Interiors: The Home Since 1700

400 illustrations

Unlike almost all previous histories, this book does not deal exclusively with the grand houses of the aristocracy: Steven Parissien's masterly text concentrates rather on the homes of the merchants and middle classes, who have been the first to take advantage of new technologies to furnish and decorate their homes. Fully illustrated with contemporary plates from catalogues and books, as well as paintings and photography, this beautiful book traces a constantly absorbing and often surprising story, as it took place all over Western Europe and North America. Ideal for all students of and enthusiasts for the domestic interior and period settings. Steven Parissien's strongly narrative text explains not simply what happened, but why.

Contents
Introduction
1. The Wind of Change
2. Anglo-Saxon Rectitude
3. Expanding Horizons
4. Principles and Proportion
5. The Democratic Interior
6. Backwards and Forwards
7. The Colour of Industry
8. Mammon Confronted
9. Clean and Bright
10. Form and Function
11. Safety First
12. Embracing the Machine
13. One Foot in the Past
14. Technology Harnessed?
Index
Select Bibliography
Picture Credits
Acknowledgements