Antique Decorating

These two books provide clear, well-illustrated instructions on a variety of decorative finishes. Sloan offers a review of the materials, with directions on application and the equipment needed for each. She then shows how the techniques can be combined and applied to particular furniture projects. Compared with her Decorative Paint Effects, Sloan's new book focuses more on the use of different media (e.g., varnishes, waxes, paints, and stains) and on decorations applied by freehand painting or d?coupage than on different effects created by paint techniques. Meschbach, a professional decorative painter, covers the various looks that can be created with paint techniques. He illustrates a multitude of techniques, dividing them into easy (sponging, ragging, and mottling); eclectic (stippling, combing, antiqueing, and crackling); and elegant (wood graining and basket weave). He also gives detailed instructions on the best way to proceed. Experienced painters will find this book particularly useful, but amateurs might need more advice on color selection and how the effects look in the finished project. Both books are recommended where there is an interest.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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. Plante reveals how to tastefully transform any room into an elegant and comfortable living space--frills are not compulsory! The Victorian Home is 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 in The Victorian Home reflect 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 --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.