Country Living articles from July 2003

Country Living archives from July 2003

Dear Country Living.
July 1, 2003... Decorator's notebook For readers who asked about the fabric and workroom services we used to upholster "One Chair, One Sofa, Three Ways" (Decorator's Notebook, May 2003): Calico Corners offers one-stop shopping with made-to-order...

Editor's journal.
July 1, 2003... The Real Thing. Real people. Real homes. Real collections. What you see in the pages of Country Living is what's actually in the owners' homes. We're often asked, "Did you bring in all of those collections?" or "Did a truckload of...

The look of red, white & denim. (Advertisement).
July 1, 2003... Give your room a splash of color and a rejuvenating design lift. Whether your style is sleek contemporary or shabby chic, red white and denim is a fresh and versatile combo. And who doesn't love flexibility? With Sure Fit, the options are...

25 years of Country Living: then & now.
July 1, 2003... LOVE OUR DENIM WHEN COUNTRY LIVING MADE ITS DEBUT IN 1978, "DESIGNER JEANS" WERE STILL A NEW IDEA. TODAY, DENIM HAS COMPLETED ITS EVOLUTION FROM STURDY WORK WEAR TO A FASHIONABLE ELEMENT OF HOME DECORATING. FACTS AND TRIVIA ...

Stars & stripes. (Country Classics).
July 1, 2003... [COLOR] 1 Wool Variations On a Flag pillows (11" sq.; $50 ea.), from the Frank Miele Gallery, are handloomed. americanfolkart.com or (212) 249-7250. 2 Quality Time's hand-painted tin clock (8" dia.; $50) recalls vintage advertising....

Hello mudda. ('Cross Country).
July 1, 2003... Encourage little campers to check in with Mom and Dad: Send them off with the Warm Biscuit Bedding Co.'s Camp Cards ($24), a kit that includes a twig pen and 24 lighthearted postcards with fill-in-the-blank details and checklists (800-231-4231;...

Flip-flop. ('Cross Country).
July 1, 2003... Our favorite summer sandal is back in dazzling hues and playful styles for day and night. Head to the beach in a pair of Old Navy classic flip-flops (Sweet Pea; 1/2" sole; $3.50), available in a variety of soft pastel tones (800-OLD-NAVY;...

What's your opinion? ('Cross Country).
July 1, 2003... In a recent survey on our Web site, we asked readers what their favorite summer fabrics are. 45.3% Love the coolness of linen 25.9% Prefer the softness of seersucker 18.5% Appreciate the classic style and enduring appeal of denim...

Inn of the month. ('Cross Country).
July 1, 2003... Set off from mainland Alaska by a peninsula of mountains and ice, the picturesque backcountry town of Gustavus (pop.: 429) lies a short plane ride from the capital, Juneau. Once you arrive, worries tend to evaporate--especially if your visit...

Hang it up. ('Cross Country).
July 1, 2003... California craftswoman Karen Powell recycles vintage seed sacks, worn cotton shirts, and rickrack remnants into whimsical fabric frames ($10 plus S&H). Use the 4" x 4 1/2" showpieces as gift tags, party favors--or to display favorite photos...

Decorating idea. ('Cross Country).
July 1, 2003... Use everyday home accessories to create a patriotic theme for your table. Select color-coordinated items or collections, like these blue-and-white ceramic pitchers with hand-painted stars and stripes filled with bouquets of velvety fresh red...

Herb alert: as their popularity soars, medicinal herbs are at risk in the wild. (Save Our Countryside).
July 1, 2003... Sometimes being popular isn't all it's cut out to be. This has proved especially true for certain medicinal herbs, many of which are being pushed toward extinction by loss of habitat and over harvesting in the wild--phenomena fueled in part by...

Textile revival. (Antiques).
July 1, 2003... USING ANTIQUE FABRICS AND TIME-HONORED TECHNIQUES, BROOKLYN, N.Y., ARTIST STEPHEN SZCZEPANEK IS RE-CREATING JAPANESE PATCHWORK, A NEEDLEWORK TRADITION WIDELY PRACTICED IN PREINDUSTRIAL JAPAN. JOIN US AS WE DISCOVER HOW HE BECAME ENCHANTED BY...

Red & white: from quilts to teacups, this classic color combo can revitalize your home--and spirit.
July 1, 2003... Red & White Decorating Whether you want a hint of warm, comforting color or a dramatic, vibrant theme, red in all its incarnations can energize a room--and mood. And when paired with modest white, it instantly becomes a classic, easily...

Summer fun: from state fairs and roadside eateries to amusement parks and pristine beaches, here are 27 ideas to help you make the most of summer 2003. (On the Road).
July 1, 2003... Three glorious months of endless possibilities, summer is the season we pack our cars for late-afternoon trips to the lake and plan cross-country excursions to visit family and friends. Thanks to long, carefree days, these warm-weather months...

Home almanac.
July 1, 2003... Keep your cool Your refrigerator's depth can determine your kitchen's look. Built-ins are tall and 24" deep. You can build around a freestanding model but it will project beyond your cabinets. Counter-depth units are slightly deeper than...

Mint condition: refresh yourself from head to toe with aromatic Mentha. (Body & Soul).
July 1, 2003... "The smelle rejoiceth the heart of man," mint-inspired herbalist John Gerard wrote in 1597. Of the 25 species of Mentha, or mint, the most familiar are the perennials M. piperita (peppermint) and M. spicata (syn. M. viridis, spearmint). Mint...

Vintage-style crafts: transform vintage textiles or a cache of pretty new cotton prints into stylish accessories. Country Living sewing patterns by contributing editor Amy Butler make it easy. (Special Feature).
July 1, 2003... "I am drawn to the colors, textures, and patterns of old fabric," says Amy Butler, a Country Living contributing editor and partner in the Granville, Ohio, design company Art of the Midwest. "And I love to mix old and new fabrics." If you've...

Get away for less: travel editor Monica Michael Willis tells vacationers how to get the most mileage for their money. (Dollars & Sense).
July 1, 2003... plan ahead Early birds and off-season vacationers snap up the sweetest travel deals. In a best-case scenario, advance purchase can net savings of as much as 50 percent on airline tickers and hundreds of dollars per person on cruise vacations...

Window boxes: follow these foolproof principles to create colorful and long-lived displays. (Your Garden).
July 1, 2003... I must admit that, until recently, I had completely given up on flower boxes, even though my father, who's something of a woodworker extraordinaire, had fashioned me a lovely cedar set to match the 1852 farmhouse I call home. Every March for...

Your pet's IQ: exploring your pet's ability to learn gives both of you a mental boost. (You & Your Pet).
July 1, 2003... How smart is your cat or dog--or gerbil? My response to that always been, "Who cares?" But in our achievement-driven world, it seems, some unanswerable questions persist. Even pets must be rated against other pets. Are certain animals "better"...

A really rosy wedding: a floral designer and her groom gather friends, family, and 6,000 roses on a Pennsylvania farm for an afternoon wedding and festive lobster picnic.
July 1, 2003... [BRINGING IT ALL TOGETHER] "Once we decided to get married, we gave ourselves a month to plan the wedding, because I knew otherwise I'd have too many ideas," says Adriene Presti, recalling her nuptials to Scott Brennan. "We both love...

Property of the month. (Real-Estate Sampler).
July 1, 2003... THE KEITH HOUSE Victorian architectural styles influenced the design of this 9-bedroom. 8 1/2-bath 1911 brick Colonial Revival in Kalispell, Mont. Meticulously restored in 1996 and now listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the...

Kansas colonial. (Real-Estate Sampler).
July 1, 2003... Standing on 15 acres about 30 miles northwest of Wichita, this 3-bedroom, 3-bath 1880s dwelling offers a formal parlor, a formal dining room, a den, a large country kitchen, a family room, and 2 fireplaces. Outbuildings include a horse barn,...

Stately Illinois home. (Real-Estate Sampler).
July 1, 2003... This 4-bedroom, 2 1/2-bath 1827 brick house has formal living and dining rooms, a rec room, a sunporch, an office, and uninterrupted river views. The 4,000-sq.-ft. dwelling includes a 2-car detached garage. $255,500. Speckman Realty,...

Victorian Italianate. (Real-Estate Sampler).
July 1, 2003... Listed on Vermont's State Register of Historic Places, this 5-bedroom, 2-bath 1869 dwelling has original oak floors, a coffered walnut ceiling, 19th-century chandeliers, and built-in cabinetry. The property includes an 1888 barn. $249,900....

Victorian by the sea. (Real-Estate Sampler).
July 1, 2003... Just one house from the Atlantic, this 3-bedroom, 2 1/2-bath 1876 home in Old Orchard Beach, Maine, offers sweeping ocean views. It includes a living room, dining room, den, and rec room and was recently refurbished. $600,000. RE/MAX By the...

Cooling off your attic. (Real-Estate Sampler).
July 1, 2003... One way to trim household energy bills come summer is to avoid attic heat buildup. To promote attic airflow, be sure that gable, soffit, and ridge vents are not blocked. Consider installing a whole-house fan to help in the air-exchange...

Barefoot summers: liberate your toes--it's summer! (Kids in the Country).
July 1, 2003... I HATE SHOES, SO DO MY GRANDDAUGHTERS. THE YOUNGEST, MASON, SEEMS TO hate clothing as well, for she sheds her garb at the least provocation. Me, I keep my clothes on, but I kick off my shoes whenever I can. This morning, as we finish...

Country calendar.
July 1, 2003... OUR MONTHLY LISTING OF ANTIQUES SHOWS, CRAFTS FAIRS, AND OTHER FESTIVE EVENTS If you would like to see your antiques show, fair, or other country festivity in our free listing, please send us a note at least four months before the event is...

What is it? What is it worth? A professional appraiser identifies and evaluates your possessions.
July 1, 2003... I purchased this chair at a secondhand store in the 1960s. I am curious about its age and value. What can you tell me? N.S., BROOKLYN PARK, MINN. Your early-1900s open armchair is made of oak and has a number of distinctive well-carved...

Going with the flow: when designer Peri Wolfman bought a 1980s cottage on Long Island, New York, she knew just how to make it comfortable for daily living and entertaining.
July 1, 2003... I lived in red house a long time ago. Says Peri Wolfman. "That's part of the reason I fell in love with this cottage." Three years ago, when Peri, vice-president of product development for Williams-Sonoma and her husband, photographer Charles...

Mother & daughter: when decorating their halves of the Jersey shore retreat that share, two enthusiastic collectors reveal a story family resemblance.
July 1, 2003... On sun-soaked weekends, Kathe Van Harte's two-family Craftsman-style beach house on Long Beach Island, New Jersey, fills with family and fun. Kathe and her chocolate Labrador, Baillie, live upstairs, while Kathe's daughter, Joanna, son-in-law,...

Textural treats.
July 1, 2003... ANTIQUES MERCHANT MICHELE FOX CAN'T SEW A STITCH, NOT EVEN A BUTTON, BUT HER LOVE OF AMERICAN TEXTILES-FROM VINTAGE TICKING AND FLORAL PRINTS TO WOOLEN BLAKETS AND HOME-SPUN LINEN-HAS PROPELLED A DYNAMIC COLLECTION INTO A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS...

Stars & stripes forever: one couple's love of country--and love of collecting--is on display all year long.
July 1, 2003... LOVE OF COUNTRY "We love to see our guests' reactions the first time they visit," says Cary Jones. "Some break into a broad grin, some laugh out loud, and most can't believe we live this way year-round. But we do, and we can't imagine it...

Country cooking: a joyous and welcome sign that summer is in full swing, cherry season lasts from late May through August--and the peak time for this fabulous fruit is right now.
July 1, 2003... Welcome to a summer picnic in the cherry orchard. Outdoor meals offer ample opportunity to celebrate a most delightful stone fruit. A backdrop of compact cherry trees laden with tiny, scarlet globes of fruit will help to whet warri-weather...