Soft meadows, birdsong, the brilliant blue of an open sky: in this book, TASCHEN celebrates the pleasures of country living with a European collection of rustic retreats. Through Sweden, Ireland, England, Holland, France, Greece, Tuscany, Majorca, and Greece, we present the most inspiring rural homes, each selected for their style, character, and serenity.

From a snug cottage in Kilkenny, Ireland, to a rolling estate in the Tuscan hills, the collection spans both grand and cozy dwellings, celebrating each for their unique sense of home, as well as of the tradition and culture of their region or country. Highlights include an artist's retreat in Majorca; a farmhouse in Normandy, France; and a fairy-tale crooked house in England, dating back to 1500. Along the way, we see how creative luminaries have found refuge and inspiration away from city life, exploring Le Corbusier's favorite Le Cabanon on the Cote d'Azur, and the family home of beloved Swedish painter Carl Larsson.

Whether it is fresh garden flowers on a kitchen table, the promise of crisp white sheets, or the gleam of Swedish sunshine upon freshly polished floors, these 400 pages exude comfort and calm. With a bounty of interior and exterior photographs alongside details and descriptions, Living in the Countryside assures a wealth of interior ideas and a very real breath of fresh air.