Innholdsfortegnelse for February/March 2026 i Country Living

I have a soft spot for every issue of Country Living, but I’ll admit that this one is extra sentimental. That’s because it features a farmhouse belonging to our executive editor, Jennifer Kopf. Upon discovering that her great-grandparents’ nearly 120-year old Missouri home, which had gone out of the family, was being sold at auction, Jen took a big swing and decided to make it her own. Her labor of love (pg. 42) maximizes soul per square foot, and you can see even more at countryliving.com/kopf. This issue is also a special one because—here goes!—I can officially announce that the Country Living Fair will be returning to Rhinebeck, New York, October 2-4, 2026. Go ahead and mark your calendars, because we have many fun things in the works, and the…

“I was told these colorful corbels came off a South Carolina home.”—L.G., Lenoir, NC WHAT IT IS: Architectural Wood Corbels “Corbels were originally functional in form and used as load-bearing elements in buildings, but with the advent of the architectural styles of the Victorian period, they became more of an artistic feature,” says appraiser Marsha Dixey of Heritage Auctions. “Your corbels look to me to have been used around the 1880s or 1890s due to their plain, boxlike appearance. Their layers of paint not only give away their age but absolutely give them character and eye appeal.” She adds that it is definitely an advantage to have matching pairs, as salvaged architectural elements such as these are now often repurposed as shelf brackets or bookends. WHAT IT’S WORTH: $100 each…

The exterior’s original red brick had to stay—that was a nonnegotiable. So was the bathroom’s yellow tile, the kitchen’s swinging door, and the expansive views of the familiar shaded landscape that has surrounded Carl Childress’s East Texas home for more than 35 years. What began as merely a bathroom upgrade soon spilled over into just about every room in Carl’s 1954 Colonial-style ranch with a renovation led by the interior designer who knows him best, his stepdaughter Marynn Udvarhelyi (@wildflowerhome.interiors). “She understood exactly my style,” Carl says. Before moving into the home in 1987, Carl, an optometrist and a retired Navy captain, had long been familiar with the neighborhood, having grown up in the house next door. After his wife (and Marynn’s mother), Patricia Binkley-Childress, passed away a few years…

Maple Syrup Chai WORKING TIME 15 minutes TOTAL TIME 30 minutes MAKES 4 servings 8 green cardamom pods, cracked and seeds reserved6 black peppercorns6 whole cloves2 cinnamon sticks, plus more for garnish2 whole star anise, plus more for garnish1 (1-inch) piece fresh ginger, peeled and thinly sliced4 black tea bags2 cups whole milk2 tablespoons dark maple syrup, plus more to taste 1. Combine cardamom pods and seeds, peppercorns, cloves, cinnamon sticks, star anise, ginger, and 4 cups water in a medium pot. Bring to a boil. Add tea bags then reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes. Stir in milk and maple syrup. Simmer 5 minutes. 2. Strain through a mesh strainer; discard solids. Serve garnished with cinnamon sticks and star anise, with maple syrup alongside. Maple-Coconut Granola WORKING TIME 10 minutes TOTAL TIME 3 hours (including cooling) MAKES 9 cups…

1 Welcoming friends in from the cold, adorable goats included 2 Plotting your spring beautification projects, from picket fences to pretty paint colors (Visit countryliving.com/paintcolors for our top 100.) 3 The quirky kindred spirits you’ll meet courtesy of that stack of new books on your nightstand 4 Transforming your hardest-working space into the happiest room of the house (Get started at countryliving.com/mudrooms.) 5 Cozy country breakfasts made from farm-fresh eggs (Psst: Spring chick days are a-comin’!) 6 Using Valentine’s Day as an excuse to ask Grandma to pull out her old wedding photos 7 The unparalleled comfort of a good hand-me-down quilt 8 The first sighting of daffodils, those happy-hued harbingers of spring Be sure to follow us on Instagram @countrylivingmag for a daily dose of Simple Country Pleasures.…

From the Farm to Your Table Here, six ways to embrace peak maple season. Recipes, pg. 80 FIELD NOTES Making the Grade Ever wonder why some maple syrups look—and even taste—different from others? There are four grades of maple syrup: golden, amber, dark, and very dark. Golden syrup, produced early in the season, has a light color and a delicate taste, while amber is the one most people reach for, as it has the most recognizable maple flavor. Darker syrups, made later in the season, have a more robust flavor, making them ideal for baking and cooking.…

"Bad kitchen” is not at the top of most house hunters’ wish lists. But when James Cregan, senior director of real estate at Bloomingdale’s, and Michael Amigron, director of showrooms and events for Ralph Lauren, began thinking about leaving the confines of their Brooklyn brownstone for a home in the country, they longed for a spot where they could bring both their cache of antiques and their unique skill sets. They hit pay dirt when they found an 1800s-era Georgian Colonial in Weston, Connecticut, with good bones and “a kitchen we wouldn’t feel bad about ripping up,” James says. After moving in, the couple agreed to live with everything as is for at least six months—but that lasted a month. “Cooking was way harder than we could have imagined,” James…

Currently Craving Builder gfdriscollconstruction.com. PAGES 14-15 Runner; ruggable.com. In With the Old PAGE 19 Eagle Needlework: Luxury Gift & Decor, luxurygiftanddecor.etsy.com; Ruby Shoes NYC, rubyshoesNYC.etsy.com. PAGES 20-21 Figural trade signs: Old Beaver Antiques, oldbeaverantiques.etsy.com; Lloyd’s Treasures, lloydstreasures.etsy.com; Lackluster Co., lacklusterco.etsy.com; Vintage Revival VT, vintagerevivalvt.etsy.com. Overshot textiles: Folkling, folkling.co. PAGE 22 Punched tin lanterns: TheLilShop4U, thelilshop4U.etsy.com; Mila’s Mercantile, milasmercantile.etsy.com; Old Beautiful, oldbeautiful.etsy.com; Mid Hudson Vintage, midhudsonvintage.etsy.com. Family Reunion Contractor Tom Burns Construction, Versailles, MO. PAGES 42-43 Firepit; solostove.com. “Labrador Blue” front door paint color; benjaminmoore.com. THROUGHOUT “White Dove” wall, trim, and ceiling paint color (unless otherwise noted); benjaminmoore.com. Pillow, shade, and cushion fabrication Joyce Reinert, Versailles, MO, and Sheri Corey; sassyslipcovers.com. PAGES 46-47 “Levan” by Colefax and Fowler shade fabric; cowtan.com. “Heron Stripe” rug; annieselke.com. “Bunny” sofa in Boss Tweed Denim; rogerandchris.com. “Check Please” by P. Kaufmann checked chair fabric; kingcottonfabrics.com. “Home Sweet…

There’s something so wonderfully “ye olde” and Little Women–esque about a kitchen centered on a fireplace, where the daily flicker comes from tinder, not technology. The soft crackle of burning wood and the shifting glow of flames breathe life and energy into a room, mingling beautifully with the gentle clatter of dishes and—if you can surreptitiously tease it out of them—a child’s recap of the school day’s events. It’s no secret that people tend to congregate in the kitchen, but a fireplace almost ensures it. Even when it’s not in use, the hearth’s weathered bricks, with their subtle imperfections, bring a tactile comfort that modern finishes and sleek appliances simply can’t match. Given its ubiquity in older homes, a kitchen fireplace is also a through line (or should that be…

Eagle Needlework To mark America’s bicentennial in 1976, companies such as Vogart Crafts and Avon Creative Needlecraft released limited-edition needlepoint, cross-stitch, and crewel patterns featuring the bald eagle. As the nation celebrates its 250th anniversary this year, these completed pieces have become sought-after collectibles. Prices range from $15 for smaller works to over $200 for larger framed pieces. More commonly found designs, such as promotional patterns offered by coffee company Maxwell House (yellow, top center), also tend to be more affordable. Passata Bowls Once a staple of rural Southern Italian kitchens, these wide-rimmed terra-cotta vessels were used to process crushed tomatoes for an uncooked puree called passata. The bowls’ distinctive green splatter-glazed interiors weren’t just decorative—they served a practical purpose, deterring insects. Currently coveted by devotees of European farmhouse style,…

Even More Casseroles! Find recipes for our all-time reader favorites such as The Best Ever Chicken Pot Pie, Tamale Pie, and Loaded Potato Gratin at countryliving.com/casseroles.…

IN SEASON Can-Do Arrangement It was British civil servant John Haws who patented his easy-to-use watering can design in 1886—and 140 years later, the handled vessel still pours on the charm as a container for pretty parrot tulips. Tip: Arrange stems using a spiral motion to make the flower heads fan out effortlessly. SAVE THE DATE COUNTRY CALENDAR Make sure these antiquing events are on your radar. (Plan your full year ahead with our 2026 guide to the best antiquing events at countryliving.com/shows.) The Winter Show January 23–February 1 | New York, NY Known for its rigorous vetting process, this esteemed show at the Park Avenue Armory features more than 70 renowned dealers. thewintershow.org Heart of Tennessee Antique Show February 12-14 | Lebanon, TN This event includes more than 40…

Kindergarten Cop had just hit theaters, Madonna’s “Justify My Love” reached number one on the Billboard chart, and cargo pants were the sartorial preference of the moment. Equally in fashion: the log cabin guest room that graced this cover. ALSO IN THE ISSUE: A look at rustic Western-inspired furniture by Thomas Molesworth (left), a roundup of pretty plaid blankets, an essay about ladies’ club luncheons, and—pass the bread—a celebration of fireside fondue. All Access subscribers can scan above to enjoy this entire 1991 issue (and others!).…