Book review of Decoration USA by Jose Wilson and Arthur Leaman, a mid century modern book about interior design, decorating, and furniture.

Interior Design Book Reviews by Amy Solovay

This is a fascinating little gem of a hardcover book that cover topics related to interior design, home decorating, furnishings, furniture, decoration, art, textiles, sewing and more. The books dates back to the mid-century modern era (dated 1952) and the designs shown reflect the tastes and sensibilities of that period, as well as historical influences from a variety of earlier period styles. The name of the book is Homemaker's Guide To Creative Decorating. The authors are Hazel Kory Rockow, Ph.D. and Julius Rockow. It is illustrated.

Quoting from inside the dust jacket: "Do you long for a home marked by beauty and good taste? Do you know what colors to choose for your room harmony? Are you wondering how to make crowded quarters liveable and pleasant? Are you interested in period styles of furniture? Do you want to make your own curtains, draperies, slipcovers and bedspreads economically? If so, this book is especially meant for you. It is a complete, accurate and up-to-date guide that you can follow step by step in decorating and furnishing your home.

Hundreds of photographs, diagrams, charts and illustrations provide hints and practical direction. The 20 demonstration rooms in full color assist you in devising your own color harmonies expertly and surely. Colors for your purpose outlines the color treatment of different types of rooms, from the gay vivacious room to the quiet, restful one. The Cavalcade of furniture styles, illustrates the characteristics of period furniture. Another excellent chart, Harmonizing furniture and background, tells what fabrics, floor covering and wall treatment to use with the colors and furniture style you choose for your home. Mixing Furniture Styles charts the styles that blend well with one another and prevents the blunder of mismatched furniture.

Still other drawings suggest window treatments that go especially well with the different furniture styles. Three pages of furniture figures, carefully drawn to scale, enable you to plan the selection and arrangement of furniture in your room. These aids simplify home decoration. The text makes abundantly clear the simple steps you must follow, while the many "This is how" drawings vividly demonstrate how a minor change can often bring about a major improvement in your home. In addition, all the photographs have been carefully selected to illustrate every phase of home decoration. These photographs show the vast possibilites that await you in decorating your own home.

Thorough and informative, Creative Decorating does not glibly talk around your questions, lose itself in details, or overlook any topic of home decoration. It is helpful and authoritative, embodying the latest trends and emphasizing the principles that underlie and make possible successful home decoration. Chapters deal with the art principles of home decoration, the problem of the small home, the latest synthetic fabrics, choosing proper lighting, selecting colorful accessories, planning the efficient kitchen, and even "summerizing" the home. This book shows how, without lavish expenditure, you can be our own professional decorator.

The authors are fully qualified by their background, training, and interest to treat this subject. Mrs Rockow- a PhD and an educator- has taught home economics for over 18 years at Brooklyn College, one of New Yok City's outstanding institutions of higher learning. Her constant round of lecture work to women's groups has prevented her from losing contact with the needs, desires and viewpoints of Mrs. America. Mr. Rockow is not only actively engaged in the practice of interior decoration but finds time to lecture and to write. You may have read some of their articles which have appeared in both professional and popular periodicals." (End quote from dust jacket).

The book contains a chapter called "You can make it yourself" which deals with sewing techniques. It also includes a Decorator's Dictionary and index. 320 pages long. Manufactured by Rotary Graphic Corp.

I am going to quote the acknowledgements in the front of the book, verbatim, so that you will have an idea of the vendors who contributed content to this book. "In preparing this edition, the publishers wish to acknowledge their gratitude to the following organizations for supplying photographs and up-to-date information: Allied Stores Corp; America House; Armstrong Cork Co.; Baker Furniture Co.; Bigelow Sanford Carpet Co.; Brooklyn Museum; Brunovan, Inc; Charak Furniture Co.; Cheney Brothers; Comprehensive Fabrics; Dunbar Furniture Manufacturing Co.; E.I. Du Pont De Nemours & Co.; Evans Products Co.; Firth Carpet Co; French & Co, Inc.; Goodall Fabrics, Inc.; Grand Rapids Bookcase and Chari Co.; Hartford Textile Co.; Illuminating Engineering Society; Imperial Furniture Co.; International Business MAchines Corp.; Intramural Inc.; Robert W. IRwin Co.; Georg Jensen Inc.; Katzenbach and Warren Inc.; Kindel Furniture Co.; Kroehler Manufacturing Co.; Lees Cochrane Co.; Lord & Taylor; R.H. Macy; James McCreery & Co.; Mersman Brothers; Michaels & Co.; Mueller Furniture Co.; Onondaga Pottery Co.; Pine shops; Pittsburgh Plate Glass Co.; St. Charles Manufacturing Co.; F. Schumacher & Co.; Alexander SMith and Sons Carpet Co.; Swedish Modern, inc.; Sylvania Electric Products, Inc.; Richard E. Thibaut, Inc.; Towle Manufacturing Co.; Union National Furniture Co.; Valentine-Seaver; The Wall Paper Institute; John Wanamaker; Westinghouse Electric Corp; Widdicomb Furniture Co.; Youngstown Kitchens by Mullens Manufacturing Corp.; Ypsilanti Reed Furniture Co.; Zangerle and Peterson Co. We also wish to express our appreciation to Marion Brown for her splendid research and editorial assistance in preparing the Decorator's Dictionary appearing in chapter 19". (End quote from acknowledgements.)

Please click on any of the photos below for a close-up view.