Country Sampler

See pages 8–15 for more ideas on painting patriotic decor. Get More Inspiration Online Did you know you can find inventive country decorating ideas and tips on our website? Visit www.countrysampler.com and click on Decorating in the top bar, then select Downloads & Projects in the menu to browse current and past projects. Or, type www.countrysampler.com/ decorating/project-downloads into your browser. Check out our website for instructions to create this flag-themed board accent. Pull Up a Chair Country Samplerfan Amy Robey Hollar shares the heartwarming arrangements in her country kitchen. A centerpiece box with spools and homespun fabrics gives guests a warm welcome as they enter the cozy space that features a seasonal theme. We’d love to see your Americana decorations, too— share them atwww.facebook.com/countrySamplerMagazine. Windsor Chair Giveaway! Add traditional flavor…

Summertime is on its way, and with that comes a rush of activity—abundant gardens spring up, family barbecues dot the calendar, and festivals and parades trumpet every aspect of life. With all the excitement around us, it stands to reason that we are inspired to toot our own patriotic horns with seasonal decor around our homes. Rather than buy new red, white and blue decorations Country Sampler stylist René Haines encourages you to reimagine common goods with paint. “ You just can’t be afraid of it,” she says, admitting to a bit of apprehension when beginning her designs. “The first time I looked at those little houses (see page 10), I was intimidated because it’s such a blank slate,” she reveals. “ You just have to do it, because paint…

The summer holidays practically beg for a flag motif or two around the house, but decorating with the bold graphics of the stars and stripes requires a balanced touch. Lauren Moran of the Rustic Honey blog was inspired to dip into her crafting stash to create a timeworn focal point. “I couldn’t believe I just had these fabric scraps in my sewing room! They worked so well together!” she exclaims. “Not too shabby for a quick and painless DIY patriotic decor project. It totally fits my style and is the perfect fireplace mantel centerpiece for summertime.” Follow her simple steps to make a scrappy flag in the dimensions and finishes best suited for your space. To see more ideas, follow Lauren on Instagram @therustichoney. Materials and Tools • Large…

In Kimberly and Michael Loughry’s living room, an assortment of red and blue furniture, accessories and textiles pay tribute to the American flag. “The coffee table is an antique primitive trunk,” Kimberly notes, adding that she enjoys its quaint look and its plentiful storage. She searched for a timeworn furnishing to use as an informal coffee table in this setting, eager to introduce a more homespun feel with rustic dark wood. “I felt the room was too dressy with the fabric in the sofa and settee,” she explains. The blue cupboard, which showcases yellowware and brownware, provides a separation between the living and dining areas. HIDDEN STAIRS Camouflage a staircase that protrudes into a room with an inviting seating arrangement that draws attention away from the millwork. Choose an…

Years ago, Billie Hayman Miller experienced a carpe diem dilemma at a Louisiana flea market. While browsing for nostalgic wares, she happened upon a kitchen island that was a perfect match for her decorating style. At the time, she didn’t have room for the large furnishing in her kitchen, but she bought the piece anyway and placed it in a sunroom. When she and her late husband, James Hayman, built their dream home in 2011 in Greensburg, Louisiana, the island found its true purpose. During construction of the two-story farmhouse, Billie collaborated with her brother-in-law, Daryle Hayman, to give the kitchen a one-ofa-kind look. He sourced exterior clapboards from an old house and used them to build all the cabinetry. The time-tumbled finish serves as a backdrop for the…

More than two decades have passed since Karen and Neil Skiver took ownership of an 1,800-squarefoot Victorian in the small town of Greenville Ohio, but Karen remembers well her first impression of the house. “I loved the stained-and leaded-glass windows. I loved the outside look of the five gables,” she recalls. But, she was less enthused about the home’s exterior color scheme, which at the time included lots of baby blue and rose paint. “I knew it had to go,” she says. A new paint job was the first of many improvements bestowed upon the mid-1800s, four-bedroom house. The couple shifted the color palette from soft pastels to bold green and red, and locals lovingly dubbed the residence “the Christmas House.” More recently, the exterior colors evolved again to…