A study of the Western interior and its decoration between 1620 and 1920. The scope of the book is international - from the Ukraine to Louisiana - and the homes portrayed encompass those of aristocrats and artists, of the "beau monde" and the bourgeoisie. The work is divided into six sections covering 50 year periods. Each has an introduction which discusses the prevailing tastes in architecture and furnishings, before moving through a series of illustrations. These range from designs for fireplaces, parquet flooring and window drapes to pictures of rooms - salons, studies, bedrooms, bathrooms - actually as they were lived in. For each image a commentary describes the important features and pinpoints the telling details that define each era's style.