American Farmhouse Style Summer 2018

There’s one piece of furniture that has traveled with me through various moves: the dresser my parents commissioned from a local craftsman for my childhood bedroom. Growing up, I used it as a surface for my coloring projects, placed our family cat in the drawers to make him a “bed” and hid candy in it to evade my sweet-toothed family. But over 20 years later, it’s still a beautiful, solid piece that I’m proud to use and display. That’s the benefit of local, American-made products—they often have a higher standard of quality and workmanship than those that are imported and mass-produced. When you buy it, you know the piece will last for years, and you have the added benefit of supporting the members of your community and country who are…

3 PRODUCTS TO KEEP COOL THIS SUMMER This fan isn’t just functional, it has plenty of farmhouse style. Cranbrook with light, 52 inch, in mint, $249. (888) 830-1326 or hunterfan.com. Bamboo sheets will keep you cool with their natural, temperature regulating properties. Resort bamboo bed sheets, $239. (800) 884-5815 or cariloha.com. Keep your backyard in style when you host your next summer barbeque. Tres hombres single cooler, $189. (800) 833-5998 or outdoorrusticcoolers.com. BEST EVER LEMONADE Recipe In a pot, heat 4 cups water with ¾ cup sugar and a vanilla bean split in half. Heat until the sugar has dissolved and the water begins to boil. Remove from the heat, put on a lid and let it cool. Remove the vanilla bean, mix in 1 cup lemon juice and 1…

BRIMFIELD Address: 35 Palmer Road, Brimfield, Massachusetts Open: July 10-15, September 4-9 For more information: brimfieldantiquefleamarket.com SHIPSHEWANA Address: 345 S Van Buren St, Shipshewana, Indiana Open: Tuesdays and Wednesdays, May-September For more information: shipshewanatradingplace.com WALNUT ANTIQUE SHOW Address: 513 Pearl Street, Walnut, Iowa Open: June 15-17 For more information: walnutantiqueshow.com 127 CORRIDOR SALE Address: stretches from Addison, Michigan, to Gadsden, Alabama Open: August 2-5 For more information: 127sale.com ROSE BOWL FLEA MARKET Address: 1001 Rose Bowl Drive, Pasadena, California Open: 2nd Sunday of every month For more information: rgcshows.com/rosebowl Important Dates: June 21: Summer solstice • 4th of July: Wednesday this year • July 15: Best time to plant carrots for a fall harvest…

If you’re looking for an attainable DIY project to brighten your outdoor spaces this summer, look no further than your own home. Blogger Claire Armstrong of Pillar Box Blue has repurposed old jeans and food cans into farmhouse-friendly planters. Here’s how you can do the same. WHAT YOU’LL NEED: • Old jeans• Scissors• Cans (try soup cans, vegetable cans and paint cans)• Decoupage material, such as Mod Podge• Sponge brush• Pins• Pebbles• Activated charcoal• Soil or gravel• Succulents of your choice WHAT YOU’LL DO: 1. Cut the hems, seams and waistbands of the jeans into strips so they fit around the can.2. Paint your decoupage material onto the inside lining of a denim strip, as well as the exterior of the can. Wrap the denim strip around the can and…

Words are fundamental to the design of civilization. In Clare Youngs’ new book, Letter Crafts: 35 Creative Projects for Stylish Home Decorations, she provides step-by-step instructions on how to create accents using elements of typography. FIND A FONT The first step is to find the right letter size and font. This won’t be the same for every project. “It might be that the style and thickness of a particular letter work best for that specific project,” Youngs writes. Scour free font websites like 1001fonts.com and fontspace.com for scripts you can download. SIZE AND SHAPE Once you’ve chosen your font, type the letter(s) in a document on your computer and print. You can either use the template as is or use your scanner to adjust the size until it’s as large…

Use these ideas to add literary flair to your home. 1. PRINTS. Set the standard for what you want your home to say—whether a family motto, Bible verse or quote. 2. ENTRYWAY STATEMENTS. Spell out the word “Welcome,” or your family’s initial and hang it in the foyer. 3. BEDROOM INITIALS. Hang an initial over a headboard or rest it on an open shelf. This can be particularly cute in kids’ rooms. 4. FAMILY NAME GALLERY WALL. Add a few handmade letters of your family’s initial to your gallery wall for personalized charm. 5. ROOM LABELS. Designate bedrooms with a hanging letter on the door. It will make the room feel personal to the occupant and act as an indoor wreath. 6. PERSONALIZED GIFT TAGS. Attach a hand-painted letter to…