Innholdsfortegnelse for April/May 2025 i Country Living

A while back, I wrote about how a certain word could tend to surface repeatedly in any given issue. In springs past, it has been verdant. This time around, it’s breezy. This fresh-air-filled Weekends in the Country issue truly feels like a window cracked open to spring. (How many open doors and windows can you spot throughout these pages? Spoiler alert: A lot.) And while each of the house tours starting on pg. 54 has a different decorative point of view, they consistently evoke a refreshing kick-up-your-feet casualness that says, “Make yourself at home.” Speaking of home, if you prefer roomscrolling to doomscrolling, I feel compelled to point you toward countryliving.com/housetours, where we’re celebrating some of our favorite properties from the past, including a centuries-old Victorian Texas farmhouse with a…

Classic Crooners Ponder a musical moniker if your pup is prone to howling. Try Cash, Charley, Dolly, Hank, Loretta, Merle, or a more instrumental Mando or Banjo. Pastoral Places Let your favorite setting or scenery be your inspiration. Try Camp, Cedar, Creek, Delta, Forest, Nash, River, Summit, Tahoe, or Willow. Farm Favorites Pay tribute to a tool, a task, a crop, a farm component, or an old-timey agrarian job. Try Barley, Bean, Calbert, Coop, Cowboy, Deere, Dell, Granger, or Silo.…

“I couldn’t believe it when I spotted this basket at an antiques mall for only $70.”—J.S., Columbus, OH WHAT IT IS: Victorian Picnic Set In 1851, G.W. Scott and Sons of London unveiled what we now call a picnic basket at the London World’s Fair. The company was known for making metal and porcelain kitchen objects that could be carried in a buggy or on horseback, but this was the first time those objects—enamelware plates and silverware, ironstone containers for food, wicker-covered bottles for wine, salt and pepper shakers, and glasses—were presented packaged for a picnic. “Your pieces appear to be monogrammed, so this would have been a more expensive set,” says appraiser Marsha Dixey of Heritage Auctions. “It’s very unusual to find one with this many original pieces intact,…

Inspired by: Edgar’s Bakery in Birmingham, Alabama Local Flavor: Owner Terry Smith named his from-scratch shop (co-owned with wife Dottie) as a tribute to his father, Kelley Edgar Smith, who, at age 99 has enjoyed his fair share of slices. He’s not alone: The centerpiece-worthy, cult-following cake garners more than 50,000 orders yearly. Our version of the classic features fresh strawberries and swirls of cream cheese frosting. Recipe, pg. 92.…

Top Gun was heading to theaters, Jessica and Michael were the most popular baby names, and millions of Americans would soon create a human chain from New York City to Los Angeles in Hands Across America. Further afield, behind a Laura Ashley–filled home in Hillsdale, New York, hand-painted faux cows dotted the yard featured on our cover. ALSO IN THE ISSUE: A guide to station wagons (left), a primer on hooked rugs, and an impressive collection of maple sugar molds. See More! Country Living All Access subscribers can enjoy this entire 1986 issue (plus others!) at countryliving.com/archives.…

1 Prettying up the kitchen with fresh flowers, whimsical wallpaper, and sweet cushioned seats 2 Collecting eggs from the coop with your grandmother’s trusty wire basket (For more nostalgic kitchen collectibles, see pg. 21.) 3 Throwing open the doors and windows to fill the house with crisp, fresh air 4 The soothing echo of spring rain on a metal roof 5 Finally bringing your fantasy of a basket-filled hobby room to fruition 6 The first strawberry sighting at the farmstand (Visit countryliving.com/strawberries for your new favorite recipe.) 7 Prepping the guest room with new pillows and page-turners 8 That satisfying spring-cleaning feeling of getting your ducks (or duck!) in a row Follow us on Instagram @countrylivingmag for a daily dose of Simple Country Pleasures.…

Cover Story Originally created for industrial use, thermal-resistant Pyrex moved to the kitchen in 1913 when Bessie Littleton asked her husband, a Corning Glass Works scientist, to bring home a piece for her to use for baking. Known for their colorful designs, the brand’s covered butter dishes make for an especially sweet display. Produced in only eight patternways, midcentury pieces in mint condition typically cost between $40 and $70 apiece, though the exceedingly rare brown ivy leaf Sandalwood dish (not shown) can run up to $500. Get our Collector’s Guide to Pyrex at countryliving.com/pyrex. To Dry For Hardy hemp, flax, and nettle linens known as torchons have been the workhorses of French country kitchens since the 17th century, when they were a core part of a young woman’s dowry. (Hence…

FIELD NOTES Choosing an Artichoke When artichoke season arrives—it’s typically from March through May—seek out ones that are bright green (a purple tinge is okay) and have few to no brown spots. The leaves should be closed, and the artichoke should feel heavy (a light one is likely dried out). Also, give it a good squeeze and listen for a squeaking sound, another good indicator of freshness. Once you’re ready to break in, head to countryliving.com/artichoke for a visual step-by-step guide to mastering the process. (It’s not as intimidating as you may think!) From the Farm to Your Table Here, five ways to embrace peak artichoke season. Recipes, pg. 86…

It’s springtime at Patina Meadow, a 100-acre farm in Tennessee’s Williamson County, and Leila Giannetti is up early to harvest larkspur, garlic, and lettuce. “Living here, I feel so connected to the seasons,” she says. “After winter, my energy builds as the daffodils bloom.” Though Leila initially studied international affairs in Washington, D.C., a love of the land drew her back to her parents, interior designer and architect duo Brooke and Steve Giannetti, and their home and farm in Ojai, California. Leila and her mother began hosting tours at the property and enjoyed it so much that they sought out space to expand their offerings. After falling for the rolling hills and tight-knit community of Leiper’s Fork while Steve was working in the area, the trio made the move in…

FOR ALMOST 250 YEARS, West Virginia’s storied resort The Greenbrier (greenbrier.com) has attracted generations of guests to its 11,000 scenic acres in the Allegheny Mountains. The National Historic Landmark, which has hosted everyone from royalty (the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, Princess Grace) to 28 U.S. Presidents, remains an enduring symbol of Southern hospitality and exuberant interiors. So when designer Kendall Rabun (kendallrabuninteriors.com) was tasked with outfitting a new country house for a New York family of five at the Greenbrier Sporting Club, a private residential community on the pastoral property, the Atlanta-raised, and now Bronxville, New York-based, designer felt the weight of the task. “I [sensed the] looming presence of Dorothy Draper,” Kendall says, referring to the design legend who masterfully transformed the resort’s interiors in the 1940s with…

Artichoke, Beet, and Quinoa Salad WORKING TIME 30 minutes TOTAL TIME 1 hour 10 minutes MAKES 4 servings 2 lemons plus 3 tablespoons lemon juice, divided8 baby artichokes2 beets, peeled and chopped4 tablespoons olive oil, dividedKosher salt and freshly ground black pepper2 teaspoons chopped fresh tarragon3 tablespoons chopped fresh mint, divided1 cup quinoa, cooked and cooled2 ounces fresh goat cheese, crumbled (about ½cup)½ cup roasted cashews 1. Preheat oven to 475°F. Juice lemons into a bowl of water; add rinds to bowl. Working one at a time, trim ⅓ off top of artichoke. Trim stem and remove thick outer leaves, leaving just the tender inner leaves attached; transfer to lemon water. Repeat with remaining artichokes. 2. Pat artichokes dry. Toss together artichokes, beets, and 2 tablespoons oil on a large rimmed baking sheet.…

It was poet Mary Oliver who wrote about the in-between-ness of dogs: “Some things are unchangeably wild, others are stolidly tame. The tiger is wild, and the coyote, and the owl. I am tame, you are tame. …But the dog lives in both worlds.” Perhaps that’s why our canine companions also seem to be so comfortable on the porch, itself an architectural mixed breed combining inward-and outward-facing worlds. A porch lets you enjoy the domestic comforts of plush pillows and ceiling fans while communing with the calls of crickets. It lets you greet the world as it passes by while remaining firmly anchored to home. But most of all—and here’s where dogs set the most striking example for us hurried humans—a porch invites you to find a fleeting patch of…

SPRING COMES EARLY in southern Alabama, and Dothan native Kelsey Barnard Clark takes advantage of the weather by bringing the party outside. “I love a daytime gathering,” she says. “It doesn’t carry the pressure of dinner, the food is more casual, and guests are thankful to enjoy something outside the routine.” Having catered her first wedding at 15 and worked in multiple Michelin-starred kitchens in New York City, Kelsey has certainly mastered a few party tricks, but she’s not one to make a fuss at the expense of having fun. Her latest cookbook, Southern Get-Togethers, offers a don’t-overthink-it take on entertaining. “I don’t even own proper placecards,” she says. “I prefer to use something natural.” Case in point: potted plants with hand-penned tags, with vintage watering cans (far right) housing…

Sample Gullah-favorite ingredients before dolphin-spotting among the tides……and nine more ways to savor the flavors of the Lowcountry this spring. Rise and Shine: The bacon-basil croissants and lavender matcha lattes at Corner Perk Brunch Café are best enjoyed at the eatery’s community table. Walk Within History: A rare remnant of Reconstruction-era architecture that’s open for guided tours, the Garvin-Garvey House (opposite) is one of the earliest freedman-owned cottages along the May River. Stroll the Stores: Boutiques and art galleries beckon all along Calhoun Street. Pop into The Store, open since 1978, for an eclectic assortment of antiques and oddities curated by Babbie Guscio. Go All In on Gullah: This summer, Bluffton chef and community celebrant Bridgette Frazier will debut Ma Daisy’s Porch. The compound, which includes a restaurant, a bakery, a…

Blame it on the penny candy. Or the old hurricane oil lamps. Or the hand-dipped ice cream. Once Susan Hackley and her daughter, Daphne Berger, stepped inside the 160-year-old Brewster Store, a general store in the Massachusetts town of the same name, they were smitten. “That’s what cemented us here,” says Daphne of the emporium famous for its inventory of classic New England nostalgia. “We quickly fell in love with how authentic it all felt.” Daphne had been hunting for a house on Cape Cod where her family as well as her mother and her mother’s husband could steal away together. Susan had fond memories of the area, having spent summers as a child in her family’s little cottage by the ocean and later returning as a college student. “I…

IN SEASON Full Bloom Tip your hat to the arrival of spring with a flower-bedecked straw brim. To make the door hanging, shape a piece of floral chicken wire into a dome that fits snugly around one-third of the crown. Fill with damp floral foam and place a piece of wax floral tissue paper on the bottom. Wire the dome to the top of the brim and insert flowers into the foam as desired. Finish with a bow attached with hot-glue or a T-pin. SAVE THE DATE Country Calendar Spring into the season with a one-of-a-kind find courtesy of a can’t-miss antiques show. (For more spring events, visit countryliving.com/shows.) Sweet Salvage April 10 to 13 | Phoenix Shop seasonally themed designer-created vignettes at this monthly vintage and home decor marketplace.…

Currently Craving PAGES 10-13 Architect Wade Weissmann Architecture; wadeweissmannarchitecture.com. Builder Phillip Wentzel Custom Homes; phillipwentzel.com. Cabinet maker Bonura Cabinets Inc.; bonuracabinets.com. Country Comeback PAGE 14 Designer Cameron Ruppert; cameronruppertinteriors.com. PAGE 15 TOP LEFT AND BOTTOM RIGHT Designer Isabella Worsley; isabellaworsley.com. TOP RIGHT Designer Collins Interiors; collins-interiors.com. BOTTOM LEFT Designer Alison Newman Interiors; alisonnewmaninteriors.com. In With the Old PAGE 21 Butter dishes: Replacements, Ltd., replacements.com; Vi Rodriquez, @veesvintagefinds. PAGE 22 Torchons: French General, frenchgeneral.com; Piggy Kitchen, thepiggykitchen.com. PAGE 24 “Bella” wallpaper; scandinavianwallpaper.com. A Tale of Two Cottages PAGE 55 “Dani” block-printed pillow; johnrobshaw.com. “Mini Gingham” pillow; heathertaylorhome.com. PAGE 56 “Spruce Street” slipcovered sofa; serenaandlily.com. “Savannah Cross” and “Unfading Flower” pillows; laurenservati.com. PAGE 58 “Cade” throw; annieselke.com. “Leaves with Berries” pillow; laurenservati.com. PAGE 59 TOP Ruffe pillows; poppyandhonesty.com. PAGE 60 “Unfading Flower” pillow; laurenservati.com. “Super Soft” throw; heathertaylorhome.com. PAGES 62-63 Umbrellas; businessandpleasureco.com. Memory Keeper PAGES 64-71 THROUGHOUT Custom rugs and carpeting; elizabetheakins.com. PAGE 67 “Likasi” sofa upholstery fabric; cowtan.com. PAGE 69 “Kennebunkport Green”…