The Cottage Journal Autumn 2015

Fall color inspires us in planning this issue every year. Within these pages you’ll find we have a charming collection of homes from woodland cottages to lakeside retreats. The cottage seen in “At Home in the Mountains” on page 39 has classic style with superb craftsmanship and details such as built-in nooks and storage in a beautifully preserved setting. “Paradise Rebuilt” on page 65 is a delightful example of a home inspired by nature. It backs up to a mountain preserve with sunsets that light tree-lined hills. Every piece of wood in the home is reclaimed and refurbished, giving character and rustic appeal throughout. “Safe Haven” on page 71 is a true family home with casual living in mind. Nestled in the woods but not too far from town, it…

It’s not every child that has mystery doors lining the halls of their home, but Roy and Becky Morton’s children are lucky. It all started when Roy hung one old barn door in their home. “I had this large wall, and I could have hung art, but I had doors. So I hung them like art, thinking of the wall like the mat,” he explains. Roy says the kids would play “what’s behind the doors,” so it became art that entertained. The reason Roy has so many doors is because he owns Architectural Heritage, a source for architectural antiques. Mantels, statuary, chimney pots, iron gates, and, of course, reclaimed doors dating from the 18th and 19th centuries are available. “I started working part time in my mom’s antiques shop. Then…

In the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains on the scenic byway of U.S. Highway 64, a rustic barn serves as a creative oasis, shaping beauty out of items both old and new. Global Reclamations, located in the hills of North Carolina, sells a curated collection of artifacts, antiques, and reclaimed building materials from around the world. However, what makes this antiques store truly unique is the service that its sister company, The Global Craftsman, provides. Owner of Reclamations Jeff Sikes opened The Global Craftsman 10 years ago to design, build, and ship custom-made pieces made from reclaimed materials. “Reclamations is a full-service venue,” says Jeff, who has been passionate about antiques since he was 12 years old. “We have a vast array of reclaimed architectural items that our customers…

“Flea markets are indeed fabulous!” Lara Spencer exclaims. “They are filled with magical and mysterious objects that are just screaming to be brought into our homes to create rooms that make us happy.” This enthusiasm is what sets Lara’s newest book, Flea Market Fabulous: Designing Gorgeous Rooms with Vintage Treasures, apart. Lara and her expert design team give readers a behind-the-scenes look into every step of the design process. From the couple that wanted to turn their dull basement into a bright playroom to the newlyweds who needed to upgrade their outdated bedroom, Flea Market Fabulous is filled with intriguing, endearing, and personal narratives. Lara knows a great secondhand find when she sees it. She was a former host of Antiques Roadshow on PBS and is creator, executive producer, and…

The earliest document tracing this home’s history is a tax assessment dated 1930. And yet local lore recalls plenty of Prohibition-era activity taking place here in the years before. No matter the log cabin’s true age, when the Rowland family purchased it in 2011, the home needed more work than they’d ever imagined. Although a majority of the flooring and exterior logs had to be replaced, Emily Rowland says the family kept what they could. “The floors in the living room, dining room, and two of the bedrooms are original,” she recalls, “plus the stone fireplace and the big log wall that runs the length of the home.” Some of the removed logs were repurposed and incorporated into the kitchen ceiling. For the pine walls and the rustic beams, new…

Barbara Tickle and her husband, Charlie, have enjoyed weekend escapes to the mountains for more than 40 years. Nine years ago they decided it was time to put roots down in their favorite vacation oasis and build an incredible dream cabin in the hills of North Carolina. With the help of builder Dearl Stewart and architect Mark Paullin their dream became a reality. Their mountain home enjoys an elegant look yet still feels appropriate to its setting due to their thoughtful use of natural materials and personalized décor. “We wanted it to be rustic without feeling cabin-y,” Barbara says of the home’s interior. The rustic cottage is built with solid wood, complete with stained pine ceilings and flooring throughout, while painted wood-planked walls complement its frame in a soft shade…