Coastal havens designed for laid-back living.

The idea of a retreat—a place removed from one’s daily stressors, a secluded haven to be enjoyed by family--is more appealing than it has been in decades. But second homes are far from a novel concept. Families have built retreats since the late 1800s, when the well-to-do began to construct reprieves in coastal areas to escape the combustive atmosphere of city life. Homes on the water have been coveted and cherished for their particular restorative qualities. In an oceanside house, one can’t help but pause to contemplate the view.

At Home on the Water offers a history of coastal living and features twelve homes on the water on both coasts and the gulf. This stunning title focuses on both the design of the homes and the way the homeowners live in them, embellished by interviews with homeowners, designers, and/or architects.

Jaci Conry has been covering home design for more than fifteen years. She has written for countless publications including the Boston Globe, Better Homes & Gardens, Domino, Dwell, Design New England, and Boston Home. In late 2017, she became editor-in-chief of a new shelter magazine, Interiors Boston. She and her family live in Falmouth, on Cape Cod. This is her second book.