The Collected Cottage

Step inside the elegant world of Kathryn Crisp Greeley as she invites you to her charming home, Chestnut Cottage, in Waynesville, North Carolina. Greeley is the author of The Collected Tabletop and is a renowned interior decorator whose work has been featured in numerous national magazines and in homes throughout the American South. Organized around the four seasons and with over 300 outstanding photographs, this impressive volume escorts readers into the heart of Chestnut Cottage and to her lakeside property, Chatuge Cottage. We experience what's unfolding in the garden during each season and attend memorable gatherings (from Easter luncheons to outdoor teas to Christmas Eve dinners and even a celebration of Winston Churchill's birthday). Greeley includes detailed tabletop inspiration sections that incorporate her impressive knowledge of the history of fabrics, crystal patterns, china makers, and more. We are treated to menus, recipes, and delightful tips on enjoying the ""simple pleasures"" of each season, not to mention a tour through her extensive personal collections. Interspersed with Greeley's command of gardening and entertaining, the reader will delight in fascinating personal stories of her travels (dining next to Margaret Thatcher in London, exploring Tuscany, and using her Southern charm to wrangle items for her collection in locations around the world) along with historical tidbits and trivia on everything from Pimm's Cup to Christmas crackers. A trip to Chestnut Cottage will leave readers inspired, informed, and dreaming of duplicating a few of Kathryn Greeley's ideas in their own homes.