England’s Hideaways Discovering Enchanting Rooms, Stately Manor Houses, and Country Cottages
Meg Nolan van Reesema ’97 | Rizzoli, 2011
Comfort and Enchantment | Meg Nolan van Reesema ’97 has advised readers on the perfect hideaways in Italy and the Caribbean, and now she brings her expertise to England in her new book, England’s Hideaways: Discovering Enchanting Rooms, Stately Manor Houses, and Country Cottages. Over the course of six weeks, Ms. van Reesema visited over 50 properties across England—from Cornwall to Derbyshire—evaluating them “based on their décor, secluded atmosphere, and overall distinctiveness.” What emerged from this experience is a collection of 30 idyllic retreats, including a Georgian brick townhouse in York, an 18th century grand manor house, a bucolic Cumbrian farmhouse, and a former fox-hunting lodge turned sophisticated country-house hotel. Ms. van Reesema describes each hideaway in vivid detail, touching upon the overall décor and atmosphere, room accommodations, and amenities. She also adds her recommendations on how to best enjoy these idyllic spots. In the introduction to England’s Hideaways, Ms. van Reesema presents her impressions of English interior design, initially founded by her first trip to England at the age of 11. While staying in a 17th century manor house, she experienced “a twofold sensation of awe and familiarity . . . I can still recall how easily I felt comfortable among the estate’s grand dimensions and manicured grounds despite never before having set foot in a place of such stature. Today, I am confident this extraordinary reaction was due to the house’s traditional English décor.” Ms. van Reesema’s appreciation of décor that provides “simultaneous comfort and enchantment” comes through in her reviews of each hideaway. Regarding Vine House in Burnham Market, Norfolk, she wrote: “Absent of fussy English curios, Vine House features a welcome, cool décor brightened with subtle details like Victorian-style crystal and brass sconces, colorful ticking on the neutral floor-length curtains, and aqua-toned throw pillows to accent the divan in the living room . . . The décor is wonderfully stylish yet personable, and making oneself comfortable is as difficult as relaxing at a friend’s home.” The hotels and houses covered in England’s Hideaways range in size and style—from manor houses encompassing 46 rooms to cottages with just four. Whether travelers are looking for a homey, luxurious, or elegant experience, they will surely find it with Ms. van Reesema’s careful guidance. Accompanied by beautiful full-color photographs by Tim Clinch, Ms. van Reesema’s reviews will invoke wanderlust in any reader.
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Fall 2011