Jessica McClintock's Simply Romantic Decorating: Creating Elegance and Intimacy Throughout Your Home

Designer McClintock invites readers into her elegantly appointed Victorian home in this lavish, photo-packed book. Emphasizing classic styles (with a serious soft spot for the ornate details of 18th century European design), McClintock's home exemplifies her take on ""romantic decorating."" Ostensibly a practical guide to romanticizing one's surroundings, this book is little more than a detailed tour of McLintock's home. McClintock clearly and patiently describes her aesthetic, covering everything from fabric choices and paint colors to doorknobs and switch plates. What she lacks in practicality (the topic of kitchen storage is limited to a handful of paragraphs while table settings receives the multi-page treatment), McClintock generally makes up for in the sheer number of her ideas. Cognizant of the fact that few readers will be able to match her lavish lifestyle, McClintock offers tips on acquiring pieces at antique shops, estate sales and other bargain sources. Though the book falls short as a practical how-to, fans of McClintock's aesthetic will appreciate the opportunity to see her warm and stylishly appointed home.