Formal Victorian (Architecture and Design Library);

Replete with jam-packed rooms and luscious details, Formal Victorian melds architectural profiles, sumptuous interior decor, and stylish displays of collectibles into a handsome package. Apart from a one-page introduction to each of the five sections (exterior decoration; interior details; dressing walls, windows, and floors; elegant furnishings; and traditional touches), the text consists of extensive captions outlining points of Victorian style and offering hints for transposing these looks into your own home. Though the Victorians often tended toward darker colors, some of the photos are a bit too dark, but the intriguing details still manage to shine through.