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Private Tuscany by Elizabeth Helman-Minchilli, 1999. The homes featured in this gorgeous volume are as enchanting as the Tuscan towns and hillsides they're built on. Many embody a style we've come to associate with Tuscany: dark-timbered kitchens with dried herbs and garlic ropes hung from the rafters, original terra-cotta tile floors, large-windowed living rooms, and artfully frescoed walls. There are centuries-old furnishings crafted by skilled Italian artisans and elegantly manicured gardens containing hidden grottos and classical statuary. But the homes also reflect the special touches of the people who occupy them. For instance, a theater lover displays his exquisite collection of miniature theaters in the salon; the daughter of a villa owner paints traditional murals on the walls and mosaic patterns on the floors.

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Irish Country by Ann Rooney Heuer, 1998. Irish Country is a joyous resource for all who wish to emulate the essence of Irish country decore. Whether a cottage, townhouse, or bungalow, elements of Irish country style leap from each page. Emphasis is on grace and comfort. Inclusion of the expected (Waterford and lace curtains) coupled with the delightful surprise of french toile, georgian and regency wallpapers

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French Country by Barbara Buchholz, et al, 1996. This lovely book is quintessential French country. The authors take the reader on a tour of vistas from the Mediterranean Sea to Provence; country homes range from the rugged to the elegant. The text reveals the common elements to be found in the variety of homes found in the French countryside. Lace is typically at the windows, window boxes brimming with color are essential for this style, and borders of lavender would make you feel that you are really there. Terracotta roof tiles would complete the exterior view.

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Traditional Houses of Rural Spain by Bill Laws,1995. This beautifully descriptive book demonstrates the diversity and uniqueness of some of the features on the buildings and houses in rural Spain. Pictures and narrative are fantastic.

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Barcelona Art Nouveau by Lluis Permanyer, Melba Levick, 1999. This book is as close to being in Barcelona as possible. The photography is amazing and really makes the city come alive.

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Architecture of Spain by Alejandro Lapunzina, 2005. Covering all regions of Spain, from Bilbao's Guggenheim Museum to Granada's Islamic palace of La Alhambra, and all periods of Spanish architecture, from the Roman aqueduct at Segovia to the modernistic German Pavilion in Barcelona, this volume examines 68 of Spain's most important architectural landmarks. Writing in a clear and engaging style, Alejandro Lapunzina, associate professor of architecture at the University of Illinois, describes the features, functions, and historical importance of each structure. Besides identifying location, style, architects, and periods of initial construction and major renovation, the cross-referenced and illustrated entries also highlight architectural and historical terms explained in the Glossary and conclude with a useful listing of further readings. The volume also offers ready reference lists of entries by location and architectural time period, as well as a general bibliography, a subject index, and a detailed introductory overview of Spanish architecture.

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Medieval Architecture in Western Europe: From A.D. 300 to 1500 (Includes CD) by Robert G. Calkins, 1998. Beginning with a study of structural antecedents found in late Roman architecture, the author examines Early Christian borrowings and transformations and selected representative types of Byzantine buildings. The following chapters cover the development of the monastic complex, traditional forms of Northern timber construction, and the contributions of the Carolingian and Ottonian empires. Spanish structures from the seventh century through the tenth century set the stage for the development of the Romanesque style, examined in its various regional manifestations. After identifying the structural sources of Gothic architecture, the author presents the evolving regional Gothic styles, Late Gothic elaborations and innovations, and representative types of secular architecture. The text concludes with an informative chapter on medieval building practices and the tradition of the Master Mason. It is thoroughly illustrated with plans, sections, diagrams, and photographs, and also includes an IBM-compatible CD-ROM, featuring over 800 supplementary views and details of the buildings discussed, all in color.

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The Triumph of the Baroque: Architecture in Europe 1600-1750 by Henry A. Millon, 2000. This fascinating and expansive catalogue explores every facet of baroque architecture in Europe. The baroque style of architecture arose from the Mannerist style of the seventeenth century. At its height, it encompassed all the arts and embodied the message of the Counter Reformation. This style spread from the Rome of Bernini and Borromini to Versailles, Wrzburg, and St. Petersburg-indeed all over Europe. The works rendered in various media illustrate the many styles of baroque construction: villas and chateaux, military, ecclesiastical, and military architecture, palaces and gardens - for an unrivaled presentation of this period in European architectural style.