This lavishly illustrated volume is a tribute to the designers who have made a lasting contribution to the history of interior design around the world, elevating the interior to an art form. Respected interiors specialists Barbara and René Stoeltie chart the evolution of interior design from the seventeenth century to the present day. They introduce thirty-four significant designers from the last four hundred years along with the elements of their legacy that remain relevant in interior design today. Arranged chronologically, the text places the designers in their historical context and details the primary elements that characterized their style or revolutionized taste in their day. The photographs provide a visually evocative overview of the designers key works, illustrating the overall impact of the room and the details that make each space memorable. The clean lines and light-filled interiors of John Saladino contrast with the luxurious, richly colored spaces created by Jacques Garcia. These portraits of the designers and their chefs d oeuvres demonstrate the aesthetic principles and creativity that shaped the history of interior design. From eighteenth-century interiors by Dennis Severs, to Billy Baldwin s elegant yet liveable home design, or from Madeleine Castaing s eclectic creations that blended antiques with art, to the gracious curves and pastel hues of Charles Rennie Mackintosh s art nouveau Hill House, and from Bill Willis s interpretation of Orientalism in Marrakesh, to the clean and graphic lines of Andrée Putman s sleek interiors, this volume abounds with inspiration.