The Cottage Journal Vintage Cottage 2023 (#1)

History on Display A love for stories and collecting is rooted in my heritage. And it’s one of the things that makes our Vintage Cottage special issue of The Cottage Journal one of my favorites each year. This assortment of home tours often uncovers unique and personal keepsakes and heirlooms that hold special stories or family history, proudly put out on display in fresh and meaningful ways. I’ve learned a lot about collections from my grandmothers. My maternal grandmother grew up on a farm in South Dakota and later traveled the world, living in Asia for a period. In her final days, she had very few personal possessions, but those she had were cherished pieces that reminded her of her family and her childhood. I can recall black-and-white photographs of…

The seeds of Feast Vintage, Eleanor Brooks’s online tableware and décor shop, were sown early on and in many ways. Not only did Eleanor discover a passion for retail through her first job at age 15, but she grew up with entrepreneurial examples close to home. “You could say entrepreneurship is embedded in my genes,” she says. “Both of my grandfathers owned their own businesses. I have spent most of my adult life in the retail industry and spent most of those years dreaming of owning my own brick-and-mortar store.” This dream came full circle in an unexpected manner thanks to another enduring hobby—the hunt for vintage treasures—when Eleanor decided to start selling her finds on Etsy in 2013. “I have loved vintage and secondhand goods since I was a…

Originating in Limoges, France, this handcrafted, hand-painted enamelware has been synonymous with the city itself since the 18th century. Limoges porcelain boxes quickly became a status symbol due to their production for royalty. The tiny keepsake cases were originally used as a place to store various items, from romantic mementos and jewelry to medicines and snuff. Ranging in a myriad of shapes, styles, and sizes, Limoges boxes offer today’s collectors the perfect personal, sentimental treasure. And while Limoges vessels are no longer carried around in one’s pocket as they were centuries ago, collectors like Pam Watts are still enamored with the timeless beauty and outstanding craftsmanship of the delicate yet durable treasures. Pam began collecting these exquisite porcelain pieces in the late 1980s. At that time, she owned a children’s…

Whether you’re drawn to sweet floral notes or their warm, exotic counterparts, fragrance has captivated our imaginations and sense of smell for centuries. Carefully crafted and enticing to the eye, antique perfume bottles impart a tangible portrayal of the ephemeral essence they once contained—making them a stunning choice for collectors. Editorial photo stylist Maghan Armstrong has quite the assemblage, passed down to her by her grandmother who has collected them for over 40 years. Both Maghan’s love of styling and her affinity for antiques, which led to a degree in interior design, can be attributed to the afternoons she spent with her siblings at her grandparents’ antiques store. “We would spend hours playing and rearranging,” Maghan recalls. “We had so much freedom in the space.” Intricate and distinctive details set…

Interior designer Anna-Louise Wolfe saw her historic 1920s home in Atlanta, Georgia, as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity: the chance to create the bachelorette pad of her dreams. As a single woman with no one else’s tastes to accommodate, she embraced the season of life with enthusiasm—and a clear plan of attack. “My starting point for the design was actually in the living room,” Anna-Louise says. It was a discontinued Cowtan & Tout chintz that covered a pair of wingback chairs previously belonging to her grandmother. “I actually already had them in my previous home, and I loved that fabric so much,” she says. “So, I kind of decided to play up more of the secondary colors versus the main color you see, which is the red.” Luckily, the print played perfectly…

While this charming upscale cottage may reside in the Hamptons area on Long Island, New York, it strays from the typical coastal aesthetic. The Bridgehampton neighborhood provides more of a luxurious countryside feel, so when it came time to redesign this 1990s build, designer Joshua Smith and his team crafted a personalized country-coastal escape for homeowners Doug Eichman and Michael Yount. This spirited and stylish couple have been together for more than 40 years, and together, they built and decorated their home but never felt as though it was quite finished. “They were in desperate need of a full refresh to make this home a comfortable place that reflected their personal styles,” Joshua says. “Without compromising style, we decided to keep all of the clients’ original furniture to be more…