paperback

Garden Style Decorating Ideas For Indoors & Out
by Better Homes and Gardens
A treat for the eye, this book is a beautiful photo album of gorgeous rooms decorated in a myriad of fresh garden themed looks - from brand new to vintage styles. Porch rooms, terraces, and decks are included, as well as home interiors. Includes fascinating before-and-after makeover projects including "One Room, Two Seasons" and helpful shopping sources listed by state. Hardcover, March 1999.

Home Color Book
by Aves, Melanie / Aves, John
More than eighty professional interior designers share their expertise on using color in decorating. How to choose color, how to use it, color combinations, and color theory guide you to a greater knowledge of this important decorating basic. Paperback.

Home Decorator's Bible
by Octopus Limited Conran Staff
An excellent comprehensive sourcebook including projects (with instructions), pictorial directories of materials and finishes, how-to drawings and photos. Sections on walls, floors, windows, and furniture cover a wide range of products, applications, installations, and sources. Hardcover.

Home Design Workbook: One-Room Living
by Katz, Sylvia
Whether you live in one room or 10 this book provides useful tools. First, it includes graph paper and detailed directions on measuring and drawing your space. Then, a questionnaire helps you define needs and wants. And finally, photos of design options and some fascinating 3-D diagrams illustrate her ideas. A worthwhile book. Paperback.

The Home Office Book
by Donna Paul
An up-close look at 45 home offices in a variety of settings across the U.S. The author (a contributing editor of Metropolitan Home) addresses the issues of space and location, storage, furniture, work surfaces, etc. with 300 photos full of ideas for any home office. Hardcover.

House Beautiful Small Spaces
by House Beautiful Magazine
Most of us want more space, and House Beautiful helps with advice and fresh ideas to maximize space. By creating storage, using color and pattern, creating the illusion of space, editing possessions, and making walls disappear, this book shows exactly how to make the most of your home, whatever its size. Hardcover.

House Beautiful Storage
by Clark, Sally / Hearst Books Staff
Designers and architects contributed original ideas to this book that includes both timeless and cutting edge storage solutions for the home. Suggestions are organized by room and include kitchen, home office, closets, and more. 200 color photos illustrate storage in every form, from shelving to under bed storage. Hardcover.

Living Great
by Dano, Linda / Kyle, Anne
Style expert and TV star Linda Dano shares her home decorating tips. Includes several photos of her own home, illustrating some of the projects she has tackled. Practical advice and info on design principles and color, and ways to personalize your home. Paperback.

More Splash Than Cash: Decorating Ideas
by Babylon, Donna
When you want to do it yourself, but need inspiration for stretching your decorating dollar, this small book can help. With over 1200 ideas overall plus "Fast fix-up" sections covering how-to info (such as how to take care of wood, remove white water rings) and more. Great advice. Paperback.

Smart & Simple Decorating
by Carol D. Bugg
Subtitled: "Creative Ideas & Solutions from the Experts at Decorating Den Interiors". A beautiful cover illustration in blue and yellow entices you to open this book and pour over affordable projects and easy-to-do ideas. Also includes "Seven Keys to Great Decorating", with 200 photos, detailed 3-D floorplan views, before and after makeovers, tips, and pointers that illustrate the 7 Keys. Hardcover.

True Colors
by Country Living Magazine, Rachel Newman, Donna Sapolin
A terrific reference when you want to refine your color scheme. Over 200 photos illustrate several color themes: Pales (neutrals), Pastels, and Brights. Study it and learn what you want to live with in your home. Hardcover.

Use What You Have Decorating
by Lauri Ward
Subtitle: "Transform Your Home in One Hour With Ten Simple Design Principles Using the Space You Have". You may have seen Lauri Ward on TV transforming a room using what the homeowner already has in the house. Includes a list of 10 biggest mistakes and solutions. When you like your furniture, but not your room, this may be the book to help pull it all together. (You can also see her before and after decorating photos here.) Hardcover.

Mary Engelbreit Crafts to Decorate Your Home
by Engelbreit, Mary
Crafters and even the 'all thumbs' type will love this handy spiral bound book filled with easy home projects for placemats, lampshades, birdhouses, window treatments, and a variety of accessories - all given the 'Mary Engelbreit' look. Good photos, patterns, and color variations are included. Buy one for a gift and one for yourself too! Hardcover.

Mary Engelbreit's Christmas Companion
by Mary Engelbreit (Illustrator), Charlotte Lyons (Contributor)
Colorful, wonderfully photographed, and beautifully designed, this book is filled with inspiration for the holidays. Create your own family traditions and decorations. Makes a wonderful gift for anyone who enjoys the holidays, and especially for Engelbreit fans. Hardcover

Mary Engelbreit's Home Companion
by Mary Engelbreit, Charlotte Lyons
A wonderful addition to your design library is this book, subtitled "The Mary Engelbreit Look and How to Get It". Even if you're not redecorating you'll enjoy paging through the illustrations and photos showcasing Mary's charming design ideas. How-to projects and sections on kitchens, tabletops, corners and more, many featuring inexpensive ideas. Enjoy! Hardcover

Mary Engelbreit's Outdoor Companion
by Mary Engelbreit (Illustrator), Charlotte Lyons (Illustrator)
Always full of creativity, Mary Engelbreit's Outdoor Companion pictures gardens, settings, and projects for your outdoor "rooms". Not a typical gardening book, but rather a design book full of inspiration for anyone who loves the outdoors. Lovely photos, project instructions, and a section on playhouses for children as well. Hardcover

Christmas With Southern Living 1999
by Southern Living Magazine
Holiday decorating simply and elegantly. Sections on decorating your home, entertaining, recipes, and gifts. Features fresh ideas (with how-to, patterns, and photos) that are easy to duplicate and inexpensive, such as candy canes in cranberry glass and bouquets of roses tied with braided gossamer golden ribbons. Hardcover.

Tabletops: Easy, Practical, Beautiful Ways to Decorate
by Ohrbach, Barbara M.
Visually gorgeous and packed with photos and instructions for creating wonderful tables for holidays, entertaining, and special occasions. Ms. Ohrbach coordinates linens and tableware, decorates with incredibly simple (easy to do) yet uncommonly beautiful flowers and provides directions for making easy accessories, centerpieces and decorations. This book is simple, elegant, and a perfect gift for any flower lover, including yourself! Hardcover.

The New Flower Arranger: Contemporary Approaches to Floral Design
by Barnett, Fiona
A large and very lovely book with 700 complete illustrations for both fresh and dried floral arrangements. Learn about scale and proportion, see how techniques are used, then choose one of many projects featuring full instructions, how-to photos, and a materials list. With this book you'll be able to make centerpieces, decorate for the holidays, and make gifts. Hardcover.

Complete Book of Kitchen & Bathroom Renovation
by Time-Life Books Editors
The road to remodeling can be full of obstacles and wrong turns. Avoid them with this book. All of the information, explanations, instructions, projects, materials, and considerations are covered to assist you in achieving a dream kitchen with as few hassles as possible. Hardcover.

Kitchens
by Madden, Chris C.
Choose your style from this sourcebook - classic, rustic, designed, spare, personal, professional, or old world - then get the information you'll need to redesign. Each kitchen is illustrated with photos that show features, floorplans, storage options, and many show how to display a collection in a kitchen. A huge source list is provided as well as a visual resource list with cabinet pulls, counters, sinks, appliances and more. Hardcover.

Curtains & Shades
by Paine, Melanie (Reader's Digest)
Subtitled: "A Step-By-Step Guide to Creative Window Treatments", this book is another practical Readers Digest offering. Anything you need to know about your windowcoverings will be here, along with instructions for putting it together youself. An extremely helpful reference book, packed with useful ideas.

Fabrications
by Cargill, Katrin
An excellent resource for home decorators, subtitled "Over 1000 Ways to Decorate Your Home with Fabric". 450 photos and instructions for decorating every room with fabric. Clear directions for sewing projects that include drapes, and pillows, as well as how-to projects for cornice boards, window shades, lampshades and more. Patterns, techniques, and glossary. Home sewers will enjoy this as well. Paperback.

Interior Colors By Design
by Poore, Jonathan
Subtitled "A design tool for architects, designers, and homeowners", this technical reference delves into color terminology and usage. 250 color samples are arranged in color groups, and photos illustrate key color concepts to show how colors work together in interiors. Hardcover.

Kevin McCloud's Complete Book of Paint & Decorative Techniques
by McCloud, Kevin / Crockett, Michael
Whether you are painting only one room or want to start you own faux painting business, this definitive guide to paint techniques will give you all the information you need. Each project lists ingredients and shows step-by-step photos of all phases of painting. Also includes recipes and techniques, references, sources, and glossary of terminology. Hardcover.

Not So Big House
by Sarah Susanka
Subtitled: "A Blueprint for the Way We Really Live". Starting with the premise that "bigger is not better", the author (LIFE Magazine Architect of the Year) takes a fresh look at living in newer homes. She guides us in rethinking spaces, our needs, budgets, and storage, with sections on living in smaller spaces, lifestyles (of the not-so-rich), dreams, designs for kids, and houses of the future. Includes floorplans of some wonderful designs. Hardcover.

Creating a Beautiful Home
by Stoddard, Alexandra
Subtitled: "From Starting Fresh to Freshening Up - Inspiring Ideas to Help You Turn Your House into a Warm & Welcoming Home". This celebrated designer takes us along as she decorates her own Connecticut cottage, and rethinks home in the 90's. A lovely book, interestingly and personally written, and packed with tips and style ideas in the 'Grace Notes' at the end of every chapter. Hardcover.

Decoration of Houses
by Alexandra Stoddard
The author writes in a conversational mode while explaining many of the design details that often confound the average homeowner. She offers fresh ideas for homes in the 1990's and beyond, always guiding the reader toward finding those design elements that will make their home a space filled with beauty and meaning. Practical considerations such as budgets, goals, scale, and 15 Defining Principles, will give you a solid foundation to decorate your own house
Hardcover

Grace Notes
by Alexandra Stoddard
Subtitled "Insights, Reflections, Inspirations & Quests for Day of the Year", this small book features daily themes and quotations from many sources that are inspiring and impart the peace and grace that is possible. Space for your own notes and inspirations. Hardcover

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