The Cottage Journal Summer 2023

A COLORFUL HOME REVIVAL Earlier this year, I heard a panel of interior designers speak at a conference in Nashville, Tennessee. The commentary on home and interior design in a post-pandemic world was both animated and insightful—and worth sharing with you all. For the past few years, we have been “safe at home,” and while this was challenging on countless levels, an interesting outcome was the emergence of a renewed joy and pride in our spaces. Homeowners across the country began reinvesting in home projects and reexploring a love of personal style. During the discussion, designer Corey Damen Jenkins beautifully described to the panel how many homeowners found themselves “stuck in beige boxes” during that time and are now “moving into unabashed embracing of jeweled-toned, vibrant colors.” Does this sentiment…

Growing up, Meg Massie recalls that, for her family, no out-of-town getaway was complete without an excursion to an antiques store. Her parents have always had a passion for timeworn treasures, a love they passed along to Meg and her sister. However, Meg’s affinity for tole trays transpired thanks to a very influential great-aunt. “She had some beautiful trays and tole pieces,” says Meg, who now shares an enthusiasm for collecting tole trays with her mother, sister, and sister-in-law. “All four of us have them in our homes and love finding and displaying them.” Tole painting refers to the application of paint and lacquer to tin as an effort to prevent the objects from rusting—imparting a decorative aesthetic to everyday items. Pretty and practical, the technique was developed in Wales…

Throughout her 25-year career, interior designer Lizzie McGraw has worked alongside clients who have a myriad of styles, from modern and chic to bohemian and coastal. In her new book, Creative Style: Liveable, Loveable Spaces, she shares 14 of her most inspirational homes to spark readers’ imaginations. From the start of her small business in a refurbished furniture shop in 1997, Lizzie shares how her Venice Beach, California, storefront, Tumbleweed & Dandelion, came into such success. The store’s journey begins with repainted tables and chairs Lizzie brought from her own apartment and the sale of some of her first pieces to actress Julia Roberts. Now, eclectic décor pieces, trendy beach hats and bags, and special selections of textiles fill the shop to its brim, making it a must-hit spot for…

Ready for a complete overhaul of her Florida property’s 700-square-foot guest cottage, this homeowner called on her neighbor turned friend Jessica Lagrange, principal of Chicago-based interior design firm Jessica Lagrange Interiors. A collection of Lilly Pulitzer quilts made in the ’60s by the homeowner’s mother served as the jumping-off point, setting a fun and vibrant tone carried throughout the project. “[The quilts] have a really beautiful spot in the living room,” says Jessica of the acrylic trunk used to store the pieces. “Not only can people take them out and use them, but they’re on display in the center of the space.” Shiplap walls painted in Benjamin Moore’s White Dove and neutral upholstery play supporting roles to the bright blue, coral, and citrus green hues that infuse the living room…

When Alice Hubbard moved her daughter to college, she quickly found herself an empty nester eager for a change. With her mind made up, Alice called for a construction dumpster to be delivered to her home, and soon, she had either donated or disposed of all her furnishings—saving only her home office setup and her bed. To further the fresh start, Alice had the entire interior painted white, drowning out the existing jewel tones of her 1998 Jacksonville Beach, Florida, home. For six months, Alice lived in an empty white house, clearing her mind and planning her next steps all while throwing herself into her work. That’s when she reached out to Gordon Kessler and Larry Johnson of Fernandina Beach’s interior design studio, Gordon + Johnson. “We got a call…

For Marnie Oursler, owner of Marnie Custom Homes, listening to her clients’ needs is a vital part of creating fresh and functional getaways on the East Coast. “I design and build these homes to make living, working, and vacationing in Delaware carefree and comfortable,” she says. “While each home I build reflects life at the beach in a variety of ways, the main goal is to always fulfill the homeowner’s wants and needs—especially how they want their homes to fit their lifestyle and embrace their surroundings.” For the owners of this Bethany Beach, Delaware, vacation cottage, settling into their new space located on a corner canal lot meant ensuring there were plenty of spots for gathering and enjoying the locale. “The house was designed specifically for this setting,” says Marnie,…