Vendome

From wood panels across floors, walls, and ceilings to double-hung windows, model boats, wood piles, bookshelves, and crowded kitchens, these spaces speak to a way of life, a statewide aesthetic, and a time-loved sense of being.

From pools to peacock chairs to peacocks roaming inside austere bedrooms, the images offer inspiration for design choices in garden landscapes and interior design. Many of the homes are lavish estates, and wealth is certainly on display. However, gazing at the photos of some of these buildings might leave readers with a feeling of mourning for the older structures whose walls have been weathered by time and history.

As a style guide to a certain way of living in the Cotswolds, it excels, providing inspiration for color pairings, furniture arrangement, and more. The tone is elegant, lovely, and gracious.

As much a history of ballet as an exploration of the connections between ballerinas and fashion, this is recommended for readers interested in the crossover of both subjects.