The Essentials: The Art of Interior Design

From the bestselling authors of Travel Home and Sense of Place, a comprehensive masterclass on interior design filled with practical tips, advice from some of the most respected names in the field, and inspirational examples.

Interior designer Caitlin Flemming often encounters questions about applying the "rules" of professional design to any home: how to pick a paint colour and improve lighting, mix patterns, hang art and curtains, and achieve the right scale and placement of furniture and rugs. While there is no single way to design a space, creating a harmonious home is an art that can be taught. The Essentials: The Art of Interior Design, co-authored with Julie Goebel, is envisioned as a design bible that reveals the wisdom typically reserved for professionals.

In The Essentials, Flemming and Goebel compile everything necessary to create a beautiful and comfortable home, drawing on their extensive experience in designing homes, styling, antiquing, and world travel. They also invite contributions from their peers, some of the world's most talented designers.

Organised in three parts, the first section of the book explores the tacit knowledge of seasoned designers and how to apply it without professional training. The second and most comprehensive section meticulously details the technical essentials for conscientious home design, covering aspects like lighting, hardware, textiles, window treatments, and furniture. Finally, the third section demonstrates how individual elements and details coalesce to create a room, illustrated with tours of nine designers' inspiring homes.

It takes dedication and years of practice to develop a trained eye for design. This book accelerates the learning curve by offering easily teachable techniques and breaking down the elements behind exquisite home design. The Essentials is an indispensable reference for every design enthusiast.