Country Living January/February 2021

Rachel Hardage Barrett EDITOR-IN-CHIEF @RACHELHARDAGEBARRETT A A Welcome from the Editor Happy 2021! Now that this century is officially old enough to drink, I’m celebrating with hot toddies (pg. 24). If there’s a toast-worthy takeaway from last year, it’s that 2020 reacquainted us with all the joys that country life has to offer: the unfussy appeal of alfresco entertaining; the quiet, reassuring calm of tending to your own patch of land—not to mention the feasibility of maintaining six feet of distance (or “one cow apart,” as I’ve heard some say). It’s like the whole world was finally let in on our little secret. If you’ve recently come around to this whole concept of country living, consider this issue one big “welcome.” (Also: We baked you a loaf of bread! See…

HUE FINDER Let this serene setting inspire a pastoral palette. FIELD NOTES Boosting Your Book Intake “Read more” is a resolution we can get behind, but it helps to set a tangible goal. On goodreads.com, you can pick the number of books to read in a year and track your progress. Then, join your local library. Many offer free access to e-books as well as curbside pickup for titles reserved online. Next, find a book club, like the Country Living Front Porch Book Club, which helps foster conversation. (Follow @countrylivingmag for details on the latter!)…

GEOMETRIC Laura Preston @vacilandoquilting Laura Preston’s contemporary quilt designs are inspired by the scenes admired during her years spent traveling across the U.S. in an Airstream. She now crafts her quilts, wall hangings, and coats in her Texas studio. Are you a crafter? Check out her designs in Simple Geometric Quilting. For Patterns and Quilts: vacilandoquilting.co SENTIMENTAL Blair Stocker @blairs Blair Stocker comes from a fashion background, so it’s no surprise that the first quilt she ever made was pieced together from patches of her daughter’s outgrown clothing. She continues to create using vintage and sentimental fabrics and shares her ideas in her book, Wise Craft Quilts. For Patterns: wisecrafthandmade.com BOLD Latifah Saafir @latifahsaafirstudios Latifah Saafir is known for quilts that are happy and vibrant. Most recently, she’s created a line of…

For Antique Heirlooms For a piece that is truly unique, turn to these three experts in museum-quality quilts: Stella Rubin (stellarubinantiques.com), Marie Miller (antiquequilts.com), and Laura Fisher (laurafisherquilts.com). For Everyday Treasures Sure, Instagram is rich with design inspiration, but did you know it’s also a great source for vintage quilts? Some favorites to follow: @catson quilt, @cindysantiquequilts, @featheredfarmquilts, and the hashtag #vintagequiltsforsale. And don’t miss thrifter Hannah Kelly (@stitchedandfound), who scours flea markets and secondhand stores collecting hundreds of quilts for her business (stitchedandfound.com). Tune in at 8 p.m. CST every Thursday to shop her latest finds. For Hidden Gems If you crave the thrill of the hunt, the best way to find a quilt bargain is to become a regular at local estate sales. Even the most drab quilts…

1. INSTALL THE BASE. To get started, gather two pieces of 4'- by-8' plywood, a few two-by-fours, and a trusty drill. Bolt two-by-fours into studs of the desired wall, then top with plywood to create a large square. 2. MAP OUT THE DESIGN. Once the base is securely attached, it’s time to map out a geometric quilt pattern of your choice using painter’s tape. 3. PAINT YOUR PATTERN. Lara’s tip for saving money on paint is to buy small paint samples of multiple colors rather than quart-size cans. Use a combination of rollers and brushes to paint your taped design. Top with a weatherproof sealer for protection. 4. MAKE IT CLIMBABLE. Drill in a selection of climbing holds in various areas of the barn quilt. Atomik Climbing Holds (atomikclimbingholds.com) will…

TRIED-AND-TRUE SHAKER-STYLE CABINETS Named after the Shakers, the religious community known for their craftsmanship of simple yet beautiful furniture, this never-wrong cabinet style is recognized by its squared edges and recessed center panels. The clean-lined door fronts (above, Benton; aristokraft.com) add just enough of a design statement without feeling fussy. SPLURGE VS. SAVE SHIP LIGHTS Originally found along the bulkheads of ships, these caged ceiling-mount fixtures do the work of recessed can lights but in a much warmer, patinaed package. HAVING A MOMENT WHITE APPLIANCES When electric appliances began to appear in kitchens in the early 1900s, white was the color of choice. Today, after a decades-long rein of stainless, white finishes are back en vogue and feeling fresher than ever. Powder-Coated White Range us.bertazzoni.com STYLING SECRETS “BEAUTILITARIAN” ACCESSORIES As a…