With more than 500 stunning colour photographs and 464 pages of practical advice, The Home Book is the definitive guide for home decoration in the twenty-first century -whether you're planning a major renovation or merely making a few subtle changes. What do you want your home to be? A showcase or a sanctuary, a place to entertain others or a private family retreat? Whatever your preference, The Home Book helps you make it a reality with practical advice at three distinct stages of design. In 'Understand Your Home', you'll identify the assets and challenges of your house's site, architecture and layout, and explore ways of working with its unique characteristics to shape a space you'll love. 'Elements of Design' shows how to make the most of colour, texture and pattern; lighting, fabric and trimmings, and window treatments; and the versatile surfaces of walls, ceilings and floors. Finally, 'Design, Room by Room' takes you on an expertly guided walk-through -from a welcoming foyer to a hard-working kitchen to a gracious entertaining space- in order to fine-tune the furnishings, finishes and details that truly make a house a home. There are also insider tips from industry professionals on everything from proportion and flow to favourite colours for various rooms and moods (complete with swatches), as well as illustrated surveys of fixtures and furniture -lanterns, desks, vanities- that let you compare a range of styles at a glance. You'll also find special sections on designing a loft-like space, a studio apartment and an indoor-outdoor room; a thoughtful discussion of green design; and suggestions for setting a budget and timeline for your projects. Full of insight into the way we live, this is a book you'll turn to again and again.