The Way We Live: In the Country - Stafford Cliff, Gilles de Chabaneix

This is a comprehensive sourcebook of decorative ideas and much more for anyone who dreams of living in the country, or is lucky enough to live there already. From the vineyards of Provence to the hills of California and the farms of Australia, stunning photographs from across the world capture the distinctive architecture, decorative schemes, landscapes and rustic details that make country living so desirable. Traditional and contemporary elements are treated with the same sympathetic eye: an airy, minimalist room looks out on an ancient piazza; herbs and antique tools hang from wooden beams beside a roaring fire; a ancient stone floor, worn smooth, shines through the sleek glass top of a modern dining table. Always at the heart of the experience is the landscape itself that draws the town- or city-dweller to the joys of the countryside.