The Cottage Journal Country Cottage 2024 #2

A SIMPLE LIFE There’s an allure to country style that goes beyond the current trends—a timelessness that speaks to the hearts of those who find comfort in simplicity and authenticity. To me, it speaks of escape, rest from the fast pace of everyday life, and an appreciation for slow living. But country style isn’t exclusive to those lucky enough to live in a sprawling farmhouse or a forest cabin. This approach to design, and to life, is available to anyone who resonates with its rustic warmth and timeworn beauty. Regardless of where you call home—whether the view outside your window is of rolling hills or bustling streets—take a moment to find escape within the cottages that follow. As you meet homeowners who have carved out their very own places of…

Perusing the dazzling array of ironstone carefully curated by enthusiasts, it’s hard to imagine that the pristine pottery had humble beginnings. Indeed, the radiantly detailed style of this ceramic ware was once developed as a cost-effective alternative to porcelain, and it is enjoying a resurgence in popularity for its highly touted functional allure as well as its elegance. Although many objects were embellished with vivid transfer designs, the understated grace of all-white ironstone items marks them as enduring favorites. “Its simplicity brightens and enlivens the surroundings in which it is used,” says Adele Armbruster, president of the White Ironstone China Association (WICA), a national group founded in 1994 after interest blossomed in the 1980s. White also serves as a perfect blank canvas for decorating year-round, matching any seasonal décor when…

There’s no shortage of warmth and character found throughout Emi Sugiura’s North Carolina abode. From woven baskets and vintage paintings to copper, stoneware, and so much more, her love of the hunt pairs with her decorative touch for a layered and storied design. “I always try to make my spaces warm and inviting,” Emi says, acknowledging her aesthetic is heavily influenced by European country styles. And with the natural wood furnishings enhanced by warm neutral textiles, her home’s entry hallway accomplishes just that. A small side table displays some of her treasured finds while vintage artwork adorns the walls. The clean contemporary lines of the upholstered furnishings juxtapose antique and vintage accents, creating an approachable yet sophisticated setting. Flanking the fireplace are small nooks that Emi outfitted with floating shelves…

Before the Jones family purchased the century-old cottage they now call home, the property was a rental—and, according to Suzanne Jones, it was a diamond in the rough. “There were blankets over the windows when we went and looked at it,” she says. At the time, the home offered three bedrooms and two baths, and having renovated their previous two homes, she and her husband were content with minor updates. But once their fourth child was on the way, they knew a more significant change was needed. Now, the house boasts five bedrooms, a new kitchen, and a studio for Suzanne, who designs jewelry for her company, Holland & Birch. “We used a lot of Agreeable Gray when we first [bought the house],” says Suzanne, who had tired of the…

For those lucky enough to have visited the small mountain community of Linville, North Carolina, the impression it leaves is lasting. “My husband always said after visiting, it would be his dream to have a small house in the mountains,” says interior designer Debbie LeRoy of Debbie Mathews Antiques & Designs. It seemed like the perfect opportunity, then, when a house in the woods became available—a cottage built by the granddaughter of a prominent member of the community. “She built the house when she was 28 years old,” Debbie says. Because it was built for a bachelorette, the cottage was on the small side, but Debbie wasn’t worried. “We knew it could live large, because there were a lot of windows and porches,” she says. “There was a screened porch…

When Meredith and Ray Hadaway decided they wanted to live in Round Top, Texas, they knew finding their perfect place wouldn’t be an easy task. Rather than give up the dream, however, they chose to sell their home and move into an 800-square-foot rental with their daughter while they waited for an opportunity to arise. It wasn’t long before one did, and the Hadaways found themselves making an offer for the house a local couple had raised their children in. “We fell in love with where it sat,” Meredith says. “It’s a very quiet road, and it had a lot of potential.” They spent the next few years removing the layers of shag carpet, vinyl, and paneling that had accumulated since the home’s construction in the early 1900s. “We peeled…