The Cottage Journal features decorating ideas, style tips, creative inspiration, and delicious recipes - and now you can enjoy every single page on the tablet! Create a warmer, more magical home with the beauty of nature and The Cottage Journal!
Storied Elegance There’s something simply magical about decorating in French-inspired style and its enduring aesthetic that so often tells a story. I visited France for the first time while in college. I was on a writing assignment for a travel publication, and it was unlike many popular French journeys with stops in Paris or Versailles. Instead, I entered the country via a ferry ride across Lake Geneva from Switzerland. Surrounded by the Alps and a glistening waterfront, I skipped the big cities for an adventure in a charming small town, dappled with a breathtaking château-covered shoreline. And it did not disappoint. From that very first step off the boat, I was transported to a scene straight out of a fairy tale. My first glimpses of France were too charming, too…
Once an essential tool for Parisian chefs, copper cookware lends striking color that melds perfectly within a cottage kitchen. Tucked among other décor, the gleaming collectibles grab the attention of guests. The rich history of the utensils in French cooking makes them must-have vintage finds for everyday use or an attractive display.…
When this young couple purchased their forever home in Churchville, Maryland, they knew they wanted each room in their abode to have a distinctive identity—and the kitchen was no exception. With a clear concept in mind, they teamed up with Kasey Bedford and Arianna Pannoni of Winsome Interior Design, along with kitchen designer Tanya Smith-Shiflett, owner of Unique Kitchens & Baths, to bring their vision to life, creating a rustic but elegant space functional for the modern day yet infused with the effortless Old-World charm of interiors found in rural France. “Our clients wanted each room of their home to have its own story, so their guests are invited to a different experience in each space,” Arianna explains. “They love to entertain, and it was important to them that the…
Melissa Sturdivant Smith can trace her fascination for French style’s unparalleled beauty back to childhood, where her dreams of European travels spent exploring extravagant castles and châteaus took root. Now, as senior director of design for an internationally distributed magazine, those romantic visions are becoming her reality. Newly acquired antiques sourced from her latest excursions find their home amongst cherished pieces procured over the past 20 years from her favorite antiques stores. “I think that the inside of the home should be a reflection of who the owners are on the inside,” Melissa says. “It should be a way of communicating who you are, where you have traveled, and what you are inspired by.” Step inside Melissa’s English Tudor-style home located in Birmingham, Alabama, and you’ll quickly discover her affinity…
Nestled in a historic Maryland neighborhood, this French-country-style charmer built in 1931 was in desperate need of a renovation. When the current homeowner purchased this gorgeous property, she lived in it for about a year before reaching out to Anthony Wilder Design/Build’s principal Anthony Wilder and architect George Bott. The team spent the first two to three months of the project fixing preexisting mistakes from a prior haphazard house flip. “It was a can of worms, and we turned it into a silk purse,” Anthony says with a smile. “We brought [the house] back to its original intent.” George echoes the sentiment, noting the home’s incredible exterior character simply did not match what was happening on the inside. The team had their work cut out for them, but thankfully, they…
The founder of Thompson House Interiors, a firm specializing in fine European antiques and original art, Staci Thompson’s own home in Birmingham, Alabama, is a living, breathing testament to her impressive inventory layered into a refined yet entirely inviting family setting. Six years ago, Staci and her husband, Ben, traded their previous historic home for this French provincial abode that would better accommodate their stage of life while still offering a fitting foundation for the trove of time-honored treasures they’ve amassed through the years. “We wanted a more open plan with newer construction to complement our sons’ growing families—[something] comfortable for all,” Staci explains. “I’ve always been drawn to French lines and style … color and gilding, the history and stories behind the pieces. When we bought the house, the…
