The Georgian Style: Living with Refinement, Propotion and Elegance

by Henrietta Spencer-Churchill

In Classic Georgian Style Henrietta Spencer-Churchill explores the Age of Elegance, a heritage which is strongly evident in her own classic style. She tours a variety of Georgian Houses and estates... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0847820424
• ISBN13: 9780847820429
• Release Date: September 1997
• Publisher: Rizzoli International Publications
• Length: 192 Pages
• Weight: 0.84 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 9.4" x 12.1"

Customer Reviews

Inspirational Architecture; Decorating, Not So Much

See my review for the 1997 hardcover edition. U.S. readers might be confused with the inclusion of Regency and Adamesque (what we call Federal) architecture into the catagory of Georgian, but the British houses are all top notch and great models for study. The decorating is more of a Use-What-You-Have variety, pleasant but not particularly noteworthy. Presented in a very attractive book, the lack-luster decorating was not a detriment to the building of Lady Spencer-Churchill's career, however, so it may be more a matter of taste.

Architecture A Plus, Decorating B Minus

In this 1997 first edition published in the U.S. by Rizzoli, examples of British houses from 1700 to 1830 are shown with the architecture of the exterior, the interior and the furnishings. The fourth section gives an overview of the period's most famous designers, a color chart from Fired Earth, examples of wallpaper from Cole & Son, and a glossary of terms. While the architecture is all first rate, the decorating, presumably projects by Lady Churchill, is pleasant but not high style. The text follows accordingly, stronger and more informative for architectural aspects than for decorating suggestions. Americans might be confused by the inclusion of Regency and Adamesque architecture and furnishings into the category of Georgian, as we in the U.S. usually make distinctions among the stylistic trends. British house enthusiasts will enjoy this book, but those seeking examples of sophisticated decorating will want to look elsewhere.

very good book

i just got the book - havent read much of it yet. there are a lot of good photos, some of them, however, are just different angles of the same room. it seems that by reading the book a great deal of information will be learnt about georgian homes. my direct interest here was to learn about lighting and there isnt anything to direct me here. i think its a good book for the price.

Stylish, and jaw-droppingly jealous making.

Georgian Style, think of those beautiful curved terraced houses in Bath in their soft-buttery colours. It was an age of clean lines and classical influence.It would be unfair to say that, being the daughter of the 11th Duke of Malborough, it is natural that Henrietta Spencer-Churchill should have all the advantages to publish a book like this. Not only would she have been bought up in beauty such as this at Blenheim and probably a host of other stately-home-ish settings - but no doubt she has the connections to get this published. Spencer-Churchill's book certainly rises well above the ordinary. It is beautifully illustrated, her points are simply put and they are generally very clear. She has chosen to illustrate 130 years of interior, exterior and architectural design - from 1700 to 1830 - broadly the Georgian era . With a time frame this broad this book can certainly not qualify as a deeply academic study of the transition of the design. However she illustrates the broad designs trends and how they flowed into one another. She also picks some of the main names of the period (Robert Adam, Capability Brown and so on) and puts them into historical perspective.The styles and their advent are explained, but also much about how design was influenced from the Chinese influence to the invention of wallpaper. Even the type, and use of colours and the range of colours available gets a mention.As an interior designer herself, Spencer-Churchill no doubt has a feel for this sort of thing. I was a little disappointed because I felt with a few areas such as window treatments, she often failed to explain if these were original designs of hers based on previous drapes, or 'a georgian style' she had dreamt up. I would have liked to have seen more of Ackermann's period prints for instance - as they showed quite breath-taking interior detail of the latter part of Georgian age.Occassionally too I found myself grating my teeth as she illustrated a 'Georgian' ideal, but failed to point out at what period in the 130 year time span she was talking about it would have been relevant. But I am being really picky about that.Overall I found this an absolutely breath-taking book. It at once made me sick with jealousy that I didn't have one of these beautiful homes. I found her style easy to read, informative and if nothing else the illustrations are so beautiful I would keep it simply to look at them.This is a great book for fans of the Regency period, Heyer or Patrick O'Brian type of books. It is also lovely if you just like beautiful things.