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Spring 2025 | Volume 42 | Number 1

COUNTRY
HOMES
SHOWCASE
20 PICKERS’ PARADISE
Sharing a hobby of looking for
vintage finds while on road trips,
an Illinois couple reworked their
home to give timeworn signs and
rustic furnishings the focus among
contemporary comforts.

36 IN LIVING COLOR
No longer solidly in the 1960s,
a ranch in Kentucky is a jewel
box of country colors that
spotlight a decorator’s creativity
with a paintbrush and skill as a
kitchen designer.

52 MAKING ROOM FOR MEMORIES

An antiques-loving Kentucky pair
prioritized their collections when
building a Cape Cod–style two-
story to suit both their Colonial-
prim preferences and their many
heritage pieces.

66 A BLUEPRINT FOR BEAUTY

In North Carolina, a fallen tree
prompted homeowners to put
their professional construction
expertise toward a detailed
remodel that centers on
family legacy.

On the Cover
52
Photographed and styled by Gridley + Graves.
To see more photos of Kim and Stan Blanton’s
home, please turn to the article “In Living Color”
on pages 36–48.
 92 20
CREATE & DECORATE ANTIQUES &
8 FULL CIRCLE COLLECTIONS
From decking your front door to giving rooms a top-to-
bottom refresh, get ready for spring by making easy DIY
104 TO THE BRIM
Load bowls with collectibles instead of commonplace
wreaths and swapping in light and bright accents.
fillers! Arrange small-scale objects within vessels of any
type to develop unique vignettes.
STANDOUT SPACES
80 UPSTATE UPCYCLE THE COUNTRY
Explore the kitchen and dining room of a New York–state
architectural salvage enthusiast and be inspired by the
EXPERIENCE
ambience produced with primitive touches. 112 EGG-CELLENT TRADITIONS
Our parade of crafting ideas for your Easter gathering
OUTDOOR LIVING are sure to bring the generations together to make both
decorations and memories.
92 SALVAGE SPIRIT
Prepare for the arrival of gardening season with inspiration
from a reinvigorated backyard shed that features both a
IN EVERY ISSUE
practical space to work and a pretty environment to relax. 4 WARM WELCOME
8
6 COUNTRY CONNECTIONS
INSPIRING IDEAS 127 SHOPPING GUIDE
98 DECORATING … WITH LOVE
128 RESOURCE GUIDE
Take heart when noting the nostalgia of Valentine’s Day in
your decor.

120 A FEAST FOR THE EYES

Repurpose vintage kitchenware into sweet floral displays
that cheerfully welcome spring. Special Thanks
Loretta & Bo Barbour, Kim & Stan
Blanton, Theresa & Josh Dunahee,
René & David Haines, Athena & Eddie
Richard, and Sherry Wheatley.

2 Country Sampler SPRING 2025

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Warm WELCOME

A FRESH
SPRING 2025 VOL. 42, NO. 1

BRAND MANAGER Elizabeth Morrissey

START
MANAGING EDITOR Adrienne McGee Sterrett
COPY EDITOR Jessica Moorman

SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER Nick Pierce

PUBLISHING SERVICES MANAGER Michelle Harger

S
SENIOR PRODUCTION ARTIST Edith Teegarden
PRODUCTION ASSISTANT Brianna Moore
pring is in the air! Time to trade the chilly
days of winter for a sunnier season ... and not DIRECTOR OF DIGITAL IMAGING Scott Campbell
soon enough, as far as many of us are concerned. PHOTOGRAPHY SUPERVISOR Tammy Christian
PHOTOGRAPHY Scott Campbell, Ryan Hake
If you live anywhere as cold as I do—in northern PHOTO STYLIST Carolynn Geesaman
Illinois, where the frigid wind blows across the cornfields straight toward my
house—you’re ready for warmer weather too. And if you’re anything like me, ADVERTISING
DIRECTOR OF MEDIA RELATIONS & PARTNERSHIPS
you’re also eager to brighten up your rooms, swapping out cozy comforters for Michelle Thorpe
colorful quilts, Santas and snowmen for bunnies and chicks, and pine and holly [email protected]
for daffodils and tulips.
MEDIA SALES/ADVERTISING COORDINATOR
When it comes to refreshing our homes for Courtney Shoda
spring, we don’t have to look far for inspiration— [email protected]
it’s all right here! The resourceful homeowners
ACCOUNT MANAGERS
featured in this issue masterfully introduce Molly Beals: [email protected]
seasonal charm to their rooms, often using Stephanie Crowe: [email protected]
their everyday collectibles and accents as
EDITORIAL OFFICES
foundations for their displays. For instance, 306 East Parr Rd., Berne, IN 46711
Kentuckian Kim Blanton (“In Living Color,” 260-589-4000; FAX: 260-589-8093
pages 36–48) tasks everything from yellowware
GROUP CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Tyler Kitt
bowls to advertising tins with hosting eggs, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER/PRESIDENT Melissa Kelly
blooms and other fun fare. You’ll find even more CHIEF DESIGN OFFICER Laura Scott
CONTENT STRATEGY DIRECTOR Shari Lohner
floral arrangement ideas in “A Feast for the PUBLISHING SERVICES DIRECTOR Brenda Gallmeyer
Eyes” on page 120, where we share easy ways FINANCE DIRECTOR/TREASURER Jack Sloan
to repurpose kitchenware as flower-powered
decor. And, if you’re feeling especially creative, Country Sampler stylist Carolynn
Geesaman offers DIY wreath designs and clever hints for building seasonal NEED HELP WITH YOUR
vignettes in “Full Circle” (page 8). SUBSCRIPTION?
Here at Country Sampler, spring’s arrival is heralding more than a shift from SUBSCRIPTION CUSTOMER SERVICE
cozy to cute—it’s the start of exciting changes for our entire brand. Stay tuned 800-829-0425
in the coming year as we unveil some fantastic new features. Things may look a ONLINE SUBSCRIPTION CUSTOMER SERVICE
little different in the future, but we’ll still be giving you everything you love, from go to CountrySampler.com
room-by-room home tours and decorating inspiration to crafty projects,
expert advice and beyond. I’m so excited to
share all the wonderful new content Country BACK ISSUES
Sampler has to offer—all while staying SamplerMagazines.com
true to the same country style we love. RETAIL STORES
If you are not presently being provided copies
of this magazine by your area newsstand
wholesaler, visit us at AnniesWSL.com.

Elizabeth Morrissey
Country Sampler Brand Manager and head of creative content
[email protected]

4 Country Sampler SPRING 2025

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Country CONNECTIONS Timeless Treasure
Country Sampler fan Helen Cuttie Stutzman
decorates her dining table with a wood
bowl filled with signs of the season. “I

Let’s Be Social
painted these eggs at least 20 years ago.
They come out every year,” she notes. A
navy woven table runner and bright yellow
artificial forsythia blooms lift the mood for
spring. We’d love to see your displays, too—
Find out what’s new with fellow share them at www.facebook.com/
Country Sampler readers, plus get a glimpse CountrySamplerMagazine.

of more content on our social media sites!

Get More Inspiration Online

Did you know you can find inventive country decorating ideas and
tips on our website? Visit CountrySampler.com and click on Decorating
in the top bar, then select Downloads & Projects in the menu to browse
current and past projects. Or, type CountrySampler.com/decorating/project-
downloads into your browser. Check out our website for instructions to
create this planter box with garden gate trellis.

Turn to page 30
to see a similar
concept on a

PHOTOGRAPHED AND STYLED BY GRIDLEY + GRAVES

larger scale in the
Dunahee home.

Country Sampler
on Video
Try making this sweet treat basket as you
prepare for Easter get-togethers—or, better Sweet Spot
yet, gather the supplies and have craft time To repin this engaging vignette featuring a
with your family. We offer videos that show bouquet of tulips tucked into a sifter, visit our
home decor projects like this basket for a Country Floral Arrangements board, www.
variety of seasons and holidays. Visit www. pinterest.com/CountrySampler1/country-
youtube.com/CountrySamplerMag to follow floral-arrangements. To see more photos of
along. To learn more, turn to “Egg-cellent Theresa and Josh Dunahee’s home, turn to
Traditions” on pages 112–118. “Pickers’ Paradise” on pages 20–33.

6 Country Sampler SPRING 2025

 Style Show-and-Tell Reader Mail
A beaded wood cake stand becomes a
pedestal for a coffee table arrangement
created by Michele McFadden in Saint
Thomas, Pennsylvania. “I use texture,
layers and a cohesive look to pull together
my vignettes,” she says. Faux chocolate
bunnies peek from a bowl, a greenery ball
perches atop a candleholder and two tree
ornaments bring contrast.

Jennifer Herbert’s entry is ready

to welcome guests. After setting
a weathered chair beside a
bench, Jennifer loaded both
with greenery, a stoneware
bowl of pansies, rabbit figures Congratulations on your 40th
and more. “My husband and I
anniversary! I am not surprised that
live in rural Virginia on 17 acres
you are still going strong! I have been
and love our primitive antiques.
Springtime is our favorite time reading your magazine for over 30
of the year when the wild years. I have learned about countless
periwinkle starts to bloom in our vintage items from treenware to
woods and you can just smell English ironstone and everything
spring all around,” she shares. in between. I love the inspiration
you provide, both in decorating
and repurposing. My dining room
In Fairfax, Virginia, Sherry Holinaty
centers a grouping of stoneware wall showcases an antique cabinet,
on her late grandmother’s ironstone pitchers, a metal planter
cabinet in her kitchen. The Atlas and a vintage watering can. Thanks
canning jar features a shamrock to Country Sampler and Country
graphic, just right for St. Patrick’s Sampler Farmhouse Style magazines,
Day. “I love thinking about I know what I like and what looks
how antiques were used while I am striving for. Thank you for all
I decorate and explore shops for your creative issues!
my next find,” Sherry says. Brenda Carrier
Cumberland, Virginia
Reader-submitted content may be edited for length and clarity.

CONNECT WITH US
We love to hear from our readers [email protected]

We might even publish Email photos of your autumn and Halloween vignettes to
[email protected]. To be considered for
306 East Parr Road, Berne, IN 46711

your letter or photos in publication, send high-resolution files (1 MB or larger, 300 dpi). CountrySampler.com

an upcoming issue! Smartphone images are accepted, as long as they meet our
high-resolution guidelines. Please include a brief description
www.facebook.com/CountrySamplerMagazine

Tell us how you live the country life or use (75 words or less) with your photos. By submitting letters www.pinterest.com/CountrySampler1
Country Sampler as decorating inspiration and photos, you are granting Annie’s Publishing/Country www.youtube.com/CountrySamplerMag
by emailing your story (150 words or less) to Sampler the right to publish the material in the magazine or
[email protected]. on social media. www.instagram.com/CountrySamplerMagazine

VISIT US ONLINE AT CountrySampler.com 7

 ?
Adapt & Adjust
Design several floral blocks
for your wreath to swap
in and out.

?
 Full
Mark the arrival of spring by
rejuvenating your decor with creative
wreath ideas that are sure to lighten
and brighten your rooms.

T he season of regeneration is upon us, and decorators certainly aren’t

immune to nature’s promptings. As the chill of winter eases, Country
Sampler stylist Carolynn Geesaman is eager to reset her rooms to
include brighter colors, lighter textures and cute Easter and garden
accents. Wreaths, a longtime country standard, are an ideal starting
place. “I like them because you can change out the season in your
decor without a lot of work,” Carolynn says. To inspire your decorating,
she created several nontraditional but easy-to-make wreath designs
that can highlight displays from the porch to the bedroom. Primed
with her tips, you’ll be set to sharpen your crafting skills as you savor
spring’s transformations.

REENERGIZE WITH FLOWERS

Rescue a cracked mirror’s frame by converting it into a novel spring wreath. Remove the mirror
backing and trace onto cardboard. Cut out the shape, trimming the bottom edge straight across to
leave a gap at the bottom of the frame, which will accommodate a hanging floral arrangement. Brush
yellow chalky-finish paint onto the frame and the cardboard. Adhere a lacy place mat to the cardboard
with spray glue and then secure the decorated cardboard in the frame. The converted mirror should
be mounted on the wall before flowers are added. To make a base for a floral arrangement, hot glue a
wood strip to the back of a floral foam block and attach a sawtooth hanger. Arrange floral stems in the
foam and hang from a nail driven into the wall between the cardboard and frame.
Refresh a kitchen nook with your wreath and then repurpose a discarded sidelight from a door
to continue the makeover. Measure the windows and cut cardboard rectangles that will fit snugly
against the glass. Cover the cardboard with scrapbook paper, shelf liner or fabric, and press the panels
against each window from the back. Carolynn recommends this method to allow for quick style
changes. Finish by arranging dimensional paper butterfly stickers on the front in a wandering pattern.

VISIT US ONLINE AT CountrySampler.com 9

CAPTURE THE MOMENT
Bring welcome sunshine into a bedroom
by arranging a dresser-top scene featuring
vintage toiletries and seasonal blooms. Layer
a mirror with a wreath encased in jewelry
to catch the light and add sparkle. Carolynn
employed a scalloped-edge box that once
held a gift vanity set as a riser to display
perfume bottles, a painted sign and flowers.
ALL DONE UP
Show off a collection of costume jewelry with a shining wreath that
moves inherited pieces out of storage and into the spotlight.

Materials and Tools

• 10" straw wreath
• Velvet ribbon
• 14 large brooches, 2"–3" diameter
• 20 to 30 broken jewelry segments, small brooches or
larger earrings
• Keychain ring
• Floral wire
• Hot glue gun and glue sticks
• Scissors

Instructions
1. Attach one end of the ribbon to the back of the
wreath with hot glue. When dry, wrap the ribbon
around the entire wreath, overlapping the edges
to conceal the straw. Cut the ribbon and secure the
end in the back.
2. Cut a length of doubled or tripled wire, wrap it around
the top of the wreath, and twist the ends closed. Add the
keychain ring to the wire as a hanger. Note: Jewelry has
considerable weight; be sure the hanger is sturdy.
3. Wire the large brooches to the wreath, testing placement first.
Feed a wire through each brooch or its closed pin and wrap the two
ends around to the back of the wreath to secure. Once all large brooches
are attached to the front of the wreath, turn it over and fold the twisted wire ends
flat against the back. Turn back over to front side.
4. Wire or glue the smaller jewelry pieces to the wreath to fill the gaps. Flatten any
wires in the back.

DESIGNED BY CATHY MICKLITSCH

WHIP UP A TRIO
Make felt egg pillows and nestle them in a
moss-lined basket. Cut two matching ovals for
each pillow’s front and back. Cut a variety of
blooms from contrasting felt, or check your local
crafts store for premade options. Hand-stitch the
flowers onto the pillow fronts and decorate with
buttons and beads. Sew the pillows together
with a blanket stitch, leaving a small gap at the
bottom. Fill with stuffing and sew closed.

VISIT US ONLINE AT CountrySampler.com 11

EASY BREEZY ACCENTS
Prepare a front porch or covered patio for outdoor
living season. Brighten the interior of a faux fireplace
with white architectural salvage that acts as a shelf
for trailing florals. For style at eye level, craft a carrot
wreath and hang it on a weathered board mounted
to a painted garden trellis. Carolynn’s leaping rabbit
and signs from a deconstructed wall hanging add
more interest in a flash. Felt egg pillows decked in
flower shapes, plus framed tulips suspended from a
thrifted macramé belt, continue the springy theme.
PICK A POSY
Bind faux tulip stems with jute
rope to create mini bouquets. Slip
patterned paper into photo frames
and affix the flowers on top with
glue or strong double-sided tape.

EARLY HARVEST
Grow jumbo carrots in just an afternoon with a few common supplies.

Materials and Tools

• Scrap cardboard
• Chunky orange yarn
• Jute twine
• Wood rabbit cutout
• Feathery artificial greenery
• Spanish moss
• Floral foam
• Rustic board
• Scissors
• Hot glue gun and glue sticks

Instructions
1. Cut two triangles from cardboard. Starting at the tip of each triangle,
glue the end of a strand of yarn to the back and then wrap around the
shape. Keep the yarn rows snug but not overlapping. Dot with hot glue,
if needed, while working. Finish at the wide end and glue the yarn in
place on the back.
2. Wrap each carrot with jute twine at an angle in a wide pattern. Knot or
glue the twine to secure.
3. Turn the carrots over and glue low-profile blocks of floral foam in the
center and along the top. The center blocks will prop the carrots out
from the backing board, and the top blocks will hold the greenery in
place. Push stems into the top blocks and glue moss in place to cover
any visible foam.
4. Adhere the carrots to the board. Glue a wood rabbit cutout to the center.

VISIT US ONLINE AT CountrySampler.com 13

PLAY WITH SHAPES
Wreaths don’t have to be round. Pair a decorative
tobacco basket with a traditional frame for a unique
take. Embellish a wood rabbit shape—Carolynn used
a discount-store sign—by decoupaging a plaid paper
napkin to its surface. Cut out pink felt for the ears, make a
pom-pom tail with white yarn, and add a polka-dot bow
from a child’s barrette. Wire or hot glue the rabbit to the
center of the basket, and load the bottom with daisies,
Easter eggs and cloth carrots.

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EVERLASTING PETALS
Create a spring wreath starring flower-shaped plates.

Materials and Tools • Floral wire or green pipe cleaners

• Wire wreath form, 2'–2½' diameter • Green ribbon, 2"–3" wide
• 5 melamine plates, about • White mesh ribbon
8" diameter • Scissors
• 5 wire plate hangers • Hot glue gun and glue sticks

Instructions
1. Cut 30 lengths of green ribbon, each measuring 6"–8". Fold in half lengthwise
and cut the ends at an angle. Set aside.
2. Fasten hangers on the plates and wire them to the wreath form.
3. Tie on a loop of ribbon at the top of the wreath as a hanger.
4. Make a large mesh bow and a smaller ribbon bow. Layer them together with
wire or glue and secure to the top of the wreath.
5. Fill the spaces around the plates with green ribbons. Stack up to three
ribbons and wire together in the center. Push the ends of the wire through
the wreath form and fluff the ribbons to separate. Continue until you’re
satisfied with the fullness, cutting and bundling more ribbons as needed.
6. Cut lengths of mesh ribbon and wire in place to accent the green ribbons.

DESIGNED BY CATHY MICKLITSCH

14 Country Sampler SPRING 2025

FORM A
FOUNDATION
Mount a Jenny Lind–style
crib headboard as a support
for seasonal accents in an
entryway. Hang a wreath made
of shaggy ribbons and colorful
plastic plates to coordinate
with a sweet tulip garland.
Carolynn’s ceramic Easter eggs,
an antiques-store find, glow
with an iridescent gloss that
contrasts with an aged basket.
 ?
Adapt & Adjust
Dangle a pint-size watering
can or garden tool from
your wreath’s ribbon.

SPRINKLE WITH STYLE

Embrace the anticipation of the coming gardening season by Hang the wreath over a potting bench or side table and
creating a whimsical hose wreath. Thread a sprayer nozzle or tack a nail or two into the wall to hold the sprayer head in
other decorative fitting onto a white hose; Carolynn found a position. Outfit the tabletop with drawers, boxes and terra-
vintage watering can sprinkler head that was a good fit and cotta pots, choosing worn finishes that boost appeal. “Don’t
painted it yellow to brighten its finish. Coil the hose, arcing one discard those old scales that have been left out in the barn too
end away from the rest, and secure the bulky circle with fishing long or out in the weather,” Carolynn says. “Things like that give
line. Insert beaded picks through the holes and into the hose a same-old regular spot a real touch of interest.” ★
opening. Crown your hose wreath with a floral arrangement
anchored in place with floral foam wired to the top curve. FOR MORE INFORMATION, SEE RESOURCE GUIDE, PAGE 128.

Written by ADRIENNE MCGEE STERRETT ◆ Designed and Styled by CAROLYNN GEESAMAN

Photographed by RYAN HAKE and SCOTT CAMPBELL

16 Country Sampler SPRING 2025

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 Written by KHRISTI ZIMMETH ◆ Photographed and Styled by GRIDLEY + GRAVES

Hit the road with a creative

Illinois couple who furnished
their contemporary home with
vintage signs and carefully
chosen pieces of the past.

JOSH AND THERESA Dunahee know what they like and

they’re not afraid to go after it. The southern Illinois homeowners are big fans of
objects from earlier eras and travel the countryside seeking out items to add to
their ever-growing collection. “My husband loves to knock on doors to look for old
things,” Theresa explains. “Seeing old cars and trucks, gas signs, gas pumps and old
gas or oil cans sitting out somewhere” is a sign of rich hunting grounds, she says,
revealing that 95 percent of the signs and a lot of the other antiques in their home
are results of their picking pilgrimages.
The couple display their spoils throughout the one-and-a-half-story home they
share with son Trey, daughter Layla, four dogs, one cat and two turtles. Built in

Blue 2009 by Josh’s uncle, the six-bedroom house sits on an acre-plus lot in a country
neighborhood that includes three nearby relatives and a workspace for Theresa’s
Heaven Etsy and Facebook business, Forest Acre Primitives.
Consider a Pieces from the past are key to Theresa’s cozy decorating style, which she
cabinet’s finish describes as “vintage and primitive with a little farmhouse.” The home’s open
and select floor plan and wood floors show off Josh’s signs and her primitives to their best
collectibles in a advantage. Enthusiastic about Little House on the Prairie, Theresa decorates with
complementary everyday items such as rolling pins, cookie cutters, wood mashers, cheese graters
shade, as Theresa and stoneware crocks, and she can’t resist chippy cupboards with square nails
Dunahee does
and advertising boxes and crates. “What I wouldn’t give to live back in those days,”
with a grayish-blue
she muses.
stepback cupboard
in her dining room
As houses with distinct character are hard to come by in their area, the Dunahees
that showcases plan to build a new home on the 5 acres behind them—with Theresa designing
Butterprint Pyrex the project from start to finish. She figures it will take a couple of years to find the
dishes inspired by salvaged architectural items she hopes to incorporate, the one-of-a-kind pieces that
her mom and No. will not only make their home unique but also offer up yet another good reason
13 Ball jars. to embark on a road trip.

VISIT US ONLINE AT CountrySampler.com 21

 The dining area features an 1840s table that
came out of an old smokehouse. Theresa
mixed Windsor chairs with a distressed
bench she found at an antiques store.

22 Country Sampler SPRING 2025

What’s
Cooking?
Instead of a
standard display
cabinet, position an
antique appliance
in front of an open
wall as a pedestal
for changing
vignettes. Arrange
jars, graters and
crocks to highlight
special details,
as Theresa does
atop a stove in her
airy kitchen. The
antiques-mall find is
“one of my favorite
things,” she notes.
 This Rainbo
bread sign was $30
at a yard sale!

A collection of wood
rolling pins gathered
in a stoneware
vessel livens a
kitchen vignette.
A stem of artificial
lamb’s ears melds
well with the blue
insulators.

24 Country Sampler SPRING 2025

Sign Me Up
Add instant age to a newer kitchen
with vintage signs. Embrace worn
spots or a little rust for extra interest.
Protect weathered metal with a coat
of spray lacquer, which also brings out
the colors. Complement the signs with
utilitarian seating like the stools Josh
made from old tractor seats and rebar.
 ANTIQUE
Using decorating skills learned by running dealer booths,
Theresa creates an impactful entry grouping. The metal
and wood sign was a gift from Josh, and the milk can once
belonged to his grandfather. Theresa fits in other antiques,

r t i s t r y like the red coffee mill, to make a style statement. Give your
home a pro edit with her ideas.

A
✤ CHANGE IS
GOOD. Don’t get
complacent about
your collections.
Moving things
around often helps
you see treasures
in a new light.

✤ SET THE
STAGE. Use
wood, metal
and greenery to
increase color
and texture and
develop backdrops
that will allow
your cherished
objects to shine.

✤ LOOK UP.
Varying heights is
the key to creative
compositions.
Experiment with
boxes, stools, even
blocks of wood.
“I want the eye
to go up, down
and all around,”
Theresa explains.

26 Country Sampler SPRING 2025

 Soaring ceilings require
oversize furniture to achieve
the best proportions. Theresa
and Josh found an enviably
large stepback cupboard in
Virginia for $400 and snapped
it up for their entrance. The
late-1800s cabinet boasts
original paint, which suits
Theresa’s birdhouses and Rae
Dunn pottery.

VISIT US ONLINE AT CountrySampler.com 27

 THEN Meets NOW
The living room’s modern lines are softened with a generous helping of weathered wares.
Learn how Theresa meshes old-fashioned artifacts and updated themes.

Color. A serene blue on the focal wall enriches the room while coordinating with dark
wood, light neutrals and a warm-toned yellowware exhibit.

Furniture. A checked grandmother’s chair displaying a navy coverlet is a gentle

counterpoint to a contemporary sofa showing off a muted quilt and ticking-stripe pillows.

Accents. Niches flanking the fireplace act as shadow boxes for lanterns, pottery and
other decorations. Seasonal greenery conceals internet and TV equipment.

VISIT US ONLINE AT CountrySampler.com 29

 This gate, with
its original hardware,
was $45!

Do Fence Me In
“ Upcycle a farm gate into a one-of-a-kind
What I wouldn’t give to headboard. Continue the rustic theme by

live back in those days.” moving in a trunk with a glowing patina

at the foot of the bed. Lean a chippy door
in a corner to host a twiggy wreath, as the
Dunahees did in their master bedroom.

30 Country Sampler SPRING 2025

 A school bench supplies a resting
spot for an oversize bear in the
master bedroom. The vintage
child-size shopping cart amplifies
the nostalgic look. Stairs lead to a
bonus room used as a home office.

If you are lucky enough to have

extra space in your bedroom,
arrange furnishings for a reading
retreat, as Theresa did here. The
table was picked up on travels in
Virginia. It was falling apart, but
Theresa put it back together with
a nail gun and rubbed on clear
wax to preserve the finish.

VISIT US ONLINE AT CountrySampler.com 31

 The spacious home was built
in 2009 by a family member,
and the Dunahees have
decorated it with antiques that
reflect their personalities.

Treasure hunters Josh and Theresa

share an appreciation for antiques
and cherish time spent together
on picking adventures.

“
My husband
loves to knock
on doors to look
for old things.”

32 Country Sampler SPRING 2025

 Scrub-a-
Dub-Dub
Give old washtubs
new life as planters,
as Theresa does
in her front yard.
She changes
the contents
with the seasons
and anchors
one grouping
with a salvaged
fence gate to
provide a country
welcome to her
Illinois home. ★
FOR MORE INFORMATION, SEE
RESOURCE GUIDE, PAGE 128.

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 Check out how
Kentucky homeowners
updated a 1960s ranch
for today’s living while
instilling it with a
playful primitive vibe
and a colorful palette.
 Written by PAMELA DITTMER MCKUEN ◆ Photographed and Styled by GRIDLEY + GRAVES

im and Stan Blanton felt as though they were transported back in time
when they moved into their ranch-style home in Berea, Kentucky, four years
ago. It was built in 1968, and looked like it, too. “I like old, but not ’60s and
’70s old,” Kim remarks. The couple, who have been married for 30 years,
renovated extensively to bring the home into the modern age.
They remodeled the kitchen and
baths, and replaced floors, light fixtures,
windows and doors. All the while, they
kept in mind Kim’s favored aesthetic, a
blend of primitive and country styles.
“I’m enamored with things my grandma
would’ve had when she was young,” she
says. “She lived through the Depression
and made do with what they had.”
Kim deftly mixes family heirlooms
and reproductions as well as vintage
and new textiles. She’s a color enthusiast
who frequently incorporates muted
reds, greens and blues into her decor.
In her professional life, Kim is a certified
kitchen and bath designer, a credential
that served her well during the couple’s
own renovations. While her clients
tend to have big budgets, she did not.
Instead, she relied on thrifty tactics like
doing her own painting and working
with remnants. “Fortunately, I know
how to get a lot of look for a low price,”
she says. “I think that makes it more
cozy, more personalized.” Her ideas and
inspirations can be found on Pinterest
@designerladyk, The Primitive Farmhouse
~ Kim Blanton.
Five times a year—spring, summer,
fall, winter and Christmas—Kim lavishes
the home indoors and out with seasonal
accents and flora. One focus of her
attention is the 6-foot lighted pencil tree Rabbit figures and motifs
in the foyer that she never takes down. “It has embarrassed my kids their whole pop up throughout Kim
lives, but I love it,” she laughs. Blanton’s displays. “I only use
After all the winter holidays pass and the end of February approaches, she starts rabbits in spring,” she reveals.
“I think they are sweet,
gearing up for spring. Her creative arsenal is filled with colonies of rabbits, flocks happy creatures.”
of chicks, colored eggs, religious emblems, handcrafted signage and a bounty of
tulips. The accents stay on display for only a few weeks, and then Kim is off to
refresh an online find with paint or stitch a sewing project for the next season—a
much-loved cycle that brings her joy.

VISIT US ONLINE AT CountrySampler.com 37

Kim tied together the family room’s comfort-first seating with a multicolored traditional rug,
gingham window treatments and buffalo-plaid patterns. Family heirlooms like the grandfather
clock and contemporary embellishments like the hanging quilt fill the room with cozy character.

38 Country Sampler SPRING 2025

 POLISH
LIKE A PRO
Conceal a wall
air-conditioning unit
when it’s not in use
with a cleverly placed
quilt rack.

The dining room is smartly dressed in an array of contrasting textiles against a medley of light
and dark woods. Kim paired the sideboard with an antique quilt and set off the fireplace with
a hooked rug tacked to a painted window frame.

VISIT US ONLINE AT CountrySampler.com 39

 POLISH
LIKE A PRO
Top wall cabinets
with crown
molding to create
a picture ledge.

For the kitchen makeover, Kim dipped into her

career skills. She had a paint treatment in mind
for the lower cupboards, so she replaced the
originals with unfinished cabinetry. She began
with a deep green color and then dry brushed
layers of turquoise, brown, jadeite and deep
green, topping with a brown glaze. The upper
cabinets were left in place but adapted with
new doors, hardware and crisp white paint.
Window Treatment
Jade-hued canisters inspired Kim’s kitchen color selection, so naturally she wanted to show them off. During the
renovation, she insisted on a set of glass-paned doors to serve as a display space. She shares how you can put a sharp
focus on yesteryear’s pantry staples too.

■ Think About Sight Lines. ■ Set the Stage. Install a beadboard ■ Spread Out. Integrate the
Choose a location that will be most backsplash color-matched to the countertop under the cabinet with
visible as you enter the room or when cabinets to add textural interest and vignettes of related items such as
you spend time there. Kim settled on to elongate your backdrop. Paint the breadboards and culinary tools.
placing her glass-doored showcase at cabinet interior white to present the Include small color splashes via
the end of the breakfast bar. artifacts in their best light. textiles, handles and labels.

VISIT US ONLINE AT CountrySampler.com 41

In the eat-in kitchen, a white-and-wood dining set accentuates the
bold rooster-themed hooked rug. Kim painted most of the wood
pieces, and she matched the moss-green hutch to the lower kitchen
cabinets to carry the hue through the spaces. A variety of rabbit
figures and barnyard animal decor lend farmhouse appeal.
Kim is purposeful about weaving color throughout her home by
repeating the same shades. She spaces out the bursts of red, green
and blue tones so each has impact, as demonstrated in this passway
from her kitchen to living room. “I can take one thing from one room
and use it in another without problems,” she notes.

What a Dish!
Buy a plate rack that fits in your space and paint it.
Loosely line it with alternating dishware, artwork
and containers, and load glass jars with dry goods.
Along the bottom edge, hang a row of long john
baskets that are painted to align with the scheme,
as Kim did in her kitchen.

VISIT US ONLINE AT CountrySampler.com 43

Hallway
Harmony
Turn a basic hallway into a
showpiece of self-expression.
Follow along with Kim as she
conveys a few of her clever
design strategies.

Highlight. Use a treasured

cupboard or shelf as the setting’s
foundation. Try an inherited
piece or a memorable purchase.

Hang. Mount a gallery wall

of meaningful signage and
handcrafted artwork in a mix of
sizes and genres. Fill in a vertical
space with a basket holding
simple greenery.

Delight. Include an amusing

or quirky accent that is sure
to spark conversation,
like Kim’s directional sign
to the bathroom.

44 Country Sampler SPRING 2025

 “I’m enamored
with things
my grandma
would’ve had when
she was young.”

For more than two decades, Kim has

prominently displayed a year-round tree in
her foyer. Her springtime bunny and egg
ornaments and berry garland sparkle in the
glow of warm white lights. “It’s the first thing
people see when they walk in the front door,”
she says. Adjacent is a wormy chestnut curio
cabinet crafted by Stan’s uncle that they stock
with family keepsakes and rabbits galore.

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VISIT US ONLINE AT CountrySampler.com 45

Opposite: Kim decorates the front
entrance with an array of springtime
references, both whimsical and
reflective of her faith. Layered textiles
and a lily-clad door wreath add extra
oomph. “I want people to see my
porch and know my style,” she says.

Right: Kim doesn’t have to worry

about weather damage to the
Windsor bench on the front porch
because it’s metal, not wood. “It
has an old look, but durable,” she
explains. The vertical spindles and
buffalo-plaid textile lend geometric
contrast to a pair of painted garden
baskets backed by a bunny banner.

Looking for fresh

Easter decor? Scan
this code to purchase
an instant download
pattern for No-Sew
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Sew Lovely
Make a grand entrance starting with a
salvaged base from a vintage sewing
machine. Attach a wood plank as a
tabletop and cover with a fabric or vinyl
runner. Combine elements of different
heights, such as a wood crate, tiered
stand and inspirational signage. Draw
attention to a unique item by perching
it on the treadle to be framed by the
ornamented hardware, as Kim did on
her front porch.

VISIT US ONLINE AT CountrySampler.com 47

 With a vibrant front door and antique
wagon wheels propped against a
fountain and ornate porch posts,
the Blantons’ 1960s ranch home in
Berea, Kentucky, is a neighborhood
standout every season.

Stan and Kim bask in floral

abundance when spring arrives
in Kentucky. A repurposed blue
bicycle, with a rabbit friend
perched on the seat, anchors the
yard display that Kim changes
each season. The bike baskets
are inexpensive household
wastebaskets. ★

FOR MORE INFORMATION, SEE RESOURCE GUIDE, PAGE 128.

48 Country Sampler SPRING 2025

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 Written by REBECCA RAZO
Photographed and Styled by GRIDLEY + GRAVES

Making
Room
for
Catch up with a Kentucky couple
who ensure personal history
is high on the list of priorities
as they enhance a Cape Cod
with their family legacy.

Athena Richard swaths her kitchen with

blue, starting with a braided rug under the
table to interrupt repetitive wood-on-wood
tones. For additional contrast, she uses black
painted Windsor chairs. Although Athena is
partial to blue enamelware, a pitcher from
her mother’s gray collection is highlighted
on the table. “I can’t part with it,” she admits.

VISIT US ONLINE AT CountrySampler.com 53

 A thena Richard has a strong
affection for old-fashioned
wares, a lifelong touchstone
that began in her childhood.
“I grew up with antiques. When I was little,
we’d go antiquing as a family,” she reflects.
And, as it happens, she married a man who
shares the same devotion. “My husband,
Eddie, and his family all love antiques, so
now it is kind of a family affair.”
When Athena and Eddie started building
their Cape Cod–style home in Paris, Kentucky,
more than 20 years ago, they had already
amassed a healthy stock of collectibles. So,
the couple designed their home with their
belongings—many inherited from beloved
relatives—in mind. “We had to sacrifice
some things we wanted in the house to make
room for the furniture,” Athena remembers.
“I wanted to make space for my favorite
antiques.”
Athena’s homespun primitive-Colonial
style features a remarkable kitchen with
painted cabinets. In fact, primitive blue
features prominently throughout her
decor, which includes adorable cloth dolls
and children’s clothing in a blue-themed
spare bedroom.
Elsewhere, pie safes, cupboards, armoires
and hanging shelves provide a backdrop for
blue enamelware, crocks, firkins, Shaker
boxes, buckets and just about anything else
made from wood. She prefers to display her
collections together, rather than piecemeal.
“It makes more of a show if you put several
things in a group together,” she says.
For fresh views, Athena finds much
creative inspiration in her loved ones and
her community of like-minded friends. “We
take turns going to each other’s houses two
to three times a year to get ideas from each
other,” she explains. To Athena, primitive is
Athena often combines items based on color and number for a cohesive look. For
more than just an aesthetic—it’s a path for
instance, a peg shelf in her kitchen holds four firkins above three aged aprons while building and savoring nostalgia. “I love the
a dry sink beneath shows off three painted wood bowls. memories associated with my things.”

54 Country Sampler SPRING 2025

Seeing Double
Complement an extensive graniteware
collection with a framed print of the
same. Athena seats a primitive doll
in her kitchen scene for a whimsical
detail that recalls her memories of
collecting the blue dishware while her
mother searched for gray pieces.
A kitchen nook is sized just right
for a small retreat based around
a checked sofa and leggy pie
safe. Athena filled a Shaker box
with timeworn graters for a fast
and easy addition to the scene.

•
QUICK TIP
Convert a lidded barrel
into a side table.
Uniquely Antique-y
Plan a primitive kitchen design in three easy steps using a single hue and one-of-a-kind finds.

1. Color inside the lines.

Select a bold paint—like
country blue—for the cabinets,
2. Compete for attention.
Pair two radically different
pieces side by side. Athena matches
3. Curate the space.
Build vignettes using similar
collectibles. Athena’s prim cloth dolls
which works especially well against the length of the island with an old sit in a neat row on the bench, and
warm wood elements and lighter wood bench placed next to a blue spice and apothecary boxes align on
neutrals on the walls and trim. yard-sale coffee box. the countertops.

VISIT US ONLINE AT CountrySampler.com 57

58 Country Sampler SPRING 2025
 On the
Up-and-Up
Help a petite floor plan
feel more spacious with
Athena’s decorating
wisdom, which is on full
display in her living room.

❈ Create a
conversation space.
Define your main seating
area with a large square
rug centered in the room.
This will encourage you
to station sofas and chairs
away from the walls.

❈ Combine tall with

small. Use a tavern table
instead of a coffee table,
but join it with a bench to
provide another surface that
is compact but functional.

❈ Include upright
furnishings. Incorporate
wardrobes and narrow
cupboards for both
decorative and storage
purposes; they will maximize
available wall space and
keep walking paths clear.

❈ Decorate vertically.
Make “columns” of boxes,
artwork and other treasures
for a tidy look that maintains
high visibility of each
precious object.
 I
“
grew up with antiques.
When I was little, we’d go Like an artist’s box of pigments, Athena’s red
antiquing as a family.” cupboard displays stacks of colorful Shaker boxes.
Hooked rugs, a wagon and stoneware saturate the
living room corner with interest.

60 Country Sampler SPRING 2025

Neat and simple, the front hall is a fitting
introduction to the home’s decor. A peg shelf
over the bench celebrates spring with a garden
theme that lightens the area. A vertical trio of
gathering baskets balances the ever-changing
shelf arrangement. “My husband calls it playing
house. I used to love playing house and I still
do. I love to rearrange,” Athena says.

VISIT US ONLINE AT CountrySampler.com 61

Family heirlooms surround the Richards in their master bedroom, from the goose
Athena’s dad carved to her mother’s coverlet to the armoire from Eddie’s relatives.
The pencil-post bed custom made from cherry wood may be new, but its design
blends perfectly with the couple’s authentic antiques.

62 Country Sampler SPRING 2025

 •
QUICK TIP
Stack a box atop
a bench for a tiered
Sepia Tone bedside table.
Set a subdued mood with a monochromatic scheme. Earthy browns and
coppers impart an old-fashioned photographic quality in Athena’s guest
bedroom, and hooked rugs and dolls add soft texture in the same palette.

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VISIT US ONLINE AT CountrySampler.com 63

A blue Shaker peg rack showcases quaint

I love the memories

children’s clothes above Eddie’s childhood
twin bed. Groupings of toys and books give “
this space a playful, down-home ambience.

associated with my things.”

64 Country Sampler SPRING 2025

The Richards’ Kentucky Cape Cod manifests springtime curb appeal with an assortment of seasonal
flowers arranged on and around an old wooden cart and in planters placed along the porch edge.
White wicker furniture dotted with bright red cushions encourages warm-weather porch sitting. ★

FOR MORE INFORMATION, SEE RESOURCE GUIDE, PAGE 128.

VISIT US ONLINE AT CountrySampler.com 65

 Written by CHERYL HACKETT ◆ Photographed and Styled by GRIDLEY + GRAVES

A BLUEPRINT FOR

Let a North Carolina couple wow you as they orchestrate

a remodel that acknowledges their families’ woodworking and
quilting heritages and accentuates historical details and nostalgia.

S ometimes catastrophes become catalysts for happy endings.

When part of a large pine tree crashed through their home in 2019,
Loretta and Bo Barbour adopted carpe diem as their mantra. The
Fayetteville, North Carolina, couple had spent decades helping their
construction-business clients build dream homes, but the fallen tree
gave the Barbours a chance to reimagine their 20-year-old cottage
with a keen eye on period design.
Loretta recalls when Bo, a second-generation contractor, laid
a board across a wheelbarrow as a makeshift drafting table in the
driveway and sketched plans for repairs, upgrades and a wing of
additional bedroom suites. When the dust settled, Loretta curated
interiors where exquisite millwork reigns supreme and collectibles
like quilts and salt-glazed stoneware get top billing. “My mother
was a quilter when I was growing up, and I feel that my interest in
decorating started with being around her handmaking things and
putting fabrics and colors together,” she says. “The first antique I ever
bought was a quilt at a junk shop.”
Other inspiring relatives include Loretta’s father and grandfather.
Both were carpenters, and Loretta loved playing in their workshops
as a child, which furthered her interest in decorating. Loretta’s father
watched Westerns, and today she catches herself being inspired by
popular TV programs of the 1960s and 1970s. “I describe my decorating
An Artsy Eye style as primitive meets cowboy,” she muses.
Arrange your antiques so they resemble a still-life
What makes the Barbour home feel so inviting? Loretta has a knack
painting. Position a pie safe against a worn wood for weaving character-rich, aged elements into contemporary spaces.
gate draped with a primitive coverlet and quilt. Line “I like unique and one-of-a-kind items,” she says. “The primitive style
up a trio of stoneware, stair-stepped in size. Balance appeals to me because there are no exact duplicates. Everything is
the grouping by slipping a potted plant inside one handcrafted and every piece is special in its own way.” And with Loretta’s
crock, as Loretta Barbour does in her den. appreciation and care, each treasure finds its own moment to shine.

66 Country Sampler SPRING 2025

Loretta centers a grouping around a
vintage door in the den. A horse toy
and textiles displayed on a ladder
pick up brick-red, blue-gray and ivory
color cues from the masonry.
68 Country Sampler SPRING 2025
 TURN BACK
Time
Loretta once ran an antiques business
from her home and eventually
converted the selling floor to a den.
This casual haven demonstrates how
highlighting architectural elements
can help make newly constructed
spaces look like they evolved gracefully
over time.

EXPOSE BRICKS. Brick interior walls

offer texture and warm earthen
hues. The Barbours built their den
against an exterior brick wall. As
an alternate to the real deal, cover
walls with brick veneer or textured
brick-look wallpaper.

COVER CEILINGS. Give high

angled ceilings dimension and
the suggestion of age by covering
smooth drywall with beadboard
panels. The millwork can either
be painted white or stained a
darker shade.

TRUST TRUSSES. Often left

unfinished as a decorative feature,
beams are common in vaulted
ceilings. If rough-hewn wood is a
style mismatch, refine your room
as the Barbours did by encasing a
truss in white shiplap.

PICTURE PANELS. Highlight a

feature window like the Barbours’
custom bump-out design by
surrounding it with reclaimed
wood planks. A large sconce lamp
adds a jolt of personality.

DESIGNATE DOORS. Replace

dime-a-dozen doors with beautiful
varieties, both functional and
decorative. Loretta and Bo’s
exterior door makes a statement
with its art-glass inset, and a rustic
arched door leaning against the
brick wall provides rustic appeal.

VISIT US ONLINE AT CountrySampler.com 69

Bo’s father built the living room mantelpiece
with raised panels, pilasters and a beveled-glass
mirror. Loretta furnishes the surroundings with
distressed leather chairs, aged rugs and pillows,
a trunk that doubles as a coffee table, and an
antique cupboard holding coverlets and firkins.
She tucks a TV into the faux fireplace so the
device doesn’t interrupt the space’s harmony. “ The primitive style
appeals to me because there are no exact
duplicates. Everything is handcrafted and
every piece is special in its own way. ”

70 Country Sampler SPRING 2025

Step by Step
Place an antique dry sink in a striking color against
a short run of stairs. Fan wood bowls in the sink
and stack more on the counter to show variations
in stain. Tuck wispy branches around a prim lamp.
Finish the scene with textiles, as Loretta did in her
kitchen with framed samplers and a quilt draped
over the banister. “I love to mix wood tones the same
way quilters mix fabrics,” Loretta notes.

Above: When
Loretta discovered
this child’s stepback
cupboard at a local
antiques shop, she
knew its size was
ideally suited for
presenting petite
treasures on the
kitchen landing.
She outfits her find
with cheeseboxes,
leather-bound
books and baskets.

VISIT US ONLINE AT CountrySampler.com 71

ON THE
LEVEL
Set an old
gate atop an
island and
layer wooden
wares on it as
conversation
pieces.

RETHINK A U-Turn
The original kitchen featured a wall of cabinets and a horseshoe-shaped layout. During the remodel, the Barbours removed a
peninsula to improve the flow and made the remaining cabinets resemble a hutch. Try the Barbours’ three strategies for fashioning
a then-meets-now kitchen that blends modern convenience with yesteryear charm.

1. INCORPORATE AN ISLAND.
Plan a multitasking hub that works
hard. The Barbours chose a furniture-
2. GO WITH GLASS.
Be strategically transparent.
The Barbours repurposed a leaded-glass
3. BANK ON BACKSPLASHES.
Want to add character to your
kitchen? Go beyond simple square or
quality base and a quartz surface. The pane as a transom and showcase Loretta’s rectangular tiles and delve into artistic
design provides space for storage, food coverlets and firkins behind glass doors in shapes in neutral tones, like these mosaic
prep and casual dining. the upper cabinets. tiles that lend geometric angles.

72 Country Sampler SPRING 2025

Parlay Patinas
Soften an induction cooktop’s sleek surface by
styling it with timeworn finds. Antique crocks,
breadboards and a wood bowl shine in the light of
a candle lamp. Bring in a remarkable antique like a
mercantile cabinet displaying baskets and Bibles, as
Loretta did in her kitchen.

A vintage workbench in the

kitchen stirs fond memories of
Loretta’s father and grandfather,
who were both talented
woodworkers. The industrial
treasure is staged with antique
cheeseboxes, wood bowls and
bread plates. To complete the
sentimental scene, Loretta
loaded the custom cabinet
behind it with prized pitchers
and cake crocks. “One of my
social media usernames is
Pottery Queen,” she shares.

VISIT US ONLINE AT CountrySampler.com 73

 A new scullery occupies a kitchen corner where custom cabinetry provides
a dynamic backdrop for a freestanding workstation. Loretta hangs an
antique sign above the window to boost the area’s old-fashioned charm.
“If you are starting a collection, buy what you can afford, then upgrade
as you go,” she advises. “I sold 80 percent of my pottery, then rebuilt the
collection with better quality crocks.”

74 Country Sampler SPRING 2025

 ON THE
LEVEL
Stack blanket
chests and
boxes to
introduce rich
color into a
neutral room.

AWAKEN Walls
Like many owners of newly constructed homes, the Barbours seek ways to make spacious rooms with soaring ceilings feel cozier
and more welcoming. Loretta’s favorite remedy blends handsome moldings and romantic wallpapers. Consider these tips from the
couple’s approach in the combination dining room and living room:

Boost architectural panache by Accentuate spaces between moldings Rather than dress windows with
installing millwork from floor to ceiling. with wallpaper. Loretta selected a curtains, choose shutters that can easily
The Barbours’ room features elegant traditional foliage pattern for the upper be adjusted to filter daylight. For a
baseboards, chair rails, picture rails and and lower areas; in between, textured timeworn look, Loretta opts for distressed
crown molding. wallpaper offers subtle variation. wood louvers.

VISIT US ONLINE AT CountrySampler.com 75

Checkered patterns and weathered shades of blue,
gray and tan are synonymous with prim style. In the
guest room, Loretta mixes painted furniture, patinaed
housewares, coverlets and a sweet doll carriage. “I love
decorating with different colored woods,” Loretta says.

Need a sign to crown

an arrangement?
Scan this code
to purchase a
Monogram Barn
Quilt Craft Kit.
 A reproduction bamboo bed in the master
bedroom reflects the Barbours’ affinity for old-world
craftsmanship. For a nightstand, Loretta sourced a chest
of drawers with green and brown paint remnants that
echo the bedding and wallpaper palettes.

A grouping of framed samplers accompanies

a pie safe distinguished by coverlets,
punched-tin lanterns and a crock. “I’m
drawn to samplers and fascinated by the
way children used to learn the alphabet and
other lessons,” Loretta explains.

“I describe my decorating style as

primitive
meets cowboy. ”

VISIT US ONLINE AT CountrySampler.com 77

Sit for a Spell
Spending endless hours in your home
office? Remember to designate a
comfortable nook where you can break
from work and simply relax and recharge.
Center a cabinet between windows and
arrange leather armchairs to encourage a
break from screens. Samplers, stoneware
and Persian-rug pillows punctuate Loretta
and Bo’s cozy space.

The Barbours built their cottage-style home in

Fayetteville, North Carolina, in 1996. In 2019,
they remodeled it and built an addition. Brick
steps, covered porches, specialty windows
and classic architectural detailing herald the
couple’s expert background.

78 Country Sampler SPRING 2025

 Loretta and Bo have been married
for 37 years and collaborate in their
family’s construction business. To
make a new build look timeless,
they favor tumbled bricks, muddy
mortar, carriage lanterns and
windows with distinctive grilles. ★

FOR MORE INFORMATION, SEE RESOURCE GUIDE, PAGE 128.

Corner breadbox features handy

storage to declutter your kitchen
counters. Handmade from solid
knotty pine with distressed look.
Decorate your windows with a Comes in black or cream,
touch of primitive country style. 24"w x 17"d x 12"h, $192.95.

Black Star Long Prairie Curtain,

84Lx72W, $59.95. Beauty and quality are what you’ll find in
Matching valances, swags, our Cottage Ruffled Curtains. Available in
panels and tiers also available. white (shown) or natural, tiebacks included.
Proudly made in the USA.
www.allysonsplace.com
Visit us for the complete Black Star Collection. www.thecurtaincottage.com
bethscountryprimitivehomedecor.com
816-569-3911
800-235-4088

VISIT US ONLINE AT CountrySampler.com 79

 Written by CHERYL HACKETT ◆ Photographed and Styled by GRIDLEY + GRAVES

Explore a country kitchen and dining room in New York state

designed piece by piece with architectural salvage, vintage
lighting and primitive wares to maximize flavor and flair.

With a little good fortune and a lot of hard work, Sherry Wheatley achieved
her dream kitchen. The journey began 40 years ago, after Sherry and her late
husband, Jack, noticed an old farmhouse among the real estate listings in a free
advertising circular. They contacted the broker and soon were standing before a
forlorn structure set on 18 acres in Middleport, New York. Gazing at a hole in the
front porch and calculating extensive renovation costs, the couple offered half of
the already-low asking price. The seller accepted their offer, and a dynamic new
chapter for the property began.
The farmhouse that time forgot ticked every box on the Wheatleys’ stewardship
list. Roofing, siding and windows were replaced and rooms were reconfigured—a
restoration that spanned 25 years. “The building was falling apart and looked sad.
It was a total gut job, but it has truly been a labor of love. We put heart and soul
back into the house,” Sherry reflects.
Twenty years into the project, a car crashed into the home and damaged the
main structural beam. Faced with another kitchen redo, Sherry pulled out building
Sherry Wheatley materials and found objects stashed in her barn to work together with custom
commissioned an maple cabinetry and soapstone counters in the new design. “I believe kitchens
artisan to create a should be warm, cozy and inviting,” she says. “They should encourage loved ones
stained-glass pane
to sit and enjoy a cup of coffee and conversations. The kitchen’s decor should
that she mounted
inside the window make your eyes wander about the space.”
above her kitchen A consummate collector, Sherry uses handcrafted and repurposed treasures
sink. The rich tones to contribute subtle sophistication to the adjoining dining room. “I love antiques.
correlate beautifully I never buy new. It has got to be old. Things have to have a story,” she explains.
with the sink skirt her
mother fashioned
This spring, those who meander by the picturesque parcel might see Sherry out
from vintage decorating the porch, planting flowers or simply making plans for a new display
cabbage rose fabric. that will fill her kitchen or dining room with old-fashioned goodness.

VISIT US ONLINE AT CountrySampler.com 81

 CENTURIES
GONE BY
Sherry’s method for giving her new kitchen timeless charm
is simple. She frequents flea markets, garage sales and thrift
stores searching for castaways that she can reuse. “I don’t
want things to look perfect. I want history. I want to imagine
how people lived 100 years ago,” she says. Try Sherry’s tips
for borrowing styling cues from yesteryear.

1. WOW WITH WOOD. Install rustic planks overhead to

cozy up the ceiling. Sherry prefers cedar’s warm hues
and dramatic grains.

2. BRICK THE BACKSPLASH. Use bricks to define a

niche for an oven. Sherry chose reclaimed bricks from
a razed brewery to accent her reproduction stove.

3. TIE IN TIN. Fill the space between upper cabinets

and counters with pressed-tin ceiling tiles. The raised
designs double as artwork.

4. PICK PORCELAIN. Shop antiques venues and online

marketplaces to find a cast-iron sink sporting classic
white porcelain enamel that suits the era.

5. IMPROVISE AN ISLAND. Hunt for relics boasting

food-prep surfaces and ample storage. The country
store counter Sherry selected has open shelving in back.

6. LIGHT WITH LAMPS. To bring in old-fashioned task

and ambient lighting, consider unique sources. Sherry
uses a schoolhouse pendant light and antique oil lamps.

“The kitchen’s decor should

make your eyes wander
about the space.”

82 Country Sampler SPRING 2025

Surround an old-fashioned
kitchen appliance with antique
tools that complete the
scheme. Suspend an oil lamp,
arrange bright enamelware
and yellowware, and bring in
wood spice drawers and a rack
of rolling pins. Use colorful
wares to contrast the clean
white surfaces of an appliance
like Sherry’s reproduction
Heartland stove.
 Post With
the Most
Searching for
ways to work
around a vertical
support timber?
Add character by
putting up metal
brackets near
the ceiling and
centering a dry
sink at the base. An
iron hand pump
and Americana
decorations
emphasize the
space between
Sherry’s kitchen
and dining room.

VISIT US ONLINE AT CountrySampler.com 85

A blue-and-red cupboard enlivens the dining room corner. Sherry
fills the primitive piece with yellowware and holds dear the story
attached to each pitcher and bowl. “When you have an antique, you
always have the memory of how you acquired it,” she explains.

When Sherry hung stained glass with a pressed flower

motif in the dining room window, the area’s design
followed suit. She anchors the space with a jewel-tone rug
under a farmer’s table surrounded by Hitchcock chairs.
Her decision to remove the tall cabinet’s doors allows her
prized salt-glazed crocks and jugs to serve as a focal point.

86 Country Sampler SPRING 2025

 SKY-HIGH
STYLE
Boost a corner’s
color quotient with
preserved bouquets
hung on a drying rack.
 SKY-HIGH
STYLE
Cook up a collage
with iron grates and
metal baking pans.

88 Country Sampler SPRING 2025

 “I don’t want
things to look
perfect.
I WANT
HISTORY.
I want to
imagine how
people lived
100 years ago.”

Glass Act
Make full use of a major
remodel by adding
a window opening
sized just right for an
outstanding example
of art glass. Position
it high on the wall
near the ceiling to
allow furnishings to
preside under it, as
the Wheatleys did in
their dining room to
accommodate a pie safe.

VISIT US ONLINE AT CountrySampler.com 89

 Above: The Greek Revival farmhouse was built in the 1840s in Orleans
County, New York. The Wheatleys spent over two decades restoring
the house and enhancing its curb appeal by adding fretwork, a
pergola, a gazebo and picket fencing.

Left: Sherry’s preferred style has evolved, and now she adores
collecting and decorating with aged finds. “I used to love modern
designs, but over the years, my tastes have changed and now I favor
primitives,” she reveals. ★

FOR MORE INFORMATION, SEE RESOURCE GUIDE, PAGE 128.

See the Summer 2025 issue of Country Sampler,

available at CountrySampler.com, for a look
at Sherry’s exterior decorating and buildings,
and stay tuned to our social media
for a video interview with her.

90 Country Sampler SPRING 2025

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René and David Haines’
rebuilt shed was painted a
sunny yellow to match the
main house. Reclaimed
bricks, clambering vines,
potted ferns, weathered
finishes and natural
nuances blend the
revived structure into the
surrounding landscape.
 Written by ANN WILSON ◆ Designed and Styled by RENÉ HAINES
Photographed by MATTHEW OWEN

This spring, plan ahead to

turn a basic storehouse into
a comfortable respite that
offers a practical gardening
workspace infused with
dreamy she-shed style.

A creage and outbuildings comprised

René and David Haines’ former
Midwest farmstead, but there
was nary a shed available to satisfy the storage
needs of avid gardener René. Happily, David
found a dilapidated shed that he purchased
for $100 and rebuilt using salvaged materials.
“At first, I wanted a shed just for my gardening
tools, soil and wheelbarrow,” René says. “But
once David put down that wood floor and I
painted the interior, I knew it was too nice for
dirty stuff. I made it my getaway—and moved
the tools to the greenhouse.”
The shed’s greenhouse addition boasts a
pergola-beam roof capped with plastic panels,
repurposed windows and doors, and a retro sink
that functions as a potting station. “It was quite
an effort to reuse this old shed,” René says. “But
I am happy we saved it. I love its old-building
character, tippy look and uneven floors.”
The character doesn’t end at the shed’s bones.
René’s eye for design steered the building’s
A high school science teacher and accomplished gardener,
charming decorating scheme from floor to
René puts her many talents to work decorating her home, rafters. Read on for more about how she made
designing garden beds and growing vegetables. this garden shed anything but garden variety.

VISIT US ONLINE AT CountrySampler.com 93

 Old sliding glass doors become a
makeshift wall for the greenhouse
addition, and windows on the
far wall open to let in warm
breezes. Salvaged bricks gifted
from a landscaper friend lay the
groundwork for cushy flea-market
wicker chairs that stand ready
for visitors and coffee breaks.
“My friend knew that I always am
happy to take free stuff,” says René,
who warms the brick floor with a
color-coordinated area rug.

A vintage sink with expansive

countertops doubles as a potting
bench in the greenhouse addition.
David mounted the sink’s back to the
shed’s exterior wall and supported
the front with porch-post legs.

94 Country Sampler SPRING 2025

 ?
Embellish a garden tool caddy
with a cross-stitch design!
Scan here to purchase the
Homegrown Cross Stitch Pattern
featuring vegetable motifs.

Greeting those who ramble up the brick path, this

$5 bookcase exhibiting terra-cotta pots, rusty metal
objects and shed-appropriate signage previews the
visual pleasures waiting inside. The couple reused
and retrofitted a screen door from their farmhouse
to craft a period-perfect entry.

“That’s where I corral my tools,” says René,

who found the wood peg rack at a garage
sale. A wall-mounted box holds left-to-dry
hydrangea cuttings, which introduce organic
textures and tones to the utilitarian area.

VISIT US ONLINE AT CountrySampler.com 95

“I love going to flea markets to pick up garden-oriented things—and I
love using natural colors with little splashes of rosy pinks,” René shares.
A slipcover stitched from canvas drop cloths brings a recycled chair into
the cottage theme. A $5 ottoman donning its original fabric and several
pieces of architectural salvage continue the shed’s vintage vibe.
 Thanks to a wood-
burning stove David
installed, René can
comfortably kick
back in her personal
haven even before
spring temperatures
arrive. A few of
her favorite items,
including a tiered
concrete fountain,
green glass orbs
and statuesque
candleholders,
bring finely
furnished appeal to
the space. ★

VISIT US ONLINE AT CountrySampler.com 97

 Mingle vintage cards
and classic hearts with
commonplace finds to
create sweetly nostalgic
Valentine’s Day moments.

Touchable Texture
Stage a Western scene by arranging old-
fashioned sentiments in a shelf display.
Inspired to combine rough surfaces with
delicate shapes, Kaeli Warner settled spurs,
architectural salvage and a brick mold
among golden frames and tiny bells. Heart
pillows and bits of lace soften the look.

PHOTOGRAPHED AND DESIGNED BY KAELI WARNER OF INSTAGRAM.COM/

MYDARLINVINTAGE

Rootin’ Tootin’
Convert a fabulous pair of boots
into a vignette showing off cowboy-
themed valentines. Marcia Blain set
her rose-hued boots atop a rustic
pink box to emphasize the romantic
colors and increase contrast with
the strong reds in the ephemera
and quilted hearts. She tucked a few
stems of baby’s breath inside the
boot shafts to hold her favorite cards.

PHOTOGRAPHED AND DESIGNED BY MARCIA BLAIN OF

INSTAGRAM.COM/VINTAGERIVERNEST

98 Country Sampler SPRING 2025

 Symbol of Love
Boost a painted chair’s appeal by forming a blooming heart and
hanging it from a glass knob. Measure three equal lengths of
16-gauge annealed wire. Fold the wires in half to make a 2" loop for
hanging; wrap a separate wire around the base to secure. Separate the
wires in half, three on each side of the loop. Loosely braid each group,
leaving several inches free at the ends. Bend the braids into a heart
shape. At the base of the heart, secure the braid ends together with
another wire wrap. Use hot glue to attach greens and flowers around
the heart. Embellish with a frayed muslin hanger and bow. To simplify,
skip the braiding and create this heart with one piece of sturdy wire.

100 Country Sampler SPRING 2025

 Cupid’s Arrow
Give a small potted plant extra personality with a custom wire
design inserted into the pot. Gently twist annealed wire using
needle-nose pliers to create a heart and arrow. Bend one wire into
a heart shape, twisting the ends together at the bottom. For the
arrow, bend a top loop in another wire, and then bend two smaller
loops at the side. Bring the wire ends together and, using pliers to
hold the loops at the top, twist the wires from the bottom.
zed
, a cu stomi
small an
Big or heart adds !
wire l e accen
t
ra b
ado
Rickrack and Stack
Brighten a petite cubby shelf with a charming cookie-cutter garland.
Lisa Spangler slipped sturdy rickrack trim through the holes on a few
old heart-shaped cutters and spaced them evenly to craft a quick and
cute decoration. She brought in red curiosities like an aged pulley,
advertising tin and books to complete the vignette.

PHOTOGRAPHED AND DESIGNED BY LISA SPANGLER OF INSTAGRAM.COM/TOURDEJUNQUE

Covered With Grace

Rescue a scrap of shabby wire garden edging to fashion a
simple decorative cloche. Wearing gloves, cut the edging
to length and form into a circle. The scalloped top of
the fencing will become the bottom edge of the cloche.
Bend the ground stakes into a gentle dome and secure.
If horizontal wire cross-supports prevent this reshaping,
snip and remove them. Lora Bloomquist of Create and
Ponder attached an eye-catching doorknob to the top of
her project for a handle.
While Lora has found many uses for her cloche,
she made it the focus of a Valentine’s Day vignette by
scattering buttons in an ornate tray and positioning a
postcard and milk glass beneath the cloche. A heart-
shaped wreath made from vintage puzzle pieces dangles
on a frilly ribbon.

PHOTOGRAPHED AND DESIGNED BY LORA BLOOMQUIST OF LORABLOOMQUIST.COM

Visit https://lorabloomquist.com
to see details on her upcycled
fencing cloche how-to.
Antiques Afterglow
Gather everyday items, romantic
blooms and heart shapes to assemble a
seasonal arrangement. Reaching into her
collections for ivory-toned books, boxes
and drawers, Avis E. Dobbs positioned an
ironstone pitcher in front of a backdrop
of worn woods and floral graphics.
Burnished metal candlesticks and a
vintage-style tag lend elegance. ★

PHOTOGRAPHED AND DESIGNED BY AVIS E. DOBBS OF INSTAGRAM.

COM/AVIS.DOBBS

Country Sampler
EXPLORE on Social Media!
Visit us CountrySampler.com
Click on the Decorating tab to find a whole host of additional
styling ideas and projects. Click on the Community tab to join
our Insiders Circle.

Like us www.facebook.com/CountrySamplerMagazine
Preview upcoming issues and get display hints, plus connect
with other Country Sampler fans.

Follow us www.pinterest.com/CountrySampler1
Find great decorating tips, fabulous country homes, how-to
projects and charming decor for your home.

Watch us www.youtube.com/CountrySamplerMag
View videos that demonstrate quick and easy DIY projects and
clever ways to arrange accessories. Our Cottage Gingham Ruffled Curtains
are back by popular demand! White with
black gingham check accent ruffle shown;
Find us www.instagram.com/CountrySamplerMagazine 13 colors and custom lengths available.
Follow our account to see inspirational country homes and Proudly made in the USA.
decorating styles. www.thecurtaincottage.com
800-235-4088

VISIT US ONLINE AT CountrySampler.com 103

Step beyond average bowl fillers and discover one-of-a-kind displays that
convert vessels into vignettes and lift antiques to distinction.

Bygone Times
Catching the early spring light from a windowsill, a bowl balanced
on a scale shows off a needlework theme. Karen Davis paired sewing
notions with a darning egg and a doll-size quilt. “Vintage sewing
items have my heart! I love every little detail, from the embossed
wood spools to the delicate crocheted doily and itty-bitty quilt. So fun
to think about the hands that these items touched,” she says.

PHOTOGRAPHED AND DESIGNED BY KAREN DAVIS OF INSTAGRAM.COM/KARENTHEBARNPORCH

Spring Greens
Pale glass canning jars piled in a dough bowl make for
an engaging dining table centerpiece. Rebecca Joens
arranged the jars haphazardly and set one upright as
a vase for blooms her three sons brought to her from
a neighborhood tree. “I thought it was a neat, kind of
unorthodox way to show the patina on them, the rust on
the lids in particular. I love anything weathered, chippy
and rusted. I’m an artist by trade and don’t love when
anything looks aesthetically too done or symmetrical in
my home. A little lived-in is best,” Rebecca muses.

PHOTOGRAPHED AND DESIGNED BY REBECCA JOENS OF INSTAGRAM.COM/RUSTEDFERNCABIN

VISIT US ONLINE AT CountrySampler.com 105

Consider It Handled
Jama Black finds inspiration in the rustic beauty of old
hardware, nicked and dented from decades of use and
rescued from many different pieces of furniture. “I found
the collection of vintage wood drawer knobs at an
antiques mall. I thought they would be a great bowl filler
for my blue stripe crock bowl,” she explains. The grouping
springs to life when set against an old door.

PHOTOGRAPHED AND DESIGNED BY JAMA BLACK OF INSTAGRAM.COM/BLACKBARNVINTAGE

Place crumpled paper

in a deep bowl to
boost small objects.
 Rough and Fine
Loretta Barbour is drawn to wood objects that
show heavy wear, a point of nostalgia for her
as her father was a carpenter. She organized
a collection of butter molds with their carved
designs facing up inside a large dough bowl.
Placed on a weathered coffee table, the varied
tones enrich the scene. See more of Loretta’s
home in “A Blueprint for Beauty” on page 66.

PHOTOGRAPHED AND STYLED BY GRIDLEY + GRAVES

Reflecting the Past

After stacking a few chargers and ironstone
platters, Debra Hopkins Kolrud topped them
with a shallow silver dish that frames many
memories. Debra paired a photo of her
mother, Gloria, at age 14 with Gloria’s rose
gold watch. An antique men’s wristwatch and
three pocket watches each represent people
who were special to Debra and her husband.
She added her own braided-band watch, given
at high school graduation, to the tray. “The
other items are just random mementos, such
as a button off my wedding dress, antique set
of pearls, skeleton keys to buffet cabinets, and
lots of items to play ‘I Spy,’ ” Debra says.

PHOTOGRAPHED AND DESIGNED BY DEBRA HOPKINS KOLRUD OF INSTAGRAM.

COM/VINTAGECRUSHIN

VISIT US ONLINE AT CountrySampler.com 107

Take a Stroll
Suzie Prenevau welcomes the natural
world into her decorating by displaying
found objects in vintage vessels. Her
silver bowl with an ornate foliage pattern
sets a fitting stage for faux speckled eggs,
feathers, hydrangea petals and dried
roses. “From feathers found on my daily
walks to last year’s dried summer garden,
I love to embrace Mother Nature’s free
gifts as seasonal decor,” Suzie notes.

PHOTOGRAPHED AND DESIGNED BY SUZIE PRENEVAU OF INSTAGRAM.

COM/EDELWEISS_COTTAGE

Size & Sort

JoAnn Luttrell plays with the geometries
of breadboards by layering them inside
a metal basin. “This chippy child’s
bathtub with original paint from the
early 1900s makes the perfect container
for breadboards from the same era,” she
says. Staggering the handles shows them
to their best effect and moves the eye
through the collection.

PHOTOGRAPHED AND DESIGNED BY JOANN LUTTRELL OF INSTAGRAM.

COM/QUEENIEV8

108 Country Sampler SPRING 2025

Measuring Up
The smooth enameled surface of an
industrial meat scale is a fitting contrast
to timeworn metal baking molds. Tammy
Young softened the weighing tray with
an intricate lace-edged textile and loaded
two aged wood bowls with fluted tins.
The tins can easily be freshened as the
year progresses by adding seasonal
accents, which Tammy often does to
enhance her kitchen island centerpiece.

PHOTOGRAPHED AND DESIGNED BY TAMMY YOUNG OF INSTAGRAM.

COM/ISAACSRUSTYWAGON
 Flights of Fancy
“Vintage lace is my all-time favorite
thing to collect,” says Avis E. Dobbs,
explaining she especially likes the
impact it makes en masse. (Her pink
glass container is actually a ceiling
light shade!) Rolled or wrapped on
cards and secured with pins or clips,
the lace trims feature a range of
handmade techniques from different
periods. “I love bundling collections
in bowls and have several around my
home,” Avis shares.

PHOTOGRAPHED AND DESIGNED BY AVIS E. DOBBS OF

INSTAGRAM.COM/AVIS.DOBBS

Juicy Color
While it’s too early to
start turning the soil,
celebrate the bumper
crop of produce to
come. Vintage tomato
and strawberry
pincushions aren’t
just for sewing but
are also fun to collect!
“These red cuties
gathered together
make a kitschy indoor
garden,” Jen Doudt
enthuses. She angled
an oblong dish atop
a green box set
within a weathered
soda crate for a
multilayered effect. ★

PHOTOGRAPHED AND DESIGNED BY

JEN DOUDT OF INSTAGRAM.COM/
VINTAGEHEARTANDHOME

110 Country Sampler SPRING 2025

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 Keep everybody busy at your
Easter celebration with these
simple and fun decorating crafts.

A fter a long winter, Easter hops in

with a sense of renewal, the start
of a hopeful season abounding with joy and
new life. From dyeing eggs and filling baskets
to attending a parade or egg hunt, the holiday
is steeped in wonderful customs. For many,
though, the tradition held most dear is the
gathering after church on Easter Sunday,
when loved ones come together to share a
meal, reminisce and create memories.
If you’d like to add some meaningful
fun to your menu alongside the ham and
cheesy potatoes, we’ve collected a roundup
of simple projects you can do with your
guests—particularly the younger ones.
Perfect for keeping kids occupied before
dinner is served, these sweet crafts provide
entertainment for this year and decorations
you can bring out next Easter and for many
years after. Happy Easter from the Country
Sampler family to yours!

If you make
k any off tth
these
h cute
t
projects, be sure to post photos
on social media and tag them
with #YesCountrySampler to
give us permission to share
them with our audience!

112 Country Sampler SPRING 2025

COLOR CONNECTION
Coloring Easter eggs is a hallmark of the holiday, but think outside the box—and the
carton—by decorating craft eggs that can be a part of your decor for many years to
come. Here are a few creative coating ideas:

Dye: Color unfinished wood eggs with a store-bought egg dye kit or a
solution of water, food coloring and vinegar. You’ll get a more subtle
color on wood than eggshell, but the dye will settle into the grain to
create a gorgeous pattern. Watch for more detailed instructions
about dyeing wood eggs on our social media!

Paint: Bring out the paintbrushes and acrylics, and let your
imagination run wild. From dots and dashes to daisies and
other designs, paint on any motif that comes to mind.

Paper: Use decoupage medium to adhere paper with

pretty graphics to wood or foam eggs. Or, if you happen to
have decorative paper napkins around, peel apart the top
printed layer, cut out images and adhere them to eggs.

Fabric: Use craft glue to affix strips of fabric around a faux egg.
Pick ticking or floral calico for a classic country look and then add
buttons, silk flowers and other embellishments to complete the material makeover.

BONUS IDEA
Turn decorate
!
d eggs of
any sort into a
pretty-
as-can-be cent
erpiece.
Layer faux gras
s or other
foliage in the
bottom of
a bowl or bask
et, arrange
eggs on top of
the
makeshift nest
and tuck
in silk flower sp
rigs.

VISIT US ONLINE AT CountrySampler.com 115

BRANCH OUT
Create an Easter tree to showcase all your whimsical creations. Glue a ribbon or
string loop onto the top of each egg. While the glue is drying, arrange a handful
of pussy willow or forsythia branches in a firkin, flower bucket or other heavy-duty
vessel, then invite your guests to decorate it with their works of Easter art.
WOVEN WINNER
You may not want to put all your eggs in one
basket, but you’ll want to put plenty of candy
in this adorable woven basket craft. Make the
project with your guests, or create several
ahead of time as party favors.

MATERIALS AND TOOLS

• 16-ounce plastic cups in pink, yellow or green
• Matching yarn or twine
• Pipe cleaners or floral wire
• Decorative trim and accents
• Scissors
• Hot glue gun and glue sticks

INSTRUCTIONS
1. Make vertical cuts in each plastic cup from the
lip down to ¼" from the base to create 11 equal
strips. Note: Mark lines ahead of time to ensure
even spacing.
2. Glue the yarn end to the bottom edge of the
cup and then wrap around the base two or
three times. When you reach a slit, tuck the yarn
between two strips so you can begin weaving.
3. Weave yarn alternately behind and in front of
strips around the cup. Continue weaving until
desired basket height is achieved. Trim the yarn
and secure the end with hot glue. Trim any
excess cup that remains at the top.
4. To create a handle, secure yarn to one end of
a pipe cleaner or floral wire. Wrap yarn tightly
around the wire to cover, then trim and secure.
Glue the handle ends inside the basket.
5. Glue on trim and embellishments as desired.
Fill the basket with jelly beans or malted
chocolate eggs for a sweet gift.

Watch a step-by-step video

tutorial at CountrySampler.com!

VISIT US ONLINE AT CountrySampler.com 117

EASTER EGG CUTOUT COOKIES
Want another egg-ceptional activity for your Easter celebration? Set up a cookie decorating station where guests can channel their
creativity into a holiday treat that tastes as good as it looks—and doubles as dessert!

INGREDIENTS INSTRUCTIONS
For Cookies 1. Place butter and cream cheese in a mixer bowl and beat on medium until light and
• 2 sticks butter, softened fluffy. Add sugar and beat until fluffy. Add egg, vanilla and almond extract and mix well.
• 8 ounces cream cheese, softened 2. In a separate bowl, combine flour and baking powder. Slowly beat dry ingredients
• 1½ cups granulated sugar into the butter mixture until all ingredients are incorporated. Separate dough into two
• 1 egg portions and wrap each in plastic wrap. Flatten each into a disc. Place in freezer for
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 hour or in refrigerator for 3 hours or up to 3 days.
• ¼ teaspoon almond extract (optional) 3. Preheat oven to 375°F and line cookie sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking
• 3½ cups all-purpose flour mats. Roll out dough on a lightly floured surface to ¼" thick. Cut out cookies with an
egg-shaped cutter and arrange 1" apart on cookie sheets.
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
4. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, or until just starting to turn golden. Let cool on pan for 10
For Decorations minutes, then remove to a wire rack to cool completely.
• Buttercream frosting in white and 5. Spread a base layer of white frosting on the bottom side of each cookie. Spoon colored
assorted colors frosting into piping bags or cone-shaped cellophane treat bags and cut off the very end
• Sprinkles and other edible of the tip. Pipe on lines, zigzags, squiggles, dots and more as desired. Add sprinkles or
embellishments other candies and enjoy!

118 Country Sampler SPRING 2025

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 for the
Welcome spring with
sweet flower displays that
bring vintage kitchenware
up a few style notches.

The Shallow End

For a low-profile flower display that packs high style, use a
shallow wood bowl as the base for a potted arrangement.
Choose plants with shorter roots, such as succulents, pansies
or herbs, or visit your local crafts store to find realistic faux
blooms that don’t require any extra attention. For live plants,
outfit the bowl with a plastic liner to protect it. For artificial
flowers, use a floral foam disc to hold stems in place.

120 Country Sampler SPRING 2025

Kettle Call
Use a teakettle as a
container for a bountiful
spring bouquet perfect
for your breakfast table
or as part of an Easter
tablescape. Simply remove
the lid, fill with water and
add your pick of posies.
 BONUS IDEA!
Set a tube pan
arrangement on
your patio table. The
hole accommodates
an umbrella!

Lost and Round

Even if they’re dinged or dented, vintage gelatin
molds and tube pans still have plenty to offer
when it comes to spring flower plantings. Drill
a few drainage holes, then pack your pan with
soil and annuals and set it on a plate to catch any
drips. Or, cut floral foam to fit the opening and
insert faux picks or real cuttings as desired. Add
extra interest with feathers tucked amid the flora
or lace trim tied around the mold.

122 Country Sampler SPRING 2025

Sipping Pretty
If you spend any amount of time at flea
markets and antiques shops, you know
that single teacups can be a dime a dozen.
When a sensational solo cup catches your
eye, don’t pass it by—snap it up, insert a
piece of floral foam, and use it as the base
for an arrangement of roses, thistles, sweet
William and other blooms. Spread excelsior
or dried moss between the cup and the
saucer for an extra layer of texture.
 Hearts and Flowers
Repurpose a small heart-shaped ramekin as a
petite vase. Cut floral foam to fit inside the crock,
then arrange baby roses and miniature daisies or
chamomile stems at varying heights. Tie on a bow
and write a nice card, then give it to a friend, a
loved one or anyone else who might need a little
brightness as they wait for spring to arrive. ★

124 Country Sampler SPRING 2025

Annie’s SPOTLIGHT

Learn Embroidery
V intage embroidered textiles are common finds when browsing through
an antiques store or thrift shop. The delicate needlework done so long
ago to inexpensively embellish tablecloths, dresser scarves and aprons speaks
Scan here to learn
more about the
to us modern-era folk. We can see how much care and time were put into these
everyday pieces, and they often highlight a skill we might consider out of reach. embroidery class
But why not try something new? available for purchase.
A class titled “Learn to Embroider: 16 Outline and Decorative Stitches” is
available for instant access through Annie’s Creative Studio, a treasure trove of
online videos demonstrating more than 2,000 crafting tutorials. Priced at only
$14.99, this beginner-level hand-embroidery class shows seasonal ideas and
detailed techniques. Preview it for free! Once you’ve accomplished the basics,
search AnniesCraftStore.com for “embroidery” to see projects of many types,
such as hand towels that are ready to stitch and embroidery kits that include
everything you need.
Slow down your busy lifestyle for a moment, reconnect with talents of days
gone by, and find satisfaction in learning a new-to-you art form as you apply the
lessons throughout your decorating. ★

VISIT US ONLINE AT CountrySampler.com 125

 presents

K IT S | C R A F T S | N OTI O N S | G I F T S

Annie’s Magnifying Ruler Annie’s Heading Home Annie’s Cat Tape Measure
Take a closer look at reading materials with this ruler Needle Minder Keep this in your purse or pocket for quick
that measures 6 inches and magnifies 2X. Park pins and needles safely with this needle minder. measurements up to 5 feet while shopping or crafting.
T20029 Featuring a sweet design on the front, its built-in 411591
magnets hold notions in place.
T20057

Embroidered
Wildflowers Journal
Capture your thoughts with this
hardcover journal covered with
machine-embroidered florals on
canvas. 192 pages.
411687
Embroidered
Wildflowers Pouch
Secure small items in this lined
canvas pouch embroidered with
florals. Pair with the matching journal
for a complete set. 8" x 5½".
411688

Bee’s Wax Polish

Made with natural
beeswax, this polish
keeps wood from drying
out. Use it to clean, Annie’s Rotating Pink Organizer
protect, preserve and Find all your favorite tools by neatly storing them in this
restore furniture. rotating organizer. Grips on the bottom protect surfaces.
6531 T20060

A N N I E S C R A F T S TO R E .CO M
126 Country Sampler SPRING 2025
 Annie’s Wild
About Crafting
Reusable Tote
Announce your favorite
hobby with this reusable
market tote that can also
serve as a gift bag. Folds
for storage.
T20049

Holiday Home Sign

Craft Kit
Bring home a welcoming sign
to enjoy all year long with
interchangeable pieces you
can swap out for every season.
KCWC174
Scan code to
purchase any of
these products at
Quilts for Sale Annie’s Craft Store.
Jigsaw Puzzle
Finish a charming scene with
this 1,000-piece puzzle made
in the USA of recycled board.
Measures 20" x 27".
300157

Shopping GUIDE
Browse the websites of these Country Sampler advertisers to find great country merchandise for your home.

Home Decor Curtain Cottage, The . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79, 103 Additional Categories

www.thecurtaincottage.com
ACCESSORIES FASHION
Erika’s Tea Room and Gifts . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Allyson’s Place . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18, 34–35, 79 Woman Within . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
www.erikastearoom.com
www.allysonsplace.com www.womanwithin.com
Home Decor For Your Style . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Appletree Woodcrafts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
www.homedecorforyourstyle.com MISCELLANEOUS
www.appletreewoodcrafts.com
Old Village Paint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 American Cruise Lines. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Beth’s Country Primitive Home Decor . . 79 https://oldvillagepaint.com www.americancruiselines.com
www.bethscountryprimitivehomedecor.com
BEDROOM Bradford Exchange . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
Butterfly Mornings &
Allyson’s Place . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3, 19, 50–51 www.bradfordexchange.com
Wildflower Afternoons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
www.butterflymornings.com www.allysonsplace.com Briwax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Brylane Home . . . . . . . . . Inside Back Cover www.briwax.com
Choices Quilts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
www.choicesquilts.com www.brylanehome.com Safe Step Walk-In Tub . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
SEASONAL www.safesteptub.com
Country Village
Shoppe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Inside Front Cover KP Creek Gifts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Back Cover This index is provided as an additional service. The publisher
www.countryvillageshoppe.com www.kpcreek.com does not assume any liability for errors or omissions.

VISIT US ONLINE AT CountrySampler.com 127

Resource GUIDE
Country Sampler’s Resource Guide includes all available information on the makers of paint, furniture, window treatments and flooring found
throughout the magazine. Items pictured in individual stories but not listed in this Resource Guide are not available to the public. These items are
either antique, one of a kind, discontinued or from private collections. Country Sampler has no information about them. Please note that due to the
complicated process involved in photography and four-color printing, the paint colors that are shown in the featured homes may not match
the original manufacturer’s paint swatch.

Full Circle salemantiquemarket.com; Accessible Beige wall paint in dining myglorystars; 1776 hooked rug in living room, Kim Hoffman
(pages 8–16) area, kitchen and living room and Cadet wall paint around Weaver, www.instagram.com/the_smiling_goat_primitives;
Teknor Apex Aquaflex marine hose in potting table scene, fireplace in living room, Sherwin-Williams, 800-474-3794, reproduction sconces in master bedroom, Carriage House
Walmart, 800-925-6278, www.walmart.com; faux pearl string www.sherwin-williams.com. Lighting & Tinware, 937-339-3364, www.chltin.com.
sticks on hose wreath in potting table scene, 3D butterfly wall
stickers on sidelight in kitchen table scene and orange chenille In Living Color
A Blueprint for Beauty
blanket yarn on carrot wreath in porch scene, Amazon.com, (pages 36–48)
Window treatments in family room, Home Collections by Raghu, (pages 66–79)
www.amazon.com; Dressing Table Blue buttermilk paint on
888-717-2448, www.hcbyraghu.com; table lamp in family Jute area rug in den, World Market, 877-967-5362, www.
dresser in vanity display and Wilder Chair Yellow buttermilk
paint on beadboard behind tobacco basket wreath, Old Village room, Irvin’s Tinware, 800-800-4846, www.irvins.com; hooked worldmarket.com; three-blade propeller ceiling fan in kitchen,
Paint, 215-817-3796, https://oldvillagepaint.com; see ad page 63. rug in kitchen dining area, Wayfair, www.wayfair.com; Creamy Mid-South Lighting, 910-867-1600, www.facebook.com/
paint on upper cabinets in kitchen, Sherwin-Williams, 800-474- midsouthlighting; bedding in master bedroom, Pottery Barn,
Pickers’ Paradise 3794, www.sherwin-williams.com; Cliveden Pasture paint used 888-779-5176, www.potterybarn.com; tumbled bricks on
(pages 20–33) as base color for lower cabinets in kitchen, Valspar, 800-845- home’s front facade, Phoenix Paver Manufacturing, 602-268-
Handmade home decor, signs, primitives and unfinished wood 9061, www.valspar.com; Raspberry Truffle paint on front door,
5908, www.phoenixpaver.com.
kits, Theresa Dunahee, Forest Acre Primitives, https:// Benjamin Moore, 855-724-6802, www.benjaminmoore.com.
forestacreprimitives.etsy.com; artificial greenery and flowers
throughout home, The Rusty Nail, 618-548-3034, www. Making Room for Memories Upstate Upcycle
facebook.com/therustynailsalemil; various mashers and cookie (pages 52–65) (pages 80–90)
cutters in kitchen and David T. Smith cabinet in master Hooked rugs in kitchen and horse hooked rug in living room, Heartland dual-fuel range in kitchen, Hearthside Hearth & Grill
bedroom, Salem Antique Market, 540-389-6559, http:// Rhonda Thomas, My Glory Stars, www.instagram.com/ Sales, LLC, 888-230-5398, www.hearthsidedistributors.com. ★

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128 Country Sampler SPRING 2025

 99
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