Innholdsfortegnelse for Autumn 2021 i The Cottage Journal

Nestled in the charming lake community of The Reserve at Lake Keowee, South Carolina, this rustic cottage was built for casual living—the perfect retreat for its empty nester homeowners. With a wish list of ample outdoor living spaces and cozy, relaxed interiors, the homeowners leaned on the expertise of architect Timothy Adams to make those dreams a reality. Eight years after putting their ideas on paper, the home was finally completed in 2016. The lakefront oasis exudes cottage charm long before you cross its threshold. Due to the mountainous region, the lots in the area have a steep incline from the road to the waterline—adding extra importance to the home’s exterior design. “[The homeowners] wanted a home that melded into the landscape that was both casual and comfortable,” Timothy says.…

Not every couple can say their home is located on the former site of an agricultural equine museum, but the empty nesters who purchased three pastural acres in Paeonian Springs, Virginia, to build their dream house were well aware of the land’s provenance. “This was once the site of the American Workhorse Museum (1971–1998) affiliated with the Smithsonian,” says the homeowner. “We elected to build a ranch-style home with horse farm accents to match the legacy of the property.” Ground was broken in October of 2018, and the couple chose to work with a husband-and-wife team with whom they had worked before: builder Thomas Johns of Legacy Woodworking and interior designer Molly Kay Johns of MK Interiors. “Our approach was to design, build, and furnish a modern farmhouse feel in…

Kelly Colby has a passion for all things old. A 1925 home, antiques and precious heirlooms passed down through family, classic colorways—time-honored items and details surround her. After Kelly and her family moved to a Tudor-style home right down the street from their previous residence in a historic neighborhood in Indianapolis, Indiana, it was obvious that the past was going to play a big part in the updated design of their new home. And the designer Kelly enlisted to help her with the renovation was no surprise: her friend and boss, Tiffany Skilling. Tiffany shares Kelly’s love for classic style and vintage finds, and the two embraced the original beauty of the home while bringing the layout into more modern times. Tiffany and Kelly paid close attention to every detail…

The partnership between designer Melinda James and the Martins began long before the renovation of the couple’s cottage in Beaumont, Texas. As an electrician, Robert Martin has worked with Melinda for decades, so it was obvious who would be the perfect person to help them turn the space into a home they could truly call their own. “The house had really good bones and framing, and we just made it theirs,” Melinda says. Originally the personal home of a well-known builder, the house featured original elements that merited preservation, like herringbone brick floors and exposed ceiling beams. To personalize it for the Martins, Melinda started with a fresh paint palette and a layout update that preserved designated rooms alongside an open gathering space. Within the open living space, they arranged…

Combining two distinct tastes into one yard isn’t often a recipe for landscape success. Luckily, home builder Michael Winn and his wife, Melinda, turned to the right person when designing a one-of-a-kind setting for their newly built Virginia cottage. “I think of this project as the ultimate husband-and-wife mediation,” says landscape architect Joseph Richardson, who was hired when the previously engaged designer’s plans failed to inspire. While Michael favored classic Western elements in his outdoor space, Melinda’s Japanese American heritage inspired a desire for a Japanese garden—a compromise that needed to exist within a space that presented unique logistical challenges. “Probably the biggest component of the project was how to marry these two unique styles seamlessly,” Joseph notes of the aesthetic side of the design. Rather than relegating the Japanese…

Roger Myers found a second love when he retired from a career in manufacturing and engineering to practice his lifelong passion of woodworking. At StrathamWood Studios, located within an 1848 mill building on the banks of the Salmon Falls River in New Hampshire, Roger designs and builds many unique wood pieces for the home. The large windows in his workshop allow plenty of natural light for milling stock and fine joinery, while the defining details used on pieces are often applied later, generally with hand tools. “I really have always enjoyed working with my hands and creating new work inspired by antique masterpieces as well as restoring valued family heirlooms for clients,” says Roger, who also teaches the craft to students of all ages and leads the woodworking program at…

Fresh hand-pressed cider and a slice of warm apple tart topped with vanilla ice cream, each made with pickings from the on-site orchard, are telltale signs of autumn’s arrival at Clove Brook Farm. For a book that evokes feelings of nostalgia and offers unlimited inspiration, look no further than A Year at Clove Brook Farm by Christopher Spitzmiller. Well-known in the world of interiors for his chic ceramic creations, Christopher reveals his additional talents as gardener, chef, and host, to name a few. Readers are invited to join him in the traditions and celebrations that fill his schedule—from simple, everyday joys to elegant entertaining. Throughout the book’s 240 pages, Christopher shares the secret to enjoying the present: relishing each season. Divided into four parts, the chapters begin with spring’s awakening…

It wasn’t love at first sight for Tracie Speca-Ventura and her California home, but she knew the potential was there. Originally seeking a farmhouse, Tracie didn’t find the ranch-style home appealing, but the spacious layout was ideal for hosting, and her husband, Rick Ventura, knew this would be their dream home. He helped to bring on their talented builder and architect to transform the place. “I love to entertain,” Tracie says. “We have a large family and live in wine country; when friends say they’re coming to stay for two days, they end up here for a week.” In order to give the house the farmhouse style Tracie was looking for, a major portion of the home had to be gutted. And as the renovations began, she started to fall…

To find out more about product sources or to contact the design professionals, see credits and contacts listed below. Gather & Graze Pages 15–ƒ16—Tablescape designs by Amanda Barkley. Rustic Retreat Pages 25–32—Architectural designs by Timothy Adams, T.S. Adams Studio, Architects. Interior designs by Barbara Westbrook, Westbrook Interiors. Built by Ken Berry, The Berry Group. Landscape architecture by Jeremy Smearman, Planters. Easy Living Pages 33–40—Interior designs by Molly Kidd, Light & Dwell. A Great Escape Pages 41–52—Interior designs by Melissa Ervin, Melissa Ervin Interior Design. Rugs from Zinn Rug Gallery. Pages 42–44—Window treatment fabrics by Jane Shelton Fabrics. Page 46—Light fixture from Currey & Company. Antique duck decoy from Antiques of South Windermere. Deer painting by Betty Foy Botts, Mitchell Hill Gallery. Pages 47–48—Window treatment fabric by Jane Shelton Fabrics. Gallery…