At a time when many people are searching for ways to live more simply, author Judith Miller takes readers throughout the world to explore the coziness, functionality, and enduring charm of country homes. From the spare rusticity of a Shaker interior to the relaxed and informal arrangement of an English cottage, from the exuberance of a brightly colored Mediterranean villa to the cool, clean lines of a Scandinavian farmhouse, Miller describes the origins and development of each style. She then examines the elements that give each dwelling its unique character: the building materials, the influence of the surrounding land, the distinct qualities of each room, the structural features, the furniture, and the artifacts that share the history of a home. Influential Country Styles is at once an inspiration and a valuable resource for anyone who would like to create a welcome refuge wherever they live.