Gracious needn"t mean traditional, formal, or reserved. A gracious interior is one that welcomes family and friends and expresses the inhabitants" personalities, through comfortable and stylish furnishings, appealing colors, and carefully chosen decorative touches. Many people long for a home that exudes these qualities, yet they are unable to achieve it, whether due to budget restrictions, lack of knowledge, apprehension about how to begin, or all of the above. Design expert Mary Kelly Selover"s skillfully presented sourcebook offers many solutions, through big, beautiful photographs covering a wide range of styles (including neoclassical, Victorian, country, English cottage, Southwest, postmodern, and eclectic), and extensive captions brimming with ideas. Since most of us tackle one room at a time, the volume takes the same approach, leading us from entryway to porch and stopping along the way at every room in the house. Selover analyzes what makes each space work: the color scheme, furniture mixture and arrangements, use of accessories and collectibles, and successful blending of diverse styles. For further help, the pages are peppered with highly useful sidebars that make sense of selecting wall coverings, upholstered furniture, floorings, paints, tiles, and ceiling fans, and a resource list offers suppliers for these items as well as appliances, fixtures, and more. --Amy Handy