The Cottage Journal features decorating ideas, style tips, creative inspiration, and delicious recipes - and now you can enjoy every single page on the tablet! Create a warmer, more magical home with the beauty of nature and The Cottage Journal!
The Story of Home There’s no better issue to begin my journey as The Cottage Journal’s editor than my personal favorite, Vintage Cottage. I’ve always believed that homes tell the story of the people who inhabit them, and that’s especially true of homes filled with beloved heirlooms and collected treasures. Storied style is something I value in my own home, which is why it brings me joy to share this curated selection of cottages showcasing the unique charm only vintage décor can provide. From a designer’s Nashville, Tennessee, abode and a Southern cottage dripping with family sentiment to a garden influenced by the history of the land, each project was selected in the hope of inspiring and encouraging you to embrace the beauty of the past. As you enjoy the…
For much of history, the time-consuming process of hand-painting beautiful dishware ensured these patterned pieces were available only to the highest classes of society. But in the mid-1700s, a new process emerged using copper plates and paper to transfer intricate, color-rich designs quickly and cheaply—and the world of vibrant tableware was opened to the masses. As the trend extended into the 1800s and beyond, companies like Spode, Johnson Brothers, and Wedgwood became household names, and designers quickly branched out from the favored chinoiserie styles to create everything from florals and landscapes to famous landmarks. Similarly, the popular cobalt blues were joined by browns, greens, reds, and even the occasional black, decorating not only dishes but also serveware, pitchers, and more. Today, transferware holds the hearts of collectors worldwide, and though…
Admirers of antique charm love to pass down beautiful things from generation to generation, and linens have long been beloved keepsakes that carry on through family lines. But over time, these dainty accoutrements can get stained, damaged, and separated from full sets, leaving recipients wondering if they’re worth the storage space. We caught up with two expert linen aficionados for advice on how to make use of these pretties with just a little elbow grease and some creative spirit. For Lois Lamb, owner of Vintage Linens by Lois, her love affair with textiles had a serendipitous start. Each week, Lois’s parents took her and her siblings on excursions to peruse flea markets—a tradition that continued into her adult years. During one of these outings, she purchased an antique cedar chest…
Given her husband, Jamie’s, career in the military, SJ Johnson is no stranger to moving or working around strict design limitations to transform the all-white interiors of installation homes into warm and welcoming environments bursting with personality. Step inside their Ohio townhouse and you’ll find yourself surrounded by aged accents and exquisite treasures. It was during the couple’s five-year stint in Germany that her affinity for vintage pieces was born. “We’d been [in Germany] for a couple of weeks, and that’s when I discovered this world of flea markets,” SJ recalls. “I just loved the vintage European and old-world styles, so I started collecting books, baskets, and many different types of things.” One of her favorite items to collect are floral oil paintings—many of which are on display in her…
Interior designer Minnette Jackson describes her design aesthetic as “classic with a twist”—and one look at her family’s home in Nashville, Tennessee, backs that up. “We moved into this house in our late twenties after living in New York City,” she says, noting that she and her husband had plenty of pieces to incorporate into their new home. “We are lucky to have inherited several nice pieces from both of our families, and I am always collecting things I find pretty or interesting.” The house became the perfect place to show off their collected treasures, and Minnette’s trained eye was exactly what was needed to pull everything together into a home that’s equal parts elegance and comfort. That balance is perfectly embodied in the living room, which needed to serve…
Prior to moving into her current home, Mary Lee Braswell would have struggled to define her decorating style. An admitted follower of design trends, it wasn’t until she found herself spending more time on social media during 2020 that the world of antiques was opened to her. “I feel like I’ve always been interested in them,” says Mary Lee, who not only fills her cottage with timeworn finds but also sells them through her online business, White Elephant Refined. “It was just the time everything lined up.” While Mary Lee doesn’t have a professional background in decorating, her interest in it goes back to childhood, and the state of her home now shows off her eye for the work. Upon entrance, the formal living space showcases a set of vivid…
