Country Living Cottage Style

Country Living magazine is known for its range of decorating and design books, and this latest volume by Hueston (Country Living's Guide to the Best Flea Markets) focuses on the popular cottage style. Conjuring up images of English chintz, patchwork quilts, slipcovers and easy comfortable living, the style can be applied anywhere, from rooms in New York apartments or California bungalows to coastal retreats and holiday homes. Lavishly illustrated with carefully captioned full-color photographs throughout, the volume is divided into six sections covering the four major living areas (living rooms, kitchens and dining areas, bedrooms, and bathrooms) before concluding with a chapter of quick fixes (an assortment of easy decorating ideas ranging from vintage tablecloths to canning jars as flower vases). Each main area is described, with examples of the cottage feel given and suggestions made for conveying its flavor to fit various scenarios. Scattered throughout are individual pages covering "Quintessential Cottage" ranging from window seats to Dutch doors and cast-iron bed frames that harken to a bygone age. With relatively little text, this slim book relies on the photos and their captions to explain each design element, which it accomplishes with modest success.