American Cottages and Cottage Life: Plans for Country Houses

Celebrating the harmony between architecture, nature, and daily living, American Cottages and Cottage Life: Plans for Country Houses by Charles Wyllys Elliott captures the pastoral spirit of nineteenth-century America and its growing fascination with domestic comfort and rural design. Blending architectural theory with moral philosophy, Elliott presents a vision of the home as both a refuge and a reflection of national character, where simplicity and beauty serve as the foundation of a good life.

The book features illustrated plans, elevations, and descriptions for a variety of cottages and country dwellings, each designed to embody function, taste, and harmony with the landscape. Beyond architectural detail, Elliott reflects on the social ideals of home life, the moral influence of design, and the virtues of self-sufficiency that defined the American countryside.

Richly written and thoughtfully conceived, this work endures as both a design manual and a cultural document, offering insight into the aesthetics and aspirations that shaped early American domestic architecture.

Complete edition of Charles Wyllys Elliott’s 19th-century architectural classic

Includes designs and floor plans for rural cottages and country homes

Explores the relationship between architecture, morality, and domestic life

Essential for readers of architectural history, design theory, and American cultural studies