Product Description

$39.95 hardcover 1-58685-174-8 < BR> 8 x 11 in, 160 pp, 150 Color Photographs, Rights: W, Design < BR> In her newest book, Villa Decor, Betty Lou Phillips discusses how to mix styles, furnishings, inspirations, and colors from different eras and locations to create the looks for which the French and Italian people are known-wisps of elegance, hints of regal color, textures that delight and inspire. Villa Decor illustrates the mastery of the fabled French way of melding the past with the present so each is seen in the best possible light, as well as the uncanny Italian knack of linking rooms effortlessly with patterns and palettes without detracting from the furnishings or objets d'art, capturing a trend in American decorating. Betty Lou Phillips demonstrates how to virtuously juxtapose various periods and styles in widely diverse, satisfying rooms that are never dull or predictable. Quiet French elegance, Italian romance, and the simplicity of sweet life-la dolce vita. < BR> Author of Provencal Interiors, French Influences, and French by Design, Betty Lou Phillips is a professional member of the American Society of Interior Designers. Her design work has appeared in such publications as Southern Accents, Bedroom & Bath, Window & Wall, and Decorating, and has also graced many magazine covers. Her design talents have been featured on the Oprah Winfrey Show and the Christopher Lowell Show. She lives in Dallas, Texas.< BR>

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #30527 in Books
• Published on: 2002-10-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 160 pages

Review
2002 Nonfiction Book of the Year Award Winner -- Foreword Magazine

From the Publisher
Betty Lou Phillips demonstrates how to virtuously juxtapose various periods and styles in widely diverse, satisfying rooms that are never dull or predictable. Quite French elegance and Italian romance combine to create the simplicity of sweet life - la dolce vita.

From the Inside Flap
Westerners have long admired France and Italy as the European seats of exquisite high style. Now, renowned designer and author Betty Lou Phillips shows how we have blended these two traditions by mixing styles, furnishings, inspirations, and colors from different eras and locations to create the looks for which the French and Italian people are known. With wisps of elegance, hints of regal color, and textures that delight and inspire, our homes exude a rich European taste, too. Villa Decor illustrates the mastery of the fabled French way of melding the past with the present so each is seen in the best possible light. It demonstrates the uncanny Italian knack of linking rooms effortlessly with patterns and palettes without detracting from the furnishings or objects d'art, capturing a trend in American decorating. Betty Lou Phillips demonstrates how to virtuously juxtapose various periods and styles in widely diverse, satisfying rooms that are never dull or predictable. Quiet French elegance and Italian romance combine to create the simplicity of sweet life-la dolce vita.

Customer Reviews

Not for All
Formal, grand, stark, traditionally European. However, perhaps more of a coffee table book, and not intended to inspire Americans looking for a quaint, rustic European style to immiate on a modest budget. I thought that some of the photos are old or out of date, but I think that most of these estates are so vast and expesively decorated that it may be decades/centuries before the decor changes. Anything but fadish or trendy.

French and Italian Styled Villas in TEXAS
Sadly only three out of nearly 200 pages of photos inspired me. The few pictures that caught my attention had nothing to do with interior design. The style of the rooms were so bland. Though Philips showcased many homes throughout Texas, most shown had the same color scheme and no personality. I felt as though I were looking at the same home page after page. If you're looking for authentic French and Italian decor, you won't find it here.

However this may be the perfect book for someone who lives in Texas (numerous resources listed in the back) and if your design aesthetic includes yellow painted walls with rooms furnished in dark mahogany wood.

Nice book Acurrate reference
Nice book that inspires you to use ideas from it, for your own client design projects