Country Living November 2017

I recently read an article about the growing trend of big-ticket family vacations, and there was a quote that alarmed me even more than the price tags. The expert noted how, as parents, we only get about seven or eight “big vacations” with our kids—the idea being that before 5 they won’t necessarily remember, and by 13 they’re too jaded or glued to their phones to care. As the parent of a 3- and a 4-year-old, I am still in the early stages of memory making. Right now our most notable family ritual involves Friday night pizza paired with one of the dozen-plus Air Bud films (my kids love that overachieving golden retriever)—but I feel increasing pressure to create meaningful family rituals independent of an insanely athletic puppy. And there’s…

1. THROW PILLOWS Pile ’em on; proceed to jump into bed. (Top) $70; kipandco.com. (Bottom) $78; taylor linens.com 2. RATTAN MIRROR Artist and designer Justina Blakeney dreamed up this sunburst-y pick. $203; highfashionhome.com 3. JUTE POUF Take in natural texture (without having to rake). $158; dearkeaton.com 4. FAUX BOIS LAMP Go against the grain with an unexpected gold base. $259 for set of 2; westelm.com 5. RUSTIC BED This kiln-dried frame is made of wood reclaimed from shipping pallets. $1,599; potterybarn.com 6. THISTLE DUVET Hand-drawn accents dot this sweet percale cotton cover. $139; schoolhouse.com 7. WOOD STOOL Branch out: Try two teak stools at the foot of the bed instead of a typical bench. $268 (for 1); dearkeaton.com 8. HANDWOVEN RUG Style-setter Joanna Gaines designed these harvest-hued threads. From $89;…

METALLIC MAIZE Coat roughly 14 cobs of dried corn (dried decor.com) with metallic gold and copper spray paint (homedepot.com). Once dry, hot-glue cobs to the perimeter of a 6-inch round vase. Tie it all together with gold raffia. Fill vase with floral foam and add seasonal flowers as desired. (This sampling includes dahlias, zinnias, and mountain ash berries.) PUMPKIN VASE Remove the top quarter of a small pumpkin. Scoop out the seeds and pulp and fill with floral foam and flowers (here, dahlias, scabiosa, strawflowers, zinnias, forget-me-nots, and nigella). Surround your centerpiece with acorns, squash, and other seasonal elements. WHEAT CLOCHES Bundle a small handful of wheat and tie with twine. Turn a cloche (accentdecor.com) upside down and place the wheat inside, then top with base and invert. Add leftover…

Every country house needs... Home-grown vegetables or proximity to a great farmers’ market. Garden Carry-All (1), $58; shopterrain.com A well-appointed guest room should have... Bedside tables with reading lamps. I stayed with someone once who left out a great collection of books for me to read, and it felt so thoughtful. A fresh notebook is another nice touch. Carrillo Table Lamp (2), $145 for set of two; wayfair.com. Peter Dunham Fabric Lined Journal (3), $55; hollywoodathome.com My go-to paint color is... Custom! I like to mix my own colors using Old-Fashioned Milk Paint (4), $13 per pint; milkpaint.com You’ll likely find me buying... Baskets. There’s always a use for another. And I can’t get enough of vintage quilts. I like using them as unexpected upholstery on a headboard or armchair. Neutra…

1–5 PAINTED DOORS A glossy moss, as seen in this project by architect James Carter and designer Jane Hawkins Hoke, makes a grand entrance. 6 Woven Sneakers Swap your plain white kicks for these faux leather lace-ups. $139; talbots.com 7 UTILITY VEST The perfect fall-to-winter transitional piece. $59; morninglavender.com 8 Clematis Planters With or without blooms, these natural beauties are sculptural works of art. From $24 each; campodefiori.com 9 TRAVEL BAG Made of sturdy nylon, this versatile water-resistant tote is an unflappable frequent flyer. $275; swims.com 10 BARSTOOL Plant a few of these vivid wishbone-style chairs around the kitchen island. $399; emfurn.com 11 Handcrafted Dinnerware Made in Tennessee, this distinctively glazed pottery is dishwasher and microwave safe. From $26; molliejenkinspottery.com 12 CHENILLE SOFA Try the versatile nature-inspired neutral (one of…

Ask a Designer! Country Living recently teamed up with e-design service Laurel & Wolf to take the stress out of decorating. Here, L&W designer James Tabb addresses your home-related hang-ups. Q: I’d like to cozy up my dining room for company with an area rug, but is it worth the potential hassle? —Pat K., Milford, CT A. “I’m for anything that warms up—and enhances the acoustics of—a room, so feel free to seat me on the ‘pro’ side of this table. A rug with an all-over pattern [as shown, left] will better conceal stains (hello, wine-swilling relatives!) and a palatable price tag will allow you to roll with the (spilled) punches.” Want more advice? Visit laureland wolf.com/countryliving to get paired with a designer. Packages from $149.…