Beautiful Interiors: An Expert's Guide to Creating a More Livable Home

Homeowners need not copy ideas from magazines or follow current trends to achieve a look that they love, says interior decorator Gandy. Instead, they need only understand the basic principles of good design so that they can better recognize and communicate their own ideas to professionals. In this accessible guide, Gandy defines design terms such as rhythm, form, scale and closure and explains how to use these elements to achieve a desired effect. For example, Gandy explains that regular rhythm, like equally spaced candles, "adds order and can have a calming affect" while irregular rhythm, like photographs in different sized frames, "creates movement." Little's color photographs of successful designs offer stunning visual examples of each concept. Gandy also includes helpful hints for creating what he calls "The Wow Factor," which can be achieved by paying close attention to detail when using artwork or natural objects like plants and bouquets. Organized with easy-to-follow subheadings, bulleted lists and numerous pictures, this coffee-table book is designed as elegantly as the rooms it displays and should be a valuable resource for amateur decorators and do-it-yourselfers.
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