The New Cottage Home: A Tour of Unique American Dwellings

As an avid cottage fan, and living in one while designing a new one to build for myself which is even more zen and simple, I found this book to be one of the best books on cottages around. Although I also admit what was considered a cottage when my place was built someone hundred years ago and what is considered a cottage in 2006 is around five square feet more in size. Of course I am a purest and go by what my dictionary says a cottage is which is 1 : the dwelling of a farm laborer or small farmer 2 : a usually small frame one-family house. Small being reduced in size. So I was surprised that on page 112 they show a French Hunting Lodge from the Pacific Northwest. Not a cottage at all. What does make this good sized book useful for anyone looking for ideas on cottage styles is the vast array of examples given. From the coastline of Maine to the San Juan Island of Washington State, to rural Kansas to Massachusetts to favorite areas here in California. And wonderful examples of simple to elaborate. One of my favorites because of its really simple zen style is the Pumphouse on pages 52-59 on San Juan Island in Washington State that was made into a smooth lined, all in one cottage which I and other minimalists would love to own. Or the wonderful Salvage Yard cottage in Franklin County, Kansas on page 156-161 that would fit in just about anywhere where clean lines and environmental desires are important. There is even an off the grid cottage and some communities of nothing but cottages like those on Lopez Island in Washington State beginning on page 196, where the cottages are part of a land trust that was set up to allow people on moderate incomes to build small abodes with common greenbelt areas in and area where expensive homes were/are the norm. Heck, this made the book worth the price in itself. Each cottage is shown inside and out complete with basic blueprints of each cottage so one can see how the space sits and works. The photography and text meld well and makes this a book that is hard to put down.

I absolutely love this book. Beautiful photographs of exteriors and interiors and the "rough sketched" floor plans are quite helpful. Also informs you of the locations of the actual cottages pictured and how you can contact the architect. I've finally decided on my dream home and purchased my new home plans because of this book. Can't wait to start building my "Three Gable Cottage"!

This outstanding book offers a bounty of gorgeous four-color photos and descriptive "plank and nail" text explaining the design and construction of each cottage. I've referred to this book countless times while brainstorming my own cottage design. Each time I open the book, I find another detail that I hadn't seen previously. The New Cottage Home offers an elequent objection to the bland, overbuilt, pretentious developer homes that increasingly blight America's landscape.

My husband and I will someday get out of the "rent-race", and I'm always on the lookout for inspiration for our future home. The second I spotted "New Cottage Home" on the store shelf, I realized the dwellings featured in the book are exactly the kind I have been attracted to all my life. I have always loved not very large, but quirky and simply stylish cottages. Having lived in England and Europe for a few years gave me an appreciation for these little jewels. Although most of the homes featured are modern, they still evoke a sense of comfort and uniqueness that truly charms the soul. Someday, when my husband and I are able to buy or build our own home, I will rely on the inspiration given to me by "New Cottage Home".