Today, virtually any interior design that can be imagined can be achieved. The vast range of possibilities can be as daunting as it is exciting, for to create a truly individual room you must define your own style and understand the process required to realize it. At once a hands-on, how-to guide and an illustrated gallery of ideas, this book reveals the secrets of the interior design trade as it guides you through the design process. Whether you do it yourself or work with a designer, this book helps take the first step in the creation of interiors that reflect your own individual tastes. Starting with the fundamentals of developing an overall plan, separate chapters describe the basic options and offer detailed and practical advice on flooring, walls and ceilings, fixtures and fittings, lighting, colour, furniture, windows, fabrics and accessories; also when and how to hire a professional designer or architect. 190 colour photographs provide a resource of decorating styles, ranging from the minimalist to the lavishly ornate and from the refined to the whimsical. Complete with a glossary of terms and a directory of resources, this guide will help you to turn your dreams of beautiful rooms to reality. Linda Chase is a partner in a Los Angeles interior design firm, and Laura Cerwinske writes on interior design and architecture. They are the co-authors of In the Romantic Style (1990), also published by Thames and Hudson.