Innholdsfortegnelse for Spring 2014 i The Cottage Journal

“Nearly everything I have is old,” says Jane Hodges, while smiling as she talks about the furnishings in the lovely 1930s cottage she calls home. Once owned by her in-laws, the bright and breezy house is as gracious as Jane herself, and she has filled it to the brim with an enchanting collection of antiques that have equally enchanting histories. Using serene shades of off-white throughout, Jane softened the vivid pink palette favored by her mother-in-law to create the perfect backdrop for the beautifully aged treasures that give her home its singular charm. The living room holds cherished pieces, such as the handsome mirrored screen passed down from her mother-in-law and a portrait of Jane’s son as a teenager that hangs above an antique desk in a washed-blue hue. A…

When Ginger Hain and Larry Hart first found their mountain property in charming, artsy Waynesville, North Carolina, the newlyweds knew the 1940s cottage would offer cramped quarters. The couple was smitten with the location, though, and figured they’d upgrade when they outgrew their space. “But rather than moving, we just kept adding on,” Ginger explains. And over the course of 32 years, the starter house became a forever home. “We called it a ‘Florida House’ back then—lots of concrete; terrible for the mountains,” Ginger recalls. But thanks to her handy husband, Larry, who is an accomplished carpenter, necessary additions were made with ease. What began as a one-car carport became an inviting living room complete with a Scandinavian gas stove and a flea-market mantel. Style Idea Seeking bargain finds? Ask…

“Fresh fruit and artisanal cheeses from local purveyors paired with wine from Napa Valley are our specialty.” —Executive Chef Kevin Miller BERRY FRUIT TART Makes 1 (12-inch) tart Recipes adapted from Chef Kevin Miller Yountville, California 1 cup heavy cream ¼ cup sugar 2 teaspoons vanilla extract Vanilla Pastry Cream, (recipe follows) Tart Crust, (recipe follows) 16 ounces strawberries, hulled and sliced 6 ounces blueberries Garnish: whipped cream, lime zest 1. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with whisk attachment, combine cream, sugar, and vanilla. Beat at high speed until it forms soft peaks. 2. Remove chilled Vanilla Pastry Cream from refrigerator and uncover. Whisk until smooth. Gently fold whipped cream mixture into Vanilla Pastry Cream until just combined. 3. Spread combined filling in prepared Tart Crust, smoothing…

After 25 years, Rhonda Montgomery’s garden doesn’t need much in the way of new shrubs and trees, but every year she looks forward to shopping for annuals. They’re destined for the antique iron and concrete urns that she places strategically in the landscape. “Years ago, I knew I wouldn’t have help with the garden—my husband doesn’t do yard work,” she explains. “Since I wanted to have something blooming all the time, I bought all these fabulous urns at estate sales. My plan was to get the yard looking good, and then I would just put plants in the pots.” Executing the first part of her plan—getting the yard looking good—proved to be more of a challenge than she had anticipated, however. Two years after the Montgomerys moved in, fierce straight-line…

Rather than “A Tale of Two Cities,” you could say that the Lewis family has created a retreat-like home that reflects the ambiance of two coasts. After renovating and living in a Cape Cod-inspired dwelling in Santa Monica, California, they were ready to relocate. So, with three young children and a lab puppy in tow, they headed to the sprawling metropolis of Los Angeles. Fortunately, they found a 1950s hillside rancher in the Brentwood area that was buffered by a grove of pine trees and other native vegetation. “After being here for four years, we decided to tear the house down, excavate into the hillside, and build our dream of a ‘California Farmhouse,’” Mrs. Lewis explains. Serving as their own project manager and interior decorator, the Lewises oversaw construction for…

When Carol and David Williams decided to build a carriage house behind their beautiful South Carolina home, the couple knew they wanted room for their booming picture framing business and figured a rental apartment would be a good investment, too. Once the space started coming together however, the empty nesters had a new idea: Why not move into the cozy apartment themselves and rent out their main house instead? A few months’ trial period was all they needed; Carol and David were quickly smitten with the scaled-down space. Style Idea Big, bold, beautiful art tricks the eye into thinking the space is larger than it is and helps break up the neutral wall tones. Style Idea An opaque glass sliding door is an innovative way to hide your stackable washer…

According to Merrie Loper, having a gorgeous garden is just one of the benefits of being married to a landscape architect. “I am fortunate that our home is a reflection of his passion for beautiful gardens and the love of outdoors,” she says of her husband, Jim. When planning their garden, which is continually growing and changing, the couple works together to beautify their space and create an environment where guests and family are comfortable. “We are always moving from one spot to another, walking the property, seeing what is there, talking about what to do next, and just loving being part of a beautiful day together,” Merrie says. As a landscaping professional, Jim’s signature style is his hardscaping. Merrie says he enjoys combining materials to create a foundation for…

After receiving a copy of John J. Audubon’s Birds of America as a gift from his parents when he was just 10 years old, a whole new world was opened for Gilbert Johnston. “I used to lie awake at night in bed and turn the pages,” Gilbert says, recalling the moments when natural history and art first captured his heart and imagination. Growing up, Gilbert studied history and law, earning degrees in both studies, but he says the creative side of his mind took over, and ultimately he decided to pursue a career in the arts. After law school, he traveled the wilderness of Alaska and Canada—hiking, paddling, and documenting his journey, much like the explorers who created the great scientific works of art to which he’s now dedicated his…

Cascading layers of creeping fig drape the entrance to the enchanting countryside home that Avery Rhodes shares with her husband, Chris Akins, and their three children. It gives the house a magical fairy-tale feel, one Avery likens to Sleeping Beauty’s vine-covered castle under the hundred-year spell. “I like to think we have a slightly ‘sleepy’ household,” says Avery. “We try very hard to slow things down when we are at home and just enjoy each other and our moments together.” The open and airy interiors of this cottage definitely offer a tranquil retreat, and the pretty and polished furnishings belie the fact that an active family lives in every square inch of these sunlit spaces. Avery has created a kid-and-pet-friendly abode where daughter Willa Rose and sons Hopper and Walton,…

New homes often lack the charming details that cottage lovers yearn for, but the designer of this home creates interest and a comfortable, inviting environment on a surprisingly small budget. This modestly-sized home in Utah includes a great room and kitchen set together in an open floor plan, a set-apart sitting room, a spacious master suite, and two additional bedrooms. At the entry, one immediately recognizes that this is a special home. Here, botanical prints featuring colorful tulips fill the wall in a grid pattern around a sleek console table, and the petal design of the orange carpet plays on the botanical theme. Interior designer Niki Strebel Volle says that the tulip prints were, in fact, the starting point for the design. “We found the prints in a book and…

Working to create a custom look for his cottage in Maine (see pages 77-80) he became friends with the bittersweet vine. “In this part of the country,” Gregor says, “the vine is intrusive, climbing trees and cutting off the sunlight that can eventually kill the tree.” So, he explains, “Most people are not friends or friendly with this plant. They try to keep it cut back.” Gregor, however, found it to be a perfect material for embellishing everything from tables to cabinet doors in his vacation retreat. In renovating the cottage, Gregor decided to embellish the plain, stock cabinet doors using materials at hand. And the one material that was plentiful and at arm’s reach was the bittersweet vine. He gathered the fresh vines, cut them to the desired length,…

To find out more about product sources or to contact the design professionals, see credits and addresses listed below. Page 2—Ironstone china from Charles Torgeson Pages 9–10—Glass case, egg basket, and metal crown from Four Seasons Gallery. Glass cloche from Park Hill Collection. Patina of the Past Pages 27–38—Interior design by Jane Hodges, Side Street Interiors. Her Cottage in the Country Pages 47–56—Furnishings from Alabama Furniture Market. Construction by Bungalow Company. A Farmhouse in the City Pages 63–68—Architecture and drawings by Harrison Design Associates. Living room wall color “Dimity” by Farrow & Ball. Reclaimed ceiling beams from Vintage Timberworks. Range by La Cornue. Bistro chairs from Restoration Hardware. Mock-crocodile leather chairs and ottoman, coffee table, red leather chair, and wallpaper by Ralph Lauren. French antique mantel from Exquisite Surfaces. Fire…