Innehållsförteckning för Christmas/Winter 2024 från The Cottage Journal

OLD TRADITIONS, NEW FAVORITES One of the most enjoyable aspects of holiday decorating is getting to personalize your décor to reflect your family traditions and individual taste. This issue is a celebration of that, showcasing homes that embrace unique styles and engaging ideas, all while staying true to the spirit of a cottage Christmas. Join us as we explore homes filled with lively colors and creative spins on classic elements, enthusiastically woven in among the traditional beauty that makes the season feel like home. From a professional tree decorator’s custom Christmas cottage and a nature-inspired family home to a French-country kitchen dripping in romantic charm, every space featured within overflows with one-of-a-kind holiday style. So, whether your Yuletide dreams consist of vintage Shiny Brite ornaments and glittering tinsel or a…

With her home in the Preston Hollow neighborhood of Dallas, Texas, dripping in jewel tones, bright artwork, and a blend of old and new, interior designer Lauren Reynolds echoes that same aesthetic when decorating for the holidays. “Christmas doesn’t have to be red and green. I believe that your decorations should reflect what’s already in your home,” says Lauren, founder and principal of Lauren Reynolds Design. “I really believe the magic is in the mix; whether decorating for the holidays or in general, combining new expressions with family heirlooms creates a treasure all its own.” A wreath flaunting oversize, color-rich baubles anchors the front door—a preview of the jewel-box interiors and the living room’s Christmas tree that’s festooned with large, bright glass ornaments. “Years ago, I fell in love with…

While Heidi Parson is used to rolling with the punches, the designer and blogger couldn’t have anticipated the surprise visit that would lead to her family spending the approaching holidays in a brand-new space. “We had been [in our home] barely three years, and this couple from Texas knocked on our door,” she says, recalling their surprise at receiving an offer for the home—and their excitement at the chance to build something new. In the interim, the family settled into a rental not far away—in fact, the brownstone-style townhouse was about a mile down the road and ready for Heidi to work her magic. “We moved the week before Thanksgiving,” Heidi recalls with a laugh. “So, in the middle of this crazy move, I was planning Christmas at the same…

Mere minutes from the location of the Wright brothers’ first flight, in the small coastal community of Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina, artist Elizabeth Corsa finds magic in the natural realm. From mice and cardinals to turtles, lively creatures to sketch abound in these environs. Elizabeth, also known as E. M. Corsa, has loved animals since her youth. She credits the affinity to her parents—her father often took her fishing and strolling through the Massachusetts woods—but she has continued to foster the infatuation by way of illustration. Another passion of hers since childhood, art is the only career Elizabeth has ever pursued, one that began in grade school when she sold drawings of horses. Today, the painter’s primary mode of creation is adding to the artistry of antique books. Whether…

To find out more about product sources or to contact the design professionals, see credits and contacts listed below. Warm Welcome Pages 13–14—Pillows from Piper Classics. Wreath, topiaries, flocked garland, and flocked trees from Balsam Hill. Harvesting Holiday Magic Pages 15–20—Decorations by Annette Thurmon, Azure Farm. Upon the Bough Pages 27–30—Special thanks to interior designer Jan Cash, Birmingham, AL. Christmas Jewel Box Pages 39–46—Interior designs by Lauren Reynolds, Lauren Reynolds Design, LLC. Pages 39–44—“Bubblegum” ornaments by Jim Marvin. Art over mantel by Christy Lee Rogers. Pages 45–46—Colored glassware by Estelle Colored Glass. Painting by Meredith Pardue. A December to Remember Pages 47–56—Decorations by Madison Box Robinson, MBR Trees. Page 55—Christmas wall art by Michael Storrings. Page 56—Primary bedroom tree from King of Christmas. Shades of the Season Pages 57–68—Interior designs…

Nestled an hour north of Atlanta, Georgia, a charming farm has become a beacon of festive flair thanks to the creative vision and keen eye of Annette Thurmon, who maintains Azure Farm alongside her family. Opting out of trend culture, Annette prefers to focus on drawing from the beauty of nature when bringing the magic of Christmas to life in her home. “Every year, my goal is to bring the outside in,” says Annette, who recently released her latest book, Simple Country Living. “I love to be crafty and make it more natural, even if it’s not always on trend. From branches on the mantel to cedar, pine, and pampas grass, it’s fun to forage outside and see what we can find.” For more information, visit @azurefarm on Instagram.…

Marking her last Christmas in her darling first house, Madison Box Robinson wanted to max out her creativity for a holiday home that would be forever sealed in her memory. The professional tree decorator, who’s known for her distinct MBR Trees saturated in holiday finery, begins adorning her personal home in October to reserve the busy holiday season for clients. With a high-low aesthetic, she believes in investing in unique ornaments and quality ribbon and then filling in with lower-cost items. “I typically change my holiday décor each year, but a traditional red color is always present,” says Madison. This year, there was a twist on tradition. Madison had recently painted an entryway table in a powder blue hue, and when she breezily placed a red book on top, the…

For the Cornish family, there’s no scaling back at Christmas when it comes to decking out their home. Heather and Charlie, who endearingly had an ornament wedding shower before marrying, have imparted their deep love of the holidays to their three children. “Everyone has a job and a part in Christmas. The kids recognize it’s a lot of work, but it wouldn’t be Christmas without it,” Heather says. “My husband has let me go crazy with Christmas, and it’s grown every year. We used to have one tree, and now we have four trees.” While everyone plays their merry part, friend and longtime interior designer Lisa Lester of Lisa Lester Designs dresses the home’s trees in ribbons and lustrous fanfare while keeping the holiday décor in line with the home’s…

Growing up in the small Texas town of Nacogdoches, Helen Lary “dabbled in drawing and crafting” but never envisioned herself as a full-time artist. After she and her husband, Jason, purchased their first home in Dallas, something stirred inside her. “I wanted to commission a piece of art for our house, but we didn’t have a lot of money to spend; so I decided to try my hand at it,” she explains. The practice took root, and she couldn’t put her brush down. Stealing hours after her three young children were in bed, she began to paint canvases, and her business, Helen Lary Art, was slowly born through word of mouth. “Colors bring me joy,” says the artist, who offers canvases, works on paper, and prints in a range of…

Two days before the Christmas of 1848, The Illustrated London News featured an engraving of Queen Victoria, husband Prince Albert, and five of their children standing around a tabletop tree bedecked in sweets, candles, and decorations from the prince’s native Germany. Upon seeing this picture-perfect holiday celebration, the English-speaking world embraced the tradition of dotting their branches with glass globes. The original kugels, a German word meaning “sphere,” were invented in the town of Lauscha, known for its glassmaking since the late sixteenth century. Here, smiths used a metal pipe and various molds to blow the material into round balls and eventually hollow figures. To create a lustrous finish, the inside was silvered by a special liquid coating. At first, mercury was tried, but it did not adhere well, so…

Cheerful hues and meaningful treasures greet you the moment you step foot into Kate Evans’s Birmingham, Alabama, home. “The biggest compliment I can receive is, ‘Your house makes me happy,’ and, for me personally, color makes me happy,” she says. With a background in advertising and print styling, Kate’s talent for décor is inherent. “I always say I like to help others fluff. I’m not a decorator, but I like to help people make their home theirs,” she says, adding that she does so with a budget-conscious approach that often incorporates vintage finds as well as family heirlooms. This natural ability was key when she and her husband, Hunter, began to build a home in the Lake Wilborn neighborhood to share with their three children, Henry, Mial, and Rhen. Kate…

Hosting her large family at Christmas for the first time in her new home, Cheri Dalgleish wanted everything to be perfect. Typically, when decorating, she’d reference pictures from the previous year, where everything had its place. But with a new, smaller home, she was overwhelmed by the enormity of the ornaments and décor stored in her attic. Cheri sought help from Wes Hoglund, creative lead and events specialist at Dorothy McDaniel’s Flower Market, to work some Christmas magic. “Wes basically went shopping in my attic and used almost everything. I asked him to make it feel personal yet elegant,” says Cheri. “He moved things around in such a unique way.” Repurposing someone’s existing holiday treasures and making them shine is something Wes takes joy in. “Looking at clients’ holiday décor,…