Baroque (berōk`)style began in Rome around 1600, and spread throughout Europe after its popularity in Italy. Baroque architecture has been known for its excessive flashy designs often featuring splashy ornate interiors. Baroque style was known to create a dramatic use of texture through color, architecture and design details. Often light and dark contrasting colors were used together to create competed designs often seen in painted ceilings and tiled marble checkerboard floor patterns. A signature style of baroque was the rich use of ornamented decorations. Architectural ornaments were first found on the buildings and made of plaster or stucco and were very detailed and severe in size. The style became so apparent that it quickly dictated the direction of furniture, jewelry and clothing designs. Gowns became even more elaborate in size and pattern. Jewelry was worn in excess and hair styles were tremendously grand in scale,and very flamboyant.

Faux painting had always been popular, but it became even more needed as interiors demanded color and large scale ornate details. Labor intensive ceiling frescoes, faux marble walls and gilding became more popular than ever. Gold was seen everywhere, and ......anything that could be gilded, often was.

Landscaped architecture was something we could borrow from the baroque time period as many homes and palaces are built around magnificent stiff planned gardens and rich designed entrances with grand staircases. The interiors had jeweled walls with striking colors, and rich fabrics which adorned the furniture. The excessive rich details were not spared in any corner of the home. Baroque interiors can be compared to the woman varnishing her lips with cherry lipstick, only to then to add an additional layer of lacquered gloss. They showed no restraint. They had it all, and more.