Country Sampler Farmhouse Style Summer 2024

Editor’s Note One of my favorite songs that puts me in a lazy-days-of-summer mood is the classic from Porgy and Bess sung by Ella Fitzgerald, which begins: “Summertime, and the livin’ is easy. Fish are jumpin’ and the cotton is high.” I realize it represents a bygone time, but the slow drawl of it just reminds me of relaxing on a front porch swing, slowly rocking back and forth and enjoying a faint breeze. Birds are chirping and kids are laughing down the street. I smile and wave at the neighbor as she works in her garden. I can smell summer’s perfume and feel its warmth. Summer days like this are beyond compare. In this issue of Farmhouse Style, we showcase three homes that exude that simple summer atmosphere. Two…

NATIONAL FARMERS MARKET DIRECTORY If you’re looking for a place to shop for farmfresh fruits and veggies, flowers and other locally produced items, either near your home or in areas you’re visiting, check out the National Farmers Market Directory. Simply enter a ZIP code or city and state to generate information on farmers markets in the area, including the location, schedule, and types of products for sale. https://nfmd.org Find unique, uncommon and heirloom flower varieties for your garden at Floret. You may recognize the name from the documentary series “Growing Floret,” which is available to watch on streaming services. The family-run flower farm based in Washington state offers a curated assortment of seeds, tools and supplies to help you grow beautiful flowers. Founder Erin Benzakein has written several books, and…

It’s hard to avoid falling in love with milk glass. Named for its milky appearance, this opaque glassware looks at home almost anywhere. Its neutral hue and simple yet elegant patterns allow it to coordinate with nearly any decor style, season or holiday. It was produced in myriad functional forms that can still be used today. Its best feature, though, might be its accessibility. Milk glass is easy to find and inexpensive to acquire. With origins in 16th-century Venetian opal glass, the milk glass we are familiar with today became popular during the Victorian era as an affordable alternative to porcelain. It was most often white but was sometimes rendered in pink, blue, green, yellow, brown and black. To produce these durable yet decorative pieces, molten glass containing additives for…

This summer, make every day feel like a vacation by incorporating a bit of coastal farmhouse style into your home. Though it may seem more suited to homes near the ocean, the look easily blends with the farmhouse aesthetic, creating an inviting atmosphere that evokes the relaxed feel of cozy beach cottages and a seaside landscape. Sun-Kissed Hues One of the features that modern farmhouse and coastal style have in common is a neutral color scheme. Hues inspired by sea and sand are at the heart of coastal style, with bleached whites, soft blues and greens, and warm beige tones dominating the palette. Shell pink, navy blue and driftwood gray are also part of this look. Because the palettes have a lot of crossover, it is easy to mix in…

Delicate Daisy Napkins Cotton gingham napkins with a delightful daisy edge add a floral flourish to any summer party. Set of four, $65. WWW.MERIMERI.COM Ceramic Berry Colander With a vibrant floral print inside and out, this pint-size ceramic colander is both functional and pretty. $19. WWW.NATURALLIFE.COM Rustic Bread Box Store bread in style with this punched-tin style metal bread box, available in three colors, including this Weathered Zinc finish. $105.95. WWW.ALLYSONSPLACE.COM Floral Salad Servers Carved from durable sapele wood, these flower-shaped servers are perfect for dishing up summer salads. $55. WWW.FOOD52.COM Paint at Home Kit Have some “Cotton Pickin’ Fun” with an Art to Go paint kit. Canvas, paints, brushes and step by step instructions are included. $39. WWW.THEPAINTEDPETAL.COM Handwoven Market Bag Ideal for trips to the farmers market, these…

Through the years, Jennifer has remodeled her kitchen twice. Find all the details of her remodeling projects at https://jennifermaune.com/kitchen-remodel-ideas. While Jennifer Maune was expecting her sixth child, the Arkansas mom and avid home cook decided to chase her culinary dreams and enroll in cooking school. She never imagined that just three years later, she’d be a contestant on the 13th season of “MasterChef,” Fox’s popular competitive cooking show featuring Gordon Ramsay Representing her home region, the South, she made it all the way to the final round. Jennifer’s earliest kitchen memories are of helping her grandma make Thanksgiving dressing and macaroni and cheese. “My maternal grandmother was an amazing Southern cook, and my love for cooking came from her,” she says. As an adult, Jennifer relished preparing traditional Southern favorites…