Country Living March 2022

Meet Otis (right). Likes: Chaos. Dislikes: Any semblance of obedience. My family adopted this 70-pound puppy shortly after Bailey, our beloved lab-chow mix of 11 years, passed away late last year. I’ll admit we moved on too fast, but Otis needed a new home and we had one to offer. It was soon evident we were in way over our heads, with a chew-happy dog that considered our home one all-you-can-eat buffet. It took some time—and some training (pet and human alike)—to restore a little order, but I’m happy to say that Otis is now a very good-ish boy. (Although I’ll admit getting him to jump up for this photo went against everything we have taught him.) This issue is about the unique beauty of second chances—of leaps of faith…

1 Bringing the bike out of hibernation to pedal past pretty homes with picket fences 2 The perfect country breakfast: farm-fresh eggs, pancakes slathered with freshly tapped maple syrup, and, perhaps, an Irish coffee to boot 3 Mud puddles that speak to your inner child—go ahead, jump! 4 The unrivaled scent of laundry dried outside on the line 5 Flowering branches, from cherry blossoms to forsythia, almost everywhere you look 6 Spring break road trips to tiny-dot-on-the-map destinations 7 Making way for the season’s newly hatched baby ducklings 8 That extra bit of daylight that comes with the vernal equinox (Sunday, March 20) 9 Prepping the potting shed for assorted seasonal pursuits 10 How St. Patrick’s Day provides an excuse to pull out your most verdant vintage finds…

MARCH 2022 HOMES, GARDENS & OTHER HAPPY HABITATS There’s a certain preciousness that can come with a new or newly renovated kitchen. Stainless steel shows smudges. White cabinets show fingerprints. Marble countertops show everything. But anchoring a room with an antique island—one so scuffed and scratched up that a nick is hardly noticeable—sets a tone that wear-and-tear is not only inevitable, but it’s something to be desired. Just as handwritten notes and grease stains can transform a plain recipe card into a precious heirloom, a worn-in work table gives a kitchen a happy helping of soul and substance. You can’t help but think about the previous generations that have rolled out dough, chopped meat, sliced tomatoes, or cooled casseroles on the very same surface, and surely all of those centuries…

Object Lesson Clean Start: Originating in Holland in the 1700s, the claw - or ball-foot tub became popular with the European elite as Victorian-era bathing rituals took off. The style bubbled up stateside shortly thereafter, finding its way to the mainstream during the early 20th century, thanks to the proliferation of mail-order furnishings available through publications like the Sears catalog. Country Cred: Given their oval, trough-like silhouette, claw-foot tubs have always had a certain country flair. When Wisconsinbased Kohler Co. (us.kohler.com) first advertised one in 1883, the company called it a “water trough” and sold it alongside farm equipment. Weighing Options: Purists prefer cast iron over modern materials like acrylic and fiberglass. Not only is it more durable, but it also keeps bathwater warmer longer. Unfortunately, such tubs are notoriously…

1 FRESH FOOTPRINT Open Layout Three shrewd modifications—removing most upper cabinets, relocating the sink, and replacing a pair of small windows with a single extra-wide one above the new sink—aired out the closed-in space. Alison also moved the refrigerator into a former closet outside the kitchen. 2 TILE TALK Bistro Backsplash Four-inch-square white ceramic tiles with contrasting dark grout set the bistro-style scene. The glass-front—and backless!—upper cabinets showcase the backsplash, as well as pretty dishware. An understated range hood coated with a limewash paint (Solaris by Portola Paints) mimics the softness of plaster. 3 EASY UPGRADE Backplated Hardware Alison was drawn to the solid construction and antique brass finish of the British artisanmade cabinet handles, which lend texture to the modest Shaker-style drawer fronts. To get the substantial look without…

YEAR BUILT 1900 $179,000 Cecilton, MD 4 BR; 2 BA; 2,138 SQ. FT. WHY YOU’LL LOVE IT: Town-center zoning means both residential and mixed uses are welcome here—B&B fantasies, anyone? With a carved mantel fireplace, spacious rooms, and extensive updating of electrical, plumbing, and the like already completed, why not take the plunge? AGENT: Joseph A. Zang III; zanghomes.com WORK REQUIRED: YEAR BUILT 1880 $160,000 Vienna, OH 4 BR; 2 BA; 1,719 SQ. FT. WHY YOU’LL LOVE IT: This Italianate-style farmhouse features the trifecta of old house design: tall, elegant windows; paneled wood doors; and tons of built-in storage. The living room’s pretty fireplace with an intricate summer cover is a noted bonus. AGENT: Dan Alvarez; brokerssold.com WORK REQUIRED: YEAR BUILT 1900 $65,000 Copake, NY 3 BR; 1 BA; 1,224…