The Cottage Journal

A warm fire and soft candlelight shared with loved ones add joy to the season of celebrating the Christmas holiday. We found our inspiration for this special issue of The Cottage Journal in the homes that show off owners’ genuine love for decorating,

If you’re invited into interior designer Kristin Peake’s Chevy Chase, Maryland, home in December, the welcoming aroma of stovetop mulling spices will be ever-present, along with the crisp scent of fresh holiday greens. “I always have the mulling spic

In the Schmidt house, Christmas starts early. By Thanksgiving, Patsy Schmidt and her family have decked the shiplap walls of their Tennessee home with all the colors and lights of the season—and they keep things festive into January. “I just feel lik

Anna Jacobs has always had an affinity for natural elements in design. The texture of rough-hewn wood, subtle blue and green hues against a natural palette, floral motifs—it’s all welcome in her home. So, it’s not a surprise when you walk through the

Newly constructed yet teeming with history and charm, the home of Mindy and Steadman McPeters beckons guests inside and welcomes them with warmth—especially during the holidays. Nestled in the quiet, rural town of Hollywood, Alabama, the McPeterses’

Doug Sutton and Andrew Nix find inspiration in a variety of sources when designing their home for Christmas, but it all boils down to one main idea: family. “Really, our inspiration for our Christmas décor is our families,” Doug explains. “We hang fa

Though blogger Charlotte Russell and her husband, Jon, haven’t lived in their house in northern Alabama for very long, they have wasted no time making it feel like home. The couple moved in during Labor Day weekend of 2018 and immediately began a com

Marly Dice has had no problem rolling up her sleeves and doing it her way when it comes to DIY-ing improvements and decorating the 1970s colonial brick home she owns with her husband, Jason, in Ijamsville, Maryland. The couple have lived in the Frenc

Homeowner Ginger Ferrell has been building her Christmas décor collection since she and her husband, Brian, married nearly 18 years ago. Back then, the couple owned a single tree and no decorations—something Ginger has since remedied. “My decorations

For designer Lauren Clement, husband Chris, and their two daughters, Finley and Campbell, Christmas is a family affair. “I love to involve my daughters in all aspects of my holiday decorating,” Lauren says. “Sometimes, it is as simple as us decoratin