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!
OLD TRADITIONS, NEW FAVORITES One of the most enjoyable aspects of holiday decorating is getting to personalize your décor to reflect your family traditions and individual taste. This issue is a celebration of that, showcasing homes that embrace unique styles and engaging ideas, all while staying true to the spirit of a cottage Christmas. Join us as we explore homes filled with lively colors and creative spins on classic elements, enthusiastically woven in among the traditional beauty that makes the season feel like home. From a professional tree decorator’s custom Christmas cottage and a nature-inspired family home to a French-country kitchen dripping in romantic charm, every space featured within overflows with one-of-a-kind holiday style. So, whether your Yuletide dreams consist of vintage Shiny Brite ornaments and glittering tinsel or a…
Nestled an hour north of Atlanta, Georgia, a charming farm has become a beacon of festive flair thanks to the creative vision and keen eye of Annette Thurmon, who maintains Azure Farm alongside her family. Opting out of trend culture, Annette prefers to focus on drawing from the beauty of nature when bringing the magic of Christmas to life in her home. “Every year, my goal is to bring the outside in,” says Annette, who recently released her latest book, Simple Country Living. “I love to be crafty and make it more natural, even if it’s not always on trend. From branches on the mantel to cedar, pine, and pampas grass, it’s fun to forage outside and see what we can find.” For more information, visit @azurefarm on Instagram.…
Two days before the Christmas of 1848, The Illustrated London News featured an engraving of Queen Victoria, husband Prince Albert, and five of their children standing around a tabletop tree bedecked in sweets, candles, and decorations from the prince’s native Germany. Upon seeing this picture-perfect holiday celebration, the English-speaking world embraced the tradition of dotting their branches with glass globes. The original kugels, a German word meaning “sphere,” were invented in the town of Lauscha, known for its glassmaking since the late sixteenth century. Here, smiths used a metal pipe and various molds to blow the material into round balls and eventually hollow figures. To create a lustrous finish, the inside was silvered by a special liquid coating. At first, mercury was tried, but it did not adhere well, so…
With her home in the Preston Hollow neighborhood of Dallas, Texas, dripping in jewel tones, bright artwork, and a blend of old and new, interior designer Lauren Reynolds echoes that same aesthetic when decorating for the holidays. “Christmas doesn’t have to be red and green. I believe that your decorations should reflect what’s already in your home,” says Lauren, founder and principal of Lauren Reynolds Design. “I really believe the magic is in the mix; whether decorating for the holidays or in general, combining new expressions with family heirlooms creates a treasure all its own.” A wreath flaunting oversize, color-rich baubles anchors the front door—a preview of the jewel-box interiors and the living room’s Christmas tree that’s festooned with large, bright glass ornaments. “Years ago, I fell in love with…
Marking her last Christmas in her darling first house, Madison Box Robinson wanted to max out her creativity for a holiday home that would be forever sealed in her memory. The professional tree decorator, who’s known for her distinct MBR Trees saturated in holiday finery, begins adorning her personal home in October to reserve the busy holiday season for clients. With a high-low aesthetic, she believes in investing in unique ornaments and quality ribbon and then filling in with lower-cost items. “I typically change my holiday décor each year, but a traditional red color is always present,” says Madison. This year, there was a twist on tradition. Madison had recently painted an entryway table in a powder blue hue, and when she breezily placed a red book on top, the…
Cheerful hues and meaningful treasures greet you the moment you step foot into Kate Evans’s Birmingham, Alabama, home. “The biggest compliment I can receive is, ‘Your house makes me happy,’ and, for me personally, color makes me happy,” she says. With a background in advertising and print styling, Kate’s talent for décor is inherent. “I always say I like to help others fluff. I’m not a decorator, but I like to help people make their home theirs,” she says, adding that she does so with a budget-conscious approach that often incorporates vintage finds as well as family heirlooms. This natural ability was key when she and her husband, Hunter, began to build a home in the Lake Wilborn neighborhood to share with their three children, Henry, Mial, and Rhen. Kate…
