At home on the water

Conry (New England Modern), editorial director at Boston Design Guide magazine, celebrates seaside homes in this colorful collection. "The concept of a 'beach house' is ingrained in American lexicon. It is idealized and celebrated," writes Conry as she treats readers to tours of 12 residences across the United States. She kicks things off with a traditional New England cottage-style home on Nantucket filled with family heirlooms and designed to maximize water views; it's built on a site so secluded that there are no window coverings. A Mizner-designed home in Palm Beach, Fla., meanwhile, is full of 1920s glamour from floor to its "ornate plaster ceilings" and wrought-iron accents; a mid-century house in Darien, Conn., is bright and white with art pieces that bring eye-catching pops of color; and a Hermosa Beach, Calif., spot features a travertine fireplace and a plethora of wooden accents. Many of the projects' architects share thoughts on their process, which is a nice look behind the curtain, and the photography is superb. The collection's strength is in its eclectic mix of homes--there's "a lean rustic barn" in Connecticut, a Spanish Colonial in Florida, even an "unassuming" exterior that reveals "much more" up close in Massachusetts. This one offers plenty for design buffs to savor. (Apr.)