Indholdsfortegnelse for Christmas 2021 i The Cottage Journal

A SEASON OF JOY Decorations are plentiful in this issue of The Cottage Journal, with homes dressed for the season using cherished keepsakes. Year after year, collected and carefully wrapped as precious memories of years past, our holiday decorations are like old friends we can’t wait to enjoy. In this issue, you’ll discover charming homes filled with myriad trees, handmade wreaths, and twinkling lights that extend a welcome inside for you. Our various tours of homes from Louisiana to Virginia display diverse holiday traditions. These personal stories from homeowners and designers share how they prepare for family and guests to gather for time spent celebrating the season. With much anticipation, homeowners style their dining rooms and breakfast nooks with gorgeous tablescapes, getting ready for holiday meals with the people they…

As you peruse the shelves of Dorothy McDaniel’s Flower Market today, it’s difficult to imagine that Dorothy started out keeping flowers in a Pepsi cooler. A lifelong floral enthusiast who directly attributes that passion to her mother and the garden she cultivated, Dorothy hadn’t originally intended to go into the business. Instead, she studied criminology and nurtured her floral inclinations on the side—until high demand compelled her to reconsider. “Friends called me often to arrange flowers for them,” she says, “and after a while, it became evident that I would have to go into business or out of friends.” Nearly 45 years later, she now offers a variety of floral services throughout Birmingham, Alabama. And while her shop is a treasure trove of beauty all year long, Christmas sees it…

Like many families during the stay-at-home order that was put in place due to the global pandemic in 2020, Maggie and David Griffin felt the itch to begin a series of home improvements. Before they began to renovate, however, a house down the street came up for sale, and they quickly jumped at the opportunity. “It was exactly what we wanted; it just needed some love,” Maggie says. Though the 1940s cottage had great bones, the Griffins knew it was going to need a lot of work, and they set out on a six-month total-gut renovation. “Every room in the house was taken down to the studs. The house was completely rewired, replumbed, re-insulated, and re-walled,” Maggie says. “Everything you see is new.” Throughout the renovation, they maintained the wonderful…

Well before they knew the house would become theirs, Holly and David Mackle had already identified it as their dream home. “When it was just in the drywall phase, my husband and I had walked around the neighborhood,” Holly says, noting she felt an immediate connection with the home’s layout. “And I said to my husband, ‘This is my forever house.’” While their intention was simply to copy the floor plan and build a new home, the two were thrilled to later learn of the house hitting the market. Nearly a decade later, the Mackles have raised two daughters in the space, and the memory of those years echoes best when Thanksgiving ends and the Christmas festivities begin. Kicking off the season, a vintage milk crate filled with children’s books…

Arranged in bowls or tiered into tree shapes, pomanders are a common Christmas decoration in many households nowadays, but these scented beauties made their debut over 600 years ago during the Middle Ages. Named after the French term pomme d’ambre, this popular décor began as perfumed balls made of gold or silver that were originally meant to be carried or stored around the house to mask bad odors and protect against infections. Despite their history, pomanders make an appearance in many holiday traditions, with their sweet yet spicy smell infiltrating the memories of so many. Making pomanders at home is simple, meaning it’s the perfect holiday activity to share with children. If you’d like, you can even predesign your pomanders by poking holes with toothpicks in the orange first, so…

Taking a stroll through Becca and John Bertotti’s home at Christmas is akin to walking through a museum of merry memories. Every room in the usually neutral-hued home gets a Yuletide update, decked in holiday cheer. Becca begins introducing Christmas color in the foyer, with pops of crimson and red ribbons cascading down the flocked trees. “During the holiday season, my mainly neutral, simplistic palette takes a back seat to lots of holiday color and an overload of accessories,” Becca shares. The welcoming space is made even cozier with the addition of a tufted bench laden with holiday-themed pillows. The family room receives the most extravagant upgrade, with not one but two trees flanking the fireplace. Becca shares that a love for symmetry drove the decision, and it’s a theme…

The saying “less is more” doesn’t exist in Cyndy and Keith Cantley’s home, especially during the holiday season. “My Christmas style is ‘more is more,’” Cyndy shares. “I think it’s a time to bring out everything.” Look closely, and you’ll see the treasured family heirlooms along with pieces the couple picked up through the years, from the silver ornaments on the tree to the framed pennants on the wall. When Cyndy and Keith moved into their home 12 years ago, the 1950s ranch-style house needed a bit of an overhaul, but they saw the potential immediately. “The house had good bones, a very simple, classic cottage style; however, it had been sitting empty for a few years after being used as a manse for a minister at a local Presbyterian…

When floral designer Sandra Sigman weaves holiday décor into her clients’ homes, she takes cues from each room’s color palette and style. But after she creates the last wreath for customers at Les Fleurs, her flower and gift shop in Andover, Massachusetts, Sandra turns her focus on readying her own home for the holidays. She doesn’t think twice about what color palette will prevail in her Christmas décor. “I always go for green; nature is my inspiration,” Sandra explains, referring to neighboring scenic Lake Cochichewick and its surrounding woodlands. At home, Sandra specializes in creating simple beauty. In 2008, not long after Sandra and her husband, Scott, bought their house, they became immersed in a two-year kitchen renovation that began with adding a bank of windows to bring the outdoors…

Pomander Pageantry Page 14—Top and bottom right photography, pomander designs by J.P. Horton, J.P. Horton Interior Design. Classic Christmas Style Pages 17–18—Tree from Balsam Hill. Ribbon, gold antique bells, ticking pillow, and stockings from d. stevens fine ribbons. Page 18—Cream ribbon with red “Merry Christmas” design from Monahan Papers. Red ribbon with white “Merry Christmas” design from Hobby Lobby. Deck the Halls with Dorothy Pages 19–21—Dorothy McDaniel’s Flower Market in Birmingham, Alabama. Magic in the Crescent City Pages 37–46—Lighting designs by Julie Neill, Julie Neill Designs. Floral designs by MOSS New Orleans. Page 40—Photograph of cast-iron balcony by Jennifer Shaw. Page 41—Christmas tree from Urban Roots Garden Center. Page 42—Mini stockings on mantel by B. Viz Design. Page 43—Artwork by Julie Neill, Julie Neill Designs. Page 44—Pink calico mini stockings…

Curved chisels, a small mallet, and ancient techniques learned from a European master wood-carver are the secrets behind Erik Wyckoff’s one-of-a-kind wooden works of art. Ranging from mantels and doors to family crests and all varieties of furniture, Erik’s pieces are made to order and hand-carved in his backyard shop. “I learned the traditional techniques of carving decorative leaves, flowers, birds, and grapes from an old wood-carver from Greece,” Erik says. Each piece starts with thick, solid wood that he transforms into intricately detailed designs. Tuscan, Tudor, French, and rustic only name a few of the diverse styles in his repertoire. Erik, who has been in business since 1996, creates three original designs for his clients to choose from based on their inspiration and vision for the project. After working…