Innholdsfortegnelse for Winter 2022 i Country Sampler Farmhouse Style

What do you love best about the holidays? Is it the festive decorating, the time spent with family and friends, the delicious foods that only come out once a year, or the glory and revelation of the season? In my big Italian family, the holidays always meant lots of laughter, an overabundance of food, crazy shenanigans and the joy of being with a large, loving group of relatives. On Christmas Eve, we would gather at my grandparents’ house. The adults would drink wine, talk and cook in the kitchen, while us kids would peek at the gifts under the tree, rearrange the Nativity (the kings were still traveling and baby Jesus hadn’t made an appearance yet) and sneak hot chestnuts off the table. When it came time to eat, overflowing…

Nature-Inspired Thanksgiving Give thanks for a bountiful season with natural fall flourishes and layers of rustic texture that won’t cost you a fortune. Jayne Westerholt at Chalking Up Success says all you need for an amazing tablescape is a walk in the countryside to harvest some grasses and wildflowers. Choose a mix of botanicals that have already dried, or hang fresh stems upside down for a few weeks before using. On your table, place one runner down the length and then position two more across the width. Put together a centerpiece with a tall vase and DIY candleholders. Arrange place settings with white plates atop woven mats. Make the scene look magical by running a string of battery-operated fairy lights down the middle of the table. The little points of…

Clear your desktop and organize your office with decorative and functional wall-mounted clipboards. Use them to hold to-do lists, a calendar, fabric swatches, photos and more. 1. Drill two holes near the top edge of each clipboard to accommodate a rope hanger. 2. Paint the base of each clipboard black. Let dry. 3. Tape off the base area around the metal clip. 4. Rub the metal with a dark gold metallic wax. Lightly sand the metal areas, if necessary, to help the wax adhere. Metallic paint with primer can also be used to paint the clips. 5. Insert a length of rope through the drilled holes from the back. Wrap hemp twine around the ends of the rope to keep it from fraying and slipping through the holes. If you’ll…

Gingerbread Neighborhood Tired of your classic Christmas village? Redefine your pieces (or a few gathered from thrift stores) with paint to become festive gingerbread houses. First, apply white paint to each building to completely cover the original colors. Once dry, use a detail brush to paint larger areas with a gingerbread color, such as DecoArt’s Sable Brown, leaving trim and accent areas white. Brush clear or white craft glue onto the white trim and accent areas and sprinkle with white glitter. Shake off excess glitter and let dry. Arrange the gingerbread buildings atop a glittered snow blanket, scattering miniature battery-operated lights underneath for a subtle glow. Add snowy bottle-brush trees throughout to enhance the display. MIX AND MATCH Don’t worry if your original buildings aren’t from the same set. If…

DIARY OF YOUR HOME Did you ever keep a diary or journal to jot down your thoughts, hopes and dreams? You might consider picking up a copy of Diary of Your Home: Ideas, Tips, and Prompts for Recording and Organizing Everything by Joanna Ahlberg (Rizzoli, 2022). The informational and interactive book encourages you to document the details of your home and your life within it, creating both a resource and a keepsake. www.rizzolibookstore.com A FARMHOUSE REBORN Lynne Sade offers inspiration and ideas from the 1850 Virginia farmhouse she and her husband, David, renovated on her blog, A Farmhouse Reborn. She also introduces readers to other historic homes in her area and shares information about her farm animals, which include goats, chickens and pigs. https://afarmhousereborn.com AMY FRITZ Check out the YouTube…

Follow along with the video on Jennifer’s blog to learn how to make velvet display books. Position a mirror behind a lantern to amplify the flickering candlelight 10 Tips for Snug Spaces 1. Add plug-in dimmers to lamps to create softer lighting throughout your rooms. 2. Switch to flannel sheets and a plush mattress topper to make your bedroom inviting at the end of a cold day. 3. Bring comforting scents and flavors to your home by forcing bulbs to bloom indoors, baking cookies, using a spice-scented dish soap or sprinkling your morning coffee with cinnamon or nutmeg. 4. Introduce a few plaid blankets, chunky knits or faux-fur throws to your textile mix. Area rugs, pillow covers and even curtain panels also can be changed out easily for a quick…

When it comes to decking the halls, do you favor a natural look with fresh greens and delicate red berries or an all-out festive explosion of cheery decorations and sparkling ornaments? The holiday homes in this section give you a taste of both! In an old Texas farmhouse, antiques mix with bright red banners and cute Santa motifs; a South Carolina homeowner showcases local treasures and farmhouse finds in her greenery-filled rooms; a tiny Ohio bungalow is packed with Christmas joy for a family of eight; and a Massachusetts couple turn to the surrounding woodlands to give their home charming wintry style.…

Studies show that beginning Christmas decorating early is a mood booster, which could explain why Tina Oddo is always smiling. “I start thinking about [Christmas] decorating in September but begin to bring it all to life on November 1,” says Tina of her holiday head start, which allows the South Carolina resident plenty of time to incorporate a few new locally crafted items into her displays. The lakeside home Tina shares with her husband, Tim, is newer construction, but thanks to Tina’s clever decorative touches, including layered textures and worn finishes, it’s rich with character and warmth. The couple moved to the area from Georgia in 2020 due to a job change, which brought them closer to their daughter, Taylor; her husband, Bryan; and their grandchildren, Colt and Josie—who now…

Scottish Flair This patterned banner from Camilla Fabbri at Family Chic will bring a touch of the Highlands to your holiday decor. Use a template to cut various tartan or tweed fabrics into matching flag shapes. Sew a vintage brass button onto each flag. For lightweight fabrics, you might need to attach iron-on interfacing first to support the weight of the button. Hot glue the flags to a velvet ribbon, spacing them evenly. To give your garland extra detail, knot 3” pieces of velvet ribbon and hot glue them to the main ribbon between the flags and at each end. Page Turner Let pages from a discarded book shine anew as stars on a garland. Fabiana from Ciao Newport Beach shares how to do it. Cut out 60 star shapes…

MINI CHRISTMAS TREE PIZZAS Serves 24 Let the kids help with this fun appetizer recipe from Julia Kyselicova at Happy Foods Tube. The cute mini tree pizzas take just minutes to assemble and look so festive. Plus, you only need five ingredients! INGREDIENTS 1 ready rolled chilled puff pastry sheet (10 ounces) 4 tablespoons pizza sauce 4½ ounces grated cheese 3 pepperoni snack sticks or any other sausage snack sticks, sliced 1 green pepper, finely chopped INSTRUCTIONS 1. Preheat oven to 400°F. 2. Unroll or unfold the puff pastry sheet. Use a 3” tree-shaped cookie cutter to cut out as many trees as possible from the pastry sheet. 3. Place the trees onto a baking sheet lined with baking paper or a silicone mat. Spread pizza sauce over each…

Tiered trays were once mainly used for holding food, often at parties or special events—think cupcakes and appetizers at a bridal shower or finger sandwiches, cookies and scones at teatime. In the last several years, however, these multilevel marvels have found new purpose as foundations for decorative vignettes. Available in a wide range of materials, including rustic wood, galvanized metal, enamel, copper, marble and more (as well as combinations of several materials), tiered trays also come in various shapes and sizes. You might find a two-tier tray suits your space or opt for a taller three-tier model. Both can be used to build a seasonal center-piece or elevate the visual profile of a side table, countertop or shelf. Because tiered trays typically are taller than they are wide, these hardworking…

Dining Room Conversion Luci Cisneros of White Oak Shop transformed her seldom-used formal dining room into a hub where both parents and children can work and create. After updating the room’s dark color scheme with Sherwin-Williams Crushed Ice on the walls and peel-and-stick planks on the tiered tray ceiling, Luci set to work furnishing the space. She repurposed bookcases from the living room and made a desk for each of her three kids by cutting a larger piece of butcher block into a trio of desktops. Battery-powered wall sconces shed light on each desk. She attached longer legs to a $25 coffee table to make a pub-height table for crafting and playing games. A paper roll held in place by a tension rod ensures there’s always a table runner that…

The paint chips were close, but they weren’t quite right. None of the shades Britney Atkerson had gathered for the kitchen cabinets matched what she saw when she envisioned the “1920s green” that would honor the roots of the vintage farmhouse she and her husband, Lanny, purchased in 2018. The couple spent a full year working with a contractor to transform the neglected foreclosure outside Fort Worth, Texas, into a quaint family home. During the renovation, they often let the existing features of the house guide their design choices, and the solution to their cabinet color dilemma proved to be no exception. Deep in a linen closet, the Atkersons uncovered a layer of original green paint—the perfect 1920s green—and had it reproduced for their new cabinets. During the holidays, just…

Follow Tina’s tips to create a comfortable, inviting home for the holiday season. HELP YOURSELF TO HANDMADE. “There are so many small businesses that make timeless, classic pieces that look and feel vintage,” says Tina, noting that these pieces can provide a homespun charm to your spaces. Not sure where to start? Visit a local brick-and-mortar shop, attend a community crafts fair or maker’s market, or visit online crafter marketplaces like Etsy. ADD IN ANTIQUING. For the holidays Tina likes to include sentimental favorites from childhood in her decorating, including tree toppers and toys. “Whether passed down or found at antique stores, flea markets, or even yard sales, the old pieces just bring a feeling of tradition and simpler times,” she says. SET OUT SWEETS. A platter of decorated cookies…

The holidays are a time when you can truly express your personality. With today’s themed merchandise and various color schemes, your holiday decorating can reflect your specific tastes. Throw in some DIY pieces and you have a uniquely decorated home. With the 30 festive projects in this section, you’ll find ways to turn existing accents into revamped seasonal beauties, discover joyful garlands bursting with style and learn how to make any present a delight with creative wraps. Plus, you won’t believe what we do with everyday dollar-store items in our Designer Challenge feature!…

Mix Touchable Textures Highlight the elegant raised patterns of anaglypta wallpaper remnants to wrap presents in vintage style. Cut a length of paintable textured wallpaper to fit your package. Load a flat-edge foam brush with a minimal amount of metallic or matte gray paint. Lightly brush over the paper to highlight the raised details of the design. Let dry. Wrap the package, centering the pattern if possible. Layer a soft green velvet ribbon on top of a textured lighter green ribbon and wrap around the package. Secure it in the upper left corner of the package with a knot. Choose a wood appliqué that complements the paper design for a tag. Drill a small hole at the top and then apply brown wax to the wood. Attach the tag to…

It’s easy to go overboard when planning appetizers for an event in your home. Ensure you can enjoy yourself—and eat!—by following these five tips: 1. Supplement homemade recipes with purchased food items. Choose a couple of appetizers to prepare from scratch, and then take a trip to the grocery for a party tray or the local bakery for sweet treats. 2. Don’t make too much. There’s no event that needs 10 different appetizers. Select a few favorites from different categories, and plan for 8 to 12 servings per guest if you’re not serving dinner. 3. Opt for finger foods that don’t require silverware or large plates. This will make serving and cleanup a snap. You might even be able to turn a traditional recipe into a finger food by adjusting…