Classic Style [Hardcover]

The rich vocabulary of classical architecture and design has endured for centuries. The appealing symmetry, strong proportions, diverse decorative motifs, and cool elegance are just as appropriate today as they have been through the style's many reincarnations. Ancient Greece and Rome set the stage; the Renaissance revived the look, both in the integrity of its original forms and then in the flamboyance of baroque and rococo; the 18th century rediscovered it and followed it through the numerous permutations of neoclassicism (Empire, Regency, Greek Revival, Biedermeier); and postmodernism co-opted its ornamentation and imagery to breathe life into stark modernist interiors. The style's stealthy opulence and quiet grandeur are perfectly captured in the exquisite photographs and articulate text of this superb volume. Antiques and interiors expert Judith Miller encapsulates the essence of each of the style's versions, then provides concise verbal sketches of every element: exteriors; interior details like doors, fireplaces, and floors; decorative features such as wallpaper, furnishings, and collections; and room-by-room analyses of various classical features, along with six case studies of spectacular homes that exemplify the style, including the residences of Michael Graves and Bill Blass. The photos capture a wonderful array of authentic period rooms and classically inspired contemporary ones. From color, fabric, and furniture choices to ornamental accents like columns and moldings to fully integrated rooms, there is a plethora of terrific ideas here to help bring this graceful style into one's own home. --Amy Handy