Country Living

One of my favorite things about working at Country Living (besides occasionally taste-testing pie; pg. 54) is the community of old souls and antiques lovers that find one another under the banner of the brand. It’s like we all speak a dusty old dialect that others simply don’t comprehend. I’m not entirely sure what it is about old things that draws us in like moths to a wool blanket, but the binding power of patina is not to be ignored. I suspect it’s because every antique comes with a story to be shared—every collection, a recollection. “Oh, this? You’ll never believe where I found it….” (Did you hear about the Texas woman who paid $35 for a marble bust at Goodwill that turned out to be a 2,000-year-old Roman relic? Now…

1 The first day of fall (September 22nd), and all of the sweater-wearing, cider-sipping, leaf-peeping potential it brings 2 Giving the gallery-wall treatment to your favorite “gets” (like this plate display in the home of designer Philip Mitchell) 3 Using freshly clipped dahlias as an excuse to break out your bevy of little glass bottles 4 Stocking your own cabinet of curiosities with ironstone, marmalade jars, or whatever you darn well please 5 How antique furniture and timeworn textiles lend soul to any space (Tour three soulful homes beginning on pg. 70.) 6 Perusing the wares of an outdoor antiques fair and finding that thing you didn’t even know you were looking for 7 Porch sittin’ under an heirloom quilt in a rickety old rocker 8 Hauling apples home from the orchard and slicing them on your…

Remember when all of your desk necessities—sharpened yellow No. 2s, an orange-tipped bottle of glue—fit neatly in a rectangular box? With those Pythagorean theorem days in the rear view, our desks can get decidedly more disheveled courtesy of piles of to-be-read books and magazines, paperwork that needs attention, erratically placed sticky notes, and assorted odds and ends. Productivity experts often champion the merits of a neatly maintained work space, but studies (ones likely buried under a pile of more studies) have shown that a messy desk can actually foster creative thinking. Sure, others may scoff at your seemingly nonsensical stacks, but if you’re the sort who finds comfort in the chaos, know that you are in good clutter-loving company: Mark Twain, Thomas Edison, and Albert Einstein are all said to…

Secretary This tall dresser-hutch-desk hybrid typically features a base of wide drawers topped by a writing surface with a hinged top, which is in turn topped by a bookcase enclosed in a cabinet. Pedestal Stacked drawers on each side mark this rectangular flat-top silhouette. (When made of metal, this style is known as a tanker desk.) Rolltop This design features built-in cubbies and shelves covered by a rounded sliding door, which, when made of thin slats, is referred to as a tambour. Davenport Named after an 18th-century ship captain named Josiah Davenport, this compact form features an inclined desktop, elaborate legs, and stealth stacks of drawers.…

1 CHARACTER BUILDER Top-to-Bottom Beadboard Designer Christina Salway’s kitchen was originally a two-story barn with a hayloft. To create the open, airy space, she worked with builder Ben Freedman to remove the floorboards from the second level and raise the original spruce collar ties, then added bead-board all over. “The paneled ceiling reminded me of an upside down boat hull,” says Christina. 2 STATEMENT MAKER New “Old” Appliances Thanks to nostalgic icebox-inspired details like silver strap hinges and lever handles, the brand-new refrigerator has a been-there-forever feel. Brass knobs on the emerald green range (ilveusa.com) reflect Christina’s love of mixing finishes. GET THE LOOK: Classic Fridge $6,195; bigchill.com 3 BRIGHT IDEA Nautical Nods The brass sconces and green pendants are authentic marine lights that were rewired for standard light bulbs. GET THE LOOK: Salvaged Brass Marine Sconce from $175; bigshipsalvage.com 4…

Object Lesson The Way, Way Back: The first wingback chairs appeared in England at the end of the 17th century. Designed out of necessity, their iconic “wings” protected chair inhabitants from fireplace smoke and pesky (and sometimes deadly) manor drafts. Made completely of wood, these earliest chairs weren’t the most inviting, but wingbacks have evolved to become one of the most desired—and coziest—chair silhouettes, with examples to complement any design style. Spreading Their Wings: During the 1700s, wingbacks were popularized by American colonists who wanted to compete with the high-class style of their across-the-pond counterparts. Chairs from this period featured turned legs, which were cheaper and easier to make than the hand-carved ball-and-claw styles seen in Europe. Craftsmen began adding upholstery and plush cushioning in the early 18th century, helping the wingback…