Just in time for the holidays is James Knox's release of The Scottish Country House from the Vendome Press. This lushly filled tome features a number of estates which have been in the same families for hundreds of years, in some cases since the houses were first built. Because of this familial longevity, these houses have layers added over time in their decoration and architectural additions. An example of this is seen at Balcaskie where the gallery above was decorated in the 19th century (I love the paisley wallpaper) and many bedrooms (one seen below) were redecorated in the 1930s. The gardens in many of these houses reflect the beautiful but rugged Scottish landscape. Also because of this progeny and layering you also get televisions in rooms decorated in the 18th century, microwaves on top of Edwardian stoves and other adorable quirks (notice the modern silver framed photographs in the room below). These are living, breathing houses with so much character and soul it makes you want to hop on a plane and spend your next vacation in Scotland. Many of the houses feature sumptuous public spaces, fit for royalty. Actually in many cases they actually WERE built for royalty and their summer visits. The histories featured in the book are astoundingly interesting - it's more than a pretty picture book! This is the perfect gift for any travel, photography or design enthusiast and would make an invaluable addition to any library; it is in mine! All photographs by James Fennell for The Scottish Country House.

Just ten minutes to the west of Edinburgh’s city center is a hotel that’s hardly a hotel at all. The Dunstane Houses are a pair of Victorian-era neoclassical houses, divided into a total of 35 rooms. We’ve seen smaller, to be sure, but it’s rare that a city hotel room so perfectly captures the atmosphere of a bedroom in a classic country house. The proprietors are from Orkney, and they’ve brought as much of the charm of the Northern Isles with them as they could — the only thing missing is an ocean view. The houses, recently renovated, date back to the 1860s, and while they’re well-preserved, the hoteliers haven’t been fussy about the interiors. The look is contemporary-luxe rather than strictly period-correct, which is all to the good — and the comforts are first-rate, from handmade Vispring beds and Noble Isle bath products to smart TVs and free wi-fi. Book a “wee double” if all you need is a plush-but-cozy place to hang your hat, or upgrade to a suite if you’d like a freestanding tub in your capacious bedroom. A hotel on this scale could get by with little more than an honesty bar, but Dunstane House’s Ba’Bar is a proper all-day lounge, with a voluminous whisky cabinet and a long list of artisan gins, as well as a kitchen serving modern Scottish cuisine, from Orkney scallops to Cullen Skink.

Building a new house in the Scottish Borders enabled artist Sue Phipps to capture the best light for painting, and add character with architectural details and her curiosities.

This seven-bedroom Georgian home, with separate two-bedroom lodge, is set in spacious, mature gardens.—Javier Espinoza

A review of Prestonfield House Hotel in Edinburgh, a sumptuous luxury country retreat in the Scottish capital.

Take a look at the 7,500- acre Carskiey Estate on the Mull of Kintyre, Tom Helme of Fermoie's colourful and comfortable Scottish retreat

. seldom am I errant in studying the current issue of The World of Interiors-but the December issue, all about fashion, was lost on me. blame it on the season, however it did not disappoint when I opened its pages New Year's Eve. In a world inundating us all with imagery, insight, parody & parroting -this magazine still invigorates the anesthetized senses. "The idea was to give each one creative carte blanche, allowing them to interpret the brief in as literal or abstract a manner as they wished. Compiled over the past eight months, the choices you see here are resolutely their own." World of Interiors editor,Rupert Thomas Much as my recurring stories about how they decorated-World of Interiors December issue visited 15 fashion designers to see how they live and decorate. It is a beautiful piece-with designers Dries Van Noten, Vivienne Westwood & Christopher Bailey of Burberry- sharing their homes. These particularly, I identified with and yes-I can say the clothes they design appeal to me equally. Their design styles typify an eclectic & creative way of decorating I love. Seemingly disparate pieces come together in ways that defy logic, resulting in highly personal spaces.Van Noten takes pieces whose original function may seem archiac in today's world-and adapts them to house cd's and dried goods. Whether you subscribe or not-it is worth the newstand price each month- Here's a peek at Dries Van Noten's home, my favorite- and at Vogue UK here. (& World of Interiors is on facebook too.) "I prefer ugly things. I prefer things which are surprising.” Dries Van Noten (a paraphrase of BACON?) A Van Noten Still Life from The World of Interiors, December 2012. Zuber, Christopher Hodsoll & Sir Joshua Reynolds all coexist in Van Noten's Belgian Palladian-style Summerhouse- photograph by Koen de Waal from The World of Interiors Dries Van Noten's Spring Collection Leon de Smet's Paintings in the Van Noten Palette Dries Van Noten cites Flemish painter Leon de Smet as a favorite- and one of de Smet's paintings hangs on the wall in Van Noten's Red Sitting Room. DRIES love links: Dries Van Noten Blouin ArtInfo It's About Time- de Smet's Women Dries Van Noten's Spring Collection Vogue.com Little Augury on Dries Van Noten .

Catch up on the best houses that have come up for sale via Country Life in the last few weeks, from castles and estates to picture-perfect cottages.

A beautiful airbnb in Somerset with a pool that sleeps up to 8 people and has gorgeous countryside views.

For a young Anglo-Italian family, American designer Joy Moyler breathes fresh air into an English manse with a storied past

We take a look at the finest country houses, castles and estates for sale in Scotland.

A review of Prestonfield House Hotel in Edinburgh, a sumptuous luxury country retreat in the Scottish capital.

Discover the beauty of Logie Country House through the wedding photos of Megan & Becca, an exquisite venue in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Browse the gallery showcasing their elegant celebration at this historic estate, perfect for couples seeking a unique and charming setting.

The beautiful Glencruitten House bears the mark of one of Scotland's great architects of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. After years of ownership by a religious community, it's now looking for a new custodian.

This is Ben and Charlie’s own house, tucked away on an estuary in the far west coast of Scotland. Ben and Charlie found the tiny pair of buildings – a Victorian two-roomed cottage and a much early stone bothy – in derelict and unloved condition – in 2018, after a long search for something untouched […]

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It comes with 48 acres on the Isle of Coll.

Take a look at the 7,500- acre Carskiey Estate on the Mull of Kintyre, Tom Helme of Fermoie's colourful and comfortable Scottish retreat

Here they are... the 50 best castles in Scotland. This collection is mind-blowing. Photos for each. For the truly spectacular, multiple photos. You'll love these castle structures - ruins and structures still in use today.

Experience the Art of World Travel, Fine Wines and Exceptional Cuisine Imagine seeing a village, a town, a hamlet through the eyes of those who live there, while you wander the streets of off -the-main-road villages that are not on the

I am so excited to share this home tour with you. It's not a type of home that I often share on the blog, but this home is so wonderful and unique that you

This centuries-old Scottish castle, painstakingly restored, is now one of Scotland’s most fascinating and luxurious holiday lets

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Take a look inside some of the most stately retreats of the romantic and rugged northern country, which are the focus of a new book out this month.

Wester Gartchonzie, located near Loch Venacher in the Trossachs, Stirlingshire, is a secluded mixed sporting estate with a traditional three-bedroom stone farmhouse​.

Building a new house in the Scottish Borders enabled artist Sue Phipps to capture the best light for painting, and add character with architectural details and her curiosities.

Inchlonaig island is 182 acres of pure, unspoilt natural beauty and sits in the middle of Loch Lomond. Join us as we set out to explore it last weekend.