Country Living February 2013

A few months ago, my kitchen walls were painted bright orange. Tangerine-and-green linoleum covered the floors. The metal Kelvinator cabinets had begun to rust from the inside out, and only the small side oven of my late-1960s stove—electric, unfortunately—worked. The most curious fixture? A toilet, situated smack dab at the bottom of a staircase that opens onto the room. Sounds awful, I know. But, the truth is, there was a certain charm in the dilapidated mess. People felt comfortable in my old kitchen. Maybe it reminded them of their childhood. Or perhaps its complete lack of perfection put them at ease. Either way, a lot of good times were had in there: cooking, gabbing, even staging impromptu dance parties around the makeshift island. So when I announced plans to renovate,…

How exciting to see the article on Lodge Manufacturing's cast-iron pans [left]. My grandmother lived near the company's factory in South Pittsburg, Tennessee. I can still picture her in the kitchen, making chicken and fried okra in those skillets. She passed away several years ago, and I now have her Lodge pans hanging in my kitchen. —Laura Lightcap, Atlanta I was struck by something Sarah Norwood said in the story on her house: "Buy stuff you love, regardless of era or price, and your home will be a true reflection of you." So smart! It's not money that makes a space personal. —Karen Mullen, Mount Laurel, New Jersey My November Country Living arrived a few days before a family trip to the Smoky Mountains. Imagine my joy when I came…

This TAPE DISPENSER has nostalgic charm sewn up. Beautify your desktop with a painted-steel homage to vintage sewing machines. Decole's delightful dispenser—from the brand's Chaleur line (that's French for heat)—sticks it to standard-issue office supplies. ($17.99; shopruche.com) TRENDLET Take Heart! The classic Valentine's Day symbol reveals a sense of humor in these love-struck goods: SPARKLERS The ticker-shaped tops burn bright gold for about a minute. ($13.35 for 18; candlesandsuch.com) UMBRELLA Enjoy a romantic stroll in the rain under the cover of this cute parasol. ($33; store.artlebedev.com) SPATULA You—and your pancakes—will flip for this kitchen tool. Note the clever arrow-tail handle! ($55; beehivekitchenware.com)…

How a former Pottery Barn exec created an ECO-FRIENDLY BOUTIQUE online Two years ago, Laurie Furber left a plum gig overseeing the mail-order division of Pottery Barn to spend more time with her family. But the go-getter didn't stay idle long: Within a few months, she and her husband, JP (a former Gap buyer), launched an online store, greenhousedesignstudio.com, that aims to do right by the planet. SUSTAINABLE WAYS The site stocks new products made of organic and repurposed materials, as well as vintage items that are, by their very nature, recycled. "We know the dining table is great," says Laurie of Greenhouse's reclaimed-wood piece. "We've had one for 10 years." OFFLINE CONNECTIONS Last spring, the Furbers began selling at our Country Living Fairs, as well as at trunk shows…

RECOMMENDED READING Three new titles showcase the exciting food scenes in Charleston, South Carolina; the Mississippi Delta; and Portland, Oregon. THE LEE BROS. CHARLESTON KITCHEN In their third title devoted to Southern fare, Matt and Ted Lee narrow the focus to their South Carolina hometown. The siblings serve up both traditional crowd-pleasers—cheese spread, boiled peanuts—and inventive takes on the classics, including charred Lowcountry vegetables (above) and kumquat-chile Bloody Marys. ($35; Clarkson Potter) EAT DRINK DELTA Mississippi-born journalist Susan Puckett provides a road map to the quirky lunch counters, can't-miss barbecue joints, and historic cocktail lounges of the state's blues-soaked floodplain. Many of these hidden hot spots also reveal their recipes for iconic dishes: hush puppies, tamales, chocolate chess pie, and more than 60 other delicacies. ($24.95; University of Georgia Press)…

Log serious style points with these anything-but-ordinary containers. FIGURAL Home is where the hearth is, according to designer Allan Howze's iron statement piece. ($225; 18½"W x 49"H; Chalet, 847-256-0561) ECO-FRIENDLY Made from sustainable water hyacinth, this woven basket provides a natural spot for stowing wood. ($54; 20"W x 20"H; westelm.com) IRON MESH Shapely little legs elevate this looker, literally. ($189; 17½"H x 16¼" diam.; wisteria.com) TWO-PIECE Lift the leather sling from its stainless steel base, and—voilà!—Roost's holder becomes a handled carrier. ($390; 12"W x 17½"L; heavensgatehomeandgarden.com; enter for a chance to win one at countryliving.com/win or see page 113) GEOMETRIC During warmer months, turn this iron bin over to use it as a stool or low side table. ($125; 24"W x 18"H; fermlivingshop.us) FABRIC-WRAPPED A trifecta of texture,…