A fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the sumptuous, extravagant or just plain whimsical homes of creative souls past and present

Some are filled to bursting with leopardskin cushions and gilt mirrors. Others have an indefinably quaint, old-world charm all their own. Some are dimly lit by candles, while one or two are brightly illuminated by the neon glow of strings of fairy lights. Whatever the inspiration behind them, the homes featured in Extravagance: the World of Whimsical Interiors bear the stamp of the people who live there-people who have decided to make their home a reflection of their own personality and passions. From Vanessa Bell to the outrageous French artists Pierre et Gilles, from Sigmund Freud's Viennese apartments to the home of photographer Turbeville in New Mexico, Extravagance: the World of Whimsical Interiors explores the private tastes of these designers, artists and thinkers who shape the world. Also featured are the charmingly eccentric homes of unknown devotees of design: a butcher who, on his days off, is a specialist in sixteenth-century art; a Greek businessman who bought his own French chateau to decorate as his whims dictated.

Fashion journalist Claude Berthod's text lovingly details the particular features of each home, while the stunning photographs of Roland Beaufre will provide inspiration for all those who believe that good taste and design flair are intrinsically individual qualities.

Claude Berthod is a journalist specializing in fashion and interior design. Formerly head of the Fashion department of Elle magazine France, she has launched her own magazine for interior design professionals.

Roland Beaufre is a trained architect, but has made his name as a photographer for numerous magazines, including Cosmopolitain, The World of Interiors, Marie Claire Maison and Glamour.