Getaways: Carefree Retreats for All Seasons

A haven, a retreat, a special place that offers a sense of sanctuary--this is a getaway. And as Chris Casson Madden discovers in her beautiful new book, a getaway can be found in myriad forms and in varied locations. Whether it's a log cabin in the mountains, an elegant villa by the sea, or even a cozy suburban house lived in year-round, a true getaway encourages family gatherings and personal renewal.

In Getaways: Carefree Retreats for All Seasons, Chris celebrates the easygoing spirit that creates such havens. She uncovers a harbor hideaway on a New England island, a one-room cottage by the race tracks of Saratoga Springs, a sleek farmhouse in the Malibu hills, and a Hudson Valley treehouse built for two little girls by their father. Other delightful retreats include a fragrant garden arbor in a Long Island backyard, a fifty-year-old yacht moored off the coast of California, and Chris's own stone house in the suburbs of New York. She visits the private escapes of renowned architects, designers, and artists, as well as the weekend homes of Katie Couric, Michael Keaton, and Toni Morrison. Along the way, Chris discusses the importance of creating a getaway to our physical and spiritual well-being. She also reveals the simple design elements that can inspire a feeling of comfort and warmth in any house.

In describing her rebuilt boathouse, Toni Morrison speaks of "a vision of a place you've had in your mind and when you find yourself there, you recognize it." With more than two hundred glorious photographs, Getaways captures the essence of that vision and encourages readers to add its richness to their own homes.