A livingspace with room to roam or one that draws you in? Too often, we feel we have to choose between one or the other. Now at last there is a unique and comprehensive reference of solutions, insights, ideas and in-depth where-and-how-to-get-it resources to help make your spacious home inviting, beautiful,and functional. Written by Kira Wilson Gould, founder, editor and publisher of To the Trade magazine, Big Home, Big Challenge brings you extraordinary ideafilled layouts featuring the expert large-home design solutions of some of today's most celebrated designers. The first title in the savvy new ELEMENTS OF LIVINGTM series, Big Home, Big Challenge is a practical and inspiring resource that provides you with the knowledge to conquer big space challenges such as high ceilings, long, narrow hallways, double-height spaces and uninviting foyers.

Living large for many people has come to mean just that--living in a large house. That dream home may be an open Soho loft, a spacious suburban mansion, or an echoing country estate--but all these residences present challenges often unanticipated by the homeowner.

Now at last there is a comprehensive resource of solutions, ideas and insights aimed specifically at those who want to make large spaces livable and welcoming rather than overwhelming. Big Home, Big Challenge is the dreamer's, homeowner's and designer's guide to confronting and conquering the challenges presented by today's larger living spaces.

Whether you are currently designing a spacious home, renovating or simply decorating, Big Home,Big Challenge offers solutions to help you plan for and achieve intimacy in large spaces.

This resource provides just the answers you've been looking for on issues such as--

Banishing that "lost in space" feeling

Bringing high ceilings down to human scale

Breaking up endless hallways

Adding details that make a large house a home

With expert advice on architectural solutions,furniture, lighting, art and accessories, paint colors and wallpaper and much more, Big Home, Big Challenge features the work of some of today's most recognized decorators, architects and other top design professionals.It offers 180-plus color photographs that prove it is possible to live large without sacrificing warmth,intimacy and human scale.

Written by Kira Wilson Gould, an arbiter of tasteful design and editor/publisher of To the Trade magazine, Big Home, Big Challenge gives you the tools,the inspiration and a wealth of resources to make your big home a big success.

Making a large residence welcoming rather than intimidating, warm and inviting instead of forbidding, and gracious, not just spacious, can challenge even seasoned professional designers. Big Home, Big Challenge is the ideal resource for transforming large spaces into warm, attractive and inviting homes.

INTRODUCTION

THE BIG HOME CHALLENGE

CHAPTER 1

GETTING STARTED

CHAPTER 2

SITE & SCALE

CONNECTING THE LANDSCAPE

CHAPTER 3

CRAFTING THE PLAN

DEFINING SPACE BY FUNCTION

CHAPTER 4

ARCHITECTURAL SOLUTIONS

IF YOU BUILD IT, YOU'LL HAVE WON

CHAPTER 5

OPTICAL ILLUSIONS

THE MAGIC OF PAINT & WALLPAPER

CHAPTER 6

DECORATING DETAILS

FURNITURE & FABRIC

CHAPTER 7

THE RIGHT STUFF

ART & ACCESSORIES

CHAPTER 8

ILLUMINATION

THE WELL-LIT CHALLENGE

APPENDIX: RESOURCES

INDEX/CREDITS