Country Living November 2021

There’s a song by the Highwomen that, to me, captures the spirit of this time of year. It’s called “Crowded Table,” and, as the name suggests, it sings the praises of sitting shoulder to shoulder with loved ones. (I have a feeling the table even has mismatched dining chairs; pg. 7.) This song became the soundtrack of our family Thanksgiving last year, despite the fact that it was our least-crowded holiday ever. After decades of breaking bread in Maryland or Tennessee with no fewer than 15 people at any given time, our modest party of four was suddenly faced with our first at-home celebration in Alabama. We had as many empty seats as we did decisions to make: Are we a cornbread dressing or sausage stuffing family? (It turns out we’re…

1 The first crisp day that truly (finally!) feels like fall 2 Making time to take the canoe out on the lake 3 Cozy nooks and crannies for curling up with that book you’ve been eager to finish 4 Driving country back roads to savor the beauty of weathered barns and buildings 5 Modest mountain cabins where the Wi-Fi doesn’t work but the porch swings do 6 Counting all the cows you pass on your drive to Grandma’s 7 How the season feels tailor-made for timeworn antiques (like this basket collection from John Derian Company) 8 The ceremonial plotting of the Thanksgiving grocery list 9 All. The. Leftovers. 10 That warm feeling—courtesy of family, friends, and fires—that permeates the season…

Pull up a chair. Is there a more welcoming sentiment than that four-word phrase? As families across the country convene this time of year, putting aside any grudges in the name of gravy, there’s something sweetly symbolic about a dining table surrounded by seating of all sorts: a stately Windsor alongside a humble ladder-back positioned next to a well-rounded spindle or a 100-year-old high chair. A mix-and-match tableau offers a visual reminder that there’s value in the varied—and always a way to accommodate a last-minute guest or two (or more!). After all, a family is a collection of sorts, and it’s the quirks and imperfections, rather than the shared traits or common surname, that keep things interesting. As you approach the Thanksgiving season and beyond, let go of the “matching…

Woodland Rooted in hunting traditions, this still-in-production pattern by Spode features a flowery border called “British Flowers” that dates to 1831. Turkey Blue Now discontinued, this English earthenware pattern by Wood & Sons is often scouted for by blue-and-white enthusiasts. His Majesty As descendants of the Meakin pottery dynasty, the Johnson Brothers rose to fame for high-quality earthenware, including this circa-1955 pattern. PHOTOGRAPH BY ANICE HOACHLANDER/HOACHLANDER DAVIS PHOTOGRAPHY; ARCHITECT: BARNESVANZE ARCHITECTS; DESIGNER: LAUREN LIESS. PLATES COURTESY OF REPLACEMENTS, LTD.…

1 CHARACTER BUILDER Reclaimed Wood When Ken bought his Provincetown, Massachusetts, house, little was left of the original kitchen. In order to create a space that would pass muster with the local arts society, with whom he generously shares the home, he teamed up with expert artisan Nate McKean to restore its original integrity. Nate used salvaged wood from the house, as well as other found materials, to fashion the storied cabinets. The shelves and countertops are also made of reclaimed wood. “The benefit of timeworn wood is that wear only enhances the patina,” says Ken. 2 THIS INTO THAT Repurposed Island An antique mercantile counter picked up at the Brimfield Antique Flea Market makes for a perfectly off beat kitchen island. Nate updated the tattered table to also house garbage and recycling. 3 STYLISH SALVAGE Trough…

Object Lesson Basketry Basics: Handwoven baskets have always been the workhorses of daily country life—think of them as the original tote bags. Many shapes were specifically created for farm tasks, from flat flower-gathering baskets and double-bowled buttocks baskets (designed to keep eggs from rolling around) to bushel baskets for collecting and measuring produce. These days, larger designs can restore order to all manner of odds and ends, like the miscellany of the mudroom and quilts and blankets in bedrooms. And they’re just as pretty when not in use, whether grouped on top of a cabinet or hanging from hooks. Woven into Community: Many places in the country maintain centuries-old, local basketmaking traditions. The mold-woven, rattan-and-wood “Nantucket Lightship” baskets, like in the window of Nantucket House Antiques (below; nantuckethouse.com), are named for the…