Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

& For one/two-semester introductory courses in Interior Design. A comprehensive, applications-oriented introduction to the evolving field of interior design, with a focus on the challenges facing designers in the 21st century. Emphasizing good solutions to real problems by examining best practices from the past and present, the author details case studies using a broad range of projects from modest home and work-place designs, to public areas, to full professional involvement in large commercial spaces.

Table of contents provided by Syndetics

• 1 Introduction
• 2 Design Quality
• 3 Design Basics
• 4 Design History
• 5 The Design Process
• 6 Planning
• 7 Human Factors and Social Responsibility
• 8 Materials and Elements
• 9 Color
• 10 Lighting
• 11 Textiles
• 12 Furniture
• 13 Accessories, Art, Signage
• 14 Technical Matters
• 15 Interior Design for Special Needs
• 16 Kitchens, Bathrooms, Storage
• 17 Special-Purpose Spaces
• 18 Public Interiors
• 19 Professional Design/Business Matters
• Appendix 1 Architectural Symbols
• Appendix 2 Furniture Symbols
• Appendix 3 Electrical Symbols
• Appendix 4 Material Indications in Sections
• Appendix 5 Interior Perspective Drawing
• Appendix 6 Estimating Material Requirements
• Appendix 7 Metric Equivalents
• Appendix 8 Professional Organizations
• Glossary
• Bibliography
• Index

Reviews provided by Syndetics

Library Journal Review

While books on interior design generally address either decoration or architecture, this definitive sourcebook links the two through historical discussion of major design styles. Reflecting a more recent trend of providing case studies to show the development of solutions to problems in a variety of environments, both residential and commercial, the book offers a comprehensive view of interior design. Among the wide range of topics covered by the authoritative text are furniture, materials, lighting, color, and a variety of interior spaces. Ideal for the interior design student or amateur designer, this work covers the basics as it projects current trends into the future. With over 700 photographs and illustrations, 137 in color. Highly recommended. Margaret Jean Owens, Santa Ana P.L., Cal. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

CHOICE Review

A beautifully packaged book on interior design, with wonderful photographs, an exhaustive table of contents, and a veritable who's who list of designers mentioned. A review by William Hamilton in the May 1988 issue of House & Garden refers to its encyclopedic information, but this book is more along the lines of a Readers Digest condensation. Although Pile is not lacking in spirit or ambition, the task of packing the entire interior design profession into 541 pages is overwhelming, and he is unable to give more than a fleeting glance to any one subject. This book will not replace the quality and quantity of technical information in the somewhat dated A. Sherrill Whiton's Interior Design and Decoration (1974) or, for that matter, Arnold Friedmann, J.F. Pile, and Forrest Wilson's Interior Design: An Introduction to Architectural Interiors (3rd. ed., 1982). However, with this in mind, the volume under review will be a welcome addition to any library searching for a synopsis of the current design scene or for readers interested in an overview. -G. F. Hisel, University of Kentucky

Booklist Review

A textbook and a consumer guide, Pile's introduction to interior design covers the principles of both residential and commercial decorating. Like Tate and Smith's Interior Design in the 20th Century (Harper, 1986), the book serves primarily as an introductory text for design students but can also function in a broader capacity. Pile first addresses design basics and planning before proceeding to discussions of such specific topics as furniture, lighting, color, and considerations for individual rooms. After a brief section on commercial design work and the history of interior design, the author describes how a design office operates, with both technical and business issues identified. Throughout his discussions, Pile presents the ideas and special viewpoints of many prominent designers and depicts their work in a well-reproduced series of illustrations in color and in black and white. Appendixes, glossary, and bibliography; index. JB. 729 Interior decoration [CIP] 87-1179