Innehållsförteckning för French Cottage 2024 #2 från The Cottage Journal

UNMATCHED ROMANCE What comes to mind when you think of France? For some, it’s the sweet aroma of lavender and the rolling green hills of Provence. For others, it’s the gilded glamor of Paris and open-air brocantes filled with one-of-a-kind antiques. Regardless, there’s a reason so many homeowners call themselves Francophiles—and if this issue caught your eye, you’re likely among them. In the pages that follow, you’ll be introduced to homeowners and designers who share your affinity for the elegance of European design and who have translated that spirit into their own homes and creative projects. From an extensive personal collection on display in a historic Texas home to a functional family cottage that pairs storied antiques with practicality, the spaces that follow demonstrate the timeless versatility of French style.…

Scott Renshaw never expected his career to take the turn it did. But when the COVID-19 pandemic compelled him to turn his fully staffed hair salon into a one-man operation, the situation presented an interesting opportunity. “I just introduced antiques into the business,” he says, “and that’s where it started.” “It” was a new endeavor that would turn into a flourishing antiques business—one that eventually moved into the space it now occupies in the Cahaba Heights neighborhood of Birmingham, Alabama. “We specialize in 18th- to 19th-century European antiques,” says Scott, who lived in New Orleans, Louisiana, for 12 years and formed connections with dealers in the area. The shop, dubbed Postmark Paris Antiques, boasts a curated collection that mingles classic pieces with local art for a unique experience from the…

For Texas-based designer Minnette Jackson, being brought on to help update this historic Houston home was an exciting prospect. The homeowners had already hired well-known local architect Dillon Kyle to help expand the footprint of the home, and Minnette was eager to join the team and help “make the house more functional, more livable, but still obviously [consistent] with the original spirit of the house.” As the homeowners were only the second family to live in the house after the original family, the structure was filled with original features, including shiplap walls the homeowners stained a restful blue-gray that Minnette says informed the palette of the whole house. From front to back, the shade is paired with a variety of earthier and warmer tones, each space complementing the hue in…

To find out more about product sources or to contact the design professionals, see credits and contacts listed below. A New Direction Pages 17–22—Featured shop, Postmark Paris Antiques in Vestavia Hills, Alabama. Living the Dream Pages 23–28—Interior designs by Melissa Sturdivant Smith. Page 23—Cornice board, relic panels, side table, and altar sticks from Maison de France Antiques. Mantel clock from Adams Antiques & the Potager. Louis XV-style armchairs upholstered in fabric from Leitner Leinen. Pillows from E Alexander Designs. Antique Oushak rug from At Home Furnishings. Page 24—Intaglios from Belle Gray Designs. Abstract painting by Caroline Gatling. Lamp from Maison de France Antiques. Antique Italian chest from Antiques on Jackson. Page 25—Wallpaper from French Market Collection. Cachepot from Danny’s Fine Porcelain. Page 27—Antique china, barometer, and relic from Maison de…

Melissa Sturdivant Smith can trace her fascination for French style’s unparalleled beauty back to childhood, where her dreams of European travels spent exploring extravagant castles and châteaux took root. Now, as creative director of lifestyle for internationally distributed magazines, those romantic visions are becoming her reality. Newly acquired antiques sourced from her latest excursions find their home amongst cherished pieces procured over the past 20 years from her favorite antiques stores. “I think that the inside of the home should be a reflection of who the owners are on the inside,” Melissa says. “It should be a way of communicating who you are, where you have traveled, and what you are inspired by.” Step inside Melissa’s English Tudor-style home, and you’ll quickly discover her affinity for antiques with ornate, hand-carved…

The founder of Thompson House Interiors, a firm specializing in fine European antiques and original art, Staci Thompson’s own home in Birmingham, Alabama, is a living, breathing testament to her impressive inventory layered into a refined yet entirely inviting family setting. Six years ago, Staci and her husband, Ben, traded their previous historic home for this French provincial abode that would better accommodate their stage of life while still offering a fitting foundation for the trove of time-honored treasures they’ve amassed through the years. “We wanted a more open plan with newer construction to complement our sons’ growing families—[something] comfortable for all,” Staci explains. “I’ve always been drawn to French lines and style … color and gilding, the history and stories behind the pieces. When we bought the house, the…

While it was during her travels to France that the country’s dreamy aesthetic first captured homeowner Debby Shepherd’s heart, it’s her 50 years as an interior designer and experience buying and selling antiques that have culminated in the beautifully layered collection that fills her home. In an effort to be closer to her parents who were in their 90s, she and her husband downsized and remodeled the cottage they’ve now called home for five years. While the layout perfectly fit the majority of her existing pieces, the primary selling point was the fact that there were two cottages side by side for sale. “We were able to purchase both of them and move [my parents] in one and us in the other,” Debby recalls. “We were able to live next…

At the mountaintop home of Mary and Ed Finch, a gentle sloping drive leads to the refurbished 1926 château with established stone walls and walkways. For almost two decades, Mary, who is an interior designer, has collaborated with landscape designer Norman Kent Johnson to design outdoor rooms and intimate spaces in which to enjoy the garden and its scenic views. To begin, the living and family rooms both open onto a charming terrace that connects to the garden rooms. The melon tones used within the home’s interiors are continued in the color palette for the cozy outdoor seating area, which features deep coral-and-white striped canvas upholstery, sisal rugs, and matching hand-painted umbrellas for shade. The French-inspired faux bois side tables and planted terra-cotta containers enrich the setting and complement the…