The way we live in the country - Stafford Cliff

From the groves and vineyards of Provence to the dry hills of California, the farms of Australia and the forests of Canada, Gilles de Chabaneix's stunning photographs capture the distinctive rural architecture, homely decorative schemes, awe-inspiring landscapes and rustic details that make country living universally desirable. In this comprehensive exploration of the pleasures of country living, traditional and contemporary elements are treated with the same sympathetic eye: an airy, minimalist sitting room looks out on an ancient piazza; bunches of herbs and antique tools hang from rough-hewn beams beside a roaring fire; a stone floor, worn smooth with age, shines through the sleek glass top of a modern dining table, where a bowl of fruit from the local market awaits a guest. More than a comprehensive sourcebook of decorative ideas, for anyone who dreams of living in the country - or is lucky enough to live there already - this is the ultimate guide to timeless rural living: beautiful, regional and quirkily individual.