Text by Holly Seng From first impressions to balancing form with function, mudrooms go a long way in offering a warm—and organized—welcome home after a busy day. Whether it’s rain or shine, snowy winter weather or the dog days of summer, this utilitarian utopia proves its worth no matter the season. Baskets, drawers, cubbies, and hooks offer endless possibilities for customization to make the most of your space. We’ve rounded up a few of our favorite mudroom designs below to inspire your next organizational endeavor. Light & Airy Photography by Maria DeForrest, Interior designs by Marnie O ..read more

Text by Claire Pool Step into summer with inspired home décor drenched in soothing shades of lavender! Photography by Jim Bathie, Styling by Maghan Armstrong Lampshade and pillow from House of Hallmark, instagram.com/houseofhallmark. Reed diffuser from Target, target.com. Wallpaper from Serena & Lily, serenaandlily.com. Photography by Jim Bathie, Styling by Maghan Armstrong Pot from 47th & Main, 47thmain.com. Gloves from My Little Belleville, mylittlebelleville.com. Wreath from Serena & Lily, serenaandlily.com. Plant mister from Target, target.com. Photography by Jim Bathie, Stylin ..read more

Text by Elizabeth Czapski On the sparkling shores of the Georgian Bay in Collingwood, Ontario, Canada, the views from this vacation home were as stunning as ever, but the family of five with three teenage sons was starting to outgrow it. Rather than move on to something new, they teamed up with Aspen & Ivy Interiors to find an imaginative way to work with what they had, expanding the livable space while modernizing the look using the setting as their muse. “Their location was spectacular,” says Catherine Staples, principal designer at Aspen & Ivy. “They can dock their boat out front. W ..read more

Text by Claire Pool Classically Southern, casually elegant, and graciously detailed are only some of the ways to describe Ashley Gilbreath’s style. In her debut book, The Joy of Home, Ashley focuses on how to achieve the home of your dreams through excellent design and plenty of personality. Published by Gibbs Smith, 2023. Images from The Joy of Home by Ashley Gilbreath. Throughout the book’s 240 pages, Ashley breaks down many of her interior design projects and her process for those homes. “For every project, I focus on creating a home tailored to each family’s needs and to stand the test of ..read more

Text by Elizabeth Czapski With Mother’s Day coming right up, we’ve got mother-daughter bonding on our minds, and to give the connection a fitting The Cottage Journal twist, we chatted with one of our favorite designers to discuss the experience of redesigning her mom’s cottage. A few years ago when her mother began a big remodel project, Dallas-based Emily Johnston Larkin of EJ Interiors got the opportunity to embark on a refresh of her childhood home in a sweet collaboration with the woman who inspired much of her own classic yet personality-infused style. To see more of Emily’s beautiful des ..read more

Text by Claire Pool Host friends for a Cinco de Mayo fiesta with a menu full of recipes from our sister publications Southern Cast Iron, Cooking with Paula Deen, and Taste of the South. From Tex-Mex classics to reimagined favorites, these tasty dishes are sure to satisfy as you sip on margaritas while enjoying the company of your closest amigos. Mexican Street Corn Salad Photography by Marcy Black Simpson for Cooking with Paula Deen Fresh and hearty flavors combine in this Mexican Street Corn Salad, a twist on the popular street-side snack, elote. Smoky Grilled Guacamole Photography by Jim Bat ..read more

Text by Holly Seng Mother’s Day is just around the corner, and we’ve rounded up a few of our favorite finds that’ll make mom feel extra special this year! From cozy, soft pajamas to tasty treats and colorful table accents, there’s a little something for everyone. Top it off with a handwritten note filled with sweet sentiments for a finishing touch that’s positively priceless. 1. The Lifegiving Home: Creating a Place of Belonging and Becoming by Sally and Sarah Clarkson, Victoria’s 2023 Writers-in-Residence Discover the secrets to of a life-giving home from a mother who created one and her dau ..read more

Text by Bethany Adams The transformation of Troy Rhone’s garden six years ago started with two weeks of clearing overgrowth. “It was completely overgrown—in some places, you couldn’t even see the house,” says the owner of Troy Rhone Garden Design. “Everybody thought it was a tear-down house.” Photography by John O’Hagan, Landscape design by Troy Rhone, Styling by Mary Beth Jones Instead, the Rhones made it their own, adding a gabled roof atop the second story and moving the front door from facing the street to the garden. “The entire landscape was completely redone,” Troy adds—and though he ha ..read more

Text by Elizabeth Czapski Here at The Cottage Journal, it’s no secret that we love vintage style for the timeless beauty, storied depth, and one-of-a-kind character it can add to any space. But with Earth Day coming up, we wanted to highlight another, often overlooked, benefit of the aesthetic: sustainability. We were reminded of the value of using vintage goods thanks to a chat we had with Patty Herron, a lifelong lover of antiques who fills her La Grange, Texas, bungalow and distinctive outdoor spaces with cherished pieces passed down and passionately collected, crafted, and curated across d ..read more

Text by Bethany Adams First impressions were of the utmost importance to March + May Design’s Rachel Anderson, who took the lead in furnishing Elizabeth and Jon Macklem’s cottage in the quaint Southern town of Fairhope, Alabama. The home’s open-concept layout left no room to hide, meaning the view from the front door needed to be a memorable one. “It was already such a charming foundation,” Rachel says, noting that the home was built by its previous owner, founder of Fairhope Building Co., who “put a lot of care into it.” Photography by Jim Bathie, Interior designs by Rachel Anderson, Styling ..read more