The Cottage Journal Country Cottage 2023

IDYLLIC INSPIRATION Whether it’s a house that uplifts your attitude or a retreat that feeds your need to explore your inner artist, this issue will inspire you to surround yourself with things that say “home sweet home” to you! We know you’ll enjoy reading about homeowners who have settled into a life of sublime living—from rural country cottages to city farmhouse dwellings—both inside and out. Of course, no country-style issue would be complete without a visit to our friends in Texas. You’ll love the creative inspiration of our Lone Star State homeowners and their passion for antiques. See one couple’s Texas-sized renovation highlighting their reclaimed dream home in “Round Top Restoration” on page 47. Meanwhile, our cover story, “California Dream,” page 35, proves that a love of the little things…

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…

For centuries, horses have provided civilizations with transportation, vitality, and companionship. And individuals who share a bond with horses often find ways to showcase their affection through various equine collections. For Linda Holman, who has been gathering an array of equestrian art and keepsakes for more than four decades, collecting equestrian memorabilia is more than just a hobby—it’s a way of life. “This type of collection does not just consist of photographs of you and your family with your own horses,” says Linda, who grew up riding and now works at a tack shop. “It goes further than that. It’s a passion. It’s a broader appreciation of equestrian art.” Linda started her equestrian art collection in 1978 when her mother gave her an antique horse brass, a small plaque that…

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…

Originally the home of his great-great-grandfather, Chase Applewhite’s New Orleans cottage has a storied past—literally. More than two decades ago, the house was purchased to be made into an addition by its next-door neighbor, the Maple Street Bookshop. So, when the house came back into the hands of the Applewhite family, there was a great deal of renovation to be done. “After they closed the bookstore and we bought [the house], I totally gutted it,” says designer Julie Ponze, who also happens to be Chase’s mother. “We took off 10 layers of siding, Sheetrock, and bookshelves.” And underneath all those layers, they found a piece of history: barge board, the lumber from flatboats that carried cargo into the Port of New Orleans more than a century ago. They left the…

When Lizabeth McGraw found her cottage in Inglewood, California, it was at a point in the home’s history when not many would have seen its potential. “It was in really rough shape,” Lizzie says. Built in the 1920s, the cottage was owned by its original tenant until 1996 and was in need of extensive electrical and plumbing updates. Walls were missing after an abandoned renovation, the home had no heating system, and windows needed to be replaced. “It was as bare-bones as the house could possibly be,” she says. Confident she could restore the home’s beauty, Lizzie enlisted the help of architect William J. McGraw—who also happened to be her father. “He was creative and fun and definitely made the whole vision come together,” she says. By removing the hallway…