Innholdsfortegnelse for French Cottage 2018 i The Cottage Journal

Welcome to our newest special issue of French Cottage, a special edition from The Cottage Journal magazine. From the simplistic style of small cottages to luxurious interiors and lush gardens, comfortable but beautiful living exemplifies French cottage style. Antiques and flea market finds add a sense of history that can be told only through remnants from Europe. Whether a newly found treasure or a lovingly passed-down heirloom, each piece has meaning and brings delight to its owner. A dreamy cream-colored cottage featured in “Storied Style” on page 47 is the result of one woman’s love of antiques. Running her European antiques business led to many years of layering rustic and ornate finds, resulting in a modern-meets-Old-World charm. The surprise of the color red definitely brightens the style of this fresh…

Whether it’s breakfast on the patio or a formal dinner in the dining room, in France, entertaining is a part of day-to-day life. No one knows this better than Sharon Santoni, creator of the blog My French Country Home, author of My Stylish French Girlfriends, and resident of Normandy, France. Growing up in a family with no lack of opportunities for entertaining friends, Sharon knows the ins and outs of opening up your doors (and your table) to good food and lively conversation. In her second book, My French Country Home: Entertaining Through the Seasons, Sharon creates an intimate experience of life in the French countryside year-round. Divided into four chapters reflective of the seasons, this book shares flowers, gardens, and table settings that are sure to transport you straight…

When Holland natives Lidy and John Baars moved to California, they were determined to create a stateside home that reflected the European style they knew and loved. Instead, they found themselves in a West Coast ranch-style home built in the 1960s. But Lidy opted not to yield to the home’s architecture. “Because I am European and I grew up in Europe, I just decided to make it look as much like a European home as I could,” she says. Now, the home is teeming with a relaxed elegance that exudes an effortless air of French country style. The home’s interior design reflects not only Lidy’s heritage but also her experience as a dealer of European antiques. She opened FrenchGardenHouse Antiques in 2007 and offers unique wares from France, England, and…

“Classically built, this home’s architecture steered away from trend,” says designer Katie Gibson of Katie Gibson Interiors, “so we knew from the start that we wanted to reflect this style in the interior spaces.” Her vision began with clean white walls, a blank canvas for traditionally lined furniture, unconventional fabrics, and plenty of pops of color. “The homeowner loves the look of French-Italian style, but she also leans toward a simple and feminine aesthetic,” Katie explains. “So, rather than overdoing patterns, we focused more on interesting textures and intentional layering.” From the entryway, the home’s symmetrical floor plan opens up to the dining and living rooms. On the left, the inviting dining area features a custom-made round table that seats the family all together. The chairs are covered in a…

Mallory Smith has been working in the interior design business for almost two decades, but she didn’t take her first trip to France until 15 years ago. With her 2-year-old child in hand, she tagged along with her mother and sister on a buying trip for their antiques shop and ended up buying for clients of Mallory Smith Interiors and, of course, for her own home. Mallory, her husband, and their three children live in a two-story brick house built in 1987. As a busy decorator, Mallory had to put her own home renovations on the back burner while she helped others. But over time, she has worked her magic, creating a romantic French-inspired home. The neutral palette of the foyer is carried throughout the rooms for a calm, relaxed…

Marburger Farm Antique Show UPCOMING SHOW DATES Fall 2018 Show September 25–29 TICKET INFORMATION General admission tickets are $10 and include entrance the entire week of the show. You can purchase them at roundtop-marburger.com.…

When Nancy and Mark Peeples built their cozy cottage nearly 15 years ago, they designed it with the mountains in mind. “My husband loves the West, the mountains, and hunting,” Nancy says. “So we were trying to have some sort of comfortable, elegant version of that.” Their charming cottage exterior is sided with hand-split cedar shakes and is unlike any of the homes in their neighborhood. “We’ve got a real mountain retreat in the middle of [Alabama],” she laughs. The couple’s enchanting abode exudes an upscale elegance while still maintaining personal touches. With the help of interior designer Mary Finch, Nancy outfitted her cottage with one-of-a-kind salvaged finds and antiques from around the world. The great room stands tall beneath the home’s A-frame, and reclaimed beams help draw the eye…

After moving into this charming cottage-style abode 25 years ago, one of the most important aspects for this family was creating an additional outdoor room. What started as a large, sloping hill of a front yard was reimagined and reconstructed and now serves as the family’s favorite room of the house. “It’s been a bit like adding a ballroom,” the homeowner says with a laugh. “It gave us a destination to go to. We use it every single day, and we love it.” In the spirit of the French, plein air dining in this enchanting, romantic space can be both casual and refined and has multiple sections spanning the grounds of the cottage’s front exterior. The green hedges shield the intimate dining space from the road, allowing the front yard…

When Cindy Blackenburg and her husband purchased their 3,800-square-foot home seven years ago, it was largely unchanged since its construction in the 1970s. “The home sat on the market for several years— and after seeing it, I understand why it never sold,” Cindy recalls. “Seeing it for the first time was like walking back into a 1972 time warp.” Situated in Cindy’s hometown in Missouri, the home featured original architectural details like stained-glass and mullioned French windows, curved brick archways, a marble fireplace, and an ornate wrought iron staircase that took Cindy’s breath away. However, those charming details were obscured by shag carpet, hot pink and turquoise tile, and flocked avocado-green wallpaper. “It was a bit overwhelming, and I could see why it sat on the market for so long,”…

Walking through the iron gate in front of Jacqueline Ditsler’s home, you’d think you were walking up to a chateau in the French countryside. The peaceful sanctum is surrounded by bright blooms and hues of pink and purple with timeworn cement statues overlooking the garden. The two-story cottage is a retreat from the busyness of the world in the quiet country town of Round Top, Texas. The halfway point between Houston and Austin, Round Top has earned its reputation as a getaway in the Lone Star State, as well as a sought-after destination for antiques lovers like the Ditslers, thanks to Round Top’s many antiques fairs throughout the year. As a matter of fact, Jacqueline jokes that her home was something she bought at one of the shows. “That was…

Cover Photography by Jean Allsopp. Styling by Kim Chiselko. Lamp and pillow shams from Three Sheets. Petite French embroidered stool from LOLO French Antiques. Finding French Style Pages 23–26 Fine paint finishes and plasters by Segreto Finishes. Comfortable Elegance Pages 27–34 Interior designs by Mary McCollister Finch, Mary McCollister & Company. Clandestine Charm Pages 35–46 Architectural design by Hester and Associates, Inc. Built by Mark Hancock, Hancock Construction. Bedroom designed by Alison Gorrie, AMG Design. Living room, dining room, kitchen, and formal living room designed by Leigh Ann Moor, Leigh Ann Moor Interiors. Page 35–36 Mouton bone dining chairs from Crown & Colony Antiques. Mercury glass sconces from Visual Comfort & Co. Dining room table from Henhouse Antiques. Sofa from Trouvé. Feather paintings by Lacey Russell. Page 46 Banquet table…

Francie and Ogden Deaton’s ranch-style house might appear to be a classic American abode from the outside, but as you cross the threshold, you’ll find yourself transported to a modern European retreat. Decked in neutral hues and accented with vibrant color and rich, inviting textures, the entire home offers a delightful respite that feels calm and chic. The living room exudes a relaxed and casual atmosphere, perfect for lounging, while an abundance of windows allows natural light to cascade in. “Our kitchen and family room have a casually elegant style that we love,” Francie says. “We knew this would be the spot where our family and friends would gather, so we wanted it to be cozy and comfortable.” The main living area leads into the open-concept kitchen, where contemporary style…