Country Living April 2021

A A Welcome from the Editor There’s a saying that about half your life is spent trying to get out of a small town, and the other half is spent trying to get back to one. As a farm-town Tennessean who skipped off to New York City right after college (and is now in Birmingham, Alabama), it certainly rings true. Despite my love of soaring skylines and salty street-cart pretzels (don’t judge), these days I seem to spend every free moment browsing real estate listings in map-dot destinations like Highlands, NC (pg. 67) and Laurel, MS (pg. 69), towns where I imagine I can sip a root beer and peruse the local classifieds (“1950s Ford truck for sale!”) as I wait for my prescription at the old-timey drugstore. This issue celebrates…

HUE FINDER A fresh palette serves up spring year-round. FIELD NOTES How to Train Your Wisteria To guide new wisteria across an arbor or pergola, loosely twine two or three vines around each other, then fasten them to the structure with fabric ties or garden twine. As shoots grow longer, they’ll begin to grip the frame and the ties can be removed. Once vines reach the top, prune the tips to encourage side shoots to branch out horizontally and flower, redirecting with ties as needed. FIELD NOTES WRITTEN BY LEIGH CRANDALL; MARKET WORK BY CATE GEIGER KALUS; ILLUSTRATION BY MELINDA JOSIE.…

FIELD NOTES What is Eyelet, Exactly? An eyelet is simply a small hole in fabric that’s finished off with embroidered edges. Although eyelet is often thought of as decorative (lace, for example), it also serves a functional purpose. For instance, button holes are also known as “eyelets,” and many shoes utilize eyelets for lace insertion. Round and oval eyelets can be combined with other embroidery techniques to create elaborate patterns, a needlework tactic known as “broderie anglaise” (see “Textile Timeline,” pg. 14).…

SPLURGE VS. SAVE PETITE PREP TABLES A moveable counter-height table is ideal for small spaces where a fixed island won’t work. Look for distinct furniture details such as turned legs, a stretcher, or a warm wood finish to lend character. SPACE SAVER BACKLESS STOOLS Backless counter stools (aim for 24 inches tall) are perfectly shaped and sized to tuck under a countertop overhang, freeing up valuable floor space. STATEMENT-MAKER PATTERNED ENCAUSTIC TILES A graphic, quilt-like patterned floor (like “Eastern Promise,” opposite page; annsacks.com) adds a grounding element to a light and bright space while also giving a nod to the linoleum kitchen rugs popular in the early 1900s. COUNTRY CLASSIC BRIDGE FAUCET The graceful curves of a traditional bridge faucet go a long way to soften a streamlined space. First introduced in the early 20th century, they’re known for an exposed…

Mark your calendars for National Picnic Day on April 23 LELA ROSE may live in New York City, but you’ll rarely see the designer hailing a taxi. Instead, she happily cruises around the concrete jungle, dog in tow, on a bike, as she has done for the past two decades. “I get to go at my own speed, never waiting on the subway and without the inconvenience of sitting in traffic,” she says. Biking, of course, is especially blissful come spring, providing the perfect transport to a picnic in Battery Park (above) or on Governors Island. The more daisies on-site, the better. “I love that they’re lighthearted, not fussy,” says Lela, citing the words of fellow Texan Lady Bird Johnson: “Where flowers bloom, so does hope.” Here’s how the pedal (and…