The increasing wealth in Europe following the Renaissance and exploration of the New World was reflected in the sumptuous furniture, interiors, and decorative arts of English palaces and country homes. This course will focus on the popular styles and design influences during the reigns of Henry VIII through Queen Victoria, including Tudor, Jacobean, William and Mary, Queen Anne, Georgian, Regency, and Victorian styles. The extraordinary influence of designers and craftsmen such as Robert Adam, Thomas Chippendale, John Nash, and Thomas Hope will be discussed, as well as the social and political influences upon their designs. Construction techniques and types of materials including fabrics, woods, and decorative elements will also be discussed.

Eleanor Schrader is an award-winning educator, lecturer, and author. She lectures worldwide on art and architectural history, and she leads art and architecture tours throughout the world. She has been named a Distinguished Instructor at UCLA Extension, where she teaches history of architecture, interior design, furniture, and decorative arts. She is also Professor Emeritus of Art and Architectural History at Santa Monica College. She has done graduate work in fine and decorative arts at Sotheby's Institute in London and New York. She has served as a Design Review Commissioner for the City of Beverly Hills and currently serves on the Board of Directors of the John Lautner Foundation.