Country Living August/September 2025

I hope this issue finds you either lazing about on a pontoon boat or strolling the midway of a state fair. Speaking of the latter, perhaps you’ve noticed that butter yellow—the signature color of cow sculptures—has slathered its way onto everything from home goods to apparel. Experts say the hue’s sudden ubiquity is a sign that we’re collectively craving more warmth and nostalgia in our lives. Personally, I think Country Living Design Director Maribeth Jones started the trend when she coated her whole kitchen in the color. (See her cheerful space at countryliving.com/yellowkitchen.) Whatever the reason, the buttering of interiors got me thinking about how color truly can be a kind of comfort food, and this issue is a celebration of that sentiment. Whether it’s a familiar shade of blue…

1 The unexpected delight of a sherbet green farmhouse (and a cherry red tractor!) along a country back road 2 Taking a paintbrush to the pantry and reaping the rewards with every ingredient grab (Find more pretty pantries at countryliving.com/pantries.) 3 Lazy summer days paired with sunny sleeping porches 4 Fresh tomatoes on the windowsill just waiting for their culinary cameo (See pg. 35 for a few ideas.) 5 The garden abundance of mid-August—even when the zinnias get a little unruly 6 A comfy armchair paired with a lamp, a good book, and an uninterrupted hour 7 Stacks of mismatched dishes in patterns of every color 8 The bittersweet feeling that summer is fading…but apple-picking season is on its way Be sure to follow us on Instagram @countrylivingmag for a…

When it comes to outfitting your home, designers often say to think about your spaces in terms of moments—enjoying bowls of cereal around the banquette, slipping off wellies on a bench in the mudroom, curling up with a book in a cozy reading nook—and no single moment may matter more than the experience of walking through the front door. Besides offering a friendly and hospitable color cue for first-time visitors (“Just look for the house with the yellow front door!”), a vibrant entrance serves as a mood-boosting dividing line between the occasionally gray outside world and the comforts of home—a visual reset button, so to speak. You don’t need much paint—a quart will probably do—but there’s perhaps no other home upgrade that gives you as much bang for your brush.…

1 Tricolor Combo Though designer Jeffrey Alan Marks (jeffreyalanmarks.com) preserved many of his 1928 home’s historic details during renovation, the kitchen was “a complete gut job,” he says. After installing crisp, glossy white nickel-gap paneling on the walls and ceiling, he incorporated high-contrast hues of cheery celadon, blush pink, and dusty blue with the cabinetry and built-ins. 2 Unfitted Footprint A self-proclaimed Anglophile, Jeffrey enlisted the British kitchen design firm Plain English Design (plainenglishdesign.com) to craft the bespoke kitchen he’d always wanted. To make the space feel like a cozy larder—the across-the-pond term for a storage room or cabinet for dry goods—Jeffrey swapped out upper cabinets for open shelving and a stand-alone blue cupboard. (For a similar blue, try Down Pour by Sherwin-Williams.) 3 Notes of Nickel Cool Carrara marble…

$310,000 Greensboro, NC 2 BR; 1 BA; 1,257 SQ. FT. WHY YOU’LL LOVE IT: This beauty of a bungalow in the Dunleath Historic District is the perfect perch for taking in the annual Dunleath Porchfest. Inside you’ll find wood floors and new stainless steel appliances, and the detached garage is outfitted with a little barn quilt. AGENT: Jeffrey Kelleher; stanleykelleher.kw.com WORK REQUIRED: $499,000 Clinton Township, NJ 3 BR; 2 BA; 1,300 SQ. FT. WHY YOU’LL LOVE IT: Despite its modest square footage, this Colonial meets all the country-house criteria with hand-hewn beams, wide-plank pumpkin pine floors, an eat-in kitchen complete with a farm sink, and Dutch doors. Gardeners will love the raised beds, not to mention the apple trees and blueberry bushes. AGENT: Jean Tozzi; jean-tozzi.weichert.com WORK REQUIRED: $265,000 Farmington,…

DURING THE 1950S, pastels like bubble gum pinks, powder puff blues, and dainty yellows dominated the world of bathroom design, and the aesthetic sweetness is enjoying a revival by modern designers and manufacturers. “There’s research on how colorful spaces influence well-being for the better,” says Ingrid Fetell Lee, designer and author of The Aesthetics of Joy. Whether you embrace an existing basin or seek out a new one, pastel porcelain is a time-tested way to make your bathroom feel awash in character. See more and shop the look at countryliving.com/sinks.…