Country Living February/March 2023

I was recently reading about the hibernation habits of chipmunks, as one does in their spare time, and learned that—contrary to popular belief—chipmunks don’t fully hibernate like many of their furry-tailed counterparts. Instead, during the winter season, they retreat to their burrows for bouts of suspended activity, and then they emerge from their dens every few days to address their pertinent chipmunk chores, whatever those might be. (I’ll admit, I didn’t dig that deeply into my rodent research, although I like to imagine their duties entail sorting tiny socks and squirreling away nuts in their pint-size pantries.) This time of year, I, too, find myself drifting between similar states of dormancy and doing. There are some days when you’ll likely find me curling up with a book from my wobbly…

1 Starting the day with a cup of coffee in a cozy nook 2 The joy of perfecting your bread-baking—and the taste-testing that comes with it 3 That warmth of sunlight that floods a room with the notion that spring is on its way 4 Tinkering around with ideas to display your favorite collections 5 Justifying the purchase of just one more beautiful basket in the name of getting organized. (See pg. 34 for more vintage vessel inspiration.) 6 Coming in from the cold to the aroma of soup simmering on the stove (Check out the savory soup recipes on pg. 49.) 7 Cozying up to loved ones of both the two- and four-legged varieties 8 The planning and plotting of a flower-filled spring garden Follow us on Instagram @countrylivingmag for a daily dose of Simple Country Pleasures.…

The unofficial anthem of book lovers all over might as well be just one more—as in, just one more page, just one more chapter, just one more book, just one more precariously built bundle on the nightstand reflecting the best of your reading intentions. As Henry Ward Beecher said: “Books are not made for furniture, but there is nothing else that so beautifully furnishes a house.” And why limit such beauty to the confines of shelves? There’s no warmer welcome than well-worn hardcovers occupying every surface. Walking into a home with books that spill into every nook and out of every cranny evokes an eclectic charm and a limitless curiosity, providing a friendly, get-to-know-ya glimpse at whatever makes the homeowner’s spirit sing, be it historical fiction, offbeat British humor, or…

1 WARM WELCOME Dutch Door Alongside Archer & Buchanan Architecture and Michael R Rhile Carpentry, designer Kate Rohrer (rohecreative.com) set out to turn this long-forgotten 19th-century horse stable into the ultimate party barn. The wide Dutch door, original to the structure, set the tone for her vision of a welcoming mixed-use kitchen space. “Not to mention, a horse could pop its head in at any time,” she says. 2 PRACTICAL STORAGE Open Shelving A pair of open cabinets hand-crafted from reclaimed oak and backed with beadboard (painted Antique White by Benjamin Moore) hangs above lower cabinets that house under-counter refrigerators. Easy access to collected copper drinkware makes cocktail hour prep a breeze. 3 CHARACTER BUILDER Stone Walls “We knew the moment we toured the space that the stone was the…

Object Lesson Been There, Hauled That: The introduction of steam-powered engines fueled an explosion in leisurely trips during the late 19th to early 20th centuries, heralding the golden age of travel. (Think of the polished wood walls of a quiet train car or the multicourse dinners served aboard the White Star Line fleet.) With that, the boxy travel trunk—the suitcase of the day—became both a must-have accessory and a subtle status symbol. Trunk Traits: Trunks made during this period were often constructed of simple pine frames and covered in painted canvas or leather for weatherproofing. Most trunks from this era are often incorrectly grouped under the umbrella term “steamer trunks,” but experts like to reserve this label only for pieces less than 14 inches high, as this was the maximum height…

$225,000 Conover, NC 2 BR; 1 BA; 1,536 SQ. FT. WHY YOU’LL LOVE IT: Stepping into this English-style cottage feels like stepping into a storybook. Its arched doorways, impressive fieldstone fireplace, 6-over-6 sash windows, and an entire wall of built-in cabinetry in the dining area guarantee an architectural happily ever after. AGENT: Mariette Gagne; mariettesells.com WORK REQUIRED: The CL Fixer-Upper Scale MOVE-IN READY NEEDS MINOR IMPROVEMENTS INVEST IN A DECENT DRILL PUT THAT CONTRACTOR ON SPEED DIAL $779,000 Altamont, NY 6 BR; 10 BA; 5,024 SQ. FT. WHY YOU’LL LOVE IT: This historic ashlar stone Colonial sits on close to three bucolic acres complete with a red barn and a brick smokehouse. Inside, find original stone hearths, exposed beams, a huge gourmet kitchen, and a window-wrapped sunroom. Bonus: There are…