Southern Home Cottage Home Style 2018

Welcome to this special issue, Cottage Home Style, which is filled with home interiors covered in layers of whites, antiques, and unique finds. Light-filled rooms have a sense of serenity and comfort with an all-white palette, and plenty of inspiration and cozy decorating ideas are to be found. Traditional or shabby chic—white will forever be loved for homes and gardens. Whether your inspiration comes from treasured white linens or a beautiful slab of marble in your kitchen, find shades of white that suit your taste. White paint tones provide subtle changes during the day as the natural light changes outdoors. One cottage homeowner said, “I just had paint for each room tinted and mixed at my own discretion as we painted our home; some rooms required a few more drops of…

Creamware was perfected in the mid-1700s as Europe’s economical counterpart to popular but expensive Chinese porcelain. This refined earthenware pottery naturally acquired its name from the creamy color of its appearance. Although many experimenters and developers had a hand in creamware’s birth, Josiah Wedgwood is best remembered for his refinement and successful marketing of the product. He became known as the Potter to Her Majesty after furnishing Queen Charlotte with his creamware line, which he then proudly (and cleverly) dubbed Queen’s Ware. The majority of creamware is plain, but this versatile pottery was also decorated with transfer print designs, as well as monochrome and polychrome enamel colors. Many pieces were reticulated or pierced, which gives the edges a lacy appearance. Creamware can be found today in fine antiques stores, shows, and specialty…

After only a moment spent inside this peaceful shop, it’s easy to feel as though you’ve stepped into a dreamlike world where flowers bloom in the snow and angels flit about overhead. Tranquil music plays in the background, providing a gentle soundtrack for this otherworldly place. Although white can sometimes feel cold or austere, the opposite is true here—snowy white, creamy ivory, and antique ecru swirl together to create a welcoming palette of soothing tones. Here and there, hints of dove gray, pale green, and taupe lend to the nature-inspired décor. The idea behind this serene wonderland in Birmingham, Alabama, all started with a simple T-shirt. When Diana Hansen and her husband moved into a beautiful older home, they acquired a spectacular garden. Diana says, “I was so inspired by the…

Though the design plan for Kelli Kelly’s home may be a symphony of quiet colors, there’s more than a whisper of stylish zest in this refined space. When Kelli moved into her charming cottage, she felt as though some of her furniture wasn’t a good fit for the new space. So with the help of friend and decorator Lisa Flake of Caldwell Flake Interiors, she found the inspiration she needed in the silvery white hologram-like artwork that now hangs above the mantel. The art was the creative spark that led to the beautifully sophisticated yet highly livable design for the home that Kelli shares with her children and pets—yes, children and pets. Kelli’s smart decision to use a white leather (that can easily be cleaned) to upholster the chairs in…

The Sandquists’ charming cottage sits on 6 acres of beach property that is mostly covered in wild palmetto bushes. That’s why Sherry Sandquist came up with the name Palmetto Cottage for both their home and her business. “I’ve owned an antiques and interiors business for the last 20 years and sell items similar to items I use to decorate my own home,” she says. Junk stores and antiques shops are Sherry’s favorite haunts for finding furnishings. “I’ve always loved white rooms. They lift my spirit just being in them,” she explains. “White opens up all possibilities in decorating, allowing me to totally change the feel of a room just by changing out pillows, art, or accessories.” Nearly four years ago Sherry took the plunge and painted their floors a high-gloss white.…