Classical Principles for Modern Design: Lessons from Edith Wharton and Ogden Codman's The Decoration of Houses

Author explains how Wharton’s ideas hold up today, and how some rules can be broken. The only thing I didn’t like were the oblique references to the author’s sexual orientation. Not necessary info.

I found the book interesting history and it shows that classic style or design no what the period applies. A good read.

I bought it on the strength of one photo I saw in a blog. Turns out that one photo was the best of the lot. Most of it seems to me pretty bland and uninspired.

Interesting

This seemed like it would be interesting because I have such a high regard for Ogden and Wharton's The Decoration of Houses, but other than perhaps four or five images, it was unbelievably boring. Worse, the text that accompanied images and almost every historical image were absolutely tiny. Is a 20 year old from the IKEA generation with perfect vision buying this book or someone more likely in their 30s to 60s with less good eyesight? You'd need not only your eyeglasses but a good magnifying glass. This is the most disappointing book I've bought in decades, and I would absolutely urge anyone interested to seek it out in a real store (or library) and thumb through it before deciding if you want to buy it. Whatever they were going for here, they didn't meet their goal, and the execution was poor in the extreme. This is not a keeper.

An erudite and engaging text, handsomely illustrated with rooms by Jayne Design Studio.

I returned the book because I did not receive what is advertised. I had all intentions of displaying the book on my coffee table because I loved the colors on the outside of the book that is advertised and the book would have displayed well. What I received was hideous to me. However, I did receive a full refund, and I appreciate the customer service.