Innholdsfortegnelse for Best of Country Cottage 2019 i The Cottage Journal

Whether you prefer a little rustic flair or modern farmhouse décor, country cottage style truly offers something for everyone. Within the pages of The Cottage Journal, we have collected photos and stories that encapsulate the spirit of this beloved design choice, from family lake retreats to suburban cottage dwellings—and everything in between. A historic farmhouse in Tennessee, a Texas home overflowing with antiques, and a watercolor artist inspired by the countryside are just a few of the features in this special issue selected to inspire your next renovation, makeover, or new build. At the very least, we hope the hundreds of images and style ideas within will encourage you to develop your own version of country style—just as each of these homeowners did. So, from our editors to you, we…

The rolling pin is one of the oldest kitchen tools around. Historians say it is depicted in drawings by the Etruscans—long before it was mass-produced in the early 19th century. Today, collections of pins are popular wall art for kitchens. In the photo above, rolling pins are attached to beaded board and framed to hang. The oldest rolling pins, like those in the collection displayed at right, are hand-carved from one piece of wood. All the handles vary in shape depending on the designer and the use of the rolling pin. This collector and her husband enjoy finding pins while traveling. Once home, the rolling pins are displayed in the kitchen but are still accessible and “ready to roll.” “No one is born a great cook, one learns by doing.”—JULIA…

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 so smitten with the location, they planned to simply 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. The original narrow living room…

Yvonne Pratt has always loved decorating, but she realized early on that, as much as she enjoys color in other people’s houses, she prefers the serenity of whites and neutrals for her own home. “I like a calm look,” she says. The spacious country home near Lancaster, Pennsylvania, that she shares with her husband, Bobby, has a semi-open floor plan, so sight lines travel through several rooms. “You have to go through a lot of things visually, and you don’t want it to overwhelm you,” she says, “so the calmer and more neutral the palette, the better.” Even seasonal decorating obeys the quiet neutrals rule. For fall, autumn leaves pressed between glass and a few pillows embroidered or printed with pumpkin designs nod to the season’s traditional earthy colors, but…

On 400 rolling acres outside Franklin, Tennessee, Gentry’s Farm has been owned by the family for seven generations. From cotton and cows to hogs and hay, diversified efforts have kept the farm flourishing while summer camps and fall festivities allow the public to share in the memory-making, too. Built between 1805 and 1810, the oldest building on Gentry’s Farm is now the home of Jase Gentry, the great-great-great-grandson of farm founder Samuel Fielding Glass Jr. For much of its first 150 years, the log cabin was used to house tenant farmers and farm workers. Thankfully, Jase says, “Good old logs stick around for a long time,” and in 1984, Jase’s uncle re-chinked and renovated, adding on a couple bedrooms to the back. Almost 20 years later, Jase graduated high school…

Sue Charles of Washington Boro, Pennsylvania, always knew that she loved painting. Her affinity for drawing began when she was a toddler and continued throughout childhood. She often copied pictures from books and made greeting cards for her family. But even with this talent, Sue fell victim to the age-old question: “How could I ever make a living doing art?” So, when it came time for Sue to go to college, she pursued elementary education, and her art seemed to be hibernating. “But if you have art in you,” she says, “eventually it is going to have to come out.” About the time Sue had her third child, an uncontrollable surge of creativity emerged and she decided to seek out art lessons. “I initially chose watercolors because I had little…

TO CLEAN: It’s better not to wash heirloom quilts, but if the need arises, hand-wash with cold water and a small amount of liquid detergent. Rinse and gently squeeze out excess water. Place the quilt flat on a sheet on the floor and let it air-dry. TO STORE: Fold the quilt into thirds and put acid-free tissue paper between folds before placing inside an acid-free box. Don’t store your quilt in anything wooden. It will draw the acid out of the quilt and rot the fabric. Keep the quilt out of harsh direct light and air.…

It’s no secret that the popularity of the current trend in charming cottage spaces likely stems from our favorite HGTV stars Joanna and Chip Gaines. It’s a space that’s light and airy, open, and full of farmhouse vibes—decked in shiplap walls, heirloom elements, and freshly clipped florals. But you don’t have to be a resident of Waco, Texas, to enjoy a modern farmhouse-style bedroom. Starting with a backdrop of bright white planked walls, opt for a color palette that feels soft and serene. Pale blues and greens that are reflective of nature are a great place to start—and, of course, a combination of neutral tones and textures to add depth, detail, and visual interest. Layering natural and Oriental rugs on the floor creates a collected look, and a patinaed antique…

These days, cutting boards come in all shapes and sizes and are often displayed on kitchen countertops and walls. Although maple has long been the wood of choice for the boards, bamboo has also become a popular option. Collectors often focus on a single shape or animal, and pigs seem to be at the top of many enthusiasts’ lists. This particular theme’s popularity may be explained by the Chinese and European belief that the pig was a symbol of wealth that had the power to bring good luck. Homeowner Margaret Ritchie has fond childhood memories of her Aunt Marmee’s pig cutting board that sat behind the kitchen faucet. Years later, at an antiques show, Margaret came across a man selling a number of similar boards. “I bought them all for…

Homeowner Jackie Wise is quick to admit that she and her husband, Jimmy, didn’t really know what they were getting into when they purchased their 1950s fixer-upper in Jimmy’s hometown of Springville, Alabama. “After we bought the house, we gave my sister-in-law and brother-in-law a tour, and after we finished, they were both very quiet,” she recalls. “All my sister-in-law said was, ‘Well, I’m glad it’s you guys and not us.’” After 11 months of renovations, the Wises moved into their rustic new home. The couple did much of the work themselves, including demolition and the completion of the exterior addition of the master suite. “We’re handy people,” Jackie says, “but this project definitely took us to a level that we’ve never really been to. We’re not contractors by any…

A garage with a carriage house above was supposed to be a temporary home for Patsy and Jeffrey Schmidt of Christiana, Tennessee. They would live there with their daughters, Emme Grace and Rayley Beth, while the main house was under construction. But when their third daughter, Maggie, was born with Down syndrome, everything changed. “I had a gift shop and did interior design for almost 11 years,” says Patsy, “and after I saw all the time the therapies were going to take, I closed it six months after she was born.” Without Patsy’s income, the couple couldn’t afford to build the house they had planned. Then inspiration struck: if they converted the garage to living space and flanked it with wings, they would have a classic symmetrical design that looked…

Jan and Bryan Pruitt relished the excitement of discovering new towns and the challenge of creating new homes along the way, but there’s an undeniable element of disappointment in knowing that it’s only temporary—especially for a family of six. So, not only did Jan and Bryan embrace the search for their long-awaited permanent home, but they also knew exactly what they wanted. Jan loves old houses, but when they came across a captivating new house under construction, she decided she could infuse the home with a timeworn sense of charm. With only the framing complete in the new construction, the couple walked through to get a feeling for the size of the rooms. This was when the walls came tumbling down. Jan had the builder remove the framing for the…

Vivian Gregory was her mother’s best pupil. In fact, Vivian was her mother’s only pupil after she gave up teaching high school home economics to raise her two children. Although Vivian was 4 years old at the time, she can still recall her mother teaching her to sew. Vivian would spend hours listening to the sewing machine’s soothing hums and rhythms while she and her mother would sew one project after another. “Mother would give me all the fabric scraps, and I would arrange them into blocks. She would pick me up and put me on a box so I could make the machine go,” Vivian recalls. That was more than 70 years ago. Throughout the years, Vivian continued refining her craft but put it aside for a while because…

A unique shape and a colorful enamel coating give the French body pitcher a signature look that makes a statement in any room or garden. Originally used in European households in the late 1800s and early 1900s to carry water for bathing, these enamelware antiques are now more often sought out for their bright aesthetic. As a stand-alone piece or grouped in a collection, the pitchers add a subtle French flair wherever they are placed. Many collectors fill their antique pitchers with fresh-cut flowers to create colorful vignettes that can brighten up a tabletop, doorstep, or garden pathway with ease. “Their tall shape sets off a large bouquet to perfection,” says Lidy Baars, owner of online antiques retailer FrenchGardenHouse. “A few pitchers hung on pegs outside are a wonderful way…

In 2010, Pennsylvania couple Cyndy and Barry Olliff invested in a large hunting preserve and turned it into a world-class comprehensive equestrian operation. Known as Stable View, it is a top-notch eventing (dressage, cross-country, and show jumping) facility that welcomes international equestrian teams, serious competitors, and professional trainers to perfect their talents at a private, state-of-the-art facility. Interior designer Susan Victor of Nandina Home & Design began working with the Olliffs as she and her team designed the multiple cottages and apartmentstyle stable rooms for guests on the equestrian sporting property. However, it wasn’t long after the Olliffs purchased the land in the heart of South Carolina’s horse country that they quickly found a desire to put down roots of their own. With the help of Susan and the Nandina…

It’s not every child who has mystery doors lining the halls of their home, but Becky and Roy Morton’s children are lucky. It all started when Roy hung one old barn door in their home. “I had this large wall, and I could have hung art, but I had doors. So I hung them like art, thinking of the wall like the mat,” he explains. Roy says the kids would play “what’s behind the doors,” so it became art that entertained. The reason Roy has so many doors is because he owns Architectural Heritage, a source for architectural antiques. Mantels, statuary, chimney pots, iron gates, and, of course, reclaimed doors dating from the 18th and 19th centuries are available. “I started working part time in my mom’s antiques shop. Then,…