Country Sampler Farmhouse Style Summer 2025

Paging through the features in this issue has me looking forward to summertime decorating and fun outdoor activities like browsing at flea markets and picking flowers at a local farm. Have you ever visited a lavender farm? There's nothing lovelier than spending a sunny afternoon wandering through the rows of delicate purple blooms and inhaling their soothing scent. (Not to mention the stunning photo ops!) Learn all about it in our article, “For the Love of Lavender.” We also cover other popular down-on-the-farm adventures in the article “10 Hands-On Farm Experiences” and present expert tips and tricks for shopping secondhand in “Thrifty Thinking.” Plus, you'll find plenty of inspiration for decorating both indoors and out, including repurposing items into creative garden decor, giving new life to flea-market finds and much…

DESIGN YOUR HOME Give the Design Your Home podcast a listen to hear no-nonsense advice on everything from decor trends to kitchen remodels from Sally Soricelli, an interior designer and real estate investor. New episodes drop on Thursdays. https://nestorations.com/podcast SOUTHERN HOME AND LIVING Decorating enthusiast Erin Sowell enjoys making simple home accents, and she records reels for Instagram that allow you to follow along. Her many DIYs cover all holidays and seasons. www.instagram.com/southernhomeandliving SHIPLAP AND SHELLS Page through the blog of talented Pacific Northwest gardener Kim Robinson to find a wealth of gardening tips plus downloadable books and planners. Views of her dreamy cottage-style garden are sure to inspire. https://shiplapandshells.com TRYING TO HOMESTEAD Follow along with the animal antics on Lauren Allen's Texas hobby farm via her Instagram page. You'll…

Handmade textiles provide a great way to add warmth and texture to your home and wardrobe. Why not learn a craft that allows you to create some of your own? Annie's has recently launched a new beginner crochet kit club designed for anyone who has always wanted to learn but didn't know where to start. Even if you've never picked up a hook or a skein of yarn, you'll be able to make fun and useful projects to wear or decorate your home. Each kit comes with all the yarn, tools and accessories you need to create the project, along with a pattern leaflet that includes full instructions. But you don't have to puzzle through the instructions on your own—simply log in to your account to access a digital stitch…

Spotting a vintage Pyrex dish in a thrift store is an easy way to go tripping down memory lane. Maybe your grandma mixed pancake batter in a Butterfly Gold Cinderella bowl. Or your best friend's mom served dinner in Spring Blossom Green casserole dishes. With countless Pyrex opalware pieces produced from the 1940s through the 1980s, there was seemingly a color or pattern for everyone. Add in the dishes’ revolutionary durability and versatility, and they quickly became a mainstay in American homes. While Pyrex collectors today crave color, the earliest pieces were transparent, as U.S.-based Corning Glass Works began producing clear glass oven-safe dishes in 1915, and stovetop-ready Flameware in 1936. By the end of World War II, though, the burgeoning women's consumer market was ready for something brighter. In…

Not that long ago, wallpaper was seen as dated design. Many homeowners were eager to strip away the busy or kitschy patterns of the past in favor of the more minimalist look of painted walls. Plus, there was the perception of wallpaper being a hassle both to install and remove, which offered another reason to avoid it. In the last several years, however, new technology and patterns are inspiring people to take another look at wallpaper as a versatile way to inject personality into their living spaces. Creative Possibilities Several factors are contributing to the resurgence of wallcoverings. For one, wallpaper offers an unlimited opportunity for creativity. From bold geometric patterns to delicate florals and eye-catching murals, wallpaper allows for design choices that are often more visually striking than paint…

With the many choices available today, why not give wallpaper a whirl? You don't have to commit to the whole house or even a whole room. Make even less of a commitment by choosing a peel-and-stick product. Here are some ideas for incorporating wallcoverings into your home: Ceiling: Try a ceiling mural or apply wallpaper to the “fifth wall” for dramatic impact. Furnishings: Line the back of a bookcase or cabinet with wallpaper for a pop of pattern. Panels: Make a statement with molding-framed wallpaper panels. Backsplash: Brighten up your kitchen with a patterned wallpaper backsplash.…