Innholdsfortegnelse for Country Cottage Christmas 2023 i The Cottage Journal

NOSTALGIC HOLIDAY CHARM There’s a familiar comfort that comes with the annual unpacking of holiday decorations. Memories of years gone by live among children’s handmade ornaments, and baubles unique to your family’s history and travels tell stories that become even more cherished with time. Creative details and thoughtful design elements—both new and nostalgic—are what help make Christmas one of the most magical seasons of the year. Join us as we welcome this holiday season and decorate with treasured vintage collections while preparing our homes for entertaining family friends. In this special issue of The Cottage Journal, we’ll step inside extraordinary rooms filled with precious memories and unique personal stories. We invite you to find fresh holiday inspiration within our featured farmhouses and charming cottages. Heirloom elements put on display hold…

Creative designs and beautiful images cover each page in Courtney Allison’s third book, French Country Cottage Christmas. The stylist, photographer, and author of the popular blog French Country Cottage brings readers a guide for crafting their own dreamy holiday oasis. Along with dozens of dazzling ideas and how-tos, Courtney shares her favorite things about Christmastime, from heartfelt stories of the first holiday seasons she spent with her husband to traditions she has continued with her grandchildren. With 240 pages of inspired photography, the book also includes Courtney’s Christmas decorating tips that are useful no matter your personal style. Her collection of 25 different trees ranges in aesthetic and size, from dainty tabletop additions with a rustic flair to 9-foot masterpieces dripping with glamorous ornaments. “Every aspect and element of decorating…

To find out more about product sources or to contact the design professionals, see credits and contacts listed below. Country Christmas Style Pages 11–14—Interior designs by Kristy Chaffin, The Rose Cottage Revival. Pastoral Pageantry Pages 15–18—Featured location at Mountain View Gardens & Ballroom in Springville, Alabama. Tablecloth from Parterre. Dinner and salad plates from Bromberg’s. Place mat from Pottery Barn. Flatware from Hammett. Collecting Community Pages 19–22—Collection courtesy of Kristy Robb, Robb Restyle. Memories of Merriment Pages 33–40—Christmas decorating by Mary Lukas Pierce. Contracting and build by Anthony Mezzenga, Anthony Mezzenga Inc. Page 35—Outdoor lanterns from Target. Page 36—Basket from Haus Theory. Page 39—Vintage candlesticks from Haus Theory. Cozy Cabin Charm Pages 51–60—Interior designs by Cindy Barganier, Cindy Barganier Interiors. Custom birch furniture from La Lune Collection. Pages 53–54—Art over…

In the Johnson home, perfection isn’t the goal. A lover of farmhouse style from a young age, Ashley Kay Johnson credits her love of comfortable, storied style to her grandmother, Emidee. “She lived in a small farmhouse, and it just makes it feel homey,” Ashley says. “We like a lived-in home over perfection.” Building off of Emidee’s influence, Ashley has added her own touch in the form of dark, moody elements that showcase her collected antiques with stunning contrast. “I love deep, dark, rich earth tones” she says. “To me, earth tones just kind of give it a more natural appeal, and I love to bring nature in as well.” At Christmas, the home’s moody spirit paves the way for a table set with black candles and plenty of greenery…

For any vintage enthusiast, it’s a familiar sight: vibrant plaids, brightly colored lids, and a wide range of shapes and sizes all made for the same purpose. These days, thermoses don’t get as much use on jobsites or campgrounds, but they’re still receiving plenty of love, thanks to an enthusiastic community of collectors—of which Kristy Robb is proud to be a member. “I think it’s a fun community to be a part of,” she says, though she notes that she and her husband were collecting thermoses long before the fad kicked into full gear. Formerly vintage dealers, the couple now confine their collections to their own home and the feeds of Kristy’s Instagram followers. “I’m sure [I have] around 150, maybe more,” Kristy says of her thermos assortment. What goes…

For the Portorreals, Christmas is about being together at home for the holidays. “We’re a pretty active family and enjoy traveling throughout the year, but we do love staying home during the Christmas holidays,” says Susey Portorreal, referring to the Colonial-style home in Montclair, Virginia, she shares with her husband, Ramon, their two boys, and their dog. The family enjoys many special Christmas traditions, and the most fun and collaborative one begins shortly after Thanksgiving. “While most families are out shopping on Black Friday, we are tucked away at home,” says Susey. “I start playing Christmas music and making hot chocolate for everyone. Then, we start putting up our trees and pulling out all the Christmas decorating bins.” The Portorreals usually put up two bedecked Christmas trees—one in the dining…

The Glovers owned their lakeside getaway for 20 years before they decided on a fresh start. “It just wasn’t enough space for people,” says Janice Glover, who’s used to playing host alongside her husband, Doug, for everything from summer retreats to holiday dinners. “So, we chose to do a full demolition.” The rebuild came to fruition in the summer of 2020, and by November, Janice was more than ready to deck the halls. “I was very excited to decorate for Christmas the first year that we were in,” she says. “I’ve always been a fanatic about Christmas; when I was a child, it was a big deal with myself and my siblings … and then [when they were] growing up, I really enjoyed making it special for my kids.” Janice’s…