Innholdsfortegnelse for April/May 2019 i American Farmhouse Style

Here’s a secret to instantly expand the usable square footage of your home: Think of your outdoor spaces as rooms. While you obviously won’t be relaxing outside with a cocktail in December or January, spring weather is peeking through the clouds, and now is the perfect time to reevaluate your outdoor areas for livable spaces. From dining and relaxing to gardening and playing, your backyard or patio presents additional warm weather options for everyday living. Try your hand at gardening this year with a mini meadow (page 12), vegetable garden (page 120) or even an indoor herb garden (page 10). Take your entertaining outdoors (pages 24 and 116), create a getaway for yourself in the backyard shed (page 124) and bring the budding world inside with fresh bouquets (page 22)…

When you picture a meadow, you may imagine a large expanse of grass and wildflowers in a faraway wilderness. However, you can bring the beauty of a meadow to your backyard, or even to a flower box on the roof of your apartment building. Mike Lizotte, author of Mini Meadows: Grow a Little Patch of Colorful Flowers Anywhere around Your Yard, defines a meadow as “a place that isn’t necessarily dominated by grasses but that includes all kinds of plants, both native and not, perennial and annual.” Mini meadows have a more natural look than the manicured flowerbeds in front of many homes, and are also easier to maintain. Here are the steps you need to plant a beautiful meadow no matter where you live. Pick Your Plot Decide where…

• HANGING. If you have rafters in your patio, add a few hanging plants for color at eye level. Pothos, begonias, fuchsias, geraniums and black-eyed Susan vines will all spill over their pots and create lovely hanging globes in your outdoor space.• EVERGREENS. Most covered porch and patio spaces will be in the shade, so look for plants with dark leaves that thrive without direct sun. A few great options are ferns, hostas, Japanese forest grass, aeonium succulents and coral bells.• FLOWERING. Blooming plants are a must for any garden space. A few ideal species are kalanchoe, African violets, false shamrock, bush lily, pansies and petunias. Make sure you know how much sun your space gets so you can take care of your plants properly. Often, if a plant doesn’t…

For landscape designers, the yard is equally as important as the home. Such was the case for Teryl Ciarlo, designer and owner of Teryl Designs Landscaping. When she first spotted a 1930s home in Los Angeles, California, she was drawn to its “old tradition charm and the big, beautiful yard.” As she surveyed the grounds, she envisioned a profusion of boxwood globes, climbing roses, fruit trees and a vegetable garden, all executed with organic gardening techniques. GARDEN TO TABLE Teryl describes her landscaping style as “clean and mostly symmetrical.” However, when she and her family first moved into the home, the yard was anything but clean and symmetrical. Instead, it was a shady mess of ferns and overgrown shrubs. “There was no structure,” Teryl says. “The garden was a work…

1. HYACINTHS. These bright, multicolored flowers have both fullness and height. They look especially dreamy spilling over the edge of a white porcelain pitcher.2. RANUNCULUS. These bulb-like flowers come in an assortment of delicious pinks for the perfect spring aura. For a different look, arrange them in a tray on top of a dresser.3. TULIPS. The essential spring flower, tulips fill tall vases and vessels perfectly. Add them to your dining room table or coffee table.4. DELPHINIUMS. Another flower with height, the vibrant blue-violet of these flowers is great for spring in any home. Add a bouquet of them to a neutral space to add color.5. PEONIES. Delicate and feminine, you can add peonies to your home for extra charm in the spring. Try a bouquet of them on the…

1. ARCHITECTURAL AESTHETICS. “This is as much a matter of architecture as it is interior design. The use of stone and wood in this particular home was driven by function, interior aesthetics and the architecture.” 2. OUTDOORS TO INSIDE. “We extended the exterior stone into the main living space because the two-story volume was the anchor of the home from which the other spaces extended. When walking in the front entry (which is mostly glass), I wanted you to be able to see the stone walls continue all the way through from exterior to interior.” 3. SHIPLAP. “There is quite a bit of shiplap in the public spaces. This was as much about durability as it was the aesthetic appeal.” 4. LONG-TERM MAINTENANCE. “They have four kids, and limiting sheetrock…

WHAT TO BUY “Our tip here is to only put in what you love—things that are not only trendy, but that mean something to you and your family,” Holly says. “These are the messages you and your family will remember forever, so make sure they’re good ones.” WHERE TO BUY As an avid Instagrammer, Holly frequents this social media platform for her decorative needs. Here are five makers she likes to buy from: 1. Harper Grayce Signs @harpergrayce 2. Pine and Birch @pine.and.birch 3. Holly B @shophollyb 4. Two Daughters’ Heirlooms @2daughtersheirlooms 5. Walls of Wisdom @wallsofwisdom WHY TO BUY Besides the beauty of these signs, Holly buys them to support the American farmhouse community. “We love these shops because they are small shops run by likeminded women, who are…

WHAT YOU’LL NEED: • Non-toxic paint stripper, such as Citristrip • Gloves • Plastic paint scraper • Wire brush • Sandpaper • Microfiber cloth • Paint • Paintbrush WHAT YOU’LL DO: 1. STRIP THE OLD PAINT or varnish from the mantel. Make sure you open the windows to get enough ventilation, even with a non-toxic stripper. Working in sections from top to bottom, apply a generous layer of stripper and let it sit according to the manufacturer’s instructions. 2. SCRAPE THE PAINT OFF with a paint scraper. Be gentle and take your time to prevent damaging the wood underneath. For small crevices, use a wire brush or the end of a very blunt knife. You may need to repeat these first two steps until the paint or varnish is off…

• EMBRACE NEUTRALS. Before you select your vibrant hues, consider your backdrop. You can easily introduce splashes of hot pink or neon orange within a calm environment of whites and creams.• USE DARKS SPARINGLY. You can use subtle touches of brown, navy and black to transition from one space to another. These darker shades act as a palette cleanser before you step into the next room.• ADD POPS OF PASTEL. Use blue, green and teal for a soothing effect, pink and violet for a romantic allure and pale orange and yellow for a sunny and upbeat vibe.• SPREAD ‘EM OUT. Lauren is a strong believer that the home should reflect its owners, and thus, her rule of thumb is to use what you love, no matter what. If it feels…

1. CUPOLA CONSTRUCTION IN YANKEE BARN’S WAREHOUSE. “Due to our unique panelized shell construction process, much of the building work is done ahead of schedule in our shop,” says Jeff. “This saves the client time and money on the job site.” 2. SHELL DELIVERY AND LOAD-BEARING WALLS. Shell package components arrive by truck to the build site. As this is considered a partial post and beam shell, load-bearing walls are supplied by Yankee Barn Homes and put up prior to the frame and wall panels. 3. PANEL INSTALLATION. Then the panels are assembled on the foundation with ease. The majority of Yankee Barn Home shells are assembled and weather tight in 10 days or less! 4. STRUCTURAL PROGRESS. With most of the initial shell structure complete, the True Roof ™…

The warm spring air and smell of fresh herbs make outdoors the perfect place for a spring party, whether you're hosting Easter or Passover, or want to celebrate a birthday. Author and designer Jenni Kayne shares how you can create a stunning outdoor party setting, filled with good food and inviting décor in her new book, Pacific Natural: Simple Seasonal Entertaining. NATURE Once it starts to warm up outside, take the party outdoors. “Change things up and find a unique place to eat,” Kayne writes. “Have friends help move the table outside for a change of scenery.” The outdoors can be a source of unlimited inspiration, so let your landscape speak to you when decorating for the festivities. Take advantage of the plants growing in your garden for the menu,…

• ATTRACT BUTTERFLIES. They love nectar-rich flowers. There are also certain plants that butterflies lay their eggs on. Try planting sunflowers, magnolia, prairie clover or hollyhocks. Each of these attracts different types of butterflies and will look beautiful in your meadow.• HELP HUMMINGBIRDS BUILD THEIR NESTS. “Hummingbirds are most attracted to plants with long, tubular blooms in shades of red, orange, blue and yellow,” writes Lizotte. Zinnias, bee balm, and golden aster are good options. You can also plant leafy trees, ornamental grasses and plants with soft seedpods (like milkweed) to give hummingbirds materials to create their nests.• BUILD A BEE HOTEL. Depending on what bees are native in your area, a bee hotel may be a great option to provide a habitat. An easy option is to find an…

A PORCH SWING IS THE PERFECT ACCESSORY FOR RELAXING OUTDOORS. The front porch has always been a popular hangout spot for any farmhouse because it serves as a transitional leisure space between indoors and outside. Especially during the summer, farmers and their families sat on the front porch after dinner to escape the heat that had built up inside, and the porch served as a space where they could visit with neighbors after the labor of the day. Today, the porch swing serves as both a space for leisure, and a charming accent visible from the road.…

Once mild weather comes, it’s the perfect time to evaluate your outdoor spaces and make sure you’re using them to their full potential. Here are the three steps to creating a beautiful and useful outdoor room. 1. DETERMINE FUNCTIONALITY. First, as with any room plan, decide what you want to do in the space. Will you be entertaining? Do you want a place to sit with a cup of iced tea while you supervise your kids? Look at your space to see how it might best fit those needs. If you want to be able to work on your laptop while overseeing playtime, you’ll need seating in the shade so you can see your laptop screen, but also have a view of the yard. If you want to entertain, make…

• SNAILS AND SLUGS. Just one word: eggshells. Simply save the shells from your morning omelet and let them dry out for a few days, then break them up into small pieces and scatter them around your plants. The snails and slugs won’t want to cross the sharp pieces.• INSECTS. For bugs who love to nibble on your lettuce leaves, make a homemade deterrent spray that won’t harm you. Mix cayenne pepper powder with garlic powder and liquid soap in a spray bottle with water, then simply shake and spray. Note that not all insect species are deterred by these ingredients, but this should work against most common garden insects.• RODENTS. Squirrels and chipmunks, in particular, don’t like the strong smell of onions and garlic, so plant these around the…

WHAT YOU’LL NEED: • Botanical prints • Wood slats, ½-1 ½” wide (4 per print) • Craft glue • Clamp, or objects to clamp • Measuring tape and pencil • String or twine • Hot glue gun and glue WHAT YOU’LL DO: 1. Make sure your botanical illustrations are printed on cardstock for durability and thickness. You can find downloadable prints from an assortment of websites and bloggers. Desiree found hers from the blog Blesser House and printed them professionally on 11x17” cardstock with a white border.2. Cut the wood slats. Measure the width of your prints, add one inch and cut the slats to size. There should be ½ inch extra on each side of the print.3. Using craft glue, adhere two slats to the top of the print…

• DIVIDE AND CONQUER. Compartmentalize your outdoor living space, with each section serving a different purpose. Brad and Holly separated their backyard patio into a dining area and a living area with an outdoor cooking space currently in the works.• MAKE IT COMFORTABLE. Farmhouses, with their old-fashioned features, certainly lend themselves to a cozy atmosphere. So throw down outdoor rugs and fluff outdoor pillows to make your outside area just as homey as inside. Just don’t forget to cover the pillows and cushions or bring them inside when they’re not in use—they’ll last much longer that way, and they won’t become an insect hidey hole.• WHEN IN DOUBT, MOVE IT OUT. If your patio is too small to accommodate your outdoor living needs, you may want to consider enlarging the…

If you’re looking to buy a home that will work with farmhouse style, colonial is a great choice. The two styles have a lot of cross-over, especially in the fact that both originate in America. Colonials were particularly popular from the 1600s to mid-1800s. Keep an eye out for these traditional details. 1. SYMMETRY. Colonial homes boast symmetry. You’ll notice that the front door is almost always in the center, with windows evenly spaced around it. It will typically open into a hallway that leads to the different rooms, similar to the mudroom-to-entryway opening of a farmhouse. 2. EXTERIOR SIDING. Colonial homes often have clapboard siding, which is also a farmhouse staple, and you’ll find many with brick, too. Clapboard creates clean, horizontal lines that subtly dress up the home,…

HIGH VS. LOW. Vaulted ceilings create a spacious, open-air quality, which is particularly useful in a smaller house. It’s also a good choice if you like to play host. However, sometimes homeowners feel that a high ceiling backfires because it makes the house feel too big. So if you’re going for a cozy and comforting vibe, consider a low-hanging ceiling instead. PATTERNED VS. PLAIN. Add pattern and texture to the ceiling to upgrade a room from simple to sophisticated. This design strategy works well in rooms with monochromatic walls and minimalist furniture. On the other hand, rooms with funky furniture or wainscoting can feel overwhelmed by a busy ceiling. But that shouldn’t stop you from playing with different shades of color.…

• HANGOUT HEADQUARTERS. Everyone needs a designated hangout spot for “tea in the morning, happy hour at four and the occasional slumber party,” Whitney writes—your private space to catch up with friends. Personalize it to your own style and make it a space you’ll never want to leave.• ART STUDIO. “Creative types need their space, and ordinary just won’t do,” Whitney writes. Incorporate lots of storage options for your art supplies, as well as an open work space. Decorate with your favorite pieces to keep you inspired in your creative pursuits.• GARDENING WORKSHOP. Expand on the idea of a greenhouse and garden shed to explore your gardening endeavors. Store pots, gloves, carts and tools, and use the space to start seedlings in early spring or keep a work area for…

If you’ve ever wanted to grow an indoor herb garden or spruce up your indoor herb collection, now is the perfect time. Tabitha Blue of Fresh Mommy Blog designed a hanging garden for her indoor herbs. “When you walk through the doors of our Fresh Collective studio, you look right into the kitchen area and at the side of a big refrigerator,” she says. “I wanted to create something that was more aesthetically appealing to see without building a wall.” The project is ideal for small kitchens or even a covered patio. Here’s how you can do it yourself. WHAT YOU’LL NEED: • Five ½” wood planks, 24” long x 5 ½” wide• Pencil and ruler• 3 ½” hole saw• Drill and bits• Eight 3/16” threaded rods, 36” long• Paint…

TOOL BOX Depending on the swing you purchase, it might come with hardware, or you may need to buy the chains/ropes, eye bolts, screw eyes and hooks separately. Hanger kits are also readily available with all the necessary hardware. CHAIN OR ROPE? Chains and ropes are both ideal for hanging, and your choice will depend on which fits your style best. However, because you can count chain links, it’s easier to make the porch swing level with them. (You can also wrap the chain links with rope for a mixed look.) HANGING BASICS First, allow 2-3 feet in front and behind the swing so there’s enough space for movement. Also, make sure your space has a structural beam overhead to support the swing. To avoid splitting the wood, drill pilot…

• FOR NEW WOOD. Start with a sturdy primer, followed by a general-purpose paint. If the piece will be sitting in the sun and you’re worried about bright colors fading, try an exterior house paint, or better yet, a boat paint. These will be expensive, but will last for years without fading.• FOR METAL AND WICKER. Most types of general-purpose paints will work on metal or wicker. Feel free to use a spray paint, which can give you a smoother finish, especially for wicker with all its nooks and crannies.• FOR PLASTIC. For plastic, you’ll need a plastic-specific paint because of its smooth surface. Often this is acrylic latex paint. There are some craft paints designed specifically for plastic as well.• FOR PAINTED WOOD AND METAL. If your piece already…

What’s better than renovating your home? Having a life partner along for the ride. For Instagram couple Holly and Brad Lauritzen of Our Faux Farmhouse, DIY may just as well stand for “Duo it Yourself.” Together, they’ve crafted their way around their Texas home, creating everything from wood paneled walls to beds for their children. This charming home is one DIYnamic farmhouse, as Holly and Brad continue to bring their dreams to life. CREATIVE COUPLE “Our first home was a small 1947 ‘rambler’ which had a basement that we sublet as an apartment,” Holly says. “It was then that we began our DIY renovation home design journey.” Along the way, each partner has developed a definitive role in the creative process. “Most of our ideas we dream up in our…

“Switching up the little details makes a huge difference and keeps things exciting.” Tip YOU DON’T HAVE TO LIMIT YOURSELF TO ONE REDESIGN. AMANDA HAS CHANGED THE COLOR OF HER MANTEL SEVERAL TIMES. SEE IF YOU CAN SPOT BOTH SHADES IN THIS ARTICLE. Have you ever wondered about the potential of a foreclosed fixer-upper? Looking at the home of Amanda Becker, the blogger behind Sincerely, Marie Designs, you’d never guess that the colonial home was foreclosed and deemed unlivable by the bank. This is the Becker family’s second fixer-upper, and Amanda recalls that when she first stepped into the home, “it was an absolute disaster. The four-bedroom, three-bath house had to be gutted completely, and most of the flooring had to be ripped out.” Despite these downsides, she fell in…

How do you freshen up traditional farmhouse style in 2019? With modern twists and lovable quirks, of course. That’s exactly how designer Lauren Elder of Lauren Elder Interiors accomplished this well-balanced and beautiful residence in rural Kentucky. PRESERVING HISTORY Though the homeowners Jeff and Sherrie Harris have spent a lot of time in Nashville, Tennessee, they ultimately felt compelled to return to their roots and their extended family, in Owensboro, Kentucky. But the location of the house is not its most meaningful feature. Lauren helped Jeff and Sherrie incorporate pieces of their past into their brand new home. In fact, the couple owns two family farms, and they sprinkled the wood from one of their barns throughout each room. “The wood creates a warm and cozy feeling, and it transforms…

WE’VE PARTNERED WITH GOLDEN LIGHTING FOR THE INTERIOR LIGHTING IN THIS HOME BECAUSE OF THEIR QUALITY, VARIETY AND, OF COURSE, THEIR FARMHOUSE STYLE. HERE ARE THEIR TIPS TO ENSURE YOUR LIGHTING CHOICES REMAIN COHESIVE THROUGHOUT YOUR HOME. 1. METAL MATCH. “You will need fixtures that are similar in look, style and metal finish,” says Danielle Dzurik, Creative Director of Golden Lighting. This is especially true if you have an open floor plan, as you’ll be able to see the lighting across multiple spaces. 2. EXISTING FEATURES. “Think about the current furniture, walls, knobs and hardware,” says Danielle. “Then look for light fixtures that you love that are similar to the existing contents of your home in style and metal finish.” For example, if your kitchen cabinet knobs are black, consider…

• MATERIALS. Kranz recommends only using untreated wood, as it’s the most natural way to build a raised bed garden. If you’re worried about the wood deteriorating, opt for a hardwood, such as redwood, that can last 20 years untreated. While treated wood and metal can prevent rot and insects, the chemicals that reside in them also reach the soil. What goes into the soil goes into the food we eat.• BUILDING. The ideal height of your raised bed garden is 18-24 inches. The length is completely up to you. As far as width, Kranz recommends not going wider than 4 feet, as it becomes too difficult to tend to the middle section of the garden. The bottom of the raised bed garden should be open to the ground below,…

DIY HANGING HERBS PAGE 10 For more on Tabitha, visit freshmommyblog.com. SUSTAINABLE STYLES PAGE 16 For more on Pioneer Millworks, call (800) 951-9663 or visit pioneermillworks.com. FLOWER FROG FRENZY PAGE 22 For more on Leslie, visit my100yearoldhome.com. RETRO REDO Page 30 For more on Karl, visit designstudiowest.com. BACKYARD GARDENING PAGE 34 For more on Teryl, visit teryldesigns.com. Plants/trees: Boxwood globes, potted ficus, pittosporum, Meyer lemon tree, pink lemonade tree, Lobelia flowers, fig tree. Teak chairs: Restoration Hardware. (800) 762-1005 or restorationhardware.com. FARMHOUSE IN BLOOM PAGE 38 For more on Desiree, visit camelotartcreations.blogspot.com. Botanical prints: Blesser House. Visit blesserhouse.com. Countertops: Instant Granite. (404) 228-6329 or instantgranite.com. Furniture paint: Fusion Mineral Paint. Visit fusionmineralpaint.com. Light fixture kits: Michaels. (800) 642-4235 or michaels.com. LONE STAR TREASURE PAGE 52 For more on Sarah, visit…