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

beach house.
The words alone have the hypnotic associations Henry James once famously ascribed to summer afternoonthe 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 houses allure is in its reflection of a simpler way of life, a pared-down existence where the breeze is the housekeeper, the furnishings dont mind a damp swimsuit, and the most precious treasures are seashells and memories. In Mary Emmerlings 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 artists 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
Marys 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 Emmerlings Beach Cottages is both beautiful and inspirational. Like a beloved seaside haven, this is a book to return to again and again.