Mary Emmerling's Beach Cottages: At Home by the Sea

by Mary Emmerling

beach house.
The words alone have the hypnotic associations Henry James once famously ascribed to summer afternoon–“the two most beautiful words in the English language.” Lifelong beach girl Mary Emmerling captures that implicit promise of freedom in her captivating volume celebrating the American beach cottage.

Much of the beach house’s allure is in its reflection of a simpler way of life, a pared-down existence where the breeze is the housekeeper, the furnishings don’t mind a damp swimsuit, and the most precious treasures are seashells and memories. In Mary Emmerling’s Beach Cottages, Mary invites us into seventeen coastal retreats that capture that spirit, and introduces us to the people who take joy from them.

Join Mary on a warm, intimate tour of unique seaside escapes, including:

•A pint-sized artist’s studio in Key West
•A dramatic black-and-white retreat in Newport Beach, California
•A shell-lined jewel box in Laguna Beach, California
•A nautically inspired Cape Cod getaway
•A haven in Galveston, Texas, with sea-grass rugs and matchstick blinds
•The homes of designers such as Barclay Butera and Rachel Ashwell
•Mary’s own charming cottage, complete with beach balls, sailfish, and beaded curtains

With gorgeously photographed profiles of easy-going seaside homes and innovative design solutions for everyday living, Mary Emmerling’s Beach Cottages is both beautiful and inspirational. Like a beloved seaside haven, this is a book to return to again and again.

Genres: Nonfiction

224 pages, Hardcover

First published April 15, 2008

Reviews

[Kelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely little book. Just have to figure out how to get a cottage of my own...

[Emily · Rating 2 out of 5]

Okay coffee table book, but these houses didn’t really give off a “beach vibe” in my opinion. More like just regular interior design.

[raccoon reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Be ready to be inspired by all the beach scenes and houses in this book. There's a little for everyone's taste. There were houses I loved and houses I really thought were boring. There wasn't too much that was "amazing!" or fantastic but I did get a little inspired by the decor chosen in some of the rooms/houses.

[Evan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautiful pictures--interiors and exteriors--of seaside homes. It makes me REALLY want to take a beach vacation this year. You could practically hear the waves and smell the salty air when flipping through the pages.

[Trish · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked that this book showed homes on all different coasts.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yes, please.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want to live like this!