Classic Cottages: Simple, Romantic Homes

Romantic and picturesque, the word "cottage" brings to mind the idyllic charms of the countryside. Who can resist the appeal of a sweet little house, surrounded by wild roses, at the end of a winding cobblestone lane? From Anne Hathaway's cottage, which became synonymous with the innocent charm of the English countryside, to the sturdy Cape Cod, the first cottage indigenous to the United States, Classic Cottages: Simple, Romantic Homes looks at the architecture, history, design, and decorating possibilities of the many charming cottages throughout North America. From rolling bungalows to quaint thatched stone huts to nineteenth-century gingerbread gems, cottages in all forms are being rediscovered in record numbers as people yearn for inspiring and appealing housing. Classic Cottages: Simple, Romantic Homes celebrates the delightful cottage home with the renowned photography of Doug Keister, the insightful and enlightening text of Brian Coleman, and an abundance of historical and cultural information about the charming cottage. Brian Coleman, M.D., is a practicing psychiatrist in Seattle, Washington. As an old-house enthusiast, he has written numerous articles on historic home design for magazines ranging from Old House Journal to Period Living in the United Kingdom and is the West Coast editor for Old House Interiors. Brian wrote two previous books, Vintage Victorian Textiles and The Victorian Dining Room. He divides his time between New York and Seattle. Douglas Keister has photographed fourteen award-winning, critically acclaimed books (including Red Tile Style: America's Spanish Revival Architecture, The Bungalow: America's Arts & Crafts Home, and Storybook Style: America's Whimsical Homes of the Twenties) earning him the title "America's most noted photographer of historic architecture." His latest offering from Gibbs Smith, Publisher is Stories in Stone: The Complete Guide to Cemetery Symbolism. He also writes and illustrates magazine articles and contributes photographs and essays to other books, calendars, posters, and greeting cards. Doug lives in Chico, California, and travels frequently to photograph and lecture on historic architecture and photography.