Second Home: Find Your Place in the Fun (Better Homes ... (ISBN 0696211521)

For interiors (furniture) Not Interiors (space):
This book is a decent resource for a person furnishing their first or second home, but it's not a good manual for creating your second home. The photograph angles capture walls, windows, and furnishings, but fail to show the quality of the living space. There are very few exterior photographs and many of them appear to be from the 3/4 angle. There are no floor plans or building details. If you're looking for interior decorating ideas, this is a decent reference. If you're looking for creative planning ideas for building your first or second home, you'll want a more comprehensive reference.

Simple, Ordinary Decorating:
The homes and interiors all look ordinary, in simple, few decorations. I didn't get any interesting new ideas from most of these photos. I mainly saw different building styles and wood colors. At least 50% of them look just like first homes, I just couldn't tell any difference.

Like a little vacation:
Getting this book for Christmas was a blessing. Just opening it is like taking a vacation. Sumptuous photos are a delight. Practical information is included as well.

Wow!!!! This is my favorite book!:
I read every book about Interior Design, second homes, country homes and cottages. I have read and reread this beautiful book. It is absolutly wonderful! Enjoy!

Gorgeous Idea Book for a Second Home:
What a visual feast this is! The summer porches, the relaxed living rooms, the arched windows featuring an ocean view or framing the forest. I wanted to move right into one of these second homes now. Although it makes an effort at helping you with decision making (what's your style, crowds vs solitude, how near/how far?), it's strength is showing samples of individual homes. These vignettes tell how it's used, challenges they faced and show off the home's spaces and views in large colorful photos. Great browsing if you just want to dream or inspiring ideas to copy in your own second home (or even the first one). Most of the decorating styles featured lean more to relaxed contemporary or touches of country and shabby chic.