Country Living October 2021

As we settle in to my favorite month of the year, preferably under a cozy Welsh blanket (pg. 18), I’m reminded of a quote from Delia Owens’s Where the Crawdads Sing: “Autumn leaves don’t fall, they fly. They take their time and wander on this, their only chance to soar.” I love this sentiment, which inspires me to adopt the pace of the poplar leaves, happily meandering through the season as opposed to hurriedly trying to get wherever I’m going. (Because I love October so much, I sometimes harbor guilt for every second that’s not spent productively frolicking in flannel.) Or, to add to my leaf pile of metaphors, it’s a reminder to just embrace the corn maze—to let the kids lead me down the path that will definitely not…

1 Winding country drives peppered with red barns, golden leaves, and yellow Labs 2 Stuck-in-time cabins filled with everything from cozy quilts to vintage fishing creels 3 Small-town general stores stocked with fresh pecans and homemade apple butter 4 Classic New England curb appeal, old trucks included 5 The kind of warm conversation (and occasional sing-alongs!) a campfire magically conjures 6 Roasted pumpkin seeds seasoned with cinnamon sugar 7 Beautifully faded foliage that proves Mother Nature is the best designer 8 Homemade Halloween costumes because, as the song goes, “Mama Tried” 9 The feeling of slipping on your favorite sweater and boots for the first time in a year 10 The bumpy anticipation of a harvest hayride ROGER DAVIES/©FINDING HOME: THE HOUSES OF PURSLEY DIXON BY KEN PURSLEY, RIZZOLI NEW YORK, 2021.…

Of all the rooms in a home, no space better showcases the beautifully collected chaos of life like the humble, hardworking mudroom. Providing a barrier between the indoors and out, work and family, school and home, this great in-between provides a spot to shake off the daily detritus, both mental and material. Featuring a seasonal rotation of odds and ends—rain jackets make way for fleeces, sun hats give way to scarves—the mudroom is a snapshot of life at this very moment. Look around: Maybe it’s a sullied jersey that speaks to football season in full swing or a pair of pint-size cowboy boots dirtied at the pumpkin patch. Whatever it is, avoid getting so caught up in the clutter that you lose sight of its significance. Someday you’ll crave the…

1 CHARACTER BUILDER Storefront-Style Cabinets Belgian designer Axel Vervoordt sourced the walnut cabinetry from an 18th-century French apothecary. The cabinet interiors are painted blue to coordinate with their pretty porcelain contents. Sturdy, rustic wood corbels play up the mercantile vibe. GET THE LOOK: “Rockport” Corbels (below) from $21 each; vandykes.com 2 PRACTICAL UPGRADE Brass Pot-Filler The French range is equipped with a brass folding-arm faucet, which facilitates filling large, heavy pots. The cross-handle design adds vintage charm. (For a similar look, try “Restoration”; wayfair.com.) 3 STATEMENT-MAKER Head-to-Toe Marble For a timeworn feel, Axel clad every surface—floors, counters, and tall backsplash—in white Carrara marble. The natural stone, with unique veining in each slab, lends a sense of history. 4 PATTERN PLAY Gingham Fabric Originally developed in India and Indonesia and popularized by the Dutch and English in the 18th century, the humble gingham…

Object Lesson Rural Roots: Thanks to the long tradition of sheep farming, wool sits at the heart of textile crafts in Wales. Welsh tapestry blankets have been woven in country mills since the 19th century, created on large looms using a signature double-cloth construction. Staying Power: Because the wool is hand-dyed in rich colors designed to stand the test of time, these blankets have brightened up homes for centuries of gray winter days. The blankets also make for popular wedding presents. Higher Learning: Eye-catching patterns (often with native Welsh names) are another signature of these blankets. At bottom left, an iconic “Caernarfon” patterned blanket tops a nook by interior designer Rita Konig and architect Gil Schafer. Makers to Know: Family companies like Trefriw (t-w-m.co.uk) and Melin Tregwynt (melintregwynt.co.uk) have been producing blankets at local…

$300,000 Zoar, OH 2 BR; 2.5 BA; 1,840 SQ. FT. WHY YOU’LL LOVE IT: This one could easily be a museum! One of the original log cabins in a Historic Landmark village (it’s also on the National Register of Historic Places), this home is a showcase of vintage craftsmanship, including local brick floors, an open hearth fireplace, and walls lined with exposed 12-inchsquare, hand-hewn beams. AGENT: Katherine Campbell; sothebysrealty.com WORK REQUIRED: The CL Fixer-Upper Scale MOVE-IN READY NEEDS MINOR UPDATES INVEST IN A DECENT DRILL PUT THAT CONTRACTOR ON SPEED DIAL $599,000 Marietta, PA 3 BR; 1.5 BA; 2,934 SQ. FT. WHY YOU’LL LOVE IT: This picture-perfect home has beaded tongue-and-groove walls and the beautifully weathered wide-plank floors that only 200-plus years of foot traffic can create. Bonus: The detached studio serves as a dreamy, light-filled office space. AGENT: Shane Kuhns; homesale.com WORK REQUIRED: $225,000 Dedham, ME 3 BR;…