Product Description

Arts and Crafts design, characterized by clean, graceful lines and solid workmanship with quality materials, has experienced an explosion of popularity over the past decade with museums, collectors, and the general public. William Morris, Gustav Stickley, and Frank Lloyd Wright are among some of the most well-known designers who produced furniture and architecture in the Arts and Crafts style, while many others produced ceramics, glass, textiles, wallpaper, and silverware in the same vein. A comprehensive survey of one of America's most enduring and popular interior design styles, reflecting both traditional and contemporary interpretations, this lavishly illustrated and informative volume begins with a discussion of the origins of the Arts and Crafts movement at the turn of the century and traces its evolution to the present day. Over 140 glorious, full-color photographs showcase the special beauty of this simple, graceful style and depict the hallmarks of its design impeccable construction and proportions, the use of enduring woods, exquisite finishes, handwrought hardware, and other unique touches in every object pictured, all in the context of contemporary homes. From a New York estate filled with rare Roycraft pieces to a Beverly Hills mansion furnished in Mission oak, the book not only provides a rare glimpse into the collector's world but offers a visual blueprint for incorporating this engaging style into any household, a source index explains how to identify original pieces and directs the consumer to places where both authentic and reproduction Arts and Crafts furniture and objects can be obtained. An invaluable and inspirational reference for decorators and collectors at all levels, In the Arts and Crafts Style combines splendid photography and an enlightening text into a treasured, one-of-a-kind volume as classic and timeless as the style to which it pays tribute.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #488124 in Books
• Published on: 1992-10-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 224 pages

About the Author
Barbara Mayer who is a writer specializing in design and decorative arts topics, has been the home furnishings writer for the Associated Press for 12 years. The author of two other books on craft art and interior design, her magazine credits include Elle D

Rob Gray is a professional photographer currently based in Manhattan whose work has appeared in numerous magazines, including HG, House Beautiful, Vogue, and Metropolitan Home, as well as in several books.

Customer Reviews

Great introduction to the A&C style
I love interior decorating but am a newbie to the A&C movement. When I saw this title in the discount bin at my local bookstore, I was struck by the simple, beautiful cover and brought it home with me. What a treasure! The photography is amazing - full-color spreads of beautiful furniture in similarly captivating surroundings. This is a sight for sore eyes indeed and a study in a renowned aesthetic movement.

The book begins with an introduction to the movement and is divided into five chapters:
Chapter One details influences and innovations with reference to the movement's English roots.
Chapter Two covers Hallmarks of the Style: Attention to detail and the character of the home, then and now
Chapter Three focuses on the furniture: arts and crafts classics and collector's choice [by renowned furniture makers such as Charles Rohlfs,the Roycroft community, etc].
Chapter Four is on Objects and Accents: The Crafted House and Details of Design
Chapter Five focuses on Case Studies. This is also my favorite chapter as various residences built or decorated around the A&C style are featured. The photographs are simply beautiful and defy description!

All in all, I think this is a wonderful introduction to the A&C style and makes for delightful reading, providing lots of inspiration and ideas for those new to the A&C style as well as long-time afficionados.

Lovely book
I am new to the arts and craft decorating style but absolutely adore it and I thought this book gave a really good feel for the interior decorating schemes in general, lots of photos showing repeating common motifs (?motives?) and furniture and also a section at the end showing houses that have used it in a modern sense. I think it is a really good, well presented book!! :)

A very strong four and a half stars!
I am a librarian and a woodworker and thus have access and interest in many books on this subject. "In the Arts and Crafts Style" is a beautiful book that is deserved of much praise. The color photography is as plentiful as it is beautiful. I appreciate that the subject matter for this book does not seem to be drawn from the same dozen houses that so many others have used (As much as I like them, how many times can we look at the same pictures of the Gamble House, or Frank Lloyd Wright's home and studio?). The text in this book is very well written and conveys clearly what is so special about the subject matter. I was also very impressed with the excellent resource list given at the end of the book.

If I had an axe to grind about this book it is that the best photographs of A&C furniture are not contained in the (relatively short) chapter on furniture, but rather they are scattered throughout other chapters. This is a minor irritation in an overwhelmingly well done book.

I highly recommend this book for any collection relating to historic homes, furniture / interior design, and lovers of the Arts & Crafts lifestyle.