Summer house: two words that evoke a sense of nostalgia, a touch of romance, a sigh of relaxation. The screen door open to the breeze off the lake. Sunbeams crossing a cheerfully painted wooden floor. A simple coverlet on a wood-framed bed, with views of the sea beyond. Mismatched porcelain piled high on open shelves in the kitchen. These houses are places of respite, where the boundaries between indoor and outdoor living are blurred, where their inhabitants can step away from the complexities and frenetic pace of daily existence, if only for a few days. They are havens where memories are made.

This book captures all there is to love about these seasonal treasures, showcasing a dozen iconic summer houses in the Northeast. The homes range in style, vintage, and location. Some are rustic and secluded, while others are streamlined and modern. Some burst with color or collections and others nod to a time gone by. Each one connects with the landscape in a distinct way. Some of the homes belong to designers; some are family escapes. They include Sister Parish’s family retreat in Islesboro, Maine; designer Ken Fulk’s Provincetown escape; and the modern farmhouse of Ashe Leandro’s Ariel Ashe on Martha’s Vineyard.