Innehållsförteckning för Christmas 2023 - Winter 2024 från The Cottage Journal

JOYFUL CELEBRATIONS Merry Christmas, friends! We are thrilled to have you join us as we celebrate the splendor of the season in this special double issue of The Cottage Journal. This year, we’ve added even more pages packed with inspired holiday ideas to help extend your favorite seasonal décor into the cozy winter months ahead. From style tips for trimming the tree and preparing the table to cherished family traditions worth adding to your list, this double issue was thoughtfully prepared just for you! Like many of the featured homeowners you’ll soon get to know in the pages that follow, I too start preparing weeks in advance for the coming holidays. The bulk of my Christmas décor is decades old, and pulling it out of storage is always like a…

As we celebrate the beauty and joys of the holiday season, we also reflect on the year gone by. Gathered with friends and family amidst the warm glow of holiday lights, it’s easy to recall our favorite stories and shared experiences—both highs and lows—that left a mark on our hearts and in our memories. In July 2023, our team at The Cottage Journal mourned the unexpected passing of our editor-in-chief, Phyllis Hoffman DePiano. In addition to being Hoffman Media’s founder and chairman of the board, Phyllis was our dear friend and mentor. We would like to pay tribute to her incredible life, and we hope to honor her in continuing the legacy of beauty, graciousness, and hospitality she embodied. In 1983, with her sister, two friends, and a big idea,…

The Gilliam family had only completed their whole-home renovation two months before the Christmas season. “We spent about a year renovating,” says Karissa Gilliam, who had the pleasure of creating a dream farmhouse from the blank canvas that was their new home. “We pretty much gutted the entire house.” Despite the stress of such a large undertaking and the inherent busyness of the holidays, there was no question as to whether or not the space would be decorated in time for Christmas. “It’s always a big deal,” says Karissa, who starts decorating November 1 and doesn’t stop until every room receives the festive treatment. “Every year, I just pull everything out and look at what I have, and I always reassess and see what I can do with what I…

Anna Jacobs has always had an affinity for natural elements in design. The texture of rough-hewn wood, subtle blue and green hues against a neutral palette, floral motifs—it’s all welcome in her home. So, it’s not a surprise when you walk through the doors of her Georgia cottage during the holiday season and find it decked in gorgeous greenery. “I have always loved the natural and more authentic materials,” she says. “Being raised in a family that used natural and primitive woods in their home, I have always been drawn to that.” To blend her rustic, organic style in with Christmas festivity, Anna enlisted the help of florist Ginny Early. From the first steps inside, guests are captivated by nature’s glory and Ginny’s talent with a bucolic tabletop arrangement. With…

HESTER & COOK Best known for their paper place mats and table runners, the Tennessee-based company provides a vast assortment of products—available in more than 3,000 stores worldwide in addition to their own brick-and-mortar stores. View their full collection of stylish accoutrements at hesterandcook.com.…

Sashed in Splendor Pages 19–20—Sashes by Fig & Dove. Heartfelt Festivity Pages 35–44—Interior designs by Jenny Brooks, Bloom Interior Designs. Pastel Tidings Pages 45–54—Interior designs and Christmas decorating by Courtney Davey, Tuft & Trim. Pages 49–50—Christmas tree from Balsam Hill. Velvet embroidered stockings by Fig & Dove. Pillows covered in Grenville Glazed Chintz fabric in blue/green by Lee Jofa. Blue jasperware ornaments by Wedgwood. Pages 53–54—Pillows covered in Betty Chintz fabric in Quiet Pink by Schumacher. Lamps from Visual Comfort. Flocked tree from King of Christmas. Silk beaded ribbon from Decorator’s Warehouse. A Homestead Holiday Pages 55–66—Interior designs by Karissa Gilliam. A Season of Sentiment Pages 67–76—Interior designs by Kris Allison, K. Gray Interiors and Gardens. Vintage Tradition Pages 77–86—Interior designs by Ellie Christopher, Ellie Christopher Interior Design. Page 86—Mini…

On a 2018 visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, Colleen Waguespack found inspiration in the sashes worn on papal vestments in the Heavenly Bodies exhibit, which led the interior designer and founder of Fig & Dove to create the company’s best-selling wreath sash as a crisp alternative to burdensome bows. “I developed the wreath sash as a classic way to finish a wreath and add a touch of personalization to your front door,” she says. “Beginning with monograms, we soon realized that embroidering designs tailored to a particular holiday could also serve as a simple way to acknowledge the season—such as a reindeer for Christmas or a cross for Easter.” When styling your wreath and sash to reflect the season, Colleen suggests building upon your…

A fixer-upper wasn’t exactly what Jenny and David Brooks had in mind when searching for a home in the Lexington, Kentucky, area. However, when an older residence in a highly sought-after neighborhood offered an expansive yard and was conveniently located near their children’s schools and a golf course, Jenny was more than up for the creative challenge. “I saw all the potential in the world,” she recalls. Through the full-scale renovation of their established abode, Jenny discovered she had a penchant for design and has since founded Bloom Interior Designs, where she helps clients with everything from styling to remodeling. Though she’s up to speed on all the latest trends, it’s vintage treasures and pieces with priceless sentimental value that capture Jenny’s heart. “I love for everything to have meaning,”…

“It’s always been a dream of mine to have a solarium or conservatory type of space,” says homeowner Natalie Kelly. Growing up in Pennsylvania, she fondly recalls trips to Pittsburgh’s Phipps Conservatory as well as the historic home of Henry Clay Frick, which includes a greenhouse on the property. So, years later, when looking to add another living space to her home, Natalie drew inspiration from her past and the European conservatories that captured her imagination on Pinterest, creating a solarium of her own. When it came to the design, Natalie wanted the space to flow seamlessly with the rest of the home, which was built in the 1920s and features original lead glass windows throughout the first floor. Though a new find, the tiles lend an Old-World charm with…

When Courtney and Nathan Davey discovered their charming 1979 Cape Cod-style cottage in Virginia Beach, Virginia, Courtney, the designer and blogger behind Tuft & Trim, immediately saw its potential for their family. Though the home was dark and dated, she knew its traditional floor plan and classic architectural elements, such as dentil molding, wood beams, and a double brick fireplace, were a strong foundation to build her distinctive vision upon. “My goal for this home was to do all I could to help it reach its full potential,” Courtney says. “I love the traditional design and wanted to come alongside it and highlight its character while also making it our own. My personal taste tends to lean toward French and European antiques, so the interior style became a romantic blend…

As a former buyer of designer clothing for a popular department store, this homeowner gathered inspiration for her English-style cottage while traveling across Europe on business, spending early mornings at the flea markets in London before work, finding interesting pieces and ideas to bring home. When it came time to remodel the kitchen, she remembered all the things she had seen in Europe—from oil-rubbed bronze drawer pulls and porcelain serveware to Staffordshire pottery—never imagining the long-admired pieces would come to her from across the pond. But they did. “They actually came from England,” she says of her favorite features, noting that a local shop was importing a lot of their products during that time. “And they were so much cheaper—instead of being $18 a piece for oil-rubbed bronze drawer pulls,…

If your ideal winter getaway includes sweeping scenic views of snow-covered hills and a historic downtown with a delightful main street, delicious eats, and plenty of things to do, then this charming Vermont town is the place for you! Known for its abundance of outdoor activities, events, and local fare, the quintessential village of Stowe is a premier four-season resort destination. Nestled beside the Green Mountain State’s highest peak, Stowe’s extensive trail system makes this lovely town a great choice for winter activities including alpine and Nordic skiing, snowshoeing, dogsledding, sleigh riding, and more. In addition to outdoor adventures, Stowe also boasts diverse dining options, a lively après-ski scene, and a thriving arts community, creating ample opportunities to meet the needs and interests of the whole family. Grab a cup…