Ogden Codman, Jr.

Originally written in 1902 by Edith Wharton and Ogden Codman, Jr. two renowned individuals during the gilded age, one an author with a serious interest in house decor and the other a known architect of the time, the book still stands on its own if you have an interest in architecture and house design. For the neophyte, you may find yourself looking up many terms (I most certainly did), but the overall ideas behind house design through the ages are fascinating if you have the interest.

Some takeaways: rooms require balance whether it be through the bric-a-brac, art or actually the architecture itself. For a long hallway with a door on one end, there should be an approximately same size piece of furniture on the other end to balance the flow. I discovered that I particularly like Islamic arabesques.… (més)

Edith Wharton's The Decoration of Houses is an invaluable reference, one of the classic works on interior decoration, and a testament to the enduring style of one of America's greatest writers. Written in collaboration with celebrated American architect Ogden Codman, Jr., Wharton's first book is a comprehensive look at the history and character of turn-of-the-century interior design, moving from historical traditions to the distinctive styles of contemporary taste. Published in association with the Mount Press, this beautiful hardcover facsimile is carefully reproduced from the first edition published in 1897 and includes all 56 original plates-illustrating furniture, moldings, and interior styles of the 19th-century-and features décollage edges as well as a new introduction from renowned scholar Richard Guy Wilson. The Mount is a magnificent estate Edith Wharton designed and built in 1902 as a writer's retreat in the beautiful Berkshire Hills of western Massachusetts.… (més)