California Cottages

Describes the concept of the cottage-style home, and presents examples built and decorated by Californians.

Tucked between the housing developments and golf courses of the Orange County coast lies a small settlement of rustic beach cottages seemingly frozen in time. ¿Crystal Cove Cottages¿ is the first history of this uniquely preserved beach spot that has lured travellers and campers since the 1920s. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places as "the last intact example of California beach vernacular architecture,¿ Crystal Cove is now a state park and its cottages are open to the public for overnight visits. From silent-film location to rum-runners' hideout, scenic setting for a vibrant landscape painting community to 1950s luau-party headquarters, Crystal Cove has all the while remained a bohemian yet family-friendly village. Ten sidebars on notable individual cottages highlight the cove's distinct and often amusing architectural evolution. Crystal Cove Cottages captures the nostalgic ambiance of seaside Americana.

"The Zimmermans, whose work has appeared in a number of architecture and design books and periodicals, show the array of styles that make up California cottages. Each home is depicted in numerous photographs."--Library Journal California cottages are famed for their openness and creatively designed interiors, and this magnificent tribute brilliantly showcases the variety of styles that belong to the tradition. Splendid photographs taken by a prominent architectural photographer present Pioneer, Queen Anne, Spanish Colonial Revival, Craftsman, and Tudor revival homes, some designed by major figures, such as Frank Lloyd Wright. Take a look at the examples and see exactly what makes cottages different from other houses, and how to make the most of their beauty. Each one will inspire fresh ideas for decorating in small spaces and gracing every square foot with lovely details.

The simple, unique and interestingly appointed cottage is a place for escape, filled with art, books, color scents, sounds, textures, and memories. Vintage Cottages features unique and personalized decor ideas focused on style, color, and regional taste and liveliness that honors tradition while looking forward to a lifestyle that is uncluttered, unhurried, and reflective of rugged, unapologetic individuality. Molly Hyde English is the founder of Camps and Cottages (camps-cottages.com), a retail store in Laguna Beach, California, which maintains its uniqueness as a leading style source for designers. She is also the author of Camps and Cottages. Her work has been featured in Country Home, House Beautiful, and on HGTV. Tom Lamb is a landscape and architectural photographer and resides in Laguna Beach.

Recipes and photos from the beloved restaurant: “Perhaps America’s foremost experts on regional food.” —San Diego Magazine Southern California Cooking from The Cottage captures the romance, the relaxation, and the good life of one of Southern California’s most beloved restaurants. Included are the recipes that have made The Cottage a favorite for decades with breakfast items such as muffins, coffee cakes, Greek, Italian, and seafood omelets, Belgian waffles, and oatmeal pancakes. From the lunch and dinner menu there are light Southern California seafood and pasta dishes, signature soups, and salads, as well as traditional American classics. With color photos included, you can recreate this delicious dining experience on your own patio on a sunny summer day—or wherever and whenever you feel like it. Southern California Cooking from the Cottage is part of Jane and Michael Stern’s Roadfood cookbook series, which celebrates the finest regional restaurants in the United States.

Cottages near the water tend to be snug and modest, with exteriors painted in sun-reflecting whites, nautical blues, or playful colors. The interiors of these houses likewise avoid formality in favor of a casual approach.

Contemporary Cottages updates beach and mountain cottages with fresh, modern appointments, magical entryways, updated and repurposed rooms, open ceilings, custom floor plans and unique lighting—all without disturbing the timeless charm and scale that defines a cottage. Molly Hyde English has authored two previous books on the subject: Camps and Cottages (2000, Gibbs-Smith) and Vintage Cottages (2007, Gibbs-Smith). She owns Camps and Cottages, a leading source for curated home and lifestyle furnishings, has been covered by a number of national publications, and maintains a website and Instagram following. The store is located in Laguna Beach, California. Ryan Garvin is a noted interior design photographer based in Southern California. His work regularly appears in a number of national print and web publications, ranging from Elle Decor to Traditional Home, and has a following on Instagram.

A charming introduction to the inspired and inspiring cottages and bungalows of Venice, California. More than a century ago, when Abbot Kinney built his Venice-of-America with its network of canals and fanciful buildings, cultural aspirations were high. Over the years, this aura of fantasy and imaginative possibility endured as integral to the zeitgeist of the place. Today, this spirit of innovation and creativity is richly expressed in the vintage bungalows and cottages that have been embraced and brought back to life by homeowners more in love with place than size. Stalwart survivors of the ebb and flow of the area?́?s fortunes over a century, these small homes channel the creative spirit of the place and provide a welcome counterpoint to oversize houses. Color, landscape, treasured collections, personal narrative, contemporary overlays and additions, art and craft, and inventive design?́?all combine in various ways to produce domestic environments with unique and deeply personal points of view.