Innholdsfortegnelse for Best of The Cottage Journal i The Cottage Journal

Our staff is proud to present Best of The Cottage Journal, a special edition of The Cottage Journal magazine. This issue is packed with tours of private homes that are both beautiful and comfortable, and each homeowner has a unique story to share. We’ve pulled together 11 of our favorite homes to showcase some of the best cottage style ideas for home from every season. You’ll find this issue to be a visual vacation from coast to coast, loaded with fresh inspiration for any cottage. From “Living Large in a Small Space” on page 13 to “Cottage Built for Two” on page 31, we see a shared interest in community neighborhoods that are visitor-friendly from the front porch to the garden. Space-savvy architectural plans, including window seats, built-in alcoves, and…

After graduating from college and living in Atlanta, Georgia, for 25 years, this business professional decided to move back to her hometown. She had lived in a new house in Atlanta but was hoping to find a home in her parents’ charming older neighborhood. After she checked out three disappointing possibilities, her father encouraged her to look at the cottage around the corner that had been empty for several years. “I took one step in and fell in love with it,” she exclaims, “and it’s walking distance to my parents.” With the help of old friends, builder David Camp and interior designer Lauren Conner, the cottage’s metamorphosis began. The front of the house was reworked by David to create a little portico and charming entrance. To continue the inviting welcome…

Statistically speaking, Lauren Palmer is something of a rarity in American agriculture—she’s young and she is a woman—yet like her fellow organic farmers across the country, she is having an outsize impact on her community. She is among the 6 percent of “principal operators” who are under 35, and she’s one of just 14 percent who are women. Operating a small-scale farm that’s locally focused and committed to sustainable, environmentally responsible practices, she’s also an entrepreneur, finding creative ways to connect customers to the source of their food. Bloomsbury Farm in Smyrna, Tennessee, started as an experiment. In 2009, Lauren left her job as a social worker in Nashville, Tennessee, and returned to her parents’ home to try her hand at organic farming. “I literally just threw seeds in the…

Artist and interior decorator Pandy Agnew’s 1,100-square-foot cottage has helped teach her the importance of streamlining. “Editing out the clutter keeps me breathing,” she says, adding, “I have come to that place in my life where good health and happiness are my priorities. All of the lovely ‘things’ in my home are just that.” The cottage was originally built in the 1800s, and Pandy made a few modifications (like the addition of closets) to its existing floor plan. But regardless of her home’s small stature, Pandy insists it’s the perfect size for herself and her young grandchildren, who visit often, as well as the casual get-togethers she regularly hosts. Pandy’s move toward simplification influenced her choice of furnishings and décor. “What speaks to me in furniture and accessories is true…

Even though Vicki and Harrison Brannon’s stone cottage is located near the heart of a busy suburb, it might as well be tucked away in some idyllic rural setting. Built in 1925, this picturesque abode rests at the end of a shady, meandering drive that winds through lush grounds leading to an adjacent garage and potting shed with guest quarters above. As fourth owners of the property, the Brannons immediately recognized the unique character of this place, and they’ve lovingly maintained it as a haven not only for themselves but also for family and friends alike. With this intent, Vicki has prudently combined old and new elements to complement its undeniable charm. “Our home is a mix of what I like,” she remarks, “things that appeal to both Harrison and…

Imagine walking through acres of roses, inhaling their intoxicating fragrance with every breath. From May through November, that’s a near daily routine for Danielle Hahn and her family, owners of Rose Story Farm in Carpinteria, California. They grow roses for the florist trade—not the uniform, scentless hybrid teas that dominate the business, but the luscious, aromatic, old-fashioned kind you normally find only in home gardens. Seeking the country life for themselves and their two sons, Danielle and her husband, Bill, bought the 15-acre farm in 1998. In addition to aging lemon and avocado trees, the property included dilapidated laborers’ cottages, a decrepit Victorian house, and a Spanish Colonial Revival barn. Today the avocado trees have been replaced with improved varieties, the restored barn houses the farm offices, the Victorian house…

It’s been more than 20 years since Peggy Kurz’s daughter took her to Rachel Ashwell’s now closed Shabby Chic in Chicago, Illinois. The visit so influenced Peggy that she came home and painted everything white. She laughs when she shares, “I have lived in the house over 40 years and have gone through a lot of different decorating styles, including Victorian and collecting cows.” But it looks like the shabby chic style is a long-lasting favorite of Peggy’s, not only for the interior of her house but for the garden as well. The same shabby chic design principles of using timeworn furniture and feminine accessories are also popular in gardens. The color scheme usually includes neutral colors with pale accents of pink and blue. And when you step out onto…

Cover—Photography by Tria Giovan. Living Large in a Small Space Pages 13-20—Interiors by Pandy Agnew Interiors. Cottage in the Country Pages 21-26—Furnishings from Alabama Furniture Market. Built by The Bungalow Company. Coming Home Pages 27-30—Built by David Camp, Camp Construction Company, Inc. Interiors by Lauren Conner. Page 27—Living room armchair from Circa Interiors & Antiques. Farmhouse table from Argent. Pages 28—Dishes, napkins, and flatware from At Home Furnishings. Pages 29-30—Throw pillows from Olde World Acquisitions. Bedside lamp from Argent. Bathroom marble counters from Triton Stone Group. Potted plants from Sweet Peas Garden Shop. Deck pillows from At Home Furnishings. Cottage Built for Two Pages 31-38—Architectural design by Ross Chapin, Ross Chapin Architects. Built by The Cottage Company, LLC. Fishing Lodge Charm Pages 39-44—Architectural design by Ross Chapin, Ross Chapin Architects.…