Introduction: Rooms may be decorated in two ways: by a superficial application of ornament totally independent of structure, or by means of those architectural features which are part of the organism of every house, inside as well as out. In the middle ages, when warfare and brigandage shaped the conditions of life, and men camped in their castles much as they did in their tents, it was natural that decorations should be portable, and that the naked walls of the mediaeval chamber should be hung with arras, while a ceil, or ceiling, of cloth stretched across the open timbers of its roof....... This early works is a fascinating and comprehensive look at the subject and will appeal greatly to any one interested in Early House decor. Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900's and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. We are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork. | The Decoration of Houses by Edith Wharton, Paperback | Indigo Chapters