Innholdsfortegnelse for Spring 2024 i The Cottage Journal

COLOR & CHARM With the changing season upon us, we joyfully usher in warmer days and cheerful hues—both inside and outside our homes. Pretty pinks, vibrant greens, and sunny yellows can be seen bursting forth in nature, and they often influence our spring décor. One of my favorite things to enjoy following a long, cozy winter indoors is the opportunity for more time in the garden, especially as the flowers begin to bloom and the weather allows for casual meals alfresco. It doesn’t require any extensive travels or extravagance—in fact, there are few things I anticipate more than a simple backyard picnic on the first warm day of spring. My neighborhood has a few small lakes within walking distance from my home, and I’m eagerly counting down the days until…

Seventeen years ago, when interior designer Maggie York and her family moved into the farmhouse in Illinois they now call home, they were no strangers to the property. “This has been in [my husband’s] family for years and years,” says Maggie, who notes that they purchased the house from his grandmother and spent the next few years updating it to fit their needs as a young family. From removing walls, opening doorways, and converting the original dining room into the primary suite to taking their time selecting furniture and paint colors, the Yorks brought the home into its next phase while defining “farmhouse” style in a fresh, fun way. “A lot of the wallpaper and things came into play probably in the last six or seven years,” Maggie says. “I…

While Hailey Kolbe and her husband weren’t opposed to buying and renovating a home, the couple couldn’t pass up the opportunity of a new build located on a parcel of family land in Texas—especially given the limitless possibilities a blank canvas provides. “It was enticing as an interior designer to have the opportunity to create a home from scratch,” says Hailey, founder of Hailey Kolbe Design. “I touched every single element in my home and designed it with intention.” Inspired by the architectural style of New England homes, Hailey paid careful attention to the front façade, incorporating quintessential features such as dormers and shutters with hardware. The covered porch, as opposed to a flat-front dwelling, served as a small concession, taking the weather differences into consideration. Leaded glass framing the…

While gardening may have started out as a childhood chore for Pinkie Chace, over time, it’s blossomed into a beloved hobby and talent that’s identifiable to anyone who sets foot in her picturesque garden. “My father worked for the [Florida] Department of Agriculture, and my mom and dad spent most weekends out in the yard, and I was recruited to clip hedges, edge flower beds, and rake,” Pinkie recalls. Following a few dormant years while she was away at college studying art, Pinkie’s interest in gardening reawakened when she and her husband bought their first home. Early on, Pinkie learned mostly through trial and error in the time she spent tending their yard. “I’d see something that was pretty, and I’d plant it not really understanding that you need to…

Carrie Pittman Hill grew up surrounded by creativity. “My mom was always creating in our home—she was always creating beauty,” says Carrie, who remembers her mother constantly finding uses for things that were left over. “She loved to use things in unconventional ways; and so, I think I just organically grew up with that.” Decades later, following a career in finance and banking that left her yearning for an expressive outlet, Carrie rediscovered her creative roots. “The truth of it is, I went through a severe disappointment in my life,” she says, “and I felt like the only thing that made me feel better was painting.” Carrie started painting in the evenings and on the weekends, using whatever she had at home—including nail polish and glue—but never intending for anyone…

“I’ve always loved color,” says milk glass enthusiast and vintage collector Lauren Sakalarios. Step into her living room—affectionately referred to as the “Lady Lounge”—and it won’t take long for you to believe it. Sparked by of a pair of candlesticks gifted to her in 2007, her current collection of vibrant vintage milk glass now comprises over 200 pieces—a number that only continues to grow. “It was a set of blue milk glass candlesticks that my grandmother bought me,” she explains. “We were at an antiques store together, and I saw them and was instantly attracted to the blue color.” For a while, that was the end of it—but around 2015, Lauren began to seek out more pieces online, and she quickly realized that, in addition to a wide range of…

From pastels and pinks to florals and chinoiserie, Caitlin Wilson’s grandmillenial and traditional styles embrace all things feminine to create a home that feels like her own. As an acclaimed interior and product designer, Caitlin launched her textile collection in 2011, focusing only on pillows and fabrics. Now, her brand has grown into rugs, wallpaper, furniture, and more. In her debut book, Return to Pretty: Giving New Life to Traditional Style, Caitlin teaches readers how to imbue their homes with beauty. Her iconic products can be seen featured throughout the book’s 256 pages, from real-life applications in clients’ homes to stacks and shelves within her Dallas, Texas, flagship store. Caitlin’s love of her grandmother’s and mother’s well-decorated homes is what influences her designs today. “Pretty is more than a look—it’s…

On summer vacation from her job as an elementary school art teacher in 2014, Riley Sheehey began dabbling with her own art business, and what started as a hobby soon became much more. “I initially tried to sell hand-painted Mason jars and linocut prints, and while neither of those items ever really took off, watercolors did, and I began painting more and more,” she recalls. Watercolor painting lends itself well to Riley’s inherently whimsical style and playful depictions, but the decision to make it her focus was, at first, rooted in practicality. “I started working with watercolors because of how portable they are,” she says. “I toted my art supplies back and forth between my home and the school where I taught every day, so I had to work pretty…

Whether you travel by ferry or airplane, once you’ve arrived in Mackinac Island, Michigan, you’ll find yourself transported back to a time before motor vehicles rushed passengers from one place to another—a unique quality that sets this special destination apart. Catch a ride in a horse-drawn carriage, rent a bicycle, or opt to explore the island by foot. One thing’s for sure, the leisurely pace of this May to October tourist locale sets a tranquil tone for sightseeing and lends itself well to a multiday stay for those wanting to fully appreciate all the island has to offer. History and nature enthusiasts alike will find plenty of attractions to fill their days—from touring Fort Mackinac, which dates back to the American Revolution, to hiking or biking a portion of the…