Innholdsfortegnelse for February - March 2021 i American Farmhouse Style

New years are always bright, hopeful and filled with new plans. Usually I’m bubbling over in January with home improvement ideas for my own home, but this year looks a little different for me because my husband and I just welcomed a beautiful baby girl into our family at Thanksgiving! I’ll be taking a brief hiatus to enjoy newborn snuggles and endure sleepless nights (all worth it, of course). In the meantime, my amazing colleague Kelly McMaster will be steering the American Farmhouse Style ship, and you’re in good hands. So while we’re fresh and hopeful at the beginning of the year, it’s a good time to get thinking about home improvement. What do you want to update this year? Maybe it’s replacing those drafty windows that make your electricity…

A little paint can go a long way toward updating your home, and the same is true for your staircase. This is one of those DIY projects that will take a lot of time and elbow grease, but the results are well worth the effort. Please note that these instructions are for staining the railings and painting the balusters of a wood staircase. WHAT YOU’LL NEED: • Tarps and painter’s tape • Gloves • Cabinet cleaning wipes • Stripper (we recommend the nontoxic CitriStrip; see the sidebar to determine if you need it) • Plastic scrapers (only needed if using stripper; don’t use metal scrapers) • Mineral or stripper wash (optional) • Sandpaper or block at 150–220 grit • Foam or high-quality bristle brush, or lint-free cloth • Wood conditioner…

Editor’s Note: I’m excited to introduce to you Courtney Vettel, our 2021 Brand Ambassador! Courtney is a wife, mom and the vintage collector behind The Vettel Farm blog. She lives in North Dakota with her family. Follow along with her this year as we explore vintage decorating ideas and solutions. A rainbow is a symbol of hope and new beginnings. Often my goals for the new year include some type of organization for our home. At The Vettel Farm, I think vintage items have a place in every home, so why not use them for your office organization too? The possibilities are endless with vintage office storage solutions. CRATES Every office needs a good shelf. A crate of any kind will do, if it has a beautiful vintage patina. When hanging…

BENEFITS OF STANDING: • You’ll reduce the risk of shoulder and back pain.• After eating, your blood sugar levels will return to normal faster.• You’re more likely to move around, which will increase the calories you burn. BENEFITS OF SITTING: • You’ll reduce the risk of leg and foot pain.• Standing doesn’t burn significantly more calories than sitting (8 more per hour).• If you stand all day, you have more likelihood of developing heart disease. BOTTOM LINE. Unless you have a treadmill desk (yes, those actually exist), you won’t burn many more calories standing than sitting. The main reason to get a standing desk is if you have neck or back pain. But the best scenario of all? Alternate between standing and sitting, which will give you some of the…

“We felt it was important to add interest with a multitude of textures, including black cowhide barstools, leather ottomans and vibrant, velvet sofas.” From open floor plans to functional elegance, community is at the center of farmhouse style. That’s what Southern Studio kept in mind when they designed the interior of this home in Charlotte, North Carolina. Southern Studio designers Vicky Serany, Principal Designer, and Elizabeth O’Neal, Senior Designer, shed light on how they got this Southern jewel to sparkle. HOUSE OF MANY TEXTURES The project was a collaboration of talents. Southern Studio worked with builder and developer Mary Ludemann from New Old Custom Homes to craft a modern farmhouse with traditional flair. “We used natural elements of wood, stone and metals to add warmth to the design and incorporated…

• SANDPAPER. As part of the restoration of the original floors, Kayla and her family spent many hours sanding them down. “Who knew it would require so much fine sandpaper to restore 162-year-old floors?” Kayla says. • PAINT. To give their historic home the beautiful, photo-friendly neutral palette it needed, Kayla and her family repainted the interior themselves. “The 10-foot ceilings and original windows required a massive amount of paint,” she says. “Every time we turned around we were buying more.” • FURNISHINGS. Getting pieces that suit both style and function can be a challenge in a historic home. “We had to find unique pieces that would photograph well, yet were durable for the public,” Kayla says. “We found that many older pieces seemed to be the most reliable and…

1. LIGHT UP A ROOM. Don’t underestimate the power of lighting. It’s the jewelry of your home. Exposed light bulbs, mason jar chandeliers and steel pendant lights are all fresh ideas for your modern farmhouse. 2. SHOW YOUR WALLS SOME LOVE. A soft pop of color on an accent wall is a great way to bring in some color without completely overwhelming a room. Cornflower blue, pale mint or buttermilk yellow will bring on the springtime joy after a long winter. 3. LET THE SUNSHINE IN. Install white gauzy curtains over your windows for idyllic country charm. Add blinds behind the curtains for those times when you want a little extra privacy or less sunlight. 4. ALL IN THE DETAILS. If the thought of renovating your kitchen is entirely too…

4 Questions to Ask While Decluttering 1. Why am I keeping this? If the item falls into the “I might need it someday” category, get rid of it. Those “maybes” translate over time into clutter. However, if you have a specific use for it and you know you’ll need it within the next few months, feel free to keep it. 2. Have I used this in the last year? This applies best to functional items like clothes and kitchen utensils. If you haven’t used it in the last year, evaluate whether you’re likely to use it in the next six months. If the answer is still no, give it away. 3. Do I still like this item? Make sure you’re not keeping items you’ve grown away from. Really look at…

Here’s the bottom line: It’s always best to completely remove the old finish by stripping, then sanding. This will allow the new stain to saturate the wood evenly. However, you can get away with just sanding, then staining over the old stain, under the following conditions: 1. Your new finish will bond with the old finish. Typically, oil-based stains and water-based stains are incompatible. 2. Gel stains boast that they can go over a current stain under specific conditions. Follow the directions on the label. 3. An all-in-one stain + poly can go over other finishes in much the same way you cover other finishes with a regular polyurethane. Just consider it a tinted polyurethane.…

1. WHAT WILL YOU USE THE DESK FOR? This may seem simple, but it’s the most important question. Are you someone who works in a creative genre with paints, pencils and paper? Do you need to leave your work out from day to day, or can you have a smaller desk where you put away your items at the end of each work day? 2. WILL THERE BE MULTIPLE USERS AT THE DESK? If so, you might need multiple spots to sit, or if you won’t have more than one user at once, keep a drawer or cubby for each person. For desks with multiple users, also consider how to keep down the clutter so transitions don’t include too much clean up. 3. WHAT WILL YOU KEEP ON YOUR DESK…

Whether you’ve been working remotely for years or just started during the 2020 pandemic, working from home has both benefits and drawbacks. Here are the ins and outs to set up your workspace for long-term success. PICKING A SPACE Ideally, you’d have a dedicated room for your home office, with a full desk at your disposal and a door that can close out pets and kids. But that’s not always the reality when working from home, is it? If you can’t get your own room, think about other areas that you can multipurpose. Choose a space that doesn’t see a lot of use during the day, such as a guest bedroom or your dining room. Do you have empty wall space where you could put a desk? GATHERING ESSENTIALS The…

When you have an opportunity to turn a space into something completely new, it’s not a project to pass up. Seth Ballard of Ballard + Mensua Architecture received a call from longtime friend and landscape architect Kathryn Everett one afternoon. “I have some good news and some bad news,” she said. “The bad news is that I want to put an office in my garden, because I have this garage that we just don’t use. The good news is that I’m going to hire you to design it.” Although Seth had been angling to share an office space with Kathryn, this was one opportunity he couldn’t pass up. OFFICE AND SHOWROOM It was a true Cinderella moment for this garage. Seth transformed an unused garage into a home office and…

• PATTERNS: Lots of décor is fun, but it can be a hazard for little ones. Southern Studio used brightly colored wallpaper to supply the style for this children’s bedroom. “The pattern provides great interest in a small space, so we kept the other design elements clean and uncluttered,” the team says. • TWIN BEDS: If your child loves to have friends over, consider adding an extra bed in the room, or get a trundle bed that has a second bed underneath. The two upholstered twin beds in this bedroom are perfect for sleepovers and still leave room for play. • SIMPLICITY: “Children’s rooms need to have space for personal treasures,” the team says. “So we encourage simplicity.” Whether your child is sentimental or less-is-more minded, every kid has a…

• BE FLEXIBLE. Make sure your venue can accommodate different situations. “You’re celebrating the lives of other people, so you need to be able to be detailed for each specific family,” Kayla says. Her business emphasizes hospitality and taking care of clients’ requests. One way they make their clients feel special is through in-house floral arrangements. “My mother makes them, and no two are the same,” she says. • IT’S OK TO SAY NO. “Don’t try to get all the bookings,” Kayla says. Overcommitting is a temptation, but will ultimately lead to burnout. It can also mean more wear and tear on your venue, with less time for maintenance. Especially for a historic venue, keeping up on repairs and general maintenance is an absolute must. “We have to take care…

• WINDOWS. One of the best improvements in farmhouse architecture over the years is the expansion of window style. In the past, farmhouse design was restricted to smaller, symmetrically placed windows. However, as with architect James Coane’s design, many homes use windows to bring in maximum sunlight and more expansive views. • DESIGN MATERIALS. Many modern farmhouses boast myriad design materials. No longer confined to the classic wood exterior, contemporary architecture often employs other more durable materials, like steel, brick and fiber cement. • BALCONIES. If there’s one thing everyone can count on in a farmhouse, it’s a good porch. Porches and other spaces that offer striking sunset views or still dawn moments are a huge pull for those looking to enjoy the outdoors from the comfort of their home.…

WHAT YOU’LL NEED: • Painter’s tape • Plastic tarp • Level • Pencil • Masking tape (between ½" and ¾" thickness) • Medium putty knife • Premixed joint compound • Water-based primer • Water-based paints of your choice • Larger brush (bristle or foam) • Small (about ½") brush for grout lines • Water-based polyacrylic WHAT YOU’LL DO: 1. Using painter’s tape, tape off any outlets or switches you might have on your wall, as well as the edges of your space and floor. Put down tarps or butcher paper to protect your floors. 2. With a level, draw horizontal and vertical brick lines with a pencil. Once they are drawn, use your masking tape to tape off your “bricks” (the masking tape will become the “grout” between the bricks).…

• VINYL. This is a standard, budget-friendly option that offers energy savings and bang for your buck. “It’s a very energy-efficient material, very low maintenance,” Kathryn says. “They’re welded, framed and fashioned together to be strong, durable and energy efficient.” • FIBERGLASS. “Fiberglass combines energy efficiency with extreme durability,” says Kathryn. “They’re scratch resistant, and they have the lowest expansion and contraction rate, so it’s going to protect your home against extreme heat and cold.” An excellent choice for locations with extreme temperature changes, fiberglass is the strongest window material on the market and is also low maintenance. “You can set it and forget it,” Kathryn says. • WOOD. A top-tier choice, wood windows can add a luxurious, rustic feel. “Wood creates more of a natural look and can be…

1. RENOVATION SIZE. Before you dive into crunching numbers, consider what rooms you want to include in your renovation. Is it just one space? Are you adding on square footage? Is it interior and exterior? “Most builders will be able to give you a good range of the cost per square foot, but the cost is greatly dependent upon how much demolition and reconstruction is needed,” Kara says. “Sometimes that means all new wiring and plumbing, for example.” 2. DESIRED DETAILS. In any budget, there’s room for saving or splurging, depending on what details you want to invest in. “Determining the finishes in a renovation will put you on the lower end or higher end of that range,” says Kara. “For example, custom inset cabinets, quartz tops and luxury appliances…

Alicia Armstrong is a wife, mom and the blogger behind Our Vintage Nest. She and her family live in Arkansas, and over the course of the last five years, she’s grown both in her savvy as a blogger and social media influencer, and in the style of her home. American Farmhouse Style: How did you get involved in the online décor community? Alicia: My journey started in February 2015 as a way to share my love of home décor with like-minded people. I had heard of Instagram being a great outlet for this, and after a few days of exploring, I was instantly hooked! It’s resulted in wonderful friendships, business opportunities and added income for my family. AFS: Why did you choose the name Our Vintage Nest? Alicia: I wanted a name…

From vintage postal sorters and library card filers to hardware drawer cabinets, the possibilities for vintage cubbies are endless. Instagrammer Robyn Huff of Robyn’s French Nest collects vintage cubbies for both use and display in her home. “I’ve always loved little drawers,” she says. Here’s how you can collect them too. HOW TO GET THEM Robyn finds her vintage cubbies at vintage markets and antiques stores. “It’s good to have a relationship with dealers, so if there’s a specific piece you’re looking for, they can keep an eye out for you,” she says. Look for pieces that are sturdy and fit your space. “These are investment pieces, and you aren’t going to find them for really cheap,” Robyn says. “So be patient and make sure you have the right spot…

• THE WHY: When it comes to adding interest to the walls of your home office, one of our favorite options is brick. “In the new ‘Zoom era’ of working from home, brick makes all the difference when viewed in the background of a home office,” says Sonja Tillman, director of marketing for Cherokee Brick. “It adds a layer of class and an inviting air.” • THE WHAT: Brick is a versatile material because you can get it in multiple shades, or even paint it for a whitewashed look. “We have a few colors at Cherokee Brick that have been really popular for indoor use,” Sonja says. “Andersonville is a beautiful red brick with white and black accents, and Old Savannah has neutral tones of browns and pairs well anywhere.…

• DOES MY ZONING ALLOW IT? The first thing to do is find out if your zoning laws allow your garage to be converted into a home office. This can be done by checking your local city or county ordinances. • IS THE STRUCTURE IN GOOD SHAPE? This is critical in determining if the garage can be remodeled or if you would have to build something completely new. Hire a contractor to do a preliminary inspection to see what the design constraints of your property are. • WILL THE CURRENT ELECTRIC AND PLUMBING SITUATION WORK? You don’t want to be running back to the main house to charge your phone or use the bathroom multiple times a day. Plumbing and electrical are necessary for a truly workable home office. Again,…

“We wanted this to be a place where people know they can gather.” “Things you can’t easily replicate inspire us.” Sometimes when you see an amazing house opportunity, you just have to take it. When a historic house in Lynchburg, Tennessee, was put up for auction, Kayla and Dennis White saw an opportunity not only to purchase a bit of local history, but also to fulfill their dream to create the perfect events venue. “After our wedding, we got inspired to own a wedding venue,” Kayla says. With a passion for entrepreneurship and a desire to share the history of the home, Kayla and Dennis spent nearly a year restoring the home to much of its original glory, while also making the necessary updates and adjustments for a functional events…

1. CLEAN LINES. Designing a farmhouse with clean, sharp lines creates a striking silhouette. Farmhouse gables are perfect for playing up angular designs. A steeply pitched gable against a flat metal roof makes for dynamic contrast. Look for where you can draw attention to those lines with color contrasts. For example, black window casings are a geometrically pleasing pop against white exteriors. 2. EXTRA SPACE. One of the biggest perks of industrial farmhouse style is space. High ceilings and open floor plans create a convenient flow from room to room. The expansiveness doesn’t have to feel like a cold warehouse either—with hardwood floors and board-and-batten walls, the design never strays too far from the classic farmhouse. 3. MODERN MATERIALS. Metal, exposed brick, reclaimed wood and exposed pipes are all classic…

1. PAINT. Paint can do wonders for a space, and you can really paint anything—from the walls and floors to the cabinets and furniture. You can even add paint to materials like tile, brick and concrete for a custom look. 2. WALL TREATMENTS. Add an easy accent wall like shiplap, board and batten, faux brick or beadboard. One reason old homes have charm is because they’re full of molding and extra handcrafted details. “You can add that very easily to a builder-grade home for very little money,” Ana says. 3. THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX. “I never anticipated I’d be able to get rid of our ugly brown granite countertops with just a little bit of elbow grease and some concrete,” Ana says. Now their concrete counters are perfectly farmhouse (and…

The home has an open feel, as everything flows from one room to the next. When you’re an artist, you can have an eye for more than just fine art. That was the case for interior designer Amy Cupp. A car accident changed her aspirations from fine artist to interior designer, which led her to New York City and its many antiques malls, flea markets and design centers. “I had originally studied textile design,” Amy says, “so I was very into sourcing all the fabrics and that sort of thing. I’ve pretty much had every creative job in New York City since, from floral design to fancy wedding paper to stationery design.” In 2010, Amy and her husband bought a house in Warren, Connecticut. This charming town in Litchfield County…

Sometimes, you just have to welcome in the new year with a little color. Interior designer and blogger Holliday Johnson of Home with Holliday has a knack for drawing people together. Most often, it’s around one of her gorgeous tablescapes. “You want people to sit and stay and linger,” she says. “It’s part of the whole intent of making a beautiful tablescape.” SAFE GATHERINGS Holliday has a few creative ideas for participating in entertaining celebrations during COVID-19. “This year, you’re going to see smaller gatherings. Outdoors when it can be,” she says. In many ways, the pandemic has made it even more important to curate an environment where people can genuinely connect with one another. “The art of entertaining and sitting around a table for hours has gone by the…

MADE IN AMERICA, PAGE 12 For more on Viewrail, visit viewrail.com. HOME OFFICE HAVEN, PAGE 32 For more on Seth Ballard, visit ballardmensua.com. For more on Kathryn, visit eclgardendesign.com. Cabinets: Cabico Cabinets. Visit cabico.com/en/. General contractor: Rubert Salgado of RC Construction. Lighting: Urban Electric. Visit urbanelectric.com. Wooden beams and pine paneling: Vintage Lumber. (301) 845-2500 or vintagelumber.com. SOUTHERN EMERALD, PAGE 36 For more on Southern Studio. Visit southernstudio.com. Builder: New Old Custom Homes. Visit newold.com. Artwork: Shain Gallery. (704) 334-7744 or shaingallery.com. Foyer bench: Lee Industries. (828) 464-8318 or leeindustries.com. Foyer umbrella stand: Mod Face Vase from Global Views. Visit globalviews.com. Living room sofa, chairs and ottoman: Lee Industries. (828) 464-8318 or leeindustries.com. Living room console: The Old Wood Co. Visit theoldwoodco.com. Living room chair, side accent table: Lorts. Visit…