Innholdsfortegnelse for Southern Cottages 2015 i The Cottage Journal

When you think of Southern cottages your mind probably drifts to white picket fences, wide front porches, and lawns shaded by grand magnolia trees and old live oaks. And while that vision may be true on occasion, we know that there’s more to the story. Southern cottages— and their homeowners—have strong ties to tradition, graceful living, and a casual elegance that never goes out of style. In this special issue of The Cottage Journal we’ve curated a collection of 13 unique Southern cottages. From country inspired to artful and eclectic, these cottages showcase a wonderful blend of styles. One of my favorite stories in this issue is “Southern Charm” on page 73, which conveys the essence of cottage living. Beyond its white picket fence, the true charm awaits inside as…

Gena Knox loves her family, her Southern roots, and her career—all of which are evident in her cookbook Southern My Way and in the way she decorates her home. Her cookbook focuses on fresh local ingredients and simple, delicious recipes that highlight those flavors. She prides herself on presenting traditional Southern cuisine with a modern twist. The décor in her Athens, Georgia, home follows that same logic in its blend of vintage furnishings with a contemporary perspective. “We have wonderful, traditional pieces that were my husband’s grandmother’s. It’s been fun to mix them with more modern pieces,” she says. Her love and appreciation for simplicity influences both the construction of her cookbook and the style of her home. “I love clean lines and very little clutter and accessories. I try…

When Chris Jackson and her husband, Ronnie, purchased their Alabama abode in 1975, the young couple was enamored by the neighborhood and saw great potential in their red brick ranch. Over the years, the home has undergone a grand transformation as the Jacksons have painted and planned, renovated and restored. The couple even raised their roof line, unveiling an architectural beauty that fits the feel of their Tudor-style street. Preferring a cozy, clean-lined, and neutral-toned aesthetic, Chris has created a warm and welcoming home filled with abundant seating, storage, and room for an expanding family. A new den and screened-in porch have allowed the family to add to their home without sacrificing the framework of the house they first fell for. No doubt a labor of love, the years of…

“Nearly everything I have is old,” says Jane Hodges, while smiling as she talks about the furnishings in the lovely 1930s cottage she calls home. Once owned by her in-laws, the bright and breezy house is as gracious as Jane herself, and she has filled it to the brim with an enchanting collection of antiques that have equally enchanting histories. Using serene shades of off-white throughout, Jane softened the vivid pink palette favored by her mother-in-law to create the perfect backdrop for the beautifully aged treasures that give her home its singular charm. The living room holds cherished pieces, such as the handsome mirrored screen passed down from her mother-in-law and a portrait of Jane’s son as a teenager that hangs above an antique desk in a washed-blue hue. A…

Early on, Nikie Barfield had dreams of pursuing interior design. But life—and a law degree—had guided the accomplished attorney on a different path at the time she and her husband fell for their darling 1920s cottage in Decatur, Georgia. “The Tudor windows won me over,” Nikie recalls. “We couldn’t resist the home’s charm, even though we knew we’d have a lot of work ahead of us.” As it turns out the renovation was just the spark it took to re-ignite Nikie’s previous passion. “I fell back in love with the whole design process— the creativity, the textures, the fabrics, the styling.” Soon, her work was published in a national magazine, boosting her confidence and garnering client attention. Her style is classic and natural; she chooses timeless, neutral backdrops and infuses…

Elisabeth Hays and her husband, William, purchased this charming bayside cottage in 2011 and have spent the past few years decorating and redecorating their humble abode. When asked about their style, Elisabeth laughs as she admits, “It’s always changing!” And while her tastes may change, the eclectic, casual, and, most importantly, practical nature of her home stays the same. “I have a black lab that is on everything from the sofa to the chair to the bed, so I need things to be pretty durable,” she says. Nestled in the heart of Fairhope, Alabama’s, historic fruit and nut district, Elisabeth takes cues from her surroundings and listens to what her house is telling her when it comes to decorating. Like life on the bay, she wants her home to have…

When home builder Scott Thomson asked homeowners Tom and Kay Worley what they wanted in their new home Kay was ready with answers. “I want light and lots of windows. I want nooks and crannies, places for my books, and a garden I can see from my kitchen window,” Kay says. “And that’s where we started.” Scott sketched three plans, and Kay and decorator Pandy Agnew kept tweaking them until a plan was in motion. Kay had always loved French Country design for what she calls its “softness.” This decorating style is identified by its curving lines, chandeliers, and antiques and is known for being comfortable. Achieving this feeling in a brand-new home with an open floor plan isn’t easy, but Pandy’s talent and Scott’s vision proved a successful collaboration.…

Artist and interior decorator Pandy Agnew’s 1,100-square-foot cottage has helped teach her the importance of streamlining. “Editing out the clutter keeps me breathing,” she says. “I have come to that place in my life where good health and happiness are my priorities. All of the lovely ‘things’ in my home are just that.” Originally built in the 1800s, the cottage’s existing floor plan needed a few modifications (like the addition of closets). But regardless of her home’s small stature, Pandy insists that it’s the perfect size for herself and her two grandsons who visit often, as well as the casual get-togethers she regularly hosts. Pandy’s move toward simplification influenced her choice of furnishings and décor. “What speaks to me in furniture and accessories is true comfort and classic style,” she…

A designer by profession, Deborah Hastings has her hand on a lot of homes. Add that to the fact that she and her family move frequently, and you see why she’s quick to turn to classic furnishings. “Put your money into a few key pieces with great shape. They’re the ones that’ll keep working for you,” Deborah advises. “You can always fill in with the fun stuff later—fabrics and accessories are easy to update.” Take for instance, a beloved black-and-cream tickingstripe sofa in the living room. Purchased when she was in college, the piece has served Deborah well, easily complementing the varying styles and fashions her homes have had over the years. Typically known for her traditional décor, Deborah infused a number of fanciful details throughout her current home. “In…

When people visit Brenda Speller’s tiny Katrina cottage, their lasting impression tends to be “this is all you really need in life.” Though her one-bedroom cottage provides less than 600 square feet of living space, it offers a simplistic solution to beach living. Brenda decided to move to the beach after retiring from 20 years of service in the military. The undeveloped wooded property she owned in Seacrest, Florida, housed two small buildings, a washroom and a one-room guest bungalow, and allowed just enough space to add a prefabricated Katrina cottage. Brenda gutted the cottage to create a simple home that maximized every inch. And with the help of interior decorator Tonya G. Kilpatrick she was able to employ a few design tricks to make the space feel larger. When…

Cascading layers of creeping fig drape the entrance to the enchanting countryside home that Avery Rhodes shares with her husband, Chris Akins, and their three children. It gives the house a magical fairy-tale feel, one Avery likens to Sleeping Beauty’s vine-covered castle under the hundred-year spell. “I like to think we have a slightly ‘sleepy’ household,” Avery says. “We try very hard to slow things down when we are at home and just enjoy each other and our moments together.” The open and airy interiors of this cottage definitely offer a tranquil retreat, and the pretty and polished furnishings belie the fact that an active family lives in every square inch of these sunlit spaces. Avery has created a kid- and pet-friendly abode where daughter Willa Rose and sons Hopper…

Although front porches are commonly found in both well-established and new neighborhoods, these days it seems like many homeowners lack the time and incentive to appreciate them. But that’s not true of Michael and Connie Winsberg. With their home situated in New Orleans’s lovely University/Carrollton district—and just steps away from Audubon Park and Tulane University—this couple has plenty of reasons to seek the solace and comfort of their porch’s rocking chairs. “Frequently, particularly in the evenings, we enjoy watching the locals and college students walking their dogs or going out for a stroll,” Connie says. “Also, since we’re very close to coffee shops, a bakery, clothing stores, and several restaurants, the customers generated by those establishments add to our favorite pastime of people-watching and visiting with those passing by.” Not…

Strolling in the courtyard, decorator Stan Nelson explains, “At first glance, one might think the houses are identical, but further inspection reveals that each one has its own specific architectural details.” And Stan should know because he has lived in cottage number five for more than 25 years. His house first appears in Birmingham, Alabama’s, property records in 1929, but the bungalow court originated in 1925. “I happened upon the cottages and loved their charm, but they don’t change hands often,” Stan says. But by chance one day his realtor overheard that a woman was selling her cottage. “I told the realtor I wanted to buy it, but she said, ‘You haven’t even seen it.’ I knew it didn’t matter because it wouldn’t look the same when I got finished,”…

Start with one piece you love, and build everything else around it—that is often the advice for planning a room. This homeowner did just that. She chose the bright Beethoven piece by Stephen Kaufman (Andy Warhol’s first assistant), hanging it over the mantel to inspire the rest of this colorful cottage, then pulled the electric turquoise color to use in little pops throughout. Every room, cubby, and corner in her home tells a story about the family. Whether it’s the home studio added because of their love of all things creative or the bookshelf that showcases special mementos, books, and pictures, the home speaks of all this family holds dear— all while reflecting their personal style and color palette.…