New book celebrates the cottages of Venice

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Many of the home stories that come out of the beach community of Venice are those of risk-taking architecture. In the last year, we’ve written about a couple who put in a cube-shaped addition made of three living walls, a family who placed a futuristic translucent box atop their 1913 cottage and a clever design that somehow managed to incorporate seven levels that zigzagged up through the house.

But the new book ‘Cottages in the Sun: Bungalows of Venice, California’ ($45, Rizzoli) presents an entirely different Venice. Rather than focusing just on the slick, new and often green building that is happening there, author Margaret Bach and photographer Melba Levick’s book also fawns over the charming cottages of yesteryear that have been lovingly preserved by their owners.

The spaces tend to be tight, and the décor often leans toward cluttered (although you’ll find some sleek modern interiors as well). Flip through this book and you’ll suddenly wish you had a 750-square-foot, 100-year-old beach bungalow of your own.

To see some of the homes included in the book, check out our photo gallery of Melba Levick’s photography.

Bach will moderate a discussion with some of the homeowners in the book, including architect Steven Shortridge, furniture and industrial designer David Ritch, and interior and landscape designer Katerina Tana. The talk will be at 11 a.m. June 17 at the Pacific Design Center, Suite B259. RSVP: (310) 360-6442.

-- Deborah NetburnPhotos, from top: Landscape designer Zack Freedman’s canal-facing home. The great room in actors Orson Bean and Alley Mills’ three cottage compound. Photo credit: Melba Levick / Rizzoli

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