Innholdsfortegnelse for Winter - Spring 2017 i American Farmhouse Style

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE CHILDHOOD CHRISTMAS MEMORY? Maybe it’s baking Christmas cookies with your grandma, helping your dad put lights on the roof or singing carols at a Christmas Eve church service. You probably have a few good memories of gifts you received on Christmas morning. For me, it was the year I received my first American Girl Doll, Samantha Parkington. With her soft, curling brown locks, perfect plaid dress and silky hair ribbon, it felt like all my dreams had come true. That’s the feeling we want to exude when we decorate our homes for Christmas— the magic of possibility and hope. Coming home at Christmastime is a cozy affair, and there’s no better style to achieve that atmosphere than with the down-to-earth farmhouse. Whether you want your farmhouse to…

Wrapping presents can be a timeconsuming and tedious part of the holiday season, but it certainly doesn’t have to be. In Christiane Bellstedt Myers’ new book Scandi Christmas, Christiane gives step-by-step instructions on ways to liven up your Christmas crafting, and includes ways to reuse some of your leftover Christmas materials. Here are a few of her projects to get you started. 6 Homemade COUNTRY CHRISTMAS TOPPERS Make your presents farmhousefriendly with these easy DIYs. • Stitch together a mini stocking out of burlap. The more the edges are frayed, the better (it should look shabby), so no sewing expertise needed! • Cut a print of a famous Americana painting (look to Norman Rockwell or Grant Wood for the best farm scenes) into Christmas tree shapes and use them as…

During December, we’re all dreaming of a white Christmas. Located just outside Toronto, blogger Dannyelle Nicolle-Ramjist of Life is a Party knows a thing or two about walking in a winter wonderland. She isn’t just dreaming of a white Christmas outside; she’s living one inside through a minimalist neutral farmhouse design. SWEET AND SIMPLE Danyelle used the simplicity of Scandinavian décor to inspire the style of her dining room. The neutral palette, painted white walls and wood flooring maintains a clean, uncluttered vibe. “A key to this look is restraint,” says Danyelle. “In the dining room, especially, the table could have been piled on with decorations.” Like freshly fallen snow, the white walls, furniture and décor blanket the room in a cohesive manner. Wood flooring complements the neutral palette and…

November and December are prime months for entertaining, so besides the usual decorations of trees, wreaths and garlands, the kitchen and dining areas should get a refresh for the holiday season. For blogger Maria Marcusse of Rusty Hinge, Christmas in the kitchen is a red affair, filled with antique dishes and other collectibles that make her home ripe for a Thanksgiving feast or Christmas dinner. EVERYDAY AND HOLIDAY Maria’s favorite color is red, so her kitchen has developed a red palette. “The color combination of red and white together is by far my favorite, so naturally, over time, quite a large collection of red and white dishware and kitchen linens developed,” she says. “Our kitchen is red and white all year, but at Christmas, it spills out into the rest…

Christmas evokes images of evenings snuggling under blankets by a crackling fire, warm cups of hot chocolate and the tinsel trappings of the holiday season. Blogger Shannon Ingle of Coffee Paint Repeat presents a Christmas vision of soft neutrals, vignettes from nature and subtle metallic glam to create a rustic farmhouse feel in her Idaho home. A master of DIY, she has the remarkable ability to take an ordinary object and transform it into an elegant and unique piece. By blending natural elements, airy colors and copper tones, Shannon brings together farmhouse style and holiday sparkle to create a distinct and wonderful Christmas feel. COUNTRY COZY Before she begins to decorate, Shannon spends a few days pulling together rustic items she already has around her home and then decides how…

Winter can be dismal, with short days, cold weather and the added inconvenience of snow. But Christmas makes the season more than bearable—it’s magical. For blogger Jennifer Zuri of Town and Country Living, winter is the least friendly season, yet she makes her home cozy and warm with a personalized, vintage Christmas style. “Winter is cold, but I love Christmas and the magic of childhood nostalgia,” she says. “To get in the mood for decorating, I play a lot of carols and light scented candles.” So, with music and the scent of pine filling the rooms of her home, she gets to work. LAYING THE FOUNDATION As an experienced designer, Jennifer begins decorating right after Halloween. With a blog and a dedicated audience of five years, she always needs a…

DIY FARMHOUSE TREE DECORATIONS PAGE 6 For more on Ashley, visit lilblueboo.com. COUNTRY CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS PAGE 8 For more on Barb, visit everydayhomeblog.com. HOMEGROWN FOR THE HOLIDAYS PAGE 14 For more on Lynch Creek Farm, visit lynchcreekwreaths.com. JINGLE BELL RETRO PAGE 20 For more on Jane, visit cottageatthecrossroads.com. O CHRISTMAS TREE PAGE 24 For more on Tree Classics, visit treeclassics.com. 'TIS THE SEASON PAGE 28 For more on Danyelle, visit lifeisaparty.ca. ADVENT TRADITIONS PAGE 32 For more on Suzy, visit worthingcourtblog.com. Bench pillows and cushion: At Home. Visit athome.com. Centerpiece cloche: Target. (800) 642-4235 or target.com. Chandelier: Parrot Uncle. (323) 825-3866 or parrotuncle.com. Dresser turned sideboard: Salvation Army. Metal chairs: Craigslist. Mugs: Hobby Lobby. (800) 888-0321 or hobbylobby.com. Pig head: Antique Farmhouse. Visit antiquefarmhouse.com. Table: World Market. (877) 967-5362 or…

There’s nothing like handmade touches to make a Christmas tree homey and charming. Blogger Ashley Hackshaw of Lil Blue Boo has created her own DIY Christmas tree with ornaments that shout out their farmhouse style. “I love the process of making my own ornaments from scratch each year,” she says. “I don’t really put much planning into the process, I just take advantage of the ideas when they come. One ornament usually leads to another.” Here are a few of her decorations and how you can make them yourself. 1. Miniature Feed Buckets. Start with miniature galvanized buckets. If your buckets are too shiny, age them with a simple mixture of 3 tablespoons vinegar, 3 tablespoons hydrogen peroxide and 1 tablespoon salt. Soak the buckets in the mixture until they’re…

Which is more important: the interior or exterior of your home? Both, of course, which is why a screened-in porch combines the best of both indoor and outdoor living. No one knows that better than blogger Jane Windham of Cottage at the Crossroads, whose festive front porch is a family favorite that’s synonymous with happy holidays. RETRO CHRISTMAS There’s nothing traditional about this Christmas theme. Jane doesn’t use any green, aside from the Christmas tree and other fresh greenery she has tucked in various places around the space. Instead, adorable vintage blue truck ornaments with a nostalgic charm drive Jane’s retro red and aqua color palette. “I absolutely loved these ornaments, so I decided to base the entire theme around them,” she says. No detail is too small, so don’t…

Select Fresh. The best way to keep your tree looking good is to get the freshest tree you can find. Call the tree lot ahead of time and find out when they get in their new shipments, then go that day and request to see the freshest trees. Or better yet, cut one down directly from a local tree farm. Cut it again. If you’re buying a pre-cut tree, cut the trunk again, either at the tree lot or once you get it home. You should cut off an additional 1-2” to allow the tree to soak up more water and stay fresh longer. Get it in water. Once you cut the trunk again, place the tree in water as soon as possible. The first few days, the tree will…

The beauty of farmhouse style is in its natural simplicity, and this idea can translate to your Christmas décor as well. This southern Utah home takes this idea to heart, presenting a charming holiday theme that will foster a warm atmosphere throughout the season. Homeowner and blogger Shonee Smith of Hawthorne and Main combines her creativity with natural elements and DIY projects to create a classic and cozy farmhouse look with a unique modern twist. MODERN TRADITIONAL Though Shonee went with classic Christmas colors, she includes midcentury pieces to incorporate her love of modern design. The dining room is where classic meets modern with midcentury furnishings and plaid accents. Red thrifted snowflake placemats, plaid-covered candles and yellow napkins add pops of color to this table setting for a bright and…

For some, Christmastime conjures up images from black and white films like It’s a Wonderful Life and Miracle on 34th Street. But while Christmas is certainly a time for nostalgia, it’s possible to keep your farmhouse cozy, while embracing a modern approach to the season. Susan Daggett, owner of Kindred Vintage Co., combines the charm of traditional Christmas décor with the chic simplicity of the modern American farmhouse for a look that’s both stylish and warm. STATEMENT, NOT STUFFY “I don’t want my house to look like a museum or an antiques store,” Susan says. “I like the charm that a couple statement pieces bring.” Instead of burying her bookcases under vintage kitschy collectibles, Susan chooses larger antique pieces that will stand out. “I’ll bring in vintage mirrors, a farmhouse…

Make custom tags to tie around your jars, tape to the outsides of tall bowls, attach to toothpicks and insert into candy bowls. After the party, put them away to use again next year. There’s nothing like hot chocolate to banish the cold and create a festive mood. That’s probably why hot cocoa bars are gaining so much popularity in the entertaining world. Blogger Jennifer Carroll of Celebrating Everyday Life has created a darling hot cocoa porch party, and with a little bit of prep, you can host a delicious gathering, too. Use these tips to plan a full-scale Christmas party, a small gathering of friends for lunch or a simple hot chocolate bar next to your coffee maker for your family (and yourself, let’s be honest) to enjoy a…

Give your Christmas tree a farmhouse-style makeover with these rustic homemade ornaments. Blogger Barb Garrett of The Everyday Home has saved her Mason jar lids to give them a greater cause: her holiday home makeover. As Barb says, “Plaid, Mason jar lids, deer and jute. It doesn’t get much more farmhouse and Christmas than that, does it?” SEE SOURCES, PAGE 128. You can also use a Christmas card with a festive design for your ornament cutout. It’s a great way to turn a holiday note into a special keepsake. WHAT YOU’LL NEED: • Mason jar lids • Patterned scrapbook paper • Scissors • Glue • Holiday stickers • Twine • Holly and berries (optional) WHAT YOU’LL DO: 1. To begin, pop the circular disc out of your Mason jar lid.…

The wingback chair started in Europe, but has been part of the American lifestyle for centuries. Also called a fireside chair, it originally appeared in England in the 1600s as seating that would help keep the sitter warm. The “wings” on both sides of the chair back retain heat when it faces a roaring fire. The chair gained popularity after 1720 and traveled with settlers to the American colonies, where it became a staple for colonial manors, farmhouses and town homes. The chair has served as inspiration for many designers over the years, and has spawned several other popular chair types, including the French bergère chair. Our American version is often called the easy chair or grandfather chair. During the Victorian era, the chairs were mostly kept in the bedroom,…

There really is a Christmas look for every taste— even for those who are more neutrally-inclined. Blogger Annie Anderson of Zevy Joy shares her blue and white holiday look to encourage others to do what they love for Christmas, even if it’s out of the ordinary. “I want to share with my readers my passion for creativity, and I hope it inspires them to live within their smaller spaces and have style wherever they are,” says Annie. “I want to show them how to get the joy in every day.” With a 1,300-square-foot home in Washington, Annie knows what it’s like to work with a smaller space. It was built as a midcentury modern home, but over the years, she’s turned it into a modern, elegant farmhouse cottage. “I’m drawn…

For a mother of three married to a United States Marine, the ability to transform a house on base into a haven of comfort and personality is essential. Blogger Norma Giannoni of Paint Me Pink embraces the challenges life throws at her and emphasizes the importance of feeling at home no matter where she travels. Whether she’s in Southern California or across the world in Japan, she uses holiday décor to create a cozy dwelling during the Christmas season. THE GREAT INDOORS Norma remembers her time growing up in Lake Tahoe fondly, and much of her Christmas inspiration comes from that period in her life. Her pinecone wreaths and candleholders, all handmade and real, remind her of walking through town in December. “I could picture myself going back and being…

There’s nothing quite like Christmas to make a house feel like home. After spending seven years renovating their historic farmhouse, homeowners Renée Levander and Robert Jonsson were finally able to spend a Christmas there, and it was worth the wait. The 1,500-square-foot house was made for celebrating Christmas. Its well-kept, old fashioned charm is perfectly suited to the holiday season. It’s not surprising that the couple longed to celebrate Christmas here during the seven years they spent renovating. “ Christmas flowers, trees, candles and stars are lovely, and they suffice. Red creates a warm glow, and it’s cozy.” THE LONG ROAD HOME One could say the house received a third life. It was built in the middle of the 19th century, moved to a rural location in 1928 and stood abandoned…

1. Texture. This living room shows off a lot of texture, from the chippy reclaimed wood wall to the plaid details and shaggy blanket. Incorporate pieces into your Christmas décor that have tactile appeal, such as sheepskin rugs, a pile of firewood by the hearth and a pair of fuzzy slippers waiting for you by the door. 2. Food and drink. Whether it’s a bar cart with your favorite rum, a hot chocolate bar or even just a bowl of chocolates on the table, having treats out when guests come over (or when you come home from work) will make your space feel that much more inviting. 3. Warm items. Part of the cozy feel is having items in the room that will keep you warm. From knitted blankets and…