Innholdsfortegnelse for April/May 2023 i Country Living

Every issue of Country Living, to varying degrees, leaves me considering all the dirt roads not (yet!) taken. “Wait, should I move to Texas and raise goats (pg. 86)?” But this fixer-upper issue is particularly brimming with pastoral possibilities. There’s simply something about a before-and-after—whether it’s a home reno or a life reset—that reminds us of the hidden potential to be found behind our walls or within us all. Still, even if you’re not quite ready to tackle an update (or an uproot!), you can live vicariously through bold souls like Country Living Design Director Maribeth Jones, who dared to paint her plain white kitchen a vibrant shade of yellow (pg. 10), designer Claire Zinnecker, who bought a rickety $15,000 farmhouse on Facebook Marketplace (pg. 84), or Elizabeth Starks and…

YEAR BUILT 1735 $1,395,000 Hillsborough Twp., NJ 5 BR; 3 BA; 3,848 SQ. FT. WHY YOU’LL LOVE IT: This charmer is an old farmhouse lover’s dream, and the work has already been done! An 18th-century, postcard-worthy Italianate farmstead, “The Brookie” has had only three owners in its almost 300-year existence and feels frozen in time. If you can tear yourself off the Victorian wraparound porch, you’ll find that proportions and patina pair well with spaces filled with beautiful moldings and trim, fluted mantels, exposed ceiling joists, and its original hardwood flooring. And, as if that’s not enough, it sits on 11 picturesque acres dotted with four red barns. AGENT: Grant Wagner; callawayhenderson.com…

№ 1 Window Trellis A salvaged window proves the perfect support for a climbing vine. Remove the glass panes, hang on a wall (or rest on your worktable), and set a potted plant such as Asiatic jasmine (pictured) or clematis next to it. As the vine grows, tie it to the window’s framework using twine. № 2 Retooled Markers Reuse rusty or wobbly handled garden tools as plant identification markers. To make, drill a small hole in the wood handles and tie hand-penned wooden tags* through the holes with twine. Insert the pointy tips into the soil so the markers stand upright. *Coat wood with clear varnish to protect the handwriting from the elements. № 3 Knob Mob With their fun colors and shapes, outdoor metal faucet handles are perfect…

Around the Table: Jocelyn Delk Adams (@grandbabycakes), founder of food blog Grandbaby Cakes and author of Everyday Grand, alongside “loads of family, including my husband, daughter, parents, aunt, uncle, and cousins seated at my late grandma’s oak dining table in Mississippi.” Menu Mainstays: “My grandma—‘Big Mama,’ as we called her—was a driving force in our family, so we cook a lot of her passed-down recipes. These Cornmeal Butter Biscuits with Chive Butter are a nod to her mile-high flaky version. My Spiced Candied Bacon and a fresh Creole Shrimp Caesar Salad with Cheesy Croutons round out the meal.” When Life Gives You Lemons: “I found a recipe for angel pie—sort of like a pavlova—in a stained and splattered cookbook I inherited from Big Mama. This Strawberry-Lemonade Angel Pie includes a…

PURSUITS & PASTIMES FOR FINDING JOY IN EVERY DAY Inspiration takes many forms, and for Elizabeth Starks and Jake Sackett, who met at Cornell University, it was brewed and bottled. “We started making beer in our dorm,” explains Elizabeth. It was just for fun, a side project as they prepared for post-grad life in Boston, where she worked in consulting and Jake attended law school. After a few years, though, the couple started scheming up a return to their roots in rural New York. (She’s from the Hudson Valley; he grew up in the Catskills.) “We dreamed about creating a place where people could gather,” says Elizabeth. So the pair worked stints at a beermaker in Cambridge, then, in 2019, signed the papers on a 20-acre parcel of land in…

COME FOR THE… Cooked-By-You Farm Dinners After purchasing Husky Meadows as a private residence, David Low and his family transformed the 260-acre property into a regenerative farm that offers CSAs and provides jobs for local farmers. In 2020, they added a 3,000-squarefoot cooking barn, and the Seed & Spoon farm stay was born. Overnight visitors work the fields, then take part in hands-on cooking demos using the day’s harvest. “Guests experience where their food comes from and how it gets to the table,” says culinary director Tracy Hayhurst. STAY FOR THE… Prosciutto Egg Tarts After Friday’s five-course dinner, guests begin Saturday with a lighter grazing breakfast. Laced with Gruyère and spinach, these egg cups provide a protein boost ahead of a morning spent foraging for wild mushrooms or picking vegetables…

IN SEASON Dogwoods A symbol of new life and hope, these flowering tree branches first start blossoming in early spring. For a fresh twist on a floral wreath, gather a cluster in a vintage fishing creel (lined with plastic and a wet floral foam base to keep pieces secure), and hang on your front door. COAST TO COAST The Country Calendar Get truckin’ to these vintage bonanzas to load up on antique finds and one-of-a-kind treasures. Three Speckled Hens Antiques Show April 28-30 I Paso Robles, Sip on wine country favorites in the sunshine while shopping around the county fairgrounds for reimagined vintage pieces and charming custom furnishings for your home and garden. threespeckledhens.com Junkstock April 28-30 & May 5-7 I Omaha, NE At this 135-acre, century-old horse farm, you’ll…

Masthead PAGE 2 Miniature claw-foot tubs and pedestal sinks courtesy of Stacey Lynn, Vintage Dollhouse Shop; vintagedollhouseshop.com. Scallop bathtub; thebleunook.etsy.com. Tiny towel and floral shower cap; mailegusa.com. Currently Craving PAGES 10-13 Architect Heather Knowles; hknowles.com. Builder @narrowpathbuilders. Cabinetry Dean Griffn; The Cabinet Tree. Decorative painter Daniel Whitsett; @paintworksdesign. Copper kettle; @designsupplyshop. Dish towel; shophammett.com. Tureen; henhouseantiques.com. Artwork; etalage.co.uk and frenchartshop.com. Straw hats; mkquinlan.com. Pedestal bowl; maisonshoppe.com. Country Classic PAGE 14 Designer Tammy Connor, tammyconnorid.com. Architect Stan Dixon, dsdixonarchitect.com. PAGE 16 CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT Designers Randall Powers and Christopher Alexander, jrandallpowers.com; Anthony Baratta, anthonybaratta.com; Javier Gonzalez Sanchez-Dalp, @jgonzalezsd; Jeffrey Bilhuber, jeffreybilhuberllc.com. PAGE 17 TOP Designer Janie Molster, janiemolster.com. BOTTOM Designer Andrea Curtis, andreacurtis.co.uk. PAGE 18 Designer Heather Chadduck Hillegas, heatherchadduck.com. In With the Old PAGES 33-37 Paint decks: Nathan Lippe, advertisingcollector.etsy.com. Paint pots: Kathy Groah, @aardvarkredux; Old Beaver Antiques, oldbeaverantiques.etsy.com; Lackluster Co., lackluster.co; So Sweet Magnolias Farm, so sweetmagnoliasfarm.etsy.com. Blue ladder: Lackluster Co.,…

1 How freshly gathered lilac blooms fill the whole house with the sweet fragrance of spring 2 Planning a weekend of antiquing alongside your favorite fun-loving old souls 3 The seasonal swap-out of heavy blankets and flannel sheets for breezy bedding and lightweight cotton linens 4 Petite backyard retreats that encourage you to tinker, linger, or do a little bit of both 5 Lying on a quilt beneath your favorite tree with a good book and a glass of rosé 6 Collecting eggs laid out by both hen and hare 7 Stopping to admire colorful curb appeal courtesy of paint and petals (See pg. 108 for more curb appeal inspiration.) 8 Pulling out your daintiest dishware just in time for brunch and shower season Follow us on Instagram @countrylivingmag for a daily dose of Simple Country Pleasures.…

Why We Love Them They’re Time-Tested: In the age before industrial looms, covering floors was a costly business. Many early-American decorators could not afford handwoven rugs and preferred to paint their floors. These original DIYers picked patterns from general store stencil books and hand-mixed their floor paint right in the kitchen. Although times may have changed, the look has endured. They’re Incredibly Versatile: At home everywhere from quaint cottages to grand estates, painted floors are also easily executed in every space from porches to powder rooms. They’re Budget-Friendly: Refinishing hardwoods can cost thousands, but armed with the right tools—think painter’s tape and a good foam roller—you can upgrade your floors for less than $200. Smaller projects (like a solid coat in a bedroom) can be tackled in a weekend, but…

IDEAS & RECIPES TO SAVOR EVERY SEASON In Pods We Trust Snap peas add tons of texture, bright flavor, and verdant color to a variety of dishes. Recipes, pg. 124 FIELD NOTES How to Pick Snap Peas A cross between an English pea and a snow pea, snap peas have thick, edible pods. Look for ones that are bright green (no white or faded spots) with small, round peas inside (about half the size of English peas). If the peas are any larger, this indicates an overripe pod that is most likely to be tough.…

Some folks might balk at living with millions of potentially prickly neighbors, but for Brian and Kathy Suchan of Clarkson, Nebraska, beekeeping’s a labor of love—truly. The couple met after Kathy (who was beekeeping in South Carolina) first tasted some of Brian’s wares (he’s a fourthgeneration beekeeper) at the behest of her mother. “She said, ‘Oh my gosh, I’ve found the best honey I’ve ever had in my life,’ ” says Kathy. Kathy soon got over the sting, and her romance with Brian blossomed. So did their business. Together, they founded a company—Fat Head Farms, named for their first bulldog, Porkchop—and began making and selling dozens of honey products, such as Lavender Blossom Infused, Hickory Wood Smoked, and Chocolate Creamed. They currently manage around 800 colonies (that’s more than 45…

Town Stats POPULATION 12,404 DISTANCE FROM NEW ORLEANS 41 miles via the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway, America’s longest continuous over-water bridge UNEXPECTED ATTRACTION The world’s tallest statue of Ronald Reagan “Listen to live jazz in a hall where Louis Armstrong once played…” …and 16 more ways to geaux all in on the good times this spring. Begin with Beignets: Start your morning with delectable pockets of fried dough at the Covington outpost of Café Du Monde. For heartier fare, head to Coffee Rani for shrimp and grits and diced ham and egg sandwiches. Explore the Shore: Dip your toes into Lake Pontchartrain at Fontainebleau State Park, which is also a haven for waterfowl. More adventurous folk can go gator-spotting on an openair pontoon with Dr. Wagner’s Honey Island Swamp Tours. Embrace…

Character Builder PERIOD-AUTHENTIC PAINT COLORS For the whole-house palette, homeowner Melissa Duckworth looked to Benjamin Moore’s Historical Collection for colors that were just right for her early 1900s farmhouse. In the galley kitchen, which was previously the home’s hallway, she chose a timeless cornflower blue to pair with the reproduction wallpaper (“Larkspur 1872” designed by William Morris) and antique mint-colored—and mint condition!—enamel gas range she found on eBay. The century-old farmhouse sink and period sconces and pendant were all additional eBay finds. Nostalgia can be a powerful thing.For Texas couple Melissa and Roy Duckworth and their builder son Clay (duckworthaustin.com), the pull of the past was so strong that they spent the better part of three years restoring a rundown turn-of-the-last-century bungalow that many others would have torn down. “I…

More Finds Await! For unlimited access to all our shopping and gift guides, join Country Living All Access at countryliving.com/join. Scan this code with your phone’s camera to go directly to our editors’ favorite products. 1 Magnetic Bracelet This nifty nail-keeper comes in five colors. $20 each; cocoknits.com 2 Denim Apron Dress Wraparound workwear is a step up from paint-stained overalls. $135; tovewear.com 3 Label Maker This battery-powered printer features seven spiffy fonts. $45; kingjim.us 4 LED Cap Late-night projects call for a hat-flashlight hybrid. $40; llbean.com 5 Cat Eye Goggles Safety gets stylish. $39; stoggles.com 6 Edging Paintbrush Coating corners is much easier with a clever extended tip. from $24; stingerbrush.com 7 Screwdriver Set These pretty beechwood tools are handmade in England. $72; bostongeneralstore.com 8 Extension Cord Available in…

HOMES, GARDENS & OTHER HAPPY HABITATS If you’re the sort who can’t pass up an opportunity to peek inside an old home, you’ve no doubt encountered your fair share of delightfully dated wallcoverings—think timefaded florals, a country toile with some peeling corners, even a pastoral scene with a torn patch. And if you happen to be at an open house, you may overhear a skeptical buyer insist that the wallpaper has gotta go, to which we’d implore: “Dear stranger, please put down your putty knife.” Decades ago, another person who walked these same creaky floors—let’s call her Millicent—loved that cabbage rose motif so unapologetically much that she boldly chose to line her stairwell with top-to-bottom blossoms. While 100-year-old hardwoods and period fixtures are collectively celebrated, timeworn wallpaper is rarely as…

YEAR BUILT 1845 $539,000 Whitingham, VT 5 BR; 4 BA; 2,248 SQ. FT. WHY YOU’LL LOVE IT: This Colonial-style farmhouse is available for purchase for the first time in a century—and it’s well worth the wait! The broad-plank spruce floors are honey-toned perfection, and the kitchen’s antique Glenwood stove is pleasantly reminiscent of earlier chapters in this bucolic beauty’s story. AGENT: Jacki Murano; sovtrealtygroup.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 $365,000 Red Hook, NY 4 BR; 2 BA; 1,872 SQ. FT. WHY YOU’LL LOVE IT: It’s small in stature, yet stately in its presence! Beyond this traditional exterior awaits plenty of surprises, such as a rich wood-paneled living room that boasts a luxe arched…

ANTIQUES & TREASURES FOR A MORE COLLECTED LIFE All Decked Out In the early 1900s, paint collections were limited and mostly accessed via decorators and professional painters. As such, color swatches were often presented in more durable forms than single chips, including card stock pamphlets, embossed metal tins (bottom right), and even leather-bound books (center right). Today, vintage paint decks from the 1910s and ’20s, like the ones shown here, are worth $25 to $100, depending on age and condition. While casual collectors seek them out for their fun color and graphics, preservationists and set decorators often use them to ensure historical accuracy. Pail Play Before the 1860s invention of premixed paint, colored walls were a luxury reserved for those who could afford to hire professionals, as the process required…

OBJECT LESSON: Porcelier Sconces WHAT TO KNOW: In 1927, the Porcelier Manufacturing Company was founded in East Liverpool, Ohio, (they relocated to Pennsylvania three years later) as a maker of all types of porcelain household items, from electric toasters to teapots. As bath and kitchen lighting fixtures became popular in the 1930s, Porcelier joined the trend with their petite 6-to 7-inch-tall porcelain sconces that came primarily in white but also in an assortment of colors and hand-painted floral motifs, as shown here. The Porcelier lines were sold through major department stores such as Sears, Roebuck and Co. and Montgomery Ward. Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company purchased the company in 1954. WHAT IT’S WORTH: up to $450 for a pair “I bought this piece, along with a matching hutch and table and…

FIELD NOTES How to Make Dried Pineapple Flowers Reminiscent of hibiscus, these bold fruit blossoms taste like concentrated pineapple juice. (For detailed instructions, see pg. 127.) Take a Stand When you’ve done the work, you might as well put it on a pedestal for all to admire.…

A Just-Warm-Enough White Exterior There’s something about a white farmhouse that tugs at the heartstrings, but getting the right shade can be tricky. For a white that doesn’t feel too crisp (read: new), seek out paint colors with a hint of warmth, like Chantilly Lace (shown) or China White, both by Benjamin Moore. “China White is our go-to,” says Cristiana Pledger of Pledger Architect in Birmingham, Alabama. “It has just enough warmth to feel weathered and works in any climate—snow or sunshine.” Front Door that Feels Like a Friendly Wave Hello Whether you’re positioned just off the road or down a winding drive, a vibrant entrance is the architectural equivalent of a neighborly “happy to see ya.” knock, knock, hue’s there A good rule of thumb: The further you are…

Snap Pea Salad with Feta, Almonds, and Prosciutto WORKING TIME 25 minutes TOTAL TIME 25 minutes MAKES 4 servings 1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint1 tablespoon chopped fresh tarragon1 /2 cup plain yogurt2 tablespoons mayonnaise1 teaspoon lemon zest, plus 2 tablespoons lemon juice1 clove garlic, chopped1 tablespoon Dijon mustard Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper5 ounces watercress5 ounces snap peas, trimmed and thinly sliced2 ounces Feta, crumbled (about½ cup)1 carrot, cut into sticks4 radishes, cut into wedges1/3 cup roasted almonds, chopped4 slices prosciutto, torn 1. Whisk together mint, tarragon, yogurt, mayonnaise, lemon zest and juice, garlic, and mustard in bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Toss together watercress, snap peas, Feta, carrot, radishes, almonds, prosciutto, and half the dressing in a bowl. Serve with remaining dressing alongside. Blistered Snap Peas with Brown Butter and…