THE COTTAGE BOOK: Living Simple and Easy

Celebrating what Bass refers to as "the cottage sensibility," the pages of this book are filled with photographs that conjure late-summer melancholy and lazy afternoons on the porch. More evocative than instructive, the book is divided into two sections. The first section, which comprises more than two-thirds of the volume, is a nostalgic presentation of "Old Favorites": an early 1900s farm, a late Victorian waterfront inn and a classic shingled retreat are among the nine cottages featured. The second section, called "Fresh Ideas," is less striking if only because the thread—which, in theory, is the approach to decorating—is not convincingly present. The art is a little bolder in this section, and the wall colors are brilliant, but a good number of the cottages are of the same period as those presented in the "Old Favorites" and in the end, the décor-based distinction comes across as arbitrary. The real strength of this volume is its photographs. Unlike the text, which is forced, sentimental and only marginally informative, the images manage to capture the nuances of summer light and cottage life in a way that is entirely inviting. The rooms, though styled and uncluttered, appear natural and lived in—plain, but not pretentiously austere. This is a gentle and beautiful book, ideal for a coffee table, and quietly inspiring for anyone looking for decorating ideas. But it reaches in too many directions, and the result is a diluted presentation of what could have been a stunning show. (June)

Forecast:Readers who have spent lazy summers at their own cottages will be drawn to the photographs in this book, which capture perfectly the most sensuous of seasons. This will most likely make for a better gift book than decorating guide.