Country Living October 2022

Selecting a cover image for Country Living is never an easy task—as you’d imagine, the countryside serves up so many pretty options!—but the visually rich, deliciously dappled fall season makes it especially hard to pick. If you follow me on Instagram (@rachelhardage barrett), you know that I’ll often take to social media to get a quick read on cover candidates. (Thank you to everyone who has offered feedback on everything from cozy kitchens to Christmas trees—it’s much appreciated!) I will admit, however, that crowdsourcing often winds up leaving me feeling more conflicted than ever, as there’s rarely a clear consensus. I mean, how does one choose between an incredibly enticing Apple Cider Donut Bundt Cake (pg. 85), a picturesque barn surrounded by stunning fall foliage (pg. 4), or a bounty…

1 Cruising winding country back roads to discover old barns and covered bridges outfitted in their fall finest 2 Perusing the heirloom pumpkins at the local nursery (See how to pair your picks with your favorite vintage collections, pg. 27.) 3 How alfresco fall gatherings provide a new excuse to scoop up yet another vintage blanket 4 The welcome return of comfort food, from roasted squash to slow cooker chili (Check out our acorn squash recipes on pg. 40.) 5 Pulling out the antique quilts that have been whiling away time in storage since last winter 6 The calming crackle of the season’s first campfire 7 How the light just feels a little more magical this time of year 8 The excitement (on both sides of the door) at the…

First things first: Let’s stop referring to beautifully and authentically weathered furniture as distressed. There’s no torment to be found in a piece that has aged naturally. Consider, for a moment, any of these alternatives: wellloved, well-traveled, time-tested…. A piece of antique furniture—we’re talking real antique, not faux “aged”—evokes a certain seen-it-all wisdom that instantly grounds a room. Like the wrinkles and laugh lines that come with experience, each nick and scratch has a unique and hard-earned story to tell, whether it’s the well-worn spots from another lifetime, or the memories of your own making (a not-particularly-gentle move up three flights of stairs to a first apartment, perhaps?). Scuffed-up furniture also reflects an era when things weren’t so darn disposable, and when items were thoughtfully and painstakingly handcrafted to age…

The Color The 18th century was peak season for painted furniture. Warm tones (red, brown, yellow) were particularly common in the Colonial era. The Finish Test an inconspicuous spot with a dab of ammonia. If the paint comes off, it’s likely milk paint, which can be a sign of a pre-1900s item. The Wear Marks A true antique will show most wear in highly trafficked areas (corners and around knobs). Evenly distributed “wear” is often a telltale sign of a repro.…

1 CHARACTER BUILDER Custom Cabinetry For a kitchen that effortlessly bridges eras, Utah-based designer Meta Coleman combined the clean lines of midcentury architecture (sleek face-frame cabinets) with the cottage charm of Scandinavian country (open shelving and a pretty blue painted island). 2 CLEVER FIX Planked Ceiling Without a budget to completely rework the circa-1980s kitchen’s layout (hello, giant skylight!) or electrical, Meta got creative. A tongue-and-groove ceiling disguises evidence of previous track lighting and (bonus!) has a been-there-forever feel. 3 FINISHING TOUCH Subtle Hardware “I wanted a smaller profile—nothing too clunky,” says Meta, who sourced understated solid brass handles and knobs and installed them in pairs on the lower cabinets. The simple spherical knobs complement the inset Shaker doors without distracting from the bespoke details. GET THE LOOK: “Grove” Matte…

Object Lesson Slow Burn: When the first cast-iron stove was produced by a Massachusetts foundry in 1642, it was little more than a small iron chest. It wasn’t until about 1740, when Benjamin Franklin introduced his simple wood-burning stove featuring a grate and improved airflow, that a cast-iron stove was even able to heat a large room. His straightforward heating method—and all the designs it inspired—made the stove a staple for everyday Americans and remained the primary home heating source until the post-World War II introduction of central heating. Cast of Characters: U.S. foundries sprung up by the dozens in the 19th century, as Americans moved west and needed ways to heat their homes. The Michigan Stove Company, which sold its stoves under the brand name Garland, rose to prominence…