Innholdsfortegnelse for October 2020 i Country Living

A A Welcome from the Editor There are as many reasons to love October as there are crunchy leaves under my red-laced duck boots, but one of my favorites is the amount of inventiveness on display everywhere you look. From clever costumes (pg. 30) and decked-out doorways (pg. 24) to “spiderweb” spiced buns (pg. 78), October is peak season for creativity, and you’ll find gobs (and goblins) of it in this issue. You’ll also encounter spirits of the kindred sort, including homeowners Rebecca O’Donnell and Christopher Griffith, who transformed an Upstate New York dairy barn into a dream property overlooking the Catskills (pg. 52), and Heather Wells, whose sundappled New Hampshire lake house is basically autumn in architectural form (pg. 68). Finally, I’m thrilled to say our monthly cross-stitches—the handiwork…

PRESENTED BY “Casual and comfortable rule in this room that invites you to kick back and relax. It’s a space where family can congregate for weekend game night and friends can gather for a laid-back evening of cocktails and conversation. We went with an edited, clean palette that was inspired by nature and kept the furniture and decor simple but classic, allowing for layers of personal art and collected finds.” “When designing a living space, I try to keep things functional, but most importantly, fun! We balanced mid-century-modern-inspired shapes with layers of texture and bright colors to feel inviting but not overcluttered. Stylish storage solutions keep things organized and family-friendly, while graphic prints and patterns add loads of personality.” GET THE LOOK LOUNGE AWEIGH SHIP SHAPE “The shapely silhouette and…

INSPIRED BY: The Great Smoky Mountains Channel the rustic, “cozy cabin” spirit of this range spanning the Tennessee–North Carolina border. DIY IT: Tobacco Basket Door Hanging Using floral wire, secure bundles of magnolia leaves, bittersweet vines, and faux pumpkins or gourds to the lower half of a square tobacco basket (etsy.com). Magnolia & Bittersweet Garland Measure the width of your window plus the height; add the height again plus two more feet. Buy or make a magnolia leaf garland to fit your measurement. Attach dried bittersweet vines to the garland with floral wire. Hammer a two-inch nail into the top corners of the window frame, then hang the garland by securing it to the nails with floral wire. INSPIRED BY: Historic New England Capture the charm of 1800s Americana with…

Bottles & Canisters Whether glass or porcelain, large or small, apothecary containers have long proven themselves worthy of a spot on modern shelves. The earliest bottles shown here (top right) sport shiny gold accents and often Latin or scientific names rather than more familiar presentday drug monikers. Scope out canisters in materials like ornate porcelain (top left) or faux-bois metal (center). Glass bottles with detailed labels are likely more recent finds (earlyto mid-1900s), while larger bottles with single-word labels are older and more valuable (think $150-plus). Medicine Tins As modern medicine developed and neighborhood drugstores gained popularity in the 19th century, so did printing and design techniques when it came to drug manufacturing. Vintage medicine tins—mostly made to distribute common remedies like aspirin, cough and cold lozenges, or ointments and…

Isn’t It Time for a New Calendar? Just in at the Country Living shop: this 2021 wall calendar featuring our all-time favorite cross-stitch patterns. (It also makes for a great holiday gift!) Cross-Stitch Calendar $16; countryliving.com/2021Calendar…

IF YOU HAVE… BUTTONS Button Witch Hat Lightly draw a witch hat on a large white pumpkin. Attach thin black twine along drawing with hot-glue. Attach a length of twine in a zigzag pattern down the point of the hat with hot-glue. Attach medium-size buttons on top of string at even intervals and where the zigzag meets the outline with hot-glue. Button “Boo!” Lightly draw “BOO!” on a pumpkin. Outline the letters by chiseling out a small amount of pumpkin. Attach small black buttons in outline with hot-glue. Button Spiders Thread red string through the holes of a large or medium-size black button in a crisscross pattern; knot or glue on the back to hold in place. Cut eight 1-to 2-inch lengths of black pipe cleaners, and glue four on…

SPIDER BITES Starting in the center, pipe cream cheese frosting onto rolls, following the natural spiral shape from the center to the outside. Add three spokes on top, making sure they cross in the center. If desired, top with a plastic spider. SLIVERS & SHIVERS For an unexpected twist, cut your rectangular pizza into long slivers instead of the usual square shape. NOT-SOSCARY FACES Mummy Pumpkin Hand Pies call for edible googly eyes ($7; amazon.com). To give the Spiced Pumpkin-Molasses Cake the jack-o’-lantern treatment, cut out a pumpkin stencil (countryliving.com/halloweentemplates), lay paper stencil on cake, and dust with confectioners’ sugar. CRUNCH TIME Consider Rosemary–Pumpkin Seed Brittle to be the perfect fall party favor. (It’s a nice Thanksgiving hostess gift, too.) To package it up for gifting, use a gold glitter…

Wild For…Faux Bois PAGE 21 Vintage graining tools, courtesy of Carl Burgess; @cbfinepainting. PAGE 23 Designer (kitchen), the late William Diamond of Diamond Baratta; @tony baratta, anthonybaratta.com. Designer (backyard retreat), Margie Grace; @grace designsb, gracedesign associates.com. Designer (foyer), Kent Hunter and Jonathan Bee; @hunterbee shop, hunterbee.com. Designer (bedroom), Robin Pelissier; @robinsnest hingham, robinpelissier.com. Thrill of the Hunt PAGE 40 Magnolia Home “The Daily” removable wallpaper; homedepot.com. Turning a New Leaf PAGES 68–75 Interior architect and designer, Heather Wells; heatherwells.com. Contractor, Joe Morris, Traditional Craftsmen, LLC; Sutton, NH. Landscape architect and project manager, Roger Wells, R. Wells Design; North Sutton, NH. PAGE 69 SCREENED PORCH Antique wicker furniture, Corner House Antiques; americanantiquewicker.com. Iron side table; mecox.com. PAGES 70–71 DINING AREA Light fixture; munder-skiles.com. BREAKFAST NOOK “Black Brook” by Alex Katz painting; alexkatz.com. “Lomond Tartan” chair fabric; osborne andlittle.com. KITCHEN Custom “Zurich Gran” pendants; romanthomas.com. “Jar…

FIELD NOTES A Short History of Faux Bois This centuries-old French term (pronounced “foh-bwah”) translates to “false wood.” Today, the phrase relates to techniques aiming to emulate the look of real wood, most seen in wall treatments and furniture. The former began in the 1800s, when homeowners wanted the look of exotic wood species but the building materials were cost prohibitive. The solution? Fake it with paint, a process that became known as graining. The furniture interpretation—think tables, benches, and chairs with curved and gnarly forms—got its start with early-1900-era garden designers in France, who used the rocaille technique to transform concrete into convincing works of art.…

N⍛1 Pencil Bundle HOW-TO: First, round up some pool noodles. Coat the summer staple with yellow spray paint (try Rust-Oleum American Accents in Marigold); add brown paper-cone tips. Wrap ends with pink and gray craft paper to make erasers. Secure the bundle around yourself with ribbon. Extra credit for a corresponding pointy party hat. Lookin’ sharp! DIFFICULTY: N⍛2 Refrigerator HOW-TO: Cover a cardboard box with red vinyl fabric (amazon.com); adhere letters and a handle made from silver paper. Cut openings for arms, legs, and head. Carry milk and cereal props, or go the extra mile with a door that opens to unveil shelves stocked with “in fashion” foods and beverages (think LaCroix). DIFFICULTY: N⍛3 Rain Boot HOW-TO: Cut green felt into a rain-boot silhouette. For the stiff bottom portion of…

OBJECT LESSON: Woolrich Co. Buffalo Check Jacket WHAT TO KNOW: Young immigrant John Rich traveled between Pennsylvania logging camps selling his woven wool socks and fabrics right off the back of his mule cart. After founding his own mill in 1830 (it wouldn’t get the Woolrich name until 100 years later), he expanded into blankets and, soon, outerwear. In 1850, a new two-pocket shirt introduced the red-and-black “Buffalo Check” pattern that became synonymous with lumberjacks everywhere. For almost two centuries, the bold check and its plaid counterpart have been Woolrich staples for jackets, shirts, vests, blankets, and more. (Woolrich even attempted a head-to-toe version with its 1925 “Pennsylvania Tuxedo.”) The brand continues today, but their last U.S. woolen mill closed its doors in 2019. WHAT IT’S WORTH: Up to $250 OBJECT:…

Bubbling Cauldron Add dry ice (available at grocery stores) and a little water to a footed cast-iron Dutch oven ($37; amazon.com), and watch the creepy fog roll across the buffet. SPIDER “BITES” & LIQUID WEB COCKTAILS Wash down cookie bites (made with Oreo cookies! Recipe, page 87) with a creepy, creamy cocktail. Combine 3 oz. each chocolate liqueur and coffee liqueur (such as Kahlúa), 2 oz. milk, a large dollop of lightly sweetened whipped cream, and ice in a cocktail shaker; shake until chilled. Strain into cocktail glasses. Garnish with pumpkin pie spice or nutmeg and small plastic spiders. Makes 2 servings. WINE BOTTLE CANDLESTICKS An eerie flicker is a must at any Halloween gathering. Paint wine bottles with matte-black spray paint. Once dry, insert an orange taper candle in…

Best Sustainable Toss & Tug Toy A former designer for Nike and The North Face dreamed up these customizable tug toys that are constructed of all-natural merino wool and triple-twisted cotton rope. (Not for aggressive chewers.) $26; housedogge.com Quirkiest Cat Scratcher Even the coolest cats won’t be able to resist this laser-cut, 24-inch-long pair of Virginia-made cat-eye shades constructed from corrugated cardboard. $40; cardboardsafari.com Tastiest Cat Treats Crunchy on the outside and creamy in the center, Blue Buffalo’s new allnatural “Bursts” snacks come in a variety of wholesome feline-friendly flavors. $4; chewy.com Best Bowl-Mat Combo An eye-pleasing dog bowl setup that minimizes mess isn’t easy to come by, which is why this sleek silicone-and-stainless bowl-mat combo first caught our eye. The bowl’s curved lip design helps prevent spillage, and you…

Alachua, FL$475,000 Nearly 14 acres of farmable land surrounds this stately turn-of-the-century three-bedroom, two-bath home. Charming original features include shiplap walls, covered porches, and a fireplace in every room. A plethora of outbuildings such as grain bins, a large workshop, and a guest cottage will make your farm life a breeze. Agent: Jacqui Knowles; mmparrish.com Raymond, ME $549,900 As the new owners of Meadow Brook Farm, you’ll welcome annual apple-picking visitors and man the popular farmstand. If this sounds idyllic, you’ll also be charmed by the original details inside the attached four-bedroom, four-bath farmhouse, which includes three fireplaces. Agent: Karen Tufts; coldwellbanker.com Springwater, NY $249,999 Raise chickens in the coop, or tap maple syrup in your own front yard! This circa-1900 three-bedroom, two-bath farmhouse is nestled snugly on a 52-acre…

currently craving Swizzle Sticks Named for the swizzle stick tree stems used to stir Swizzles, the 18th-century Caribbean rum drink, these festive sticks became popular in the U.S. thanks to 1930s tiki bars. By the 1950s, the imprinted molded plastic cocktail stirrers were standard souvenirs at restaurants. Find most for less than a dollar. Some are coveted by collectors and cost more.…

Barn Party PAGE 10 Spider Cookie Truffles WORKING TIME 30 minutes TOTAL TIME 2 hours, 30 minutes (including freezing and chilling) MAKES 36 servings 36 chocolate sandwich cookies1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, cut into pieces, at room temperature2 (12-ounce) bags semisweet chocolate chips, meltedEdible candy eyeballsBlack string licorice, cut into 2-inch pieces 1. Line a baking sheet with wax paper. Process cookies in a food processor until fine crumbs form, about 30 seconds. Add cream cheese and pulse until combined, 15 to 20 times. Scoop mixture into 1 ¼-inch balls and place on prepared baking sheet. Freeze until firm, 1 hour. 2. Dip cookies in chocolate; return to baking sheet. Decorate with edible candy eyeballs and black string licorice. Refrigerate until set, 1 hour. Sunday Supper PAGE 84 Slow Cooker Spinach-and-Parmesan Meatballs WORKING…