Innehållsförteckning för Summer 2019 från The Cottage Journal

Welcome to the magical season of outdoor inspiration. Vacations aside, for some, just having extra hours of sunshine certainly allows for backyard gatherings, gardening, and visits with neighbors on the front porch. Entertaining friends and family is a theme we heard over and over this issue when our editors spoke with our featured cottage gardeners and homeowners. We think you will enjoy each of their stories and the personal style ideas found throughout this issue. In “Family-Friendly Redesign” on page 45, a family entertains on the patio with plenty of table space and seating for a crowd. With a palette of blues, turquoises, and pops of red, their traditional look was left behind for an updated abode. The waterfront cottage in “Newport Classic” on page 67 was refurbished with reclaimed…

When empty nesters Liz and Andy Montelli decided to build a summer cottage on their existing waterfront lot in Newport, Rhode Island, they went with a local design team. “We wanted an architect who really understood the rich history of Newport and respected its architectural style,” says Liz. She hired Paul Weber Architecture, whose owner and principal not only works and lives in Newport but has been frequenting the area since childhood. The resulting summer cottage was completed in 2016 in a classic shingle style. “We situated the home to take full advantage of the waterfront views, giving it an open main floor plan, lots of glass windows and French doors, and also a large terrace,” says Paul, adding, “The house also has a covered front porch for engaging neighbors…

For many gardeners, a yard covered in trees might be enough to cause trepidation, but not for Lanis Little-field. Instead of cutting down all the trees in her full-shade yard and starting fresh, she simply made do and created a shade garden oasis. “Since there was so much shade, there was very little grass and no plants other than the original shrubs that were planted in 1926 when the house was built,” she recalls. “It was basically a blank canvas. I knew it would be a challenge, but I knew if I wanted a garden, it would have to be a shade garden.” So, shovel and trowel in hand and with no specific plan in mind, Lanis got started, tackling one area at a time. “When I started seeing the…

Warm summer days call for dining alfresco! And what better way to celebrate the season than with a coastal-inspired tablescape—no matter your location. Blending a sea of pale blue or green plates with warm, cream-colored goblets and linens offers a subtle nod to a serene seaside experience without feeling “beachy.” Placing a few shells at each place setting, an array of dried coral on the table, and a fishbowl full of a few bright shells helps set the coastal scene. Skip the tablecloth or patterned runner and play off the natural wooden textures. Woven jute placemats, wooden napkin rings, and wood-accented flatware feel natural and balanced at this table. To add a punch of color, opt for a floral centerpiece featuring sunset orange.…

Set against the backdrop of a 3-acre peony farm in Rhode Island, The Local Bouquet’s farmer florist class Perfect Peonies is designed not only to teach attendees everything they want to know about the popular bloom but also to help build community. “I think peonies just have a place in people’s hearts,” says Mary Kate Kinnane, owner of The Local Bouquet, a floral business dedicated to using 100-percent local and American-grown flowers. In an attempt to raise awareness of the field-to-vase movement, Mary Kate teamed up with local peony farmers Anne Kubik and David Rockermann for one part of a three-part series designed to give cottage garden enthusiasts, floral professionals, and everyone in between a chance to expand their skill set and fill their gardens with bursts of color all…

When it came to renovating their 1927 cottage in Washington, DC, landscape architects Leslie and Scott Fritz were set on crafting a space that would foster creativity. Largely untouched until the couple purchased the property in 1996, the home was the perfect canvas for creating a cottage-style haven in the middle of the city. “There’s a feeling that you’re walking down a country lane,” Leslie says. “You know, we can’t get to the country as much as we’d like to, so we created it here.” From the curved stone pathway to the cheerful blue shutters, it’s clear even from the yard that Leslie and Scott were careful to honor the traditional Arts & Crafts style of the home. Inside, the design places an emphasis on natural light and an open,…

When you step into the entryway of the Flemings’ charming craftsman cottage, you understand why it’s Sonja Fleming’s favorite part of the home. From the calming gray-green tone of the walls to the 11-foot coffered ceilings, every detail is a testament to the passion that she and her husband, Ronnie, have poured into every room. Sonja notes that one of the foundations of their relationship is building together, adding that they have built two homes together in the past. Throughout the process of building their home, the couple have shared their progress on Instagram via @ourcraftsmancottage. “We’re just one of those couples that loves homebuilding; we love projects, and we love working together doing this,” Sonja says. To create a home perfect for growing old in, the couple hired a…

Blogger Sara Davis has seen her fair share of kitchen renovations. So, when she won a complete kitchen remodel after entering a competition at a conference, you could say she was prepared for the challenge ahead and knew exactly what she wanted this time. “Our number one goal in the space was to open up the kitchen to make it more conducive for our family and entertaining,” she says. To do this, she worked in stages over a nine-week time frame, starting by ripping out and removing the existing kitchen floor plan—including everything that was already there—and removing part of the wall that closed the kitchen off from the den. After this came the drywall application and cabinet assembly. Sara chose light gray and white cabinet colors with one set…

In Fleur McHarg’s new book, The Flower Expert, she brings forth over 25 years of experience and indispensable insight into creating unique floral arrangements for every kind of occasion. McHarg, the flower expert and one of the most in-demand florists in Australia, takes you through the journey of how breathtaking floral displays are created. With over 200 pages beaming with unique and beautiful blooms, this book is one you won’t want to put down. Whether you are a novice or an expert when it comes to arrangements, you’ll gain new insights on the philosophy behind flowers. You will learn all there is to know about crafting the perfect floral arrangement, from selecting the base flowers to blending the colors for a showstopping display. Through McHarg’s guidance and color inspiration, you…

While working as a graphic designer, Erin Flett felt like she needed more. Though she loves her designs, at the time, they felt fleeting. “The need or obsession to create something that lasted more than a few minutes was my vision,” she says. “As a graphic designer loving paper and typography, I always felt a little sad that people would not be able to enjoy my designs and my work for more than a brief moment.” She originally tried a stationery line, but after that didn’t quite pan out, she revisited her original thought and the answer became clear: screen printing. Now, a decade after starting her Maine-based company, Erin has expanded the business greatly, and in more ways than one. She and her husband, Maslen, started out working in…