Innholdsfortegnelse for Country Cottage Christmas 2018 i The Cottage Journal

The large, welcoming front porch of the Orrs’ country cottage beckons family and friends alike to share a warm bowl of Christmas Eve chili as they laugh and visit together under the stars after returning from their holiday church services. Beneath a tumbleweed chandelier, the picturesque setting twinkles with a hint of holiday magic as even their grown children competitively decorate festive boxes and bags to use when they exchange special gifts and stocking stuffers. While a few of their traditions have held fast throughout the years, Kathy’s decorating style has drastically changed to match her new surroundings. “When we lived in Houston, [Texas,] my decorations were different, more formal,” Kathy shares. “My Houston ornaments didn’t seem to fit with the setting and the house, so I started fresh, collecting…

“It’s a special place with a special spirit.” That’s how Carlene Walker describes the unique family Christmas tree farm she and her husband, Cary, own. Located just outside of Birmingham, Alabama, Pine Hill Farm stretches across 15 acres of beautiful rolling hills dappled with hundreds of Christmas trees. It is a place where families from across the area flock each year for an “old-fashioned” Christmas experience. Customers can find several varieties of Christmas trees at Pine Hill Farm, including the Leyland cypress and Carolina Sapphire, in a range of different sizes, with some reaching heights of more than 20 feet. The farm also offers popular precut trees like Douglas fir, Fraser fir, and Black Hills spruce, which have been imported from northern states. At Pine Hill Farm, the Walkers not…

Tucked beneath moss-draped trees in the historic town of Union Springs, Alabama, is a quaint cabin with a porch that overlooks the water. “It’s such a calming area, watching the horses graze and the deer come up,” says interior designer Cindy Barganier. “It’s just a really special place.” The cozy structure was the reason the homeowners purchased the 500 acres of land, and it now sits behind their main house. In contrast to the main home, which Cindy says takes on more of a Victorian personality during the holidays, the cabin is “all about a country Christmas,” she notes. Inside, varied fresh greenery and buffalo check galore breathe Christmas spirit into the rustic space, adding warmth and texture to the planked walls and natural materials. “We always use popcorn and…

Homeowner Mary Jane Mathias credits “alternative vision” for her creative style, which she says means she sees alternative uses for common things around her. From old mantels used as artwork above the sofa to a window hanging over the kitchen island, a tour of Mary Jane’s home provides a surprise around every corner. One of the most unexpected sights is the garage. Mary Jane’s husband and son converted this basically unused space to establish a “man cave.” Of course, a big TV was a prerequisite along with a deer head. Other furnishings were gathered from around the house and consignment shops. But it’s the windows and door treatments that elicit an audible “Ah!” Original garage doors were cut in half, painted red, and hung vertically on tracks for a sliding…

Mike Peters had had enough of hectic city living when he purchased this quirky cottage in the Texas countryside. “I still remember walking through the threshold for the first time and thinking, ‘I wouldn’t mind calling this home one day,’” he says. The three-bedroom, three-bathroom abode has exceptional bones—more spacious on the inside than it appears from the outside. And Mike knows good design. As the owner of the antiques show venue Blue Hills at Round Top, he has been one of the top dealers in this antiques mecca for more than three decades. After moving from his home in Kansas, Mike opted for a more carefree, downsized design where color and company felt welcome. “Muddy shoes? No problem. I chose what I consider ‘lighthearted’ décor when I moved here,”…

“Our farm is very popular during the holidays,” says Will Morrow, a landscape designer and sheep farmer who owns a 30-acre farm in Emmitsburg, Maryland, with his husband, anesthesiologist Kent Ozkum. “Our family and friends are in Washington, D.C., where we used to live, and they all want to come and visit for the holidays,” Will says. The couple purchased the property, which includes a charming 1764 farmhouse, back in 2003 and, after an extensive renovation, brought it back to life as Whitmore Farm. The exterior features a standing seam metal roof and wraparound covered porch, and inside, there are log-and-chink walls and a burled wood staircase. “We tend to decorate outside more than inside,” says Will. “In December, the greenery lasts much longer outdoors in the higher humidity and…

Baby boomers Lane and Scott McGarrah succumbed to the call of simple living and built a new home with convenience in mind. “It’s totally different than what we had before,” Scott says. “Everything was more formal in our last house.” The couple explained this wasn’t their first foray into moving; they have moved four times within the same town. Growing up, Scott moved every three years or so because his father was in the U.S. Air Force, so for him, change is routine. Lane, however, grew up living in the same house, but she says Scott’s attitude must be rubbing off on her. Neutrals and nature were the inspiration for the McGarrahs’ new cottage décor and Christmas decorating as well. The tree, with its gold and silver ornaments and tree-bark…

It’s no secret the holiday season brings its fair share of stresses along with its ribbons and bows, which is precisely why the mountains are calling. There’s no better place to recharge and reboot in style than Tennessee’s Blackberry Farm. The farm’s 4,200 acres have been a mountain haven and bucolic escape for family, friends, and guests for more than 70 years as it has evolved into a luxurious resort of breathtaking scenery, gourmet cuisine, and pleasurable pastimes. A visit to the farm, especially during the holidays, will surely inspire, delight, and refresh the senses while renewing your spirit of the season. Blackberry Farm was born in the 1930s when Florida Lasier and her husband, Dave, journeyed from their home in Chicago to the Georgia coast looking for the perfect…