Innehållsförteckning för Winter 2021 från The Cottage Journal

Instagram has been kind to Texas-born and Virginia-based interior decorator Alison Giese. When the Benjack family found her on the social media platform, she could not believe her good fortune. “They wanted me to help them downsize from their grand house in Norfolk to a weekend farmhouse that had been in their family for a generation,” says Alison of the redesign project in Franklin, Virginia. In addition to combining the contents of their two households, the Benjacks were also striving for a less formal way of life. “It was going to be less about designer dresses and entertaining on a large scale and more about work boots and simple living,” says Alison. Built in 1952, the four-bedroom farmhouse—which was traditional in style, dark in palette, and formal in décor—also needed…

After more than 25 years of living on the West Coast and traveling abroad, Leslie and Tim Maier decided to “come home” to South Carolina. With sweeping marine vistas and plenty of rich history, the Lowcountry was the perfect place to settle, and the Maiers found their own piece of heaven on Brays Island in Sheldon, South Carolina. Leslie grew up in the South and was eager to create a space that felt like home while finding ways to incorporate family heirlooms and travel treasures. “I always loved the idea of having a cottage that looked like everything had been passed on from prior generations,” she says. With the help of interior designer Sheena Jenkins of SF Jenkins Interiors, Inc. in Port Royal, South Carolina, Leslie was able to make…

Although collage artist Nancy Eastman creates her landscapes with paper, in a way, each finished work comprises her own life story. “I’ve always been inspired since I was a little kid with rocks and shrubs and trees,” Nancy says, noting that she spent days of her childhood perched on tree branches while she stitched tea towels. Later, her time at the University of Iowa working under papermaker Timothy Barrett set another piece of the picture into place. But it’s her work as an award-winning landscape architect—and a lifetime in Colorado—that provide the inspiration for the collages she has been creating for close to a decade. Formed of paper she makes herself, dyed with natural pigments, and hand-stitched with organic thread, her work offers a glimpse into the intricacies of the…

Exuding warmth and simple sophistication, it’s no surprise contemporary style appeals to those wishing to take the best elements of past and present for a calming, serene design sure to stand the test of time. In her latest book, Contemporary Cottages, Molly Hyde English highlights delightful dwellings redesigned with this timeless approach in mind. Well-versed in the cottage lifestyle, Molly currently owns Camps and Cottages, her store located in Laguna Beach, California, where she sells curated home and lifestyle furnishings. Her previous publications include Camps and Cottages (2000) and Vintage Cottages (2007). From the enchanting entryways of quaint beach abodes to cozy mountain escapes boasting expansive windows, each cottage embraces its architectural elements, while added accents impart the tastes and personalities of those who live there. Find inspiration among the…

Comfort is key, both at work and at home. This Greenwich, Connecticut, cottage is charming yet cozy, a style achieved through thoughtful interior design selections by two talented designers. You could say that sisters Meghan Hackett-Cassidy and Erin Hackett are more than comfortable with each other after years of working together at Hackett Interiors, their eponymous design firm. It’s probably why they are an unstoppable dynamic duo when they take on a project. When the two walked into this Connecticut home, it was in need of a little rehab to make it into the gorgeous, contemporary Tudor-style abode it is today. The family room was previously adorned with antler chandeliers and stained wood beams. The sisters took a risk and decided to paint the beams a dark, moody hue to…

For those looking to experience a unique wintry getaway that has all the charm of Bavaria, Germany, and the beauty and splendor of the alpine mountains of America’s Pacific Northwest, Leavenworth, Washington, is eagerly waiting for you. Nestled in the heart of the Cascade Range, just two hours east of Seattle, this delightful village makes visitors feel like they’ve stepped into a snow globe filled with winter wonders. Known for its impressive Christmas lighting ceremonies, the small mountain town goes big for the season and is undeniably magical when dressed in glittering lights from Thanksgiving through Valentine’s Day. Beyond the sparkling downtown, the nearby mountains, rivers, and meadows provide the perfect place for the entire family to rest and recharge. This fun-filled destination is worth a visit year-round, and in…

Before Ashley Moore owned Moore House Interiors, a full-service design firm based out of Tomball, Texas, she and her husband faced the challenge of making over their own home—and it was no simple task. “It was stuck in the early 2000s, with faux paint and dark everything,” Ashley says of the house they purchased in 2014. Despite the outdated finishes, the Moores saw the home’s potential and set about uncovering it. “I’m more of a warmer tone person,” Ashley says. “So, I literally bought 15 paint samples of gray paint and put them on the walls in every room just to watch them during the day.” Once they had found their true gray, they painted “every square inch of the house,” added ceiling beams and shiplap, gutted the kitchen, and…

For the past decade, professional football player Josh Kline and his wife, Natalie, have moved often given the nature of Josh’s job. But soon after having their first child, daughter Kroy, the family was eager to put down roots and decided to make Tennessee home. They fell in love with a 10-year-old home in the quaint little town of Leiper’s Fork, where people often say there are more cows than people. The Klines enlisted the help of interior designer Connie Vernich to revamp their modern, rustic cottage. “The home and its surroundings are inherently rustic, so we wanted to honor the aesthetic, but apply it in a modern way,” Connie says. “The view of the creek is the focal point and the heart of the property. We didn’t want to…