Country Sampler Farmhouse Style Spring 2024

Editor’s note In the enchanting world of home decorating, creativity knows no bounds. Inspiration flows in from all around us and instills in us a drive to decorate our homes in our own style. Yet where does this creative inspiration come from? When putting together Farmhouse Style, we sometimes feel that there’s a creative current flowing through the air that sparks fresh article and project ideas. In truth, designers draw inspiration from diverse sources, and often those sources merge. That explains why all of a sudden you’ll start seeing mushrooms and gnomes everywhere. Consider the phrase, “There’s nothing new under the sun,” which, in a sense, is true. Designers dig into past styles to create new looks, trending colors recirculate through the years, and we all love a good repurposing project.…

ABODE BOX Looking to give your home a quick seasonal pick-me-up with curated decor? Consider Abode Box, which delivers four to six home decor items to you every three months. Options include quarterly or seasonal plans. If a subscription is not for you, they also have an online shop where they sell select home decor items individually. www.myabodebox.com SWEET ANNIE ACRES FABRIC Etsy shop Sweet Annie Acres offers beautiful grain sack, ticking and other farmhousestyle fabrics by the yard in a variety of colors and styles. The shop also sells ribbon and ready-made items such as pillow covers, kitchen towels and table linens. www.etsy.com/shop/sweetannieacres WEED 'EM AND REAP DaNelle and Kevin operate an urban farm on a 1-acre lot in Phoenix, Arizona, where they raise livestock and have grown an…

When you hold an old kitchen tool, it’s like shaking hands with the past—simply gripping the well-used wood and metal implements can connect you to cooks from another era. All-wood utensils were among the earliest kitchen helpers in American homes, designed for specific purposes such as stirring, mashing or molding foods. Metals such as copper and iron were also common, but by the turn on the century, enameled metals and aluminum had become popular. In the early 1900s, durable and low-maintenance stainless steel arrived on the scene. Some collectors of antique and vintage kitchen tools might focus on one type of item, such as wooden spoons, whisks or rolling pins. Others might be drawn to those from a particular era, such as tools with painted wood handles, which were popular…

Collecting comes naturally to most of us, stretching back to our childhood days of gathering trading cards, dolls or even pretty pebbles. Assembling a collection is a great way to express your personality and interests— plus there’s the exhilaration of the hunt! Whether you favor antique books, salt and pepper shakers, vintage linens, family photos or any other type of item, collections typically evoke a sense of nostalgia, connecting you with cherished memories or the simpler days of the past. Starting a collection also expands your knowledge as you learn about the history of the items you enjoy and connect with other like-minded collectors. Once you’ve established a collection, creating curated displays with your treasures allows you to experiment with combinations and vignettes that are meaningful and contribute unique layers…

Q. What was the first thing you started collecting? “Vintage tins. It started with a big potato chip tin that my grandma used to keep her flour in.” Q. What are your current favorite collectibles? “Vintage thermoses, children’s vintage toys, vintage fabrics and linens, quilts, pretty tins and vintage Christmas.” Q. Where do you find items for your collections? “There are several thrift stores close by and I stop in almost every week. I usually avoid antiques stores and malls, simply because the prices are higher and I’d rather find treasures myself, out in the wild.” Q. How much is too much? “If you collect something you love, there’s no such thing as too much, unless you run out of space. I have a collection of metal sifters that line…

Q: What was the first thing you started collecting? “When I was a teenager, I found a tea strainer at the local flea market for 25 cents. Little did I know it would be the beginning of a search that would span several decades! In fact, I still buy them when I find something unusual. Of course, since then I have started many more collections.” Q: What are your current favorite collectibles? “I’m currently on the lookout for white ironstone, English breadboards, nutmeg graters, pie funnels, and my newest collection, wooden shortbread molds.” Q: Where do you find items for your collections? “In the past, I bought a lot online; however, due to the high shipping costs, I now enjoy finding things locally. I search thrift stores, consignment shops and…