Innholdsfortegnelse for December 2021 - January 2022 i Cottages and Bungalows

COULDN’T WE ALL USE MORE GOODNESS AND LIGHT IN OUR LIVES? It may not be possible to control the state of the world at large, but we can influence the ambience within our four walls, and Christmas time is the perfect time to bring in goodness and light. We traveled the country to peek inside homes glimmering with gorgeous décor, from snow-laced homes in Connecticut and Massachusetts, to sunny California, the plains of Kansas and the heart of Dixie, Alabama. These ladies sure know how to make a welcoming, festive home, and we know you’ll find ideas to try in your own home. We also loaded up our shopping guide for all the guys and gals on your list along with the couples in your life and those who love…

• Barndominium: The term was originally used in 1989 by real estate developer Karl Nilsen, who envisioned a community based on equestrian activities and homes built from metal barn shells in Colebrook, Connecticut. Conversions of all sorts of rural structures have now become popular across the country. • Redwood: Redwood is known for its durability and weather resistance, as well as its resistance to insects and UV rays. Even unpainted, its characteristic red look is fun and easy to maintain with just a coat of sealant.…

4 Simple Dos and Don’ts: 1. Don’t style every space with perfect symmetry. Do look for ways to combine symmetry (sconces and chairs) with asymmetrical décor (off-centered sign). 2. Don’t be afraid to bring in large pieces, even to a smaller space. Do have fun with oversized pieces that make a statement. 3. Don’t always space out your collections. Do make the most of collections by grouping them together. This makes more of an impact and becomes a great conversation starter for holiday guests. 4. Don’t forget your walls for Christmas decorating. Do bring life to your décor by drawing the eye up. Windows, walls and doorways framed with winter greenery exude the feeling of “abundant comfort and joy” for the season.…

Emily shares her recipes and cookie-decorating techniques from basic to advanced, along with proper storage and freezing tips. Emily Hutchinson started baking at five years old and has since expanded her work to collaborate with well-known entities like the Hallmark Channel and Rachael Ray. Her latest book, Creative Cookie Decorating for Everyone: Buttercream Frosting Recipes, Designs, and Tips for Every Occasion, is a flawless combination of instructional and inspiring prose for bakers looking to level up their cookie-decorating skills this holiday season. “Practice and diligence make perfection,” she writes. “Show yourself grace and keep going. You might have a talent you didn’t even know was there.” Emily introduces her top tips for all cookie making, her go-to brands for gluten- or dairy-free baking and how long to freeze cookies or…

Inspiration can come at times from the most unexpected places. When homeowners Robert and Linda Hanna tasked designer, general contractor and owner Valerie Helgeson of Design Directions with their cottage kitchen remodel, they knew they wanted a more functional flow to the space that preserved some of the unique design features of their home. They chose a muted, timeless green for their cabinets because green was Linda’s favorite color, and the tone matched a much-loved mustard sweater. “My inspiration comes from many things, and I love many different styles, but mostly I love simplicity,” Valerie says. “What we specialize in is helping the client end up with a beautiful, finished product that’s current and classic, refined and reflective of what they really love.” REVAMPING THE LAYOUT From the outset the…

Snow White is more than a Disney character to homeowner Caroline Bivens. It’s a state of mind and the foundation for her Christmas décor’s color palette. While winter’s snow may be cold to the touch, indoors the color creates a warm, peaceful ambience. “I wanted the rooms to have a feeling of wintry warmth for Christmas,” Caroline says. “My home is mostly white, so when I add greenery, the green tones really pop, and it feels like you’re outside on a snowy day. However, I love being warm and cozy, so I use wood tones and 90 percent of the time I have candles lit and a fire going. It’s a calming feel that lets the beautiful elements speak on their own. It really looks magical!” “My home is mostly…

WHAT YOU’LL NEED: • Canvas• Sponge brush• Small bowl of water• ½-inch nylon artist brush• Palette knife• Sheetrock mud• Paint (gray, tan, green, white and black) WHAT YOU’LL DO: 1. Paint your background. Using a damp sponge brush, apply some tan paint to the top of your canvas to create the sky. Rinse out your brush and then apply green paint to the rest of the canvas. Don’t be afraid to create brush strokes and have lighter/darker areas for depth. You want a messy look. 2. Using the damp artist brush, add touches of gray paint to the sky and the bottom of your canvas to create a snowy ground. Then, shape your trees using plain green paint and some green paint mixed with black to look like branches. 3.…

Festive holiday rooms don’t have to be decked out from floor to ceiling in red and green to feel like Christmas. The traditional holiday palette has opened up to a gentler side of red and green, like dusty rose, chippy whites and blush, which can add a surprising magical touch without looking overly precious. We asked Jo-Anne Coletti, an accomplished author and artist, about the signature romantic style that she seems to create so effortlessly in her 1820s Federal Colonial home in Marshfield, Massachusetts, which she shares with her husband, Mark. Cottages & Bungalows: How do you choose the main colors for your holiday décor? Jo-Anne: Decorating your tree and home for the holidays should be selective and personal. Just as with the furnishings and colors you’ve chosen to style…

Set in the quaint town ofNorwich,U.K., is a charming red-brick cottage carefully restored by photographer, stylist, content creator and blogger Tamsyn Morgans. A single mom (of Lola,16 and Finlay, 13), Tamsyn began her blog in 2013 and very quickly turned it into a place where readers could be inspired. “I share my journey of moving into my house that needed a lot of love (with not a lot of cash), and how it has evolved into a beautiful, eclectic home using reclaimed and vintage pieces thrifted from car boot fairs and auctions,” says Tamsyn. Tamsyn is not just a photographer; she is a storyteller too, conveying emotions and narratives through her creative lens. Her storytelling has earned her the Best Use of Photography award at the Amara Interior Blog awards…

Hi friends ! Happy Holidays! It is with so much emotion that I write this, my last column as the 2021 Brand Ambassador. Having this honor was a dream come true and an incredible experience I will never forget! Thank you for all your kindness and support. Thank you for your friendships. I hope you have felt my love, and I also hope you’ve found inspiration in my columns. I look forward to staying connected. Love you lots and lots. I’m not going to lie: Setting up and styling a Christmas tree in August was awesome. I had so much fun! I quickly decided I wanted to decorate our tree the same way I style all the spaces in our home, with my favorite mix of old and new. I…

1. Don’t Settle. “Take your time selecting the elements you’ll be using, and make sure you really love the selections and that they love each other,” Valerie says. Collect samples, swatches and even create an inspiration board to determine what works and what doesn’t. 2. Create Character. “Architectural elements give the design character,” Valerie says. “If the home doesn’t have any interesting architectural features, add some.” Put in some shiplap, exposed beams or a unique door to create a space brimming with charm and visually interesting elements. 3. Mix It Up. “I love pairing wood cabinets with painted cabinets; it brings so much warmth to a kitchen and just feels organic,” Valerie says. A wet bar, coffee nook or island is the perfect opportunity to use a different finish than…

WHAT YOU’LL NEED: Plastic or metal bucket Water Large cup or jug (the bottom must be wider than the bottom of a champagne bottle) Garnishes WHAT YOU’LL DO: 1. Plan ahead when making this ice bucket because it takes a couple of days to complete. 2. Start with a large bucket. This could be an ice bucket or a plastic bucket you already have. This bucket will form the shape of your ice bucket. 3. Add two inches of water and add some of your garnishes. Some fun holiday ideas are cranberries, oranges, fresh greenery, herbs and foil confetti. 4. Put the bucket in your freezer until it is solid. Once your first layer is solid you will start on the second, but you need to begin to create a…

When it comes to decorating for the winter months, Pamela uses her existing palette goes from there as a baseline and . There’s no place that conjures up the idea of a cozy Christmas quite like New England, where this charming home is located. Pamela Dyer and her husband, Lance, are true lovers of their home state of Connecticut and the region they call home. They built their three-bedroom, two-and-a-half bathroom home in 1998, and it’s continued to evolve over the years as their children have grown up and Pamela has redecorated. For her, decorating for Christmas in New England is an important and specific endeavor. “I just love New England very much,” she says, “I grew up in a traditional colonial in Ridgefield, Connecticut, and New England to me…

Traditions are important to Lisa Rocco, who is the mom of three grown sons, a former kindergarten teacher and a home stylist who documents her design projects for her eager following on Instagram (@asimplystylednest). “During my childhood, my mom always spent a great deal of time making Christmas special and magical, from the way she decorated to the yummy things she baked, and I have continued this tradition in our home from the beginning with our family,” Lisa says. No matter where they were living, she made the holidays just as special as her mother did for her by decking the halls. Now, after a two-year hunt, she and her husband have a forever home for the holidays: a traditional ‘90s custom build on Lake Wylie in Charlotte, North Carolina.…

Our 2021 Brand Ambassador, Toni Mogensen, shares her gorgeous holiday table, using the Christmas printables available for free download on our website at cottagesandbungalowsmag.com. We asked Toni to give us insights into the inspiration behind her inviting tablescape. CB: What was the overall ambience you were aiming for with your tablescape? TONI: I was going for those rustic and romantic vibes! I wanted the table to be super festive with lots of interesting layers for the holidays. I like for my family and friends to sit down with a little bit of awe and have details to feast their eyes upon. I always include flowers and candlelight but also wanted to include my sparkly vintage ornaments runner, oodles of ribbon and the pretty printables from Cottages & Bungalows, of course.…

Everyone deserves a home that exudes coziness, and Liz Marie Galvan has “Now more than ever I believe that tranquility within our homes inspires tranquility within our souls .” created an accessible and affordable path to a cozy cottage feel for any and all homeowners. As a blogger and co-owner of the home décor boutique The Found Cottage—and through decorating and renovating her own cottage—Galvan has racked up years of coziness expertise. In Cozy White Cottage Seasons: 100 Ways to Be Cozy All Year Long, she provides copious tips to transform any home, from a high-rise apartment to a centuries-old farmhouse, into a haven of comfort and relaxation. “As we set about the process of making our homes cozy, we create a much-needed refuge from the world and its craziness,”…

For three years, I struggled with this space in our music room. Since our Steinway grand piano is truly part of the family and may just be the most used piece of furniture in our home (okay, maybe second in line to our beds), our entire front living room is dedicated to its daily use. Making the room feel complete and cozy was a challenge, but when we found this 10-foot vintage apothecary, I knew it was exactly what the space needed. I completed the look with two vintage chairs and a vintage French basket for a little sitting area. An 1890s door frame became a DIY mirror, flanked with vintage sconces. Decorating this space for Christmas made my heart happy! I knew I wanted it to have a curated,…

Get ready to chill out with wine or champagne with these copper and stainless-steel coolers from Riverbend Home by Old Dutch International. Visit riverbendhome.com. 1. Champagne Cooler with Stand, 31.5" high, 1.25-gallon capacity, $107.85. 2. Fez Wine/Champagne Chiller, 7.25" high, $24.52. A nostalgic Christmas tree sign that can be used year after year is always a great idea, like these from Olive Branch Farmhouse. Each is available in a variety of sizes with a lifetime color guarantee. Visit olivebranchfarmhouse.com. 1. Christmas Tree Cut & Carry, shown in 24 x 36 size, ready to hang, $175. 2. Farm Fresh Christmas Trees personalized sign, shown in 12 x 12 size, $45. Puleo International was founded in 1954 when the family matriarch, Marian Puleo, first purchased an artificial Christmas tree for her family’s…

GIFTS FOR COUPLES 1 “And So Together They Built a Life They Loved” Wall Décor, gallery-wrapped canvas with solid pine wood stretcher bars, available in 7 sizes, from $103.50. Visit ToeFishArt on etsy.com. 2 Spoonful of Comfort Care Packages, love and warmth in nostalgic comfort foods and thoughtful optional add-on items; many care packages to choose from, starting at $79.99. Visit spoonfulofcomfort.com. 3 Date Night In: A Journal for Couples, a chance to reminisce and deepen your relationship, features quizzes and prompts to draw the story of how you met and to think about the future you want together, $18. Visit uncommongoods.com. 4 The Kissing Mugs, shaped like faces kissing, these mugs are the perfect companions to coffee with your perfect companion, 11-oz size, $65/set. Visit uncommongoods.com. 5 18V One+…

Choosing the perfect palette for your home can involve lots of time and trips to the local home and garden store. With its earthy vibe and relaxed feel, green is a great color indoors and out. Go with a fresh, nature-inspired look for your kitchen cabinets, enhance your living room with a statement wall or give one of your bedrooms a refresh. Designer Valerie Helgeson offers her paint selections for your consideration in your next palette update. 1. Oakmoss: “As the name suggests this is a true mossy-green color; it has some yellow undertones which make the paint appear the warmest out of all of the greens.” 2. Backwoods: “This is a true forest green with neutral undertones, meaning it doesn’t pull too warm or too cool when compared with…

Green wreaths are the perfect addition to any holiday décor, and crafting a DIY plate wreath to go on top is a whimsical addition to a traditional space. This method requires no glue, so you can always use the plates for something else again. WHAT YOU’LL NEED: • Wire wreath form• Wire• Metal plate hangers• Wire cutters• Green wreath (the same size as the wire wreath form) WHAT YOU’LL DO: 1. First, lay the plates out to get an idea of where you’d like to place them on the wreath. 2. Place the plates in the plate hangers. 3. Using the extra wire, cinch a plate hanger in the back with the wire, and then knot the wire through the wreath form to secure it. Repeat this step with each…

(MAKES 2 DOZEN COOKIES) 3 cups sifted flour 1 teaspoon baking powder ½ teaspoon salt ½ cup softened margarine ¾ cup sugar 2 eggs ¼ cup milk ½ teaspoon vanilla DIRECTIONS: 1. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt. 2. Gradually add the sugar to the margarine. Add the eggs and beat until the mixture is light and fluffy. 3. Stir in the ¼ cup milk and vanilla. 4. Add the flour mixture. Then chill the dough. 5. Preheat the oven to 375°F, and grease your cookie sheets. 6. Roll the dough ¼ inch thick. 7. Cut the cookies; then bake them 10 minutes or until pale golden brown. Glaze • Stir together confectioners’ sugar, a small amount of milk, ½ teaspoon vanilla and food coloring.…

Renovations take time. And while our design-and-build team, Kara and Matt Christensen of Garden Gate Homes, is working hard to complete Project House Tennessee, we thought we’d share a few bonus projects of theirs in Franklin that showcase a similar style. POTTING SHED MAKEOVER As part of their signature style, Kara and Matt enjoy incorporating vintage and salvaged pieces into every space they renovate, both for practical and aesthetic purposes. The 9x13-foot storage area-turned-potting shed is a great example, as it is almost entirely made up of reclaimed items. The wood accent walls consist of salvaged wood from an old project, and they give the shed a vintage feel. Kara and Matt also repurposed three old windows, a door and a work table in the space, and they display useful…

GOING GREEN To see more of Valerie Helgeson’s designs, visit designdirections.com. Paint chip colors shown include: Oakmoss, Sherwin Williams 6180, sherwin-williams.com. Backwoods, Benjamin Moore CC-630, benjaminmoore.com. Peale Green, Benjamin Moore HC-121, benjaminmoore.com. Caldwell Green, Benjamin Moore HC-124, benjaminmoore.com. NATURAL NOEL For more on Caroline, visit her on Instagram @c.b._designs or email her at carolinebivensdesigns@gmail.com. White wall paint: Dover White by Sherwin-Williams, sherwin-williams.com. Coffee table, stag head, deer framed art, dining room table and chairs, dining room light fixture: Arhaus, arhaus.com. Christmas trees: Balsam hill, balsamhill.com. A COZY COTTAGE CHRISTMAS For more on Bonnie, follow her on Instagram@simple_and_lovely. “And to All a Good Night” bedroom sign: Rader Rustics, raderrustics.com. Big baskets: Pottery Barn, (888) 779-5176 or potterybarn.com. Bathroom hook rack, place setting wreaths: Hobby Lobby, (855) 329-7060 or hobbylobby.com. Candle ornaments,…