The Southern Cottage: From the Blue Ridge Mountains to the Florida Keys [Hardcover]

Susan Sully (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 10, 2007

The romantic elements that define the traditional southern cottage-a picturesque picket fence, a breezy sleeping porch, and well-worn heirloom furnishings-have made these small homes perennially stylish. The Southern Cottage showcases the best cozy dwellings in popular seasonal destinations-from the mountains in Virginia and North Carolina to Florida's Panhandle shores and the coast and islands of South Carolina, Georgia, Virginia, and Louisiana. A pristine Victorian lake house and a rustic mountaintop retreat express two moods of escape in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Summer beachside cottages include a colorful Key West home and a century-old family Florida retreat that captures informal old-fashioned spirit. Examples of 19th- and early 20th-century cottages reveal ways in which these diminutive houses satisfy the need for privacy as well as communal living. With tantalizing photographs of shaded porches, stone paths lined with flowers, and wicker-filled rooms, this is an inspiration for those who want their getaway home to evoke the timeless charm of southern living.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"beautiful book" -- Jun CHARLESTON MAGAZINE

In the 1930s and 1940s, hunting and fishing cabins were built along Crystal Creek Road using whatever materials were at hand: logs, river rocks and even wood salvaged from railroad cars...One of these cabins... is featured in this large, attractive and colorful Rizzoli book with text and photographs by Susan Sully, a leading authority on regional architecture and design...The book will be featured in the July issue of Better Homes and Gardens... -- The Roanoke Times, Sunday, June 17, 2007

About the Author

Susan Sully is the author of several books, including New Orleans Style, Charleston Style, and Savannah Style. A leading authority on regional architecture and design, Sully lectures frequently on the subject and writes for numerous publications, including Southern Accents, Town & Country, Art and Antiques, and Coastal Living.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: Rizzoli (April 10, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0847829197
• ISBN-13: 978-0847829194
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 0.9 x 8.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #238,111 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #77 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > Small Homes & Cottages

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Treasure, May 8, 2007

By 

Philip Howard - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Southern Cottage: From the Blue Ridge Mountains to the Florida Keys (Hardcover)

Susan Sully's "The Southern Cottage" is a beautifully written book, illustrated with stunning photographs of eighteen charming cottages. In the spirit of full disclosure, my home is featured in the book (four pages of text and eight photos). I had never met Susan before she visited me last year. An officer of our local Preservation Society recommended my home, a mid-nineteenth century "story-and-a-jump" cottage rehabilitated to historic preservation standards, to her.

Susan's photos show my house as it is. All of the furniture and other items in her pictures are mine, ones that I use daily. Sometimes I sit in my parlor with Susan's book open on my lap, and think, "what a wonderful testimony to the love and care we've shown to this historic old house."

In addition to capturing the spirit of my house in photographs, Susan has written several pages describing the house (it belonged to my grandparents), our family history (including colonial settlers, sea captains, and shipwrecks), and life today on a barrier island.

So far I have read only a few other sections (each cottage has its own chapter), but if the book captures the spirit of every house as faithfully as mine (and I have every reason to believe it does) this is a book worthy of any bookshelf.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Southern Cottages, September 6, 2007

By 

Ellen Hanrahan (coastal Florida) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Southern Cottage: From the Blue Ridge Mountains to the Florida Keys (Hardcover)

This was an absolute page turner for me. I thoroughly enjoyed the beautiful pictures and descriptive dialog. The photos were amazing and were varied with many interior, exterior and garden shots. The only dissapointment was coming to the end!

13 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating subject:), May 23, 2007

By 

Farm Chick (Blue Ridge Mountains) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Southern Cottage: From the Blue Ridge Mountains to the Florida Keys (Hardcover)

Ever since I purchased a turn of the century farmhouse I have been a bit obsessed w/ reading about the history and culture of the south. I enjoyed this book and the photos but most of all I love reading about the people who choose to live a simple life:)There is something magical about this way of life. I feel so lucky to experience living in a historic home and I enjoyed reading the reviewer's home featured in the book! OMG!!!! It is an honor! CONGRATS!!!! I googled and made trips to the local museum in my area and found my farmhouse written about in a history book and it is thrilling beyond words! Hope someday the author chooses to write "The Southern Farmhouse" Hint!:)