This comprehensive, hands-on guide to interior design from Cullman & Kravis, a prominent New York decorating firm, offers a broad spectrum of solutions for integrating architecture, art, and antiques into living spaces that are comfortable, functional, and stylish. As Ellie Cullman writes reassuringly in her introduction: "If the very thought of decorating your home sends you into a tailspin, you can relax. Creating a beautiful, comfortable environment is not a simple process, but it need not be an overwhelming experience."

In this generously illustrated handbook, Mrs. Cullman and her colleague and co-author Tracey Pruzan share the basic principles followed by Cullman & Kravis when they work with clients, whether they are renovating an existing house or building a new one. The authors clearly demonstrate that decorating a home is a rational process that can be followed by anyone willing to learn.

Step by step, they answer the questions and solve the problems associated with every type of project, illustrating the explanations with case studies of actual designs, hundreds of tips, and full-color photographs of completed rooms and details of wall surfaces, rugs, and textiles.

Ellie Cullman is a founding partner of Cullman & Kravis, a prestigious decorating firm in New York City. She has been recognized for her work by Architectural Digest, which has featured many of her firm’s designs, and she lectures widely on the subject of interior design. She lives in New York City.

Tracey Winn Pruzan is an interior designer with Cullman & Kravis; she is also a writer who has published widely on the subject of interior design. She lives in New York City.