The Cottage Journal

Enchanting coastal cottages, cozy mountain cabins, and everything in between—the homes found in the Southern United States are as varied and beautiful as the region itself, and we’re inviting you to enjoy just a few of our favorites. Once you’ve perused colorful abodes with vibrant personalities and ocean-inspired charmers filled with calming shades of blue, take a little inspiration for your own space. Learn how dried hydrangeas—a staple in Southern cottages—can provide beauty and grace well into winter, dress up your front door to welcome guests with panache, and discover new possibilities for expressing your style. Whether or not you reside in this one-of-a-kind corner of the world, we welcome you to explore the very best of Southern Cottage style. Editor, The Cottage Journal “Our table should be a place…

For Edith-Anne Duncan, the epitome of Southern interior design is a delicate balance of sophistication and casual style paired with bright pops of color. For her debut book, Southern Sensibility, these three elements come together in a perfect showcase, offering a glimpse into her ideal design aesthetic and the time-honored interiors of the South. Throughout the book’s 240 pages, Edith-Anne guides readers through nine of her clients’ homes, providing detailed commentary and excellent inspiration. Every chapter covers one of her projects with a particular focus on one feature. “The Fifth Wall” touches on incorporating ceilings with style, whereas “Art Smart” is a great example of how to think outside of the box when it comes to artwork. For Edith-Anne, one unforgettable feature of Southern design is the importance of heirloom…

Atlanta, Georgia-based interior designer Lesley Steinberg has long been captivated by the expressive power of art. Her love of color and thoughtful composition has been present throughout her life, taking further shape as she studied art history in college, and today, that same artistic sensibility guides her approach to design. She strives to create homes that feel distinctive, rich in texture, layered with interest, and alive with color. Her own home is the ultimate culmination of these things, blending Southern charm with bold twists. “I’ve always been drawn to color and would describe my style as maximalist and eclectic, with a foundation in traditional design but an appreciation for modern and folk art,” Lesley says. The 1980s cottage is nestled on a quiet, wooded lot, a location the designer was…

Inspired artistic flourishes can be found at every turn in the 1920s cottage Claire Theobald calls home. Even the pantry, a utilitarian space hidden behind closed doors, opens to reveal walls whimsically enlivened by wallpaper depicting scenes from an opera. “Everything should be beautiful in its own right,” says Michael Mitchell, interior designer and owner of a capacious showroom on King Street, whom Claire entrusted to bring fresh energy into her century-old home in Charleston, South Carolina. When Claire first purchased the residence, Michael helped her source some furnishings and update the bedrooms. However, it wasn’t until a few years later, when she sold her apartment in New York and took up permanent residence in the Southern city, that a full renovation took place. Architect Victoria Baran masterfully carved out…

In the community of Chevy Chase Village, Maryland, the view consists of beautiful historic homes, most exhibiting turn-of-the-century architecture that is carefully maintained and protected. It was a rare thing, then, when interior designer Katy Anderson’s clients found a residence that was deemed “non-contributing” to the historical significance of the neighborhood—and the opportunity to build their dream home presented itself. Katy, the owner of Katy Anderson Interiors (who is now a personal friend of the homeowners) was joined by a team of local architects and builders to design a new build that would feel timeless and at home in the historic neighborhood. “Very early, we were looking at the American Shingle style as a strong starting point,” recalls Patrick Cooke of Thomson & Cooke Architects, noting how the dormers and…

David Walker’s historic home came into his life by chance. “I lived in a house down the street previously, and I was out for a walk on a sunny February morning,” he recalls. “They were having an open house, and I just kind of wandered through.” Although the Birmingham, Alabama, home, which had belonged to its original owners since its construction in 1950, was in serious need of an update, David saw past the dated surface to the gem underneath. “The lines were simple, the house had good bones, and I just felt like it could be a really cool, simple, updated, more contemporary home,” he says. In the years following the purchase, David—an experienced interior designer—and his husband, Clark Underbakke, have worked to uncover and enhance the home’s strongest…