Customer Reviews

Family Houses in the Country

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Forty-three beautiful summer-type homes appear in large glossy colored format covering more than 250 large size pages that make the book weigh as much as a heavy fire-log ready to sink a coffee table.

Author Alexandra D'Arnoux and award winning photographer Gilles De Chabaneix visit several continents to pick out outstanding dream homes, that although luxurious, with stables, gardens and formal dining rooms, nevertheless look lived- in; loads of lucky children treck through casual libraries, relax, take walks, celebrate birthdays, and play chopsticks on an old piano.

Emphasis here is on family values and most of the places are furnished to create a nostalgic atmosphere. It is like 'Conrad in Search of His Youth.'

This is a wonderful book to have and hug. Whenever a guest opens it up and peers at a picture, there follows a deep longing sigh.

I like this book and its sister book, Family Houses by the Sea (which I prefer). Both books, however, make me feel that I am simply looking through a window at something I cannot have. I find I prefer a new book called Second Home, because it offers the same kind of yummy dreamlike quality yet talks to me about how I can make my getaway dream come true. If you can afford a stack of books on retreats, add this Family Houses volume to the pile. If you can only afford one or two books, I highly recommend Second Home instead.

This book gives you great ideas for building a country home. It doesn't limit itself to only one geographic area, but moves from country to country. It allows you to review different elements, materials and design used over time. It's a beautiful book, great inspiration.

Book had alot of beautiful pictures of family homes from all over the world..Nothing that I could adapt in my home, but a fun book to have in my home.

The photos in this beautiful book are not what you usually see in a decorating book. No decorator came in and "styled" these rooms before the shoot. They look lived in, over hundreds of years.

These houses are not attainable or copy-able by most of us. These are homes with generations of history behind them. But the glimpse into "real" country manors is unique and precious. The few American homes featured are boring run-of-the-mill. The European homes are fabulous.