As the trend in residential design continues to move toward pared-down, comfortably elegant, environmentally friendly homes, the hallmarks of Scandinavian design - clean, elegant lines; delicate colour schemes; well-proportioned, airy spaces that maximize daylight; and a pronounced preference for natural materials - make it one of the predominant influences in interior design today.

And yet, until now there has been no book devoted to the signature design features - past and present - of all four Scandinavian countries: Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Finland. Some 300 colour photographs cover every aspect of the Scandinavian aesthetic - from modern kitchens with old-fashioned hearths to the latest in saunas, from light-maximizing walls of glass to folk-art-painted walls, from inviting front porches to cosy attic bedrooms.

Lars Bolander, one of Sweden's foremost designers, and Heather Smith MacIsaac, a design writer and former Architecture and Design Editor of House & Garden, offer expert guidance and practical advice on achieving a Scandinavian look, on incorporating Scandinavian elements into any décor, and on mixing and matching traditional and modern, humble and grand. 'Design Element' sections supply in-depth information about classic and innovative Scandinavian designs, such as the Mora clock and Danish Modern chairs. An international source list completes a book that is an essential addition to the shelves of anyone who has ever admired the subtle palette of a Gustavian room or enjoyed sitting in an Arne Jacobsen chair.