NONFICTION - Oct. 13, 1996

TRADITIONAL COUNTRY STYLE: Inspirational Ideas and Practical Tips for Every Room by Elizabeth Wilhide. (Universe Publishing/Rizzoli International: $25, 192 pp., paperback). The abundance of shelter magazines on the market is testament to a society seeking respite from the aggravations of urban living. The explosion also attests to the many ways individuals burrow in, seeking refuge and a comfortable style in their homes.

Elizabeth Wilhide’s coffee-table book is a room-by-room view of spaces to be lived in and enjoyed. From hallway to kitchen, the photos are bustling with ideas and details tailored to country styling. No detail is too small. Suggestions include the use of baskets for storage space, how to make rose water for the bath and even a recipe on how to make herbal vinegars (with the herbs from your own garden, of course). We learn that the underlying principle of country styling is to bring the outdoors in and to incorporate seasonal changes into your decor. We also get a quick course in textures, colors and accents, as well as tips on how to establish a room’s overall mood. Following the general text and photos are examples of living spaces created by well-known designers. We are invited to view rooms in Mary Emmerling’s weekend retreat and Sir Terence Conran’s kitchen.

Where is the country? Wherever you are, wherever you create an atmosphere that is at once traditional, informal and imbued with the gifts of nature that surround us. “Traditional Country Style” contains some of the basic principles of this venerable style. The fluidity of the country style, the way the present and the past are combined, allows you to redecorate according to the demands of your pocketbook. The look can be elaborate or as simple as an heirloom quilt casually thrown across a reproduced four-posted bed, with a few well-placed dried hydrangeas from the garden topped off with those coordinating special-order Venetian blinds.

And honey, you’re home.