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Waterside Cottages
<!-- #pd-fixedwidth {} .pd-content1 { left; } .pd-img1 { left; 20px; 28px; 1px; #B8B8B8;} .pd-img2 { left; 10px; 25px; 1px; #B8B8B8;} --> Waterside Cottages showcases fourteen romantic waterside retreats from coast to coast. Bungalows near the water tend to be snug and modest with exteriors painted in sun-reflecting whites, nautical blues, or playful colors. The interiors of these houses likewise avoid formality in favor of a casual approach. This home decorating book takes you to tidy New England beach cottages with bright tropical bungalows to a boathouse on the steep pine-studded banks of Michigan's Kalamazoo River. Waterside Cottages defines the attributes of successful coastal decorating, so that anyone, anywhere, can create a casual atmosphere, even when the nearest body of water is a thousand miles away. Whether you're wanting to decorate a living room in a relaxed island beach style, re-do a kids bedroom with a nautical flair, or give your sea or lakeside kitchen a needed update there are decorating ideas for a variety of tastes. Decorators will find inspiration for shabby chic style to americana , tropical palm tree paradise, and even Cape Cod designs . Contents
160 pages, Hardcover
First published August 1, 2009
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
January 3, 2018
According to the copyright page,
Waterside Cottages
was both published as well as photographed in 2009. Looking at the pictures, I would have never guessed it; the interior design presented here is extreeeeeeeeemely dated. All the decor looks straight out of the 1980s.
And despite the title, you really only get photos of small snippets of the whole; there are no outside images of the houses, no indication that they might be in any way adjacent to a body of water, no floor plans, nothing to give any sense of scale. There are only pictures of parts of rooms – a single cozy corner, close-ups of a place setting, a collection of some antique doo-dads or another, fetchingly arranged on a shelf. Yes, Waterside Cottages is Martha Stewart wannabeism of the basest order.
The text is equally terrible: fluffy space-filler. You are given random details, like that the deck cushions came from IKEA or that the bathroom wall color is Benjamin Moore's Latina Baby's Ass or whatever, but often neither the specifics nor the photos are detailed enough to match up what goes with what. Mostly, it's just a lot of adjectival gloop that makes you think the writer is trying to get a job at House Beautiful.
If you are interested in architecture, interior design, nautical art and craft, mankind's history of seafaring, or anything related to "cottages" or "water", then this is not the book for you. If you'd like to see a lot of closeups of chintzy boardwalk souvenirs like seashell-encrusted trinket boxes and mirror frames, ruffled tablecloths in Laura Ashley florals (SO nautical!), and the radically clever inclusion of flamingo and palm tree motifs in an Upper Penninsula riverside boat house, then this is just the book for you!
And despite the title, you really only get photos of small snippets of the whole; there are no outside images of the houses, no indication that they might be in any way adjacent to a body of water, no floor plans, nothing to give any sense of scale. There are only pictures of parts of rooms – a single cozy corner, close-ups of a place setting, a collection of some antique doo-dads or another, fetchingly arranged on a shelf. Yes, Waterside Cottages is Martha Stewart wannabeism of the basest order.
The text is equally terrible: fluffy space-filler. You are given random details, like that the deck cushions came from IKEA or that the bathroom wall color is Benjamin Moore's Latina Baby's Ass or whatever, but often neither the specifics nor the photos are detailed enough to match up what goes with what. Mostly, it's just a lot of adjectival gloop that makes you think the writer is trying to get a job at House Beautiful.
If you are interested in architecture, interior design, nautical art and craft, mankind's history of seafaring, or anything related to "cottages" or "water", then this is not the book for you. If you'd like to see a lot of closeups of chintzy boardwalk souvenirs like seashell-encrusted trinket boxes and mirror frames, ruffled tablecloths in Laura Ashley florals (SO nautical!), and the radically clever inclusion of flamingo and palm tree motifs in an Upper Penninsula riverside boat house, then this is just the book for you!
February 10, 2020
Total , pure delight. Like a vacation by the sea ..
May 28, 2011
Great fun! A girl can dream, right? ;)
January 7, 2025
I got my hopes up and was disappointed - oh well, life is full of disappointments.
The photography was, well, dated, which isn't a huge problem, it's just that this may not match some people's tastes. Some, maybe most, of Kathy Kuo's coastal pieces would maybe feel welcome and right at home among these photos, but alas, I'm not a professional interior designer or photographer, just someone who's a self-professed Design Home game snob.
The photos were weirdly proportioned - I like to see full rooms, or at least way more than just close-up shot after close-up shot. A few is fine - a whole book of them = yawn, I need something different.
The little blurbs / stories were cute but didn't redeem the photos.
But, there are a list of designers / resources to gain inspiration from, which is at least a little bit helpful.
Design Home snob is now out of the building.
The photography was, well, dated, which isn't a huge problem, it's just that this may not match some people's tastes. Some, maybe most, of Kathy Kuo's coastal pieces would maybe feel welcome and right at home among these photos, but alas, I'm not a professional interior designer or photographer, just someone who's a self-professed Design Home game snob.
The photos were weirdly proportioned - I like to see full rooms, or at least way more than just close-up shot after close-up shot. A few is fine - a whole book of them = yawn, I need something different.
The little blurbs / stories were cute but didn't redeem the photos.
But, there are a list of designers / resources to gain inspiration from, which is at least a little bit helpful.
Design Home snob is now out of the building.
August 8, 2019
3.5 stars
March 2, 2014
This book was alright. To me it seemed a bit dated.
November 9, 2014
It's always fun to dream about a seaside cottage!
May 23, 2022
I always enjoy this book!
April 24, 2015
So many great ideas!! Now I own it!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews