Innholdsfortegnelse for Spring 2016 i The Cottage Journal

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…

Built in 1884, the modest yellow cottage laced with white trim was originally built as a home and workspace for a bridgetender, who would open and close a section of the old swing bridge to allow large riverboats to pass through. The turning operation required the tender to manually turn the capstan to open the bridge—a job that needed attention every hour of every day. The house, therefore, was a part of his compensation. In 1940 the swing bridge was replaced with the more elevated Edmund Pettus Bridge. And while the old bridge was destroyed, its cornerstone remains and can still be seen from the cottage’s porches. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the cottage has witnessed more than a century of history—both inside and out. Drs. Anne…

When designer Linda Constable of Ambiance Interiors in Asheville, North Carolina, married Blair Jones 20 years ago, she acquired more than just a new husband. She also found herself with a tiny Depression-era farm cottage that sits on a little more than 2 acres of beautiful woodlands just 30 minutes north of the city. The two-bedroom, one-bath structure was a fairly typical rural dwelling with a front porch “so narrow it could barely hold on to a rocking chair,” says Linda, who has always loved old houses and their inherent charm—though bringing that charm to light may often require plenty of imagination and elbow grease. First on the agenda was to combine the two small bedrooms into one large master space. Then they expanded the porches to create a series…

After design duo Robbie and Angie Cook moved into their Nashville cottage they spent the next 12 years working together to create a home that perfectly suited their stylish vintage tastes. What began as a small galley kitchen has since been reimagined into a well thought out space that blends modern conveniences and vintage elements with an industrial vibe that makes this cottage kitchen one-of-a-kind. The anchor of the room, no doubt, is the large commercial island worktable that came out of a school in South Georgia. It wan’t necessarily what the Cooks had in mind when dreaming up their kitchen, but when they saw the island at market, it was love at first sight. “It wasn’t like I was looking for it, it just kind of found me!” Angie…

Page 9—Aged Blossom Planters in small, medium, and large from Campo de’ Fiori. Page 10—Calliope Jute Trim Pillow in Honey and Sun Floral Jute Trim Pillow from Pier 1 Imports. Garden Basket from Park Hill Collection. Page 11—Antique French enamelware body pitchers in blue, white, and aqua blue-green from French Garden House. Page 12—Galvanized Utility Basket from Terrain. Ames Hand Trowel, Ames 3-Tine Hand Cultivator, and Ames Hand Transplanter from Home Depot. Pocket Neighborhood Pages 13-17—Architecture design by Ross Chapin, Ross Chapin Architects. Built by The Cottage Company, LLC. French Body Pitchers Page 19—Antique French enamelware body pitchers in blue, white, and aqua blue-green from French Garden House. Pages 20-23—Antique French enamelware pieces from private collection. Coming Home Pages 35-40—Built by David Camp, Camp Construction Company, Inc. Interiors by Lauren…

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…

Judy and Dusty Rhodes never met an old cottage they didn’t like. With Judy’s background as a senior designer at Whittington Design Studio and Dusty’s as a contractor, the couple has bought many homes to fix up and resell over the years. “This is the one we never flipped,” Judy says. “We just fell in love with it. It’s perfect for us.” The couple purchased the three-bedroom, 1,800-square-foot Dutch Colonial Revival cottage in Arlington, Virginia, in 1970. The house sat on a double wooded lot, and though neglected, it had lots of great features, including French doors, a wood-burning fireplace, and potential for pretty outdoors areas. “Our friends thought we were crazy,” Judy recalls. “But it had good bones and real possibilities, and there was no job too big for…

It’s no mystery that as our lives evolve, our needs change as well. With that said, sometimes an opportunity may roll around that, only a few years ago, would have seemed impractical. And when good fortune comes along in the form of a wonderfully planned community, such a discovery may be hard to pass up. Washington homeowners Brian and Colleen Ducey not only have found the right place, but they’ve also adjusted their daily routines accordingly. It took some settling in for them—and lots of decluttering—to make their new location an ideal choice. “Before moving here, Brian and I were living in a 2,400-square-foot home in Seattle,” Colleen explains, “and although we had talked about downsizing many times, our options seemed limited.” Because their children are grown and out on…

Meg Page has been credited with helping to revive the centuries-old art of naturalist painting, but her work is perhaps better described as a kind of portraiture. She captures in exquisite detail the appearance of her subjects—whether flowers, frogs, snakes, or chickens—and goes beyond the surface to convey a sense of life and dignity. That combination of realism and a sense of the spiritual gives her paintings their remarkable and timeless appeal. Although she does most of her work in her Baltimore studio, she finds inspiration, subject matter, and an “aesthetic haven” at Gentle Farm, the country retreat her husband, David Ashton, has carefully restored. The farm fulfills a childhood longing of Meg’s to be closer to nature than growing up in suburban Towson, Maryland, allowed. Meg envied her Virginia…

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…

Joanie Mulkin credits her interest in art and collections to her husband, Jon. “When we were first married, for fun we’d frequent antiques shops and estate sales,” she explains. And when they traveled they would visit local museums and galleries and bring back something to remind them of their journey. Joanie says, “Jon’s parents had interesting collections when he was growing up, so his interests probably grew from that.” When the couple moved into their cottage 13 years ago they spent a year “getting to know its bones,” Joanie explains. “Living in a place for a while helps you figure out what the family needs.” But the style of the home’s décor didn’t need figuring out. With the couple’s love for art it was bound to be on the eclectic…

Since buying the home in 2000, Don and Stacy Murdoch have made changes to the house that they said “just felt right.” What feels right to them is the warmth of bright colors and diverse art. The home’s style has been called “eclectic” and “bohemian,” though Stacy isn’t sure that either term quite captures it. “My home, both inside and outside, rarely has rhyme or reason to it; nothing is calculated. If I see an interesting piece of art or furniture, I don’t think about where I should put it; I just work it in,” she says. The result is comfortable and inviting. In addition to their art collection, much of the cottage’s character is the result of Stacy being a passionate gardener. Thanks to an abundance of house plants,…

While flowers are glorious to behold in every season, spring is no doubt when their beauty shines brightest and in the most bountiful fashion. Thus is the case at Wildseed Farms in Fredericksburg, Texas. As a real, working wildflower farm, various flower fields are in bloom throughout the growing season from March to November, however spring is the time to see the majority of the fields in their full glory. Acre after acre, as far as the eye can see, stunning blocks of bold red, vibrant hues of purple and blue, and striking pops of yellow chase the horizon. It’s only when you get close that you’ll find each block of color is comprised of hundreds of individual wildflowers. The breathtaking scenery is reason enough to plan a visit to…

It was more than 45 years ago when the first antiques fair was held at Rifle Hall in Round Top, Texas. As the years have passed and the word has spread, the fair has grown to drawing shoppers from around the country. More than 100,000 people congregate in this small town twice a year ready to sell and buy antiques and vintage finds. The Big Red Barn, home to the original antiques fair, has 30,000 square feet housing genuine antiques and vintage pieces and a food court for hungry shoppers. The Big Red Barn folks also have three other locations filled with treasures: Big Red Barn Tent, the Continental Tent offering high-quality antiques from Europe, and the Carmine Dance Hall. Another event held in Round Top is The Marburger Farm…

WHEN 2016 Spring Show March 28–April 2 2016 Fall Show September 26–October 1 HOW TO GET THERE Round Top, Texas, is located 77 miles southeast of Austin and 95 miles northwest of Houston. Local airport is La Grange, Texas. Larger airports are Austin and Houston. HOW TO PURCHASE TICKETS General admission tickets for shopping at Marburger and the Big Red Barn are $10.00. If you would like to order tickets online check out their websites roundtoptexasantiques.com and roundtop-marburger.com. WHERE TO STAY The Rendezvous at Round Top by Gina Galvin 810-210-5546 Armondos Round Top Houses 979-212-8727 Round Top Inn 979-249-5294 The Prairie by Rachel Ashwell 979-836-4975 Rose Hill Cottages 832-499-6860 WHERE TO EAT Royers Café 979-249-3611 Royers’ Pie Haven 979-249-5282 Los Patrones Mexican Grill 979-249-5696 Prost Wine Bar 979-249-5981…