Victorian House Book: A practical Guide to Home Repair and Decoration

Historical information plus design ideas and advice for a Victorian vintage home.

[Praise for the UK edition:] Well-researched and documented... Essential for anyone interested in Victorian design and decoration.
- Library Journal

The Victorian House Book is a fascinating and essential guide to a rich and varied design age. The book details numerous interior and exterior styles -- from the High Victorian and Queen Anne Revival to the Classical and Gothic -- and showcases homes from the United States and Great Britain.

Full of inspiring ideas and fascinating information, the book is organized room by room including conservatories, libraries and billiard rooms. More than 500 color photographs and 1,500 line drawings show the beauty and elegance of Victorian homes and reveal details of their architectural features. A wide range of design elements is examined, including:

• House styles and plans
• Traditional colors and finishes
• Construction features
• Furniture styles
• Roofs and gables
• Ceilings and fireplaces
• Wallpapers and upholstery
• Decorative glass and moldings
• Curtains and floor coverings
• Railings and ironwork.

The Victorian House Book also includes a trouble-shooting guide with information and advice on renovation techniques and care and maintenance. A source list provides the names, addresses and websites of manufacturers and suppliers.

This beautifully illustrated volume fully describes the rich and eclectic designs of the entire Victorian period, including a detailed source directory for Victoriana.

A well-illustrated design sourcebook on Victorian homes. Organized by room it includes numerous interior and exterior styles, house plans, construction details, finishes, colors, upholstery and more as well as renovation and maintenance advice.

Library Journal

In this well-researched and documented guide to Victorian buildings and interiors, the author offers a comprehensive discussion of the Victorian achievement in such areas as exterior wall decoration, gables, fireplaces, wallpaper design, furniture, lighting, floor treatments, and upholstery. Over 2000 illustrations, 500 in color, demonstrate room by room the variety of detail inherent in Victorian style, encompassing such important elements as moldings, plaster work, cornices, cupboard doors, joints, and cabinet fittings. An extensive historical introduction grounds the reader in the design aspirations and successes of the age. Throughout, an appreciation of style is accompanied by practical sections on decorating, renovating, and maintaining a Victorian home. Essential for anyone interested in Victorian design and decoration.-- Margaret Jean Owens, Santa Ana P.L., Cal.

Robin Guild established an international reputation as an interior designer, with a client list that included celebrities and royalty. He designed Ralph Lauren's groundbreaking London stores, co-founded Designer's Guild in London, restored a wide variety of Victorian homes, and wrote several highly popular design books, including The Finishing Touch and Homeworks.