Country Living December/January 2024

I hesitate to point this out because now you’ll be on watch, but in any given issue, at least in its earliest rough draft stages, there are certain words that our writers and editors lean on a little too heavily—so much so that our eagle-eyed Copy Editor Stephanie Lepore will gently nudge us to, ahem, find another way to say it. The word “verdant” blossoms in the spring season, and we tend to hit our “cozy” quota pretty quickly come October. As I started to peruse the pages of this issue, I noticed a whole lot of “magical,” so I queried whether we needed to swap out a few instances with a suitable synonym. But it turns out, there’s no good substitute: Paranormal? Too spooky. Mystical? Too hemp shop. As…

1 How the scent of cinnamon rolls lures even the deepest of dreamers from their slumber 2 Hearing a knock on the door and realizing it’s Christmas carolers (See pg. 48 for how to host your own caroling party.) 3 Dreaming up your version of a white Christmas, courtesy of collectibles like ironstone 4 The squatty lil’ tree on the lot that may not be everyone’s cup of tea—and that’s why you love it 5 The quiet of the first big snowfall, preferably enjoyed from inside a quaint cabin 6 How the slightly watery hot chocolate at the tree farm tastes like the best you’ve ever had 7 Decking the halls with nature, from pine cones to paperwhites 8 Those three magical words: No assembly required. Be sure to follow us on Instagram @countrylivingmag for a daily dose…

When decking the halls, people tend to love a theme. Whether it’s a color scheme or a motif, some unifying concept helps bring cohesion to a decorative display. And then the season’s greetings start to pour in. According to the Greeting Card Association, there are approximately 1.3 billion Christmas cards sent annually, and, if you’re lucky enough, some of those glad tidings find their way to your mailbox.* A happy chaos of color, photography, and typography (think “JOY” splashed in all caps), the merry missives are as varied as the people who send them—close friends, former coworkers, distant cousins. Whether you plaster them across the refrigerator door, clip them to a garland, or let them grow like Christmas kudzu along a mantel, the jolly jumble may not fit with your…

1 CHARACTER BUILDER Warm Woods To preserve the farmhouse’s historic charm, designer Whitney Romanoff (meetwest.studio) embraced the kitchen’s solid oak cabinets while refreshing them with a custom walnut stain and new three-centimeter-thick soapstone countertops. A rustic antique oak work table plucked from the English countryside years ago helps set a cozy tone. 2 ATERIAL MATTERS Brass Accents To play up the warmth of the wood, Whitney selected unlacquered brass finishes for the bridge faucet (kallista.com), cabinet knobs, bin pulls (rejuvenation.com), and even the switch plates (forbesandlomax.com). Brass muntins on the windows, which Whitney installed after tearing out part of a solid wall, continue the age-worn patina. Tip: Work with a local window installation company to create similar. 3 TIME-TESTED Statement Stove When it comes to colored ranges, the English have their AGAs, the…

Why We Love Them Their Rags-to-Riches Story: Prior to being used on grain sacks and cushion covers, stripes of all shades were reserved for those at the bottom of the social order, especially in medieval Europe, where they were worn by court jesters and servants, according to author and historian Michel Pastoureau, who penned the definitive history of stripes in his 2003 book, The Devil’s Cloth: A History of Stripes. Their Sudden Cool Cred: While stripes never go out of style, red-and-white stripes in particular recently made their way back into the decorating mainstream, thanks to trendsetting designers including Matilda Goad, Flora Soames, and Alice Palmer. Their Country Practicality: In the days before shipping labels, farming families wove colorful stripes and sewed initials into grain sacks to help customers identify…

YEAR BUILT 1730 $1,450,000 McLean, VA 3 BR; 4 BA; 3,250 SQ. FT. WHY YOU’LL LOVE IT: Despite the hefty price tag, you’ll discover historic “Drover’s Rest” is well worth every penny! Throughout, modern amenities pair perfectly with original features such as chinked log walls and old-growth floors. Plus: There’s a cute cottage and a studio attached to the original smokehouse on the picturesque grounds. AGENT: Nate Guggenheim; wfp.com WORK REQUIRED: $695,000 Newark, OH 3 BR; 2 BA; 2,009 SQ. FT. WHY YOU’LL LOVE IT: Meticulously restored interiors, including original hardwoods, impressive millwork, and a checkered kitchen floor, embody the refinement of a bygone era. The idyllic surrounding eight acres include multiple outbuildings. AGENT: Carol Marr; carolmarr.com WORK REQUIRED: YEAR BUILT 1849 YEAR BUILT 1898 $325,000 Rochester, NY BR; 3…