Litchfield Style: Classic Country Houses of Connecticut Hardcover – March 29, 2011

This book is a paean to the lyrical beauty of homes and gardens in Litchfield County in northern Connecticut where not a few designers and artists reside. The inspired photography by Tim Street-Porter lovingly captures homes, gardens, rooms and eyescapes such as a winsome and creamy tent bed, 18th-century Italian hand-colored engravings keeping company and conversation with a needlepoint chair, a black and red checkerboard floor in a former-barn-now-living-space, and an original tiger maple stair rail leading up to a natty and inviting sitting area in the upstairs landing of designer Matthew Smyth's home. Although I'd seen some of the homes/rooms before, through Street-Porter's lens they looked fresh and new--and some of the decor appears updated. There are also abundant parterre gardens and outdoorscapes to view.The book is as fun to read as to look at the pictures thanks to the author's affectionate and thoughtful text. It gives you a sense of the history of the area and the homes pictured. My Wisconsin grandmother used to talk about our Blake family ancestry who fought in the American Revolution. When I moved to Connecticut from Michigan, and had children, I read a small family history book and learned our Blake ancestors settled about 45 minutes north of my home in the town of Litchfield in the late 1600's. Although I've visited the town of Litchfield once, this delightful book entices you to want to travel and learn more about the history of Litchfield which, according to this book, was one of Connecticut's four largest and bustling towns. At the end of the book, there's an array of museums, historical societies, eateries, antique shops, design shops and book stores listed for you to visit in Litchfield County.This book LITCHFIELD STYLE should please anyone who enjoys 18th and 19th-century American and European styles and wants ideas on how to cherish the past whilst living comfortably and beautifully in the present. The author says it's more of a memoir of memorable homes that have stayed in their minds as a representation of Litchfield than a "comprehensive overview". The book is going on my sofa ottoman! If you like the stylish room on the cover, you should enjoy the views inside.

This was a flawless transaction and the book is stunning.

We live in California now, since 1985, but moved here from Putnam County, NY. right next door to Litchfield County. I spent many happy days in Connecticut; we could almost walk there from our house, and I was often in West Cornwall, Salisbury, Sherman, Kent, New Milford, Candlewood; and Lime Rock, where my husband won many auto races. I often miss the beautiful old houses and glorious antiques that can be found there, so this book is both a trip down memory lane and a 'magic carpet' of sorts to the old 'neighborhood'. We do go back and visit (in the warm months!); this lovely book is a tonic for those times in-between. We love California and all things Californian, but having grown up on the East Coast, we've found that there are just some things that do not "translate"; so for those times, this book fills the need beautifully.Our house here in California could be lifted, a là "Wizard of Oz" to Connecticut and be right at home. We love old houses (ours was built in 1949, architect designed, but 'new' by East Coast standards), but often anything built before 1980 is considered by many Californians to be tottering on the brink of collapse. We'll take our lathe and plaster walls, old brick pathways, creaky stairs, etc. and keep lovingly shoring up that which needs it. Why else have weekends?This book will be read and enjoyed again and again, unlike some that get one reading and then collect dust ever after. No trendy fads, no 'motif du jour', no 'shabby chic', just classic American beauty in a classic American setting.

Nice lifestyle/decorating book. Rather typical. No surprises.

It is just not my style of decorating, so there is only 1 house that I liked and the gardens.

Love this book lots of ideas beautiful photos A++

such a beautiful book

Loved the book!