Country Living Shortcuts to Decorating Country Style

Design writer Atkins compiled this deftly organized decorating guide with an eye toward infusing a homey, rustic spirit into any space. Country style, she writes, is calm, unhurried and charmingly antique (think mellowed wood, sunwashed color and natural stone). But in a nod to our harried reality, most of the book's ideas are achievable in an afternoon. Addressing a different room in each chapter, Atkins outlines design strategies from simple projects to more involved alterations, from a change of quilt to homemade wreaths to decorative moldings. Rich photographs--at least one on every page--illustrate a cozy pastoral setting through colors, fabrics, furniture and lighting. The book presents several iterations on""country style,"" including homespun, romantic and English-cottage elegant, to diversify its suggestions, and also contains useful quick-reference panels to color palettes, windowsill herb gardens, etc.