The Cottage Journal Southern Cottages 2016

In this special issue of The Cottage Journal, we have a collection of Southern-style cottages selected especially for their variety in architecture, interiors, and settings. From a rustic mountain home to a casual river cottage, the issue includes each homeowner’s personal interpretation of Southern decorating and style. We also offer many great tips throughout the issue. Here are just a few: Decorating with family treasures makes a house feel like home while giving heirlooms a fresh perspective. The dinner table, particularly a farm-style table, ensures a place for everyone; afterall, welcoming family and friends is the essence of Southern hospitality. Indoor and outdoor spaces like porches and sunrooms provide extra living area for small homes, rooms that allow enjoying wonderful weather with a larger group or a special spot to…

Porches have been in and out of favor with architects over the years, but homeowners in the South have always found them popular. Maybe it’s the heat, or maybe it’s just a slower pace of living, but the porch has always offered the opportunity for casual conversation and solitary daydreams. Indoor comforts add to the outdoor style of larger porches. Tables, chairs, rugs, and lighting combine to create the ambiance of the setting. No matter if chairs are mismatched or from a decorator’s showcase, they provide seating for friends and family. Even ceilings are considered when creating these outdoor rooms. Fans produce a cool breeze on hot summer nights, while the color of the ceiling, often “haint” blue, is thought to keep away the bugs and the evil spirits. But…

Once upon a time in the not-so-distant past, we eagerly awaited the arrival of the mail in hopes of receiving a handwritten letter. Precious correspondence, whether from friend or lover, was opened with at least a slight degree of reverence, and possibly, a letter opener. The letter opener, a small knife-like tool precedes the modern postal service as it was around even in medieval times. Made of everything from animal bone to bronze, some openers appeared to be miniature swords while others depicted crawling reptiles. In more recent times, jewelry designers from firms such as Tiffany & Co., Sheffield Silver Co., and Georg Jensen created sterling and silverplate openers with handles duplicating patterns used for their silverware. The letter opener even has an infamous place in American history. In 1775,…

When many people think of the South, they often think of Southern drawls, comfort food, and Southern hospitality. They might also think of the city of Charleston and the Lowcountry of South Carolina. Photographers Steve Gross and Susan Daley’s book, Historic Charleston & the Lowcountry, shows readers not only the elegant Southern style that has helped define this city and region, but also the rich history that surrounds it. The pair was inspired in part by the early 20th century works of well-known photojournalist and photographer Frances Benjamin Johnston. Much of her work depicted Southern antebellum homes and gardens in various states of decay and repair, including those in the Lowcountry. Steve and Susan visited and photographed some of the same mansions as well as architecturally significant buildings in Charleston.…

“When we moved in six years ago everything was an oak color,” Denise Jones says of her home in Nashville, Tennessee. “It was a beautiful oak, but it was just too much for me. I need things to be bit lighter and have a feeling of airiness.” But with two teenage boys, finding the balance of her desired aesthetic and practical spaces for her family posed a bit of a challenge. Denise enlisted the help of designer Brad Ramsey to create a space that was functional for her and her husband, Stu, as well as their teenage sons. “For us it’s not so much about style, it’s just about what works for our family,” Denise says. “I want it to be comfortable and homey—not too stuffy or a place where…

The majestic beauty of the mountains of North Carolina had lured this family for 30 years before they decided to build their own dream home in the Cashiers area, a collaborative effort the homeowner says feels so right. For years, the family had shared a small home with another family, but as the children grew and had children of their own, more space was needed to enjoy the hiking trails, gorgeous views, trout fishing, and fun activities that initially attracted them to the area. They also needed space to spread out a board game or curl up with a good book. A team of two North Carolina firms was formed for the initial architectural plans with architect Sam Edgens to design the home and builder Sadlon & Associates to construct…