The Design of a Country Estate - by Cathy Purple Cherry (Hardcover)

About the Book

Architect Purple Cherry tells the story of this luxurious country estate in the Mid-Atlantic--along the Chester River on the Eastern Shore in Centreville, Maryland--and how the vision came to life. The book includes an abundance of hard-working information that focuses on the thought processes behind each decision, whether it is the materials employed or the location of each building for walkability and use. Rife with inspiration on every page--whether your dream is a cozy cabin in the woods or an expansive country estate like this one--this book will appeal to luxury home enthusiasts and design professionals alike, transporting readers to a real-life fantasy.

Book Synopsis

Driven by a passion for art and architectural design, Cathy Purple Cherry shares the story of a fabulous, newly built, coastal country estate.

"This elegant architecture book is not only a delightful visual treat, but it's also filled with descriptions about how the featured Centreville, MD, country coastal estate developed and why the design choices were made. This all adds up to an enhanced reading experience and tour....a diverting read."--Library Journal

The vision was for traditional, classic, romantic, authentic timelessness, and approachable elegance. The end result speaks to all of this and more. Architect Purple Cherry tells the story of this luxurious country estate (4 full kitchens, 13 en suite bedrooms) in the Mid-Atlantic--along the Chester River on the Eastern Shore in Centreville, Maryland--and how the vision came to life. The main house, guesthouse, and seven outbuildings are dissected in detail so readers will experience what it is like to develop such a comprehensive project, from the planning to the execution, and all the steps along the way.

The book includes an abundance of hard-working information that focuses on the thought processes behind each decision, whether it is the materials employed or the location of each building for walkability and use. Rife with inspiration on every page--whether your dream is a cozy cabin in the woods or an expansive country estate like this one--this book will appeal to luxury home enthusiasts and design professionals alike, transporting readers to a real-life fantasy.

Review Quotes

This elegant architecture book is not only a delightful visual treat, but it's also filled with descriptions about how the featured Centreville, MD, country coastal estate developed and why the design choices were made. This all adds up to an enhanced reading experience and tour. Luxury residential architect Cherry summarizes the massive design undertakings by giving insight into the resident's and her firm's ideas and influences, along with the practical choices made as they considered functionality and form. Each area of the estate--the main house, the guesthouse, four full kitchens, 13 en suite bedrooms, and seven other structures--gets a rundown of details, along with an analysis of how the estate can evolve in the future. Gorgeous photography showcases it all. The author makes a point to emphasize the skilled workers' involvement with the design creations as well. VERDICT This enjoyable coffee-table book, great for perusing and adding to collection displays, is a diverting read for a quick trip to a beautiful home and surrounding buildings. In some ways, this book is a more in-depth and expansive version of an enjoyable TV show about luxury homes without the nitty-gritty construction details.--Amanda Ray "Library Journal"

About the Author

Cathy Purple Cherry graduated with a degree in architecture in 1989. Since then, she has been resolute in her quest for excellence in residential design. Purple Cherry Architects & Interiors, Cathy's namesake firm, embraces advanced technologies and new materials in their custom designs for luxury residential architecture. Energetic and creative, Cathy is a natural leader and relishes the problem-solving inherent in architectural design. Warm and thoughtful, she gathers and processes information that informs the big picture as well as all the subtleties. She considers lifestyle as much as aesthetics. A visionary and three-dimensional thinker, she turns aspirations into built reality. Purple Cherry's work has been featured in national and regional publications, including Architectural Digest, Elle Décor, the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Ocean Home. Purple Cherry Architects & Interiors is headquartered in Annapolis, MD, with offices in Charlottesville, VA; Middleburg, VA; New York, NY; and Washington, DC.