The Cottage Book - Tapa dura

Take a trip across the Atlantic and view the American version of country cottages. Quite different from our own thatched, Cotswold stone cottages, American cottages are shingle clad, shuttered, wooden and larger, all quaintly picture-book perfect. Stunningly yet simply furnished, they are shining examples of American style at its best. No large empty modernist spaces here but warmly painted wooden clad walls, stone fireplaces, sloping roofs, airy porches and fantastic views or solitary seclusion. Author Carol Bass, accompanied by photographer Dennis Walsh, takes a trip through the countryside photographing these picturesque paradises inside and out, highlighting the cosy simplicity that make these homes a safe haven away from metro life. Some are holiday homes, passed down from generation to generation, others lovingly restored family homes. All are welcoming, relaxing and reflect the joys of cottage life. For those who have just moved to the country or who have bought a second-home, for lovers of American folk and country style or those just in search of rustic inspiration, this attractively produced book will ensure hours of stylish contemplation accompanied by an easy-to-read, knowledgeable and informative text. - Lucy Watson

It's been a shock. Bigger hasn't turned out to be better and newer isn't working out to be nicer. As skeptical consumers grapple with how they really want to live, a growing contingent has turned away from the culture of McMansions and SUVs and back towards the iconic forms of a simpler life, searching out homes and home styles that speak of simplicity, comfort, authenticity. No residential style reflects the small-is-beautiful trend more beautifully than the cottage home. Quaint, personal, modest, and simple, the cottage is above all itself; there's not a pretentious rafter in its roof. The earliest cottages (many featured in this book) were built as retreats, summer getaways where families convened to relax in the quiet refuge of the wilderness. Constructed for practicality, comfort, and pure pleasure, cottages often feature capacious porches, gorgeous views, cozy living rooms, and quirky, colorful, above all comfortable furnishings. Ease of living was paramount. Over the years, the cottage has evolved into something less rugged than the early versions, but its primary virtues remain. Today's cottage may be carefully decorated but it remains a heartfelt home where quality of place is more important than quantity of space. In this gorgeous celebration of the cottage tradition, artist, designer, and cottage expert Carol Bass showcases some classic early cottages, all still in happy and active use, leads us through a collection of updated and new cottages, and delineates those stylistic elements that define cottage life. Reminding us of a saner, simpler life, The Cottage Book inspires an irresistible fantasy of a snug little home of our own.