Country Living June/July 2024

I recently spent a Saturday in Laurel, Mississippi, a place you may know from the HGTV hit show Home Town. I was there with my children for a festival hosted by Erin and Ben Napier, the stars of the show, and their new-ish organization Osprey (ospreykids.com), an acronym that stands for Old School Parents Raising Engaged Youth. Their mission is straightforward: helping kids stay off social media, with the idea being that, if a whole community of parents commits to curbing screen time, it’ll be easier to stick to it. I don’t know how long I’ll be able to hold steady, but for now, I’m just happy my 10-year-old daughter is not a skincare influencer. The event included assorted youth workshops—gardening, woodworking, bookmaking—and, as I watched my kids delight in…

1 Soaking up that salty ocean air from your favorite weathered wicker chair 2 Decking out the old Schwinn for the neighborhood bike parade 3 Bird- and boat-watching from the comfort of a knotty pine cabin (See pg. 16 for more knotty pine appreciation.) 4 Exploring small towns and stumbling upon the cutest country store, like this charmer in Centerville, Massachusetts 5 Whiling away hours in a sunroom that feels stuck in time in all the best ways (Visit countryliving.com/sunrooms for inspiration.) 6 Farmstand watermelon served family-style because you just can’t wait one more seed-spittin’ second 7 The start of county fair season and all the funnel cake-ing, balloon darting, and 4-H-ing that comes with it 8 Hauling home bucketfuls of $1 a stem sunflowers from the U-pick farm Follow us at @countrylivingmag for a daily dose of Simple…

Light & Airy Whether you’re feeling inspired by your summer getaway in the country or your weekend by the lake, you can always find inviting colors for your home at Sherwin-Williams. Visit swsamples.com to order up to 10 FREE color SW 6239 Upward SW 7005 Pure White chips so you can find the perfect coordinating shade. Soak Up the Sun The undertones of your paint can influence as much as the shade itself when it comes to how the color looks in your space, and how it changes in different lighting throughout the day. Try out your top colors with Peel & Stick samples that let you try color in seconds with no mess or dry time. Live Out Loud The colors of your home reflect your personality and sense…

Regardless of one’s age, a summer in the country is not complete without having a go on a good old-fashioned tree swing. There is simply something about this lighthearted limbellishment that still sparks joy in even the most jaded adults. Perhaps it’s because the humble, handmade tree swing represents so many hallmarks of country life—roll-up-your-sleeves resourcefulness (see: tire or wood slab), an outdoorsy spirit (see: tree), and an easy to-and-fro that sets a leisurely summer pace. Now, be warned: There’s nothing “up to code” about this improvised equipment, but you probably already knew that. Even though its installer may repeatedly assure everyone that it’s secure, deep down you all know better. (Good thing it only hovers two feet from the ground.) As far as home improvements go, anyone can swing…

1 COLOR STORY Vibrant Palette After opening up the footprint of her clients’ small kitchen (including tearing down a wall and moving the stove), designer Julia Chasman (juliachasmandesign.com) focused on restoring color to reflect the 1928 bungalow’s Spanish-style architecture. A smattering of locally handcrafted Talavera inspired tiles breaks up the simple, vertically stacked subway tile. The decorative handicraft is rooted in Spanish and Italian tradition, but is most known for its prevalence throughout Mexico. GET THE LOOK: “Diva,” “Singer,” and “Estrella” tiles from $34 per tile; rtkstudios.com 2 CHARACTER BUILDER Furniture Details Pedestal feet and a step-back countertop cabinet, adorned with crown molding and lined with wallpaper (“Sweet Briar”; sandersondesigngroup.com), give the cabinetry a custom look. 3 TRULY TIMELESS Fluted Sink Rooted in European farmhouse design, deep apron-front sinks make a good choice for…

Why We Love It Its Early-American Charm: An abundance of pine trees in 18th-century America meant pine was cheap, making it a favorite building material during the Colonial era. Early-American pine walls are strikingly similar to the simple paneling used today. Its Wearability: Though pine is a soft wood, it can still take a beating. Smalls dents and scratches that occur courtesy of daily wear only enhance that been-around-forever feel, which is hard to replicate with unforgiving plaster or drywall. It also stands up well to heat and humidity, making it a good choice for kitchens and baths. Its Sudden Cool Cred: While knotty pine may conjure up memories of orange-hued 1970s basements, designers today are reviving the throwback material in fresher ways, often steering toward lighter stains that speak…