Innholdsfortegnelse for December/January 2023 i Cottages and Bungalows

“COMFORT AND JOY” ARE FAMILIAR SONG LYRICS that we often take for granted, right? Yet, if we ponder those two simple words further, we find that comfort is defined as “a state of physical ease and freedom from pain or constraint” and joy as “a feeling of great pleasure and happiness. “ Now, doesn’t that sound wonderful and just the feeling we aim for in our homes at holiday time? We are delighted to present a peek into five gorgeous homes that exemplify “cozy,”“comfy” and “joyful” (pages 32, 44, 58, 70 and 84). The time and care each creative spent to prepare for their family and friends (and our photographers) is so heartwarming. We know you’ll find ideas to use in your own home. We all seem to spend more…

extra Curb Appeal A charming and well-loved home exterior always grabs our attention (and we know you love them too). We hosted a “curb appeal” contest earlier this year and, after many entries, along with a narrowing-down process and a community vote on our Cottages & Bungalows website, the winner emerged as Jackie Cessna of Boise, Idaho! Born and raised in Torrance, California, flight attendant Jackie found herself assigned to a new base in Boise, Idaho, in 2017. While house-hunting, she came upon a Craftsman-style bungalow that looked rough yet exuded potential. During the purchasing process, Jackie was able to view original abstracts of the title, which each prior owner of the home had kept. These included drawings and documentation of the neighborhood and owners’ names dating back to 1869!…

extra Artistry Fresh greens delivered to your front door is notably one of the highlights of the holiday season, and our friends at Lynch Creek Farm have mastered the art of delighting customers year after year with their creations. Lynch Creek Farm began in 1980 as a hobby farm in Shelton, Washington, by the Hunter family. In the early days of the farm, the Hunters grew organic vegetables and sold their produce at the Shelton Farmers Market on the weekends. Later, the farm’s offerings broadened to include flowers and seasonal bouquets. Even later, they introduced their first evergreen Christmas wreaths, which allowed them to stay at the market through the winter season. As a result of its excellent service, along with a wide variety of wreath designs, fresh centerpieces and…

Pretty silks, thin taper candles, vintage finds and cedar garlands fill a Utah home with whimsy and Christmas romance. It’s a wonderland woven by Alyssa “Lu” Long, a wife, mother, florist, owner of an online boutique called My Pink Box Co. and the creative mind behind @lifesfrostings, a lifestyle Instagram account full of all things pinkish and pretty. Every Christmas, she spins holiday magic in her family’s two-bedroom, 1,200-square-foot home. Even a darling playhouse made by her husband, Colton, for their children, Evie and Harvey, gets a visit from the “Sugar Plum Fairy” (aka Lu). “There’s nothing like the Christmas season,” Lu says. “It’s such a fun excuse to transform your home and fill it with twinkling lights and enchanting details.” Ever since Lu was a little girl, she dreamed…

At his job, Dave Diesel strategically organizes merchandise to attract customers. And when he gets home, he uses that same skill to style his own décor. “I’ve always had a love for making things cozy and creating spaces, no matter the season,” he explains. “It’s not just décor; it’s a lifestyle. Your home reflects your personality and tells the world who you are.” Someone looking at Dave’s 1910 build might say that it’s a cottage or farmhouse style home, but he doesn’t try to fit the house into a specific category. “I truly love and appreciate many styles and add all those touches that I adore,” he notes. (At the end of the day, he just wants his dwelling to be “cozy and filled with comfort and charm.”) Creating this…

What would attract an active family with young children to a century-old home? According to its owner, Katie Baker: everything. “It was perfect in every way for our growing family,” Katie says. “My husband and I weren’t actually house-hunting, but when this historic home went up for sale in the rural town my husband grew up in, we toured it and made an offer the same day it hit the market. We immediately fell in love with the unique and intricate exterior, which was unlike any other residential home we’d ever seen. It’s an architectural gem that is just steps away from the quaint downtown and was originally built by an immigrant in 1896 to model his childhood home in Italy. We loved the idea of owning such a beautiful…

For many of us at Christmas, it’s the little things that matter the most, and it's also when reminiscences of Christmases past generate our most special memories. Maybe it’s the memory of spending Christmas eves at your grandparents’ house. Or making the cookies and cocoa for Santa. Or leaving homemade reindeer food for the reindeer outside on the lawn. IT’S REALLY ABOUT FAMILY Old traditions such as these have been passed down for generations and hold a warm place in the hearts of home designer April Metrick Tedeschi, her husband Rich and their three children, Autumn, Hunter and Tyler. Their quaint beach cottage—in its perfect historical setting in downtown Plymouth, Massachusetts—is the best-loved gathering place for April’s extended family for the holidays. When April was a young girl, Christmas was…

NATURAL, NOSTALGIC AND NAUTICAL Page 58 To see more of Lori Guyer’s home and shop, visit her on Facebook and Instagram: @whiteflowerfarmhouse. You can also visit her retail store, White Flower Farmhouse, at 53995 Main Road, Southold, New York 11971. The shop’s website is whiteflowerfarmhouse.net. Stylist Heather Bullard’s work can be seen on her website: heatherbullard.com. Exterior Paint: “Intense White,” Benjamin Moore; benjaminmoore.com Living Room Christmas stockings: Hand-knit with chunky yarn by Etsy vendor Nofoknits; etsy.com/nofoknits Wall sconces: Barn Light Electric; barnlight.com Christmas tree: Dart’s Christmas Tree Farm (cut your own tree); dartschristmastreefarm.com Wool stars and glass tree decorations: Thistle Stitch Studio by Treva Elwood on Etsy; etsy.com/ThistleStitchStudio Cabinet: Antique English pine Coffee table: Vintage Chairs: France & Son; franceandson.com Sofa: Restoration Hardware; restorationhardware.com Pendant lighting fixture: Old ship’s light…

extra Brand Ambassador Happy Holidays, Friends! It’s the most wonderful time of the year; and, as we start to decorate our trees and hang our stockings, let’s not forget to spread Christmas cheer to the heart of the home—the kitchen! I often get asked how to decorate kitchens for Christmas while still keeping the space functional for cooking. It’s easy really: Just keep it simple! TIPS FOR CREATING A COZY CHRISTMAS KITCHEN Start with a “fa-la-la” focal point: For my own kitchen, the focal point is the cedar garland that I drape over the window. For other kitchens, it could be a Christmas tree on an island or a wreath hung over a range hood. Scope out your space and find your kitchen’s best features. Then, highlight them with Christmas…

1 7.5-Foot King Flock Artificial Christmas Tree. Heavily flocked branches made with a blend of realistic and classic needle tips come in hinged sections for super-easy setup. With a tree stand, remote and foot pedal included, you’ll have everything you need to create a stunning holiday tree! Available in a variety of sizes, unlit or LED; from $299. Visit kingofchristmas.com. 2 Merry Christmas Tree Garland. This adorable garland features “Merry Christmas” spelled out on flags made of plywood; 48x13 inches; $39. Visit thejollychristmasshop.com. 3 Vintage Santa Wreath. A jolly mix of vintage and retro Santa ornaments and figurines, along with a Johanna Parker Santa face design; handmade; $305. Visit etsy.com/shop/whitechristmasstudio. 4 7-Foot Pre-Lit Christmas Lamp Post. For indoor or outdoor use; this unique piece is equipped with 50 LED lights,…

While many people still adore a classic Christmas in all the festive shades of red, white and green, some are opting for a more nontraditionally hued yuletide. Designer Lauren Sakalarios (@lalasaks) wants her holiday to feature every color of the rainbow. “A lot of people tend to go the very traditional route when it comes to Christmas, but I have a colorful home in general, and so I wanted my holiday décor to blend in with the rest of the house,” she explains. MULTICOLORED MILK GLASS Specifically, Lauren wanted her Christmas décor to pair with her fantastic, 200-piece collection of milk glass. In her living room—which Lauren fondly calls her “lady lounge”—she tried to pull colors from her milk glass collection and integrate them into her tree. “I chose a…

A creatively styled table can set the tone for any meal at any time of the year. Sitting down to a thoughtfully prepared place setting makes everyone feel special and welcome. We are big fans of a gorgeous tablescape; so, in the summer of 2022, our editors put out a social media call for entries for our first ever Tablescape Contest. After hundreds of entries were narrowed down to the top 15, a community vote took place on our website, where one talented tabletop enthusiast stood out above the rest: Laura Chubineh of @thespilledsugar! “My love for table styling stems partly from my love for dance, choreography and for telling a story. I went to college for dance and business. For years, I taught, choreographed and performed professionally. Tablescapes are…

Whether you’re hosting a festive party or attending one, refreshments are a must for every occasion. Julia Charles’s new book, Festive Cocktails & Canapés, is full of drink and hors d'oeuvre recipes for your holiday get-togethers. The book is organized by event, so it’s easy to find the perfect recipe to wow your guests. With “Bar Cart Classics,” “Sparklers & Aperitifs,” “Themed Party Drinks” and “Dessert Cocktails & Nightcaps,” there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Author Charles has compiled recipes for cocktail classics (such as a dry martini, an old-fashioned and a Manhattan), but she also isn’t afraid of creative drinks such as the "Peruvian Pisco Sour," made with lemon juice and egg white, and the "Appleblack," with apple and black currant flavors. Along with more than 65 cocktail recipes,…

Author, blogger, shop owner and one of the most recognizable faces in the home décor genre on social media, Liz Marie Galvan exudes style and creativity in everything she does, including this charming greenhouse behind her main house in Michigan. It doubles as sled storage during the winter, along with sheltering other winter gear that needs to be kept dry from the snow. A red-and-white plaid sled gives this space a Christmas feeling, while greenery housed here to escape the cold temperatures brings to mind wintry evergreens. A splash of red adds such a festive touch to Liz’s day-to-day palette of woods, whites and gray tones. In addition, terra-cotta pots work year-round in any space, including this one! TO SEE MORE OF LIZ’S HOME, VISIT HER ON INSTAGRAM: @LIZMARIEGALVAN, AS…

cottage kitchens The holidays often find us spending more time than usual in our kitchens. Baking, cooking and sharing tasks as we gather with friends and family—and, of course, the cleaning up—all seem to be on “high burner.” Why not make it as enjoyable as possible by sprinkling a bit of festive décor in your space? We’ve scooped up a few of our favorite decked-out kitchens and hope you’re inspired to make your own perfect coziness “recipe.” This kitchen is seasoned with love."…

Homeowner Lori Guyer likes to keep her cottage farmhouse’s Christmas décor simple and natural, but it’s far from being plain and boring. In fact, to make sure her 1850-built home had an authentic “vintage natural” ambiance—along with unexpected elements—Lori hired stylist Heather Bullard (heatherbullard.com) to dress her holiday home. Lori lives in the historic seaside village of Greenport, Long Island, New York. “The styles of the homes in this village are a mix of saltbox, cottage, farmhouse, Victorian and grand sea captains’ homes,” Lori says. She lives in the four-bedroom cottage farmhouse with her husband, Stephen, son, Colin, and two mini schnauzers, Greta and Otto. The family moved into the 172-year-old home in 2015. “Cottage and farmhouse styles make for a natural pairing.” Heather had seen photos of Lori’s home,…

Decorating the Christmas tree is a time-honored tradition celebrated in homes all over the world. This year, we hosted a friendly tree-decorating competition, via which readers could vote online for their favorite Christmas tree. Our winner, Neha Paroha, lives in California and is the owner of @thehomeinvogue on Instagram. With her experimental color scheme of blush paired with white and gold, Neha’s creativity shone bright. The colors came together in an elegant, but lively, feel—like true Christmas spirit! “Blush is my absolute favorite color, so I picked this gorgeous, peachy-blush accent color for my tree. It looks bright and sparkly, yet warm and cozy. It’s just perfect for Christmas!” Neha says. Her colorful and whimsical tree is an eclectic bohemian interpretation of vintage Christmas décor. The handmade ornaments and the…

Even before there was social media, Nissa-Lynn Parson wanted Christmas in her home to feel magical. A Texas-based interior decorator and a well-known brand influencer, she recalls fond memories of her mother at Christmas. “When I was young, I remember my mother spending days every year decorating for Christmas,” Nissa-Lynn notes. “She would transform the entire downstairs into a whimsical, magical ‘Christmasland.’” Nissa-Lynn’s inherited talent from her mother took root and led to a career path of creativity and her own design business (nissalynninteriors.squarespace.com). Based on the idea that everyone can have a beautiful home on any budget, her work has graced the pages of magazines and was featured on websites such as Pottery Barn and other home décor-focused social media platforms. CHRISTMAS IS HER “JAM” With an impressive 84.7…

Mixed wallpaper prints and bright colors fill the “Annie” Villa (named as a salute to designer Annie Selke, one of our generous sponsors), giving it a vintage exuberance that will stay with guests long after they leave for home. Although the joyful interiors have an effortless quality to them, they’re the result of several months of all-hands-on-deck, muscle-and-hustle, pedal-to-the metal work, all orchestrated and overseen by Sara McDaniel of Simply Southern Cottage. “I knew renovating these villas and the property would be a lot,” Sara says, “but you can’t fully understand the magnitude of the project until you’re in the thick of it. Because there are eight separate villas, it’s basically like renovating eight different houses simultaneously!” Supply issues, together with trying to stay on schedule for the villas’…

CHRISTMAS IS A WONDERFUL TIME TO dust off family treasures or vintage collectibles and create a space in your home that honors holidays of the past. “Paint-by-number” art is quintessentially cool and fits easily into a variety of décor genres, even if the overall mood is not vintage. Here, the focus is on PBN dog portraits, but you might collect sailboats or ships, florals, outdoor winter scenes or deer portraits. Search terms such as “vintage paint by number” or “vintage art” will give you a good start. Hunting for vintage Santa figures, along with timeworn ornaments and lighting boxes, is an entertaining activity all year long. Stacking boxes (or rustic crates) adds eye-catching graphics to your display—and they’re so simple to arrange! In addition, bit of sparkle with tinsel tassels…