Tabla de contenidos para Spring 2023 en Country Sampler Farmhouse Style

After the hustle and bustle of the holidays, it's nice to take some time and just breathe. The quiet nature of January and February is often a relief following the months of go-go-go. The end of winter and beginning of spring is also a good time to take a closer look at your life and your home. We're all familiar with spring-cleaning, but how about spring-refreshing? Clearing out the clutter, brightening your spaces and adding in joyful touches can bring renewed energy and vision to your life. But don't feel like this has to be a major undertaking. Little touches can make a big difference. Find some cheery floral fabric or colorful tea towels to wrap around your throw pillows for an instant update. Group a few white or cream…

Double Duty Repurpose a round decorative cutting board as a functional wall-mounted utensil holder. Arrange utensils across the board, alternating heights and allowing ample space between each piece. Attach an aged galvanized pipe strap around each handle. Create a hanger with a piece of sturdy rope or twine and suspend the board from a wall hook. Wood items have been used for food preparation since the prehistoric ages. Wood is readily available and also easier on knives than other surfaces, so it makes sense that wood boards became the preferred option for slicing breads, meats and vegetables. Including wood cutting boards and breadboards in your kitchen or dining room decor calls to mind the homespun traditions of the hearth, home cooking and baking, and hospitality. Antique and vintage boards can…

Working the Angles Short walls and slanted ceilings are difficult to decorate, especially when it comes to fitting in furnishings. Sarah Symonds of Grace in My Space met this challenge in her loft space—which has just 3 feet of wall below an angled ceiling—with an innovative headboard design. The headboard mounts on the wall and features a lightweight upholstered panel suspended from a metal rail. She purchased hers, but you could make your own version with a towel bar and a folded quilt. Styling a Stairway Wall Stairways can be a challenge due to their sloped nature, which often results in oddly angled walls. Fallon Wemyss utilized both the outer and inner walls of her staircase to make a statement. On the outer shiplap wall, metal lettering and flower boxes…

Laura found the master bedroom's beautiful Victorian door, originally painted pink, at a local architectural salvage shop for just $75. She sanded it lightly before applying a layer of white paint, for some “peek-through” vintage character. “Whenever I'm painting something, I'll just cover it to where it's enough to still make it look old,” she says. “I might go back afterward and sand the corners or edges to give it that worn look.” To achieve the wavy, mirrored finish on the glass, Laura first cleaned the interior side of the window and sprayed it with water—just enough to cover the glass without dripping. She dabbed the glass with a paper towel and then sprayed a few coats of Krylon Looking Glass Paint. “It gives that mercury-glass finish to an old…

There's a fine line between cozy and cramped, as anyone trying to entertain in a small space can attest. Caroline offers some advice on how to throw a party that doesn't overrun your available area. Provide shelter. Even in sweltering-hot Phoenix, a backyard can be an oasis for visitors. Trees and shrubs offer privacy and shade, as does a pergola over a dining area. Caroline's back porch is outfitted with drapes and ceiling fans to keep the space comfortable year-round. Find a focal point. Just as the kitchen is the natural hub of a home's interior, a point of interest in the backyard can create an inviting space that draws guests together. At the Van Slyke home, it's the pizza oven on the brick terrace. Achieve the same effect with…

A staple in French cooking and a favorite of both Julia Child and Martha Stewart, copper cookware can lend gorgeous warmth and shine to any kitchen. Mardee's robust assortment of French copper pieces all came from her mother, who found them at garage sales. “I think [copper] is healthier to cook with, and I love French cooking,” Mardee says. “It also holds flavors better.” Copper is known for heating up quickly, maintaining a steady temperature and cooking delicate foods evenly—but it's also more high-maintenance than other cookware. Copper items can't go in the dishwasher and must be immediately hand-dried to prevent spotting. The surface will also start to tarnish without frequent polishing. Mardee keeps her copper shining by using copper polish “and a lot of elbow grease,” she says. While…

Before Resin Makeover Transform a colorful resin figurine into a fresh farmhouse accent. Brush the surface of a textured figurine like this one with black or dark gray chalky-finish paint. Let dry completely. Lightly dry brush the surface with off-white chalky-finish paint, leaving some of the dark detailed areas underneath exposed. Use fine-grit sandpaper to reveal other small areas of dark paint for additional detail. Before Refaced Vases Artisan vases don't have to cost a fortune. Do Dodson made these beauties from $1 thrift-store finds. Start with a dean vase. Apply a bonding primer, such as Slick Stick from Dixie Belle Paint Company, to the exterior. Mix plaster of paris and water using a 2:1 ratio. Stir until smooth. Working quickly, apply the mixture to the vase with a craft…

STEP 1 Place 16" dimensional papier-mâché numbers facedown on a protected surface. These will serve as your molds. Carefully cut just inside the outer edge to remove the back portion, leaving the sides and (now) bottom intact. Remove any interior supports. STEP 2 Drill two holes on the bottom of each number mold where it has the most vertical mass. Cut rebar or metal rods into 8" lengths. Coat the mold interior with silicone spray. Insert rods into the holes as far as possible without touching the opposite side of the mold and leaving an equal amount of rod at the bottom to insert into the ground. Support the rods outside the mold with wood blocks to keep them straight. STEP 3 Wearing gloves and a mask, mix enough fast-setting…

Choose a recipe that uses a standard loaf pan. One 9" × 5" loaf recipe usually makes about a dozen standard-size muffins. Fill muffin cups about three-fourths full. To avoid a mess, don't completely fill the cups regardless of how much batter your recipe produces. If you have extra, just make more muffins! Raise the temperature and reduce the baking time. Most loaf recipes call for baking at 350°F for close to an hour. For muffins, bump up the temperature to 375-400°F and bake for 20 to 30 minutes. Test for doneness. Keep a close eye on the oven when converting a recipe. Once the muffins look done on top, insert a toothpick into the center. If it comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs, they're done. If…

SIMPLE FARMHOUSE LIFE You may have perused her blog, Farmhouse on Boone, or seen some of her ideas on the pages of Farmhouse Style, but did you know Lisa Bass has a podcast? Listen to Simple Farmhouse Life for the scoop on scratch cooking, natural living, homesteading and decorating as well as a bit about homeschooling and mom life. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/simple-farmhouse-life/id1494284839 ORIGINAL BARN You'll find plenty of accents for your farmhouse-style home at Original Barn, an online shop that values handcraftsmanship and works with artists and designers who are interested in “bringing back the original farmhouse lifestyle.” https://originalbarn.com HOT HUMBLE PIE For trash-to-treasure transformations and affordable DIYs, check out the creative content on the YouTube channel Hot Humble Pie. In her videos, talented crafter Holly shares tips and tricks for making…

1 Change a Headboard Embrace a softer look in a bedroom by swapping out your bed's headboard. Choose an upholstered design that features a wingback silhouette and nailhead trim, like Amanda Seamans from Her Happy Home did. Or for a cheaper alternative, paint an existing wood headboard a soft, creamy color and prop it with plenty of pillows. 2 Install Hardware Transform plain kitchen cabinets from blah to beautiful by adding or replacing hardware. Choose knobs or pulls in a design and finish that provides your cabinetry with extra depth or character, and install them in just a few hours. Carrie Higgins at Making Lemonade selected bar-type pulls in oil-rubbed bronze for a modern and symmetrical look. Before BONUS TIP Give a wall of plain windows some floral fancy and vibrant…

Garden Arbor Just a few years ago, Erin Clark of Clark Cottage Gardens and her husband, Dan, were lamenting that their backyard patio was a bit blah. Erin envisioned turning the space into an outdoor room that would encourage gathering and relaxation. To make that vision a reality, they began creating a perennial-packed paradise, starting with a hardscape that includes a white picket fence and a stunning arbor that features two bench seats and a working chandelier. The arbor now leads the way to another charming garden feature—the petite pink Sweet Pea Cottage, which Dan built in 2020. Erin began work on the garden around the cottage in the fall of 2021 and finished up the interior last spring. A talented watercolor painter, Erin uses the cottage as a studio,…

One of the best things about being a DIYer is that you can put your own personal spin on your decorating. With the great projects we have in this section, you can add character and style to your furnishings, entryway and even storage spots. Organize all your necessities in creative ways with our clever ideas, give a new look to almost anything with paint, welcome guests with charming house numbers, and elevate your family photos to designer displays with these unique tips.…

Turn Back Time Transfer a favorite photo onto a round cutting board to create an original kitchen clock. Make a black-and-white copy of your photo on plain paper to fit the center of your cutting board. Reverse the image first if there are words present or if you'd like to maintain the original direction. Cut the image into a circle. Coat the front of the image with an even and generous amount of decoupage medium. Press it facedown onto the wood and smooth out wrinkles. Wipe off excess medium around the image. Let dry at least 24 hours. Apply water to the back of the image with a damp sponge, but do not soak the paper. Gently rub away the paper until the image is clear and a white film…

Check local regulations. The area where you live might already have rules that dictate the location, size and color of address numbers. Be sure that yours complies to avoid a fine. Pick a location. Emergency responders, delivery drivers and utility workers need a clearly visible address to quickly identify your home. The prime location is often on the house exterior near the front door, but you might find a porch post, gate or garden area is a better spot. Size up. Most numbers need to be 4"-6" tall for visibility. Make a statement by opting for a larger size, especially if your home is situated farther from the street. Contrast wisely. Display light numbers on a dark background and dark numbers on a light background. Against a multicolored or textured…

Need additional inspiration? Here are several extra ideas: Rearrangethefurnitureina room to create a different layout or flow and gain a whole new perspective. Addanewarearug, accent rug or runner for an injection of color, texture or pattern. Bringinhouseplantsinpretty pots, a vase of fresh flowers or a lush seasonal garland. Hangfocalwallart such as an oversize clock, a single large canvas or a curated gallery wall. Paintadooran accent wall or a group of accessories in a popular farmhouse hue. Layerinalternativelighting such as plug-in wall sconces, battery-operated candles or strings of fairy lights.…

The downtown Phoenix bungalow sat boarded up and overlooked on a weed-choked lot for 38 years, even as its neighbors were converted into art galleries and law offices. But when decorator and master gardener Caroline Van Slyke spotted it, she viewed it as something much more than an urban eyesore. As she describes it, “It needed some love…. It was like the house was speaking to me, telling me to adopt it.” At the time, Caroline, her husband, David, and their two children lived in a renovated midcentury ranch on a large lot a few miles away. That property had room for a menagerie of animals and a beautiful garden where they hosted events and classes. The Van Slykes decided to downsize, transforming the bereft bungalow into what's now known…

When you're packing big style into a small kitchen, every inch of storage space requires careful strategy. That's why Mardee decided to beautify her under-sink storage area. She uses it to hold small pet carriers, where her chickens can safely ride out strong storms overnight. But her setup works just as well for anyone looking to hide their cleaning supplies or other unsightly items. To make this curtained-off nook, Mardee first bought a stamped burlap grain sack from an artist on Etsy. She then fancied it up by stitching around the edges with blue embroidery floss and sewed a rod pocket at the top. From there, it was as simple as slipping the new curtain through a tension rod and mounting it.…

Vintage Stepladder Bookshelf Take advantage of a narrow space by lining up books on a ladder. We used half of an old wood stepladder. Turn your ladder so the original front is at the back. Measure and trim towel rods or storage rails with circular brackets to extend beyond the width of each step on both sides. Attach a rod about 3” above each step so the books can rest against it. Install D-rings or other appropriate hardware on the top back of the ladder. Lean the ladder against a wall at a slight angle and secure it in place. Versatile Crate Table Transform two wood crates into a functional furniture piece like Elizabeth Jones from Country Peony did. She fashioned a rustic side table that can hold a cozy…

Home Sweet Home Present your address on a group of petite pitched-roof houses. Draw house outlines with different heights and roof angles on a 1 × 6 board and cut out. From a narrow trim board, cut roof pieces that are slightly longer and wider than the house board for an overhang. Cut an additional piece to serve as a base. Lightly sand and then stain the houses. Paint the roof pieces and base black. Use a nail gun to attach the roof pieces to each house. Evenly space the houses on the base. Nail in place from underneath and then reinforce with two screws per house. Secure numbers to the houses with appropriate hardware. Finish with hanging hardware on the back. Stenciled Art Showcase your full street address on…

MORNING GLORY MUFFINS Makes 14-16 standard muffins Chock-full of nuts and fruit, these muffins are both hearty and delicious. Fabiana of Ciao Newport Beach includes orange zest for a little zing. INGREDIENTS INSTRUCTIONS 1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line muffin-pan cups with paper liners. 2. In a large bowl, whisk together oil, eggs and vanilla. Add carrots, apple, pineapple, pecans, coconut, raisins and orange zest, and stir together. 3. In a medium bowl, sift together flour, sugar, cinnamon, baking soda and salt. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir just until combined. Scoop the batter evenly into the prepared muffin cups. 4. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted…