From acclaimed French interior designer and decorative arts historian Florence de Dampierre comes an inspiring collection of the best decorative wall treatments. Throughout history, there has been a desire to express the esprit of a period by decorating the walls of our homes. From Italianate murals in Renaissance villas and the whimsical painted panels of the Musee Carnavalet, to English Arts and Crafts wallpaper and Frederic Church's stenciled homestead Olana, noted connoisseur de Dampierre shows how decorating walls can transform an interior space to dramatic effect that harmoniously creates a rich, sophisticated look.Walls covers a sampling of premier decorative wall designs from around the world that have evolved over the centuries, including fresco, wood paneling, stenciling, and wallpaper. De Dampierre has chosen the best examples that have proven to be the most inspirational and relevant for today's home interior design. Sidebars will cover such topics as lacquering; chair moldings, pediments, and cornices; borders and friezes; hand-painted linen and cotton hangings; tooled leather, and toile. Each chapter will end with such practical advice as mixing pigments, application tips, maintenance, and restoration. Beautifully photographed, the book offers innumerable wall treatment ideas that can be seamlessly integrated with furnishings of modern interiors to create an original ambience.