Country Living April 2022

Spring may be a season of change, but for my household it comes with a few certainties: I will eat too many malted candy eggs, my dad will call to check in on the bulbs he planted, and a butterfly-growing kit will arrive in the mail. (Thank you to my in-laws, Paul and Susan, for this delightful tradition.) Over a period of roughly three weeks, my wide-eyed children will marvel at the miraculous metamorphosis taking place in the pop-up mesh habitat as I, fun mom that I am, repeatedly plead: “Do not touch the [anything! caterpillars!].” Once we’ve sufficiently cared for each chrysalis and sugared the water, it’s time for their bittersweet departure, which we mark with ceremonial fanfare in our backyard. The grandparents join us via video from Maryland,…

1 Lazy Sundays spent tinkering in a backyard retreat 2 Old-fashioned egg hunts with speckled, pastel-dyed eggs 3 The distinctly country sound of April showers on a metal roof 4 Spring chickens frolicking among dandelions 5 The inaugural trip to the farmers’ market for the first tastes of spring 6 Cascades of purple flowers drape beautifully from twining wisteria vines 7 Breezy curtains courtesy of cracked-open windows 8 Wicker picnic baskets and the return of feasting alfresco 9 The fresh-start optimism that comes with spring cleaning 10 Pick-your-own adventures to flower fields and fruit farms…

If gardening teaches us anything, it’s that living in the present does not come at the expense of beautiful things down the road. Rather, it sows them. Or, as a famous Chinese philosopher once said: “Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.” That’s why you can leave it to a gardener to find peace in the process, not just the progress. The most experienced gardeners know that a garden is never truly “done,” which is the reason their potting tables and garden sheds feel intentionally untidy—and thus perfectly primed for puttering. You see, one can’t properly putter without a little clutter—tools for tinkering, twine for untwirling, seeds for sorting—so the ideal gardener’s work space is teeming with ways to while away an afternoon at a happily unhurried pace. This…

1 DESIGN ICON William Morris During the Victorian Industrial Revolution, British artist—and perhaps the most influential designer of the Arts and Crafts movement—William Morris celebrated nature’s beauty with handmade techniques such as woodblock printing. His timeless wallcoverings depicting leaves, vines, and flowers from his own gardens are still beloved. (Shown: “Seasons of May” by Morris & Co.; sandersondesigngroup.com) 2 PRACTICAL PICK Open Storage Homeowner Jo Lloyd is a part-time potter (@swaledale pottery) and displays some of her favorite pieces, as well as regularly used cooking items, on oak shelves. Her cabinetmaker referenced Arts and Crafts design for the brackets. To preserve countertop prep space, she also requested an inset oak plate rack, which houses her daily crockery. GET THE LOOK: “Hornyak” shelf $110; wayfair.com 3 STATEMENT MAKER Colorful Cabinetry The simple inset cabinets are far from basic thanks to…

Object Lesson Double-Hung History: The Dutch may have mastered dreamy oil paintings and the tulip trade, but to us their greatest achievement is a simple two-piece door. A Flemish-Dutch invention known as the boerendeur, which translates to “farmer’s door,” these doors were popularized in America after Dutch colonists swung stateside in the 1600s. Country Cred: Holland’s milkmaids loved Dutch doors because they could keep the bottoms closed to ensure kids stayed in and the cattle out, while also getting fresh country air and morning light through the open tops. Style Statement: A range of design options brings quaint country charm to homes, no matter the zip code. Divided-lite tops are perfect for gazing out over rolling fields or backyard gardens, while solid doors provide more privacy. X-brace embellishments (below) bring a subtle barnyard…

$299,000 San Bernardino, CA 3 BR; 1 BA; 1,093 SQ. FT. WHY YOU’LL LOVE IT: The architectural details are all there and ready for a repolish in this pretty and petite cottage: 10-foot ceilings, substantial wood window casings and door frames, and transom windows. AGENT: Jennifer Stein; jessicacardenas.com WORK REQUIRED: The CL Fixer-Upper Scale MOVE-IN READY NEEDS MINOR IMPROVEMENTS INVEST IN A DECENT DRILL PUT THAT CONTRACTOR ON SPEED DIAL $310,000 Tampa, FL 3 BR; 3 BA; 1,382 SQ. FT. WHY YOU’LL LOVE IT: White picket fence and palm trees? Check and check! Nestled in Tampa’s oldest historic district, this cute cottage has a sunny and spacious renovated kitchen with Italian dolomite stone countertops and an iconic apron sink. The metal roof is a perk, too—that means peaceful pitter-patter during rainy days and nights. AGENT: Jennifer Stein; homelister.com WORK REQUIRED: $379,000 Newman, CA 4 BR; 2…