The Cottage Journal Spring 2016

This issue is filled with charming cottages tucked into established neighborhoods, welcoming new communities, and acres of land filled with the lush gardens of springtime. As the temperatures start to rise, many of us turn our attention from beautiful interiors to the porches, arbors, and decks that are treasured as outdoor rooms for family and friends to gather in and enjoy. Kick off the start of a season of beautiful outdoor living with an inspired spring luncheon. We have a lovely light menu starting on page 97 that is perfect for dining alfresco and celebrating the season. Antiques and unique twists on old finds bring a new spirit to traditional spaces that yearned for an updated change. Just as Mother Nature enters a season of renewal, our hope is that…

We often feel nostalgic about those bygone days when neighbors knew each other, laughter and conversation wafted from ample front porches, and kids delighted in catching lightening bugs and playing hide-and-seek until dark. If you’re convinced these images exist only in the past, think again. Washington state-based architect Ross Chapin not only believes that such neighborhoods are still viable, but he also designs refreshingly insightful homes and enclaves to actively combat urban sprawl. “My firm and I strive to create places that nourish the individual, support healthy family relationships, and foster a strong sense of community,” he states. Sharing Ross’s vision is a Seattle construction and development group that is appropriately called The Cottage Company, which has completed many of the architect’s projects. A prime example of this collaboration can…

A unique shape and a colorful enamel coating give the French body pitcher a signature look that makes a statement in any room or garden. Originally used in European households in the late 1800s and early 1900s to carry water for bathing, these enamelware antiques are now more often sought out for their bright aesthetic. As a stand-alone piece or grouped in a collection, the pitchers add a subtle French flair wherever they sit. Many collectors fill their antique pitchers with fresh-cut flowers to create colorful vignettes that can brighten up a tabletop, doorstep, or garden pathway with ease. “Their tall shape sets off a large bouquet to perfection,” says antiques dealer Lidy Baars, owner of French Garden House antiques. “A few pitchers hung on pegs outside are a wonderful…

“Every home has a message to deliver, even before you start decorating.” —BARBARA WESTBROOK Virginia-born and Atlanta-based interior designer Barbara Westbrook knows a thing or two about design. More than 20 years into her career, she has established herself as an expert on décor designed to be beautiful, comfortable, and so inviting that guests want to come in and sit a spell. Her debut book, Gracious Rooms, acts as a guide to blending polished, classic looks with rustic or modern touches. With 237 glossy pages bursting with inspiration, Gracious Rooms proves that any palette, when executed with care, can be welcoming and relaxing. Each of the book’s 10 chapters addresses a different design principle stemming from Barbara’s simple, universal approach to design: “Make it beautiful.” She guides readers in utilizing…

After graduating college and living in Atlanta for 25 years, this business professional decided to move back to her hometown. She had lived in a new house in Atlanta but was hoping to find a home in her parents’ charming older neighborhood. After checking out three disappointing possibilities, her father encouraged her to look at the cottage around the corner from them that had been empty for several years. “I took one step in and fell in love with it,” she exclaims, “and it’s walking distance to my parents.” With the help of old friends, builder David Camp and interior designer Lauren Conner, the cottage’s metamorphosis began. The front of the house was reworked by David to create a little portico and charming entrance. To continue the inviting welcome seen…

Matt and Gwin Barr have three children and two dogs. But take a spin around their cottage, and you’re sure to find more folks cozied up on the couch, gathered around the fire pit, or perhaps even reclining on the back porch’s swinging bed. “Keep a well-stocked fridge and people will come,” Gwin quips. This is the kind of home where guests gather—and the Barrs wouldn’t have it any other way. “We love sophisticated style,” Gwin says, “but more importantly, we want our home to feel comfortable and welcoming for every visitor that walks through the door.” Indeed, first impressions matter. In fact, Gwin fell in love with this 1935 house when she was a child growing up in Salisbury, North Carolina. Only the third family to own the 80-year-old…