The Cottage Journal Best of Country Cottage 2021

Do you prefer a country cottage color scheme or rustic style in your décor? We think we might have you covered within the pages of this issue as we have selected favorite collections and stories that bring cottage living to life! You’ll tour homes with the tales of lake, woodland, or even suburban dreams that are some of our top picks from across the country. From a small cottage with layers of vintage wood and plenty of Creole character to a rustic retreat filled with European décor in the rural countryside, explore one-of-a-kind houses that display a multitude of ideas for building or renovating your own home. The nine homes featured in this issue highlight personal stories of restored cottages with historic pasts and brand-new builds—each one with inspired ideas you…

Fall was once labeled “the forgotten season.” It was the time when gardeners packed up their tools and tearfully kissed growing things goodbye. But that’s no longer the case. Given some savvy footwork with flowering cabbages and kales, plus a smattering of asters, mums, and similar fall performers, you can liberate this formerly neglected interlude in the gardening calendar. Putting autumn on the map might take a little research into the end-of-season foliage hues when making tree selections. You might need to check into bloom times and purchase perennials accordingly. But putting the glitz into autumn can make the difference between a sad end and a sparky extension of your garden’s moment to shine. BUYING FOR AN AUTUMN GARDEN Growers have become our ally for endowing autumn with pizzazz. Keep an eye…

Since ancient times, botanicals have been preserved for their beauty and cataloged to identify different specimens. In Victorians days, slipping petals and leaves into a book was a way to remember a special person or occasion. Today, framed botanical collections are found hanging on walls as decorative art in cottages across the country. One artist known for her works with leaves and flowers is Lauren Lachance. For years, she traveled with her inks and watercolors around the world to document plants. But, she shares, “When I discovered that delicately pressing can illustrate the essence and vitality of a plant, it became my passion.” Lauren explains that the French herbier technique, whereby the plants are dried and pressed, is a centuries-old method of identifying plants to study and classify. “I lovingly evolved…

While selling antiques at local shows, I often hear, “Oh, you are the cake stand lady!” Although I sell many types of antiques, my specialty and first love are my Early American Pattern Glass cake stands. Early American Pattern Glass flourished in America between 1870 and 1910. The glass was affordable and beautiful and had the Victorian look that many Americans wanted to enjoy. Those selling features are still true today. Pattern glass cake stands are still quite affordable and stylish—making it possible to own a small part of history in wonderful condition for a very reasonable price. My passion for cake stands started innocently enough more than 20 years ago while I was living in Alaska. The winters there are long and dark, and you need a lot of stimulation…

When Cathie Caldwell started collecting jadeite more than 40 years ago, she had no idea how fun and addictive her attraction to this cheery green glassware would become. What started as a simple interest soon became a quest. With a collection that now boasts close to 1,000 pieces—along with two vintage trucks painted in the signature color—Cathie has earned the affectionate title of “The Jadeite Queen.” Jadeite first became all the rage in the 1940s and ’50s when the United States was recovering from World War II and needed something cheerful yet functional. A number of companies produced it, including McKee, Jeannette Glass Company, and, of course, Anchor Hocking Company, producers of the ever-popular Fire-King line called Jade-ite. Although jadeite was originally designed for home use, an extra-sturdy line known as…