Offering a delightful escape to the simple country life, The Perfect Country Cottage includes lively photographs of small country houses from Cornwall to Maine, from Scandinavia to Greece, making it an essential companion for everyone wanting to decorate and style a country retreat. Chapters focus not only on interiors spaces--kitchens, living rooms, and bedrooms--but also on exterior spaces such as flower and vegetable gardens, patios, and decks. Exterior details are fully explored, and close attention is given to topics special to decorating a country cottage, such as soft furnishings, floors, painted furniture, architectural details, garden furniture and storage. In addition, the author, who specializes in country buildings, traces the evolution of the country cottage from simple farmworkers' dwellings to modern rural oases from hectic urban life.