Creating the Artful Home: the Aesthetic Movement and Its Influence on Home Decor covers the history of a movement that emphasized "art for art's sake"-and the influence it had on home decor. The Aesthetic Movement in America lasted just a few decades (1870-1900), and served mainly as a bridge between the high Victorian sensibility and the radical shift to the Arts & Crafts style. The movement germinated among artists who used opulent color, decorative patterning, and lavish materials simply for the aesthetic effects they could evoke. It was commonly held that a home that expressed an artful, harmonious soul would instill high aesthetic and moral merit in its inhabitants. The Aesthetic Movement in America helped to popularize the idea that everyone should be able to enjoy beautiful, well-made homes and furnishings-not just the very wealthy. Artful homes could be composed from brilliant antique store finds, discriminating department store purchases, and gems hand-made by the ladies of the house. It was the moment when people embraced the idea that only a beautiful home could be a happy home. Karen Zukowski delves into the movement's establishment, evolution, and main characters, and shows how today's homes can incorporate Aesthetic principles: Through suggestion rather than statement, sensuality, massive use of symbols, and synaesthetic effects-that is, correspondence between words, colors and music. How influential designers such as Clarence Cook and Charles Eastlake popularized the idea that beautiful homes with tasteful furnishings could be available to practically everyone How today's designers, manufacturers, and retailers deploy the very same stylistic markers of the Aesthetic Movement: rich color, layered pattern and texture, mixtures of historical motifs

Offers advice on finding, displaying, and caring for imaginative pieces ranging from tea pot collections to mixed wall art.

"If homes are the ultimate creative canvas, then books in the Artful HomeTM series are the essential tools of the trade. Part consumer guide, part sourcebook, these volumes show readers how to select, display and care for artworks in all media. In addition, more than 400 photographs in each volume show the best new projects of top artists who create works for the home. Best of all, complete contact information allows the reader to purchase existing works directly from the artists' studios or arrange custom artwork commissions. All photographs are in rich, true color."

Part guide, part sourcebook, this indispensable volume shows you how to select, display and care for artworks in all media. In addition, more than 800 photographs show the best new projects of top artists who create works for the home. Best of all, complete contact information allows you to purchase existing works directly from the artists' studios or arrange custom artwork commissions. The Artful Home also indtroduces you to some of the top architects and interior designers working in the home-design industry today. In-depth articles explain how these season professionals enhance their residential designs with custom artwork. Dazzling photographs of their most artful projects will inspire trade professionals and art-loving homeowners alike.