Innholdsfortegnelse for Country Cottage Christmas 2019 i The Cottage Journal

SHARE THE HOLIDAYS A warm fire and soft candlelight shared with loved ones add joy to the season of celebrating the Christmas holiday. We found our inspiration for this special issue of The Cottage Journal in the homes that show off owners’ genuine love for decorating, from the front door to the back porch. As you flip through this issue, you will see a variety of country themes, from trees and mantels to cabinets and dining tables. You will even be charmed by stockings, wraps, and wreaths scattered here and there as each story unfolds. Country style is evident in comfortable reclaimed floors, rustic brick walls, and warm fireside spots where hot cider awaits on distressed tabletops. Antique furniture—at times sporting chipped paint, along with new fabrics made of casual…

If you’re invited into interior designer Kristin Peake’s Chevy Chase, Maryland, home in December, the welcoming aroma of stovetop mulling spices will be ever-present, along with the crisp scent of fresh holiday greens. “I always have the mulling spices simmering on the stovetop when I’m home. They keep that Christmassy smell going all month,” Kristin says of creating holiday cheer in the home she shares with her daughters, Riley and Madison. “It’s a tradition for us, and if the stove isn’t on, the girls take it upon themselves to make sure it is. They love that smell!” Kristin has been renovating her 1940s house for the past three years, reimagining it in a casual modern farmhouse style, with shiplap walls, pecky cypress ceilings, and a neutral palette of gray, black,…

For many families, nutcrackers are synonymous with Christmas. But long before The Nutcracker ballet became a holiday tradition, the colorful figures were crafted in the Erzgebirge region of Germany, where miners turned to their woodworking skills to make a living after the mines dried up in the late 17th century. Known as nussknackers, the figurines later gained popularity among US soldiers stationed in Germany who were looking for souvenirs to send home. Combined with the growing popularity of The Nutcracker stateside, the trend turned the figures into an iconic element of the United States Christmas experience. Today, the most recognizable design of the steadfast soldier is in good company, as the options encompass a limitless variety of pop culture icons and other creative variations.…

In the Schmidt house, Christmas starts early. By Thanksgiving, Patsy Schmidt and her family have decked the shiplap walls of their Tennessee home with all the colors and lights of the season—and they keep things festive into January. “I just feel like, the sooner we start, the more we can enjoy the actual season,” Patsy says. With seven trees throughout the renovated garage and carriage house, decorating the space is no small task. But with the help of her husband, Jeffrey, and their three daughters, Rayley Beth, Emme Grace, and Maggie, the job is a joy. When the family is finished with preparations, the house sparkles with the lights and vibrant colors Patsy associates with the season. “To me, Christmas really is color,” she says, despite the fact the home’s…

Doug Sutton and Andrew Nix find inspiration in a variety of sources when designing their home for Christmas, but it all boils down to one main idea: family. “Really, our inspiration for our Christmas décor is our families,” Doug explains. “We hang family heirloom ornaments mixed in with the design that we have dreamt up for the season.” This past Christmas, the couple’s first in their historic home, the theme took on a woodlands and nature vibe. Placed at the back of the foyer, the first of their two trees is visible the moment guests step inside. Echoing the deep blue from the front door and the moody hues of the dining room just a few feet away, the tree has a peacock theme, with glittering gold ornaments and ribbon…

Homeowner Ginger Ferrell has been building her Christmas décor collection since she and her husband, Brian, married nearly 18 years ago. Back then, the couple owned a single tree and no decorations—something Ginger has since remedied. “My decorations get a little out of hand,” Ginger jokes. “It seems like every year, I add more trees.” At this point, there’s a tree in nearly every room of the Alabama home, which the couple purchased in 2010. At the time, the house was in need of some repairs and certain finishing touches, but the Ferrells saw it as an opportunity to customize the space according to their needs. “Our house is very much lived in,” Ginger says. “I feel like we use every inch of this house, but we still seem to…

Front Cover Photography by Jim Bathie. Styling by Lucy Finney. Ribbons from d.stevens. Stockings from Leftovers Antiques. Pillows from French Laundry Home. Garland on staircase from Park Hill. Farmhouse Christmas Ornament Set and BH Essentials ornaments from Balsam Hill. All other ornaments and popcorn garland from Hobby Lobby. The Perfect Package Pages 15–17—Paint from Annie Sloan. Home for the Holidays Pages 23–30—Interior designs by Kristin Peake, Kristin Peake Interiors. Passing Down Christmas Page 31—Live greenery, garland, and wreaths from Lynch Creek Farm. Page 32—Wreath from Balsam Hill. Pages 35 and 36—Windsor chairs from Joss & Main. Wicker chairs from Mainly Baskets. Table linens from Everyday Occasions. Dishes from Pottery Barn. Chandelier from Ballard Designs. Ornaments from Christopher Radko. Pages 37–38—Chandelier from Ballard Designs. Bedding from Boll & Branch. Tree and…

No Christmas scene would be complete without cheerfully wrapped packages nestled beneath the tree, and putting the same care and thought into the wrapping that you put into the contents can be just the touch needed to let your loved ones know how much they mean to you. SHOW YOUR STRIPES If you have a paintbrush, elegant style with a touch of homey charm is just a few strokes away. Paper painted with wide stripes pairs beautifully with ribbon in any color, but here, Chalk Paint by Annie Sloan in Oxford Navy is perfectly elevated with red silk tied in a bow. STAMP OF APPROVAL Prefer your paper with a little more pattern? A purchased or hand-carved stamp is a simple solution. From whimsical, geometric shapes to sunburst-inspired spots, any…

Anna Jacobs has always had an affinity for natural elements in design. The texture of rough-hewn wood, subtle blue and green hues against a natural palette, floral motifs—it’s all welcome in her home. So, it’s not a surprise when you walk through the doors of her Georgia cottage during the holiday season and find it decked in gorgeous greenery. “I have always loved the natural and more authentic materials,” she says. “Being raised in a family that used natural and primitive woods in their home, I have always been drawn to that.” To blend her rustic, natural style in with Christmas festivity, Anna enlisted the help of florist Ginny Early. From the first steps inside, guests are captivated by nature’s glory and Ginny’s talent with a rustic tabletop arrangement. With…