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The features in this issue are filled with holiday joy, beginning with a toast to European style in “Haven for Heritage” on page 35. Through planned living spaces, the dreams of the couple come true in this warm lakeside home. Less is more when decorating with collected dinnerware, ornaments, unique Advent calendars, and collections with children in mind, such as vintage puppets and nutcrackers lining the windowsills. Well-known artist Mary Engelbreit welcomes readers to her lighthearted home complete with a contemporary twist on the traditional red and green, found on page 45, and on page 121 she shares how her artwork has shaped her life. And don’t miss what could be one of our all-time favorite tiny cottages on page 65! Decorated in shades of green and blue, every room…
Each year on Christmas morning, my family and I gather around the piano to sing my mother’s favorite carol, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day,” as she plays from the same sheet music she first used as a little girl. Bells, especially church bells, have been associated with Christmas for centuries. Bells toll for fellowship and celebrating new life. Bells herald hope and humanity. The soft ringing of Christmas bells is my favorite sound of the season, but I hear the bells long before Christmas Day. I first hear them at the start of December, when my father, sister, mother, and I gather in the living room to decorate the Christmas tree. Bells form the basis of one of my family’s most significant Christmas traditions. On…
In the heart of the South hospitality reigns supreme. And no place showcases the art of hospitality quite like Franklin, Tennessee’s, Tin Cottage. What appears to be a modest cottage from the outside—complete with a white picket fence—is in fact a charming home and gift shop. Shop owner Marianne DeMeyers (pictured left) and manager Birdie Bell welcome shoppers into the cottage they’ve filled with thoughtful, well-curated interior and gift items that are sure to excite shoppers of all ages. “Tin Cottage is the conceptualization of bringing back the art of hospitality,” Marianne says. “[It’s about] finding your style and inviting everyone over to put down their phones and share a story or experience.” Tin Cottage first launched in 1998 to provide locals with an authentic destination for home, table, and…
Baby boomers Lane and Scott McGarrah succumbed to the call of simple living and built a new home with convenience in mind. “It’s totally different than what we had before.” Scott says. “Everything was more formal in our last house.” The couple explained this wasn’t their first foray in moving; they have moved four times within the same town. Growing up, Scott moved every three years or so because his father was in the U.S. Air Force, so for Scott—change is routine. Lane, however, grew up living in the same house, but she says Scott’s attitude must be rubbing off on her. Neutrals and nature were the inspiration for the McGarrahs’ new cottage décor and Christmas decorating, as well. The tree, with its gold and silver ornaments and tree-bark topper,…
Having grown up in Austria, Angelika Evans dreamt of one day building a home that reflected her native country. After purchasing a small farmhouse on a private lake, those dreams became a reality for Angelika and husband Wally four years ago, when they built a new stucco- and timber-style home on the property. Working with architect Anna Ritchie Evans and builder David Gilmer, the couple came up with a Tudor-influenced open floor plan. The main living space includes the family room and kitchen with an adjoining dining room just a few steps down. The entrance is encased with multi-paned windows and doors, allowing views through the house to the lake beyond. Wide doorways, a parapet wall, and large banks of windows provide plenty of light and views of the lake.…
Painting is Angelika’s passion—it keeps her in balance, energizes her, and fills her with joy. She likes to paint in an abstract style, playing with colors and many different materials. It is a perfect way, she says, to “express her feelings” and develop her creativity and imagination.…
