Inside this 104-page issue:

5 Home Tours:

Scott and Cindy Kappes of Freeport, Illinois

“A Shift in Taste: From Pristine to Patina”: After an evolution in taste, Scott and Cindy Kappes have traded pristine perfection for timeworn surfaces. Once graniteware collectors in search of flawless pieces, they now embrace the cracks, wear, and patina of primitives.

Fred and Gail Gersch of Midlothian, Texas

“Babcock Cottage: Where the Hearth Burns in the Texas Heat”: Inspired by countless road trips through New England and a formative visit to The Old Babcock Tavern, Fred and Gail named their Texas home Babcock Cottage in honor of the place that left a lasting impression. Centered on a working chimney, it reflects their devotion to hearth cooking, where meals are still prepared by flame when the Texas heat allows.

Jim and Jennifer McKelvie of Campton Hills, Illinois

“Clarity in the Distance: How 45 Years of Rug Hooking, 13 Homes, and Shaker Simplicity Shaped a Life”: Jennifer’s 45-year journey in rug hooking, paired with Jim’s steady eye for early American antiques, ties together thirteen homes and a lifetime of evolving taste. Only with time does the full design of their shared collecting life come clearly into view.

John Stys of New Hartford, New York

“Allowing History to Endure”: A chance visit to an estate sale sets a New Hartford, New York, man on a path of thoughtful guardianship over a deeply historic colonial.

Nik and Kim Groothuis of Casey, Illinois

“Where Simple Living Prevails in a Town of Magnitude”: In Casey, Illinois, a town known for its monumental landmarks, Nik and Kim Groothuis thoughtfully designed a Cape Cod–style home around the antiques they have gathered over decades. As longtime collectors and proprietors of Greathouse of Country, their commitment to simple living feels deliberate in a town known for its magnitude.

Standout features include:

Before 1776: Homes That Stood Before the Republic:Their walls survived the tremor of conflict — the passing of soldiers, the crack of gunfire carried on the wind, and winters shadowed by unrest. As the country celebrates its 250th birthday, we look to these pre-1776 homes as lasting reminders of how the foundations of America were built behind the scenes.

Historic Hues: The Colors that Shaped Early American Homes After extensive research at various historic sites, the result is a palette that successfully captures the spirit of early American color. These colors carry the emotional recollection of a nation in the making.

Antiques: A Thriving Industry Focusing on Young Entrepreneurs Aged 40 and Under Hill & Bek: Somewhere Off the Beaten Path For the sisters behind H&R Vintage Revival, Hillary (Hill), age 33, and Rebekah (Bek), age 30, their best treasure-hunting happens while winding down dirt roads with no clear destination. They believe the primitive style doesn’t require a rule book, a big budget, or living in a house from the 1800s.

Artisan Spotlight: Of Cloth & Hand: The Work of Angela Hillstrom For more than two decades, the artist behind Of Cloth And Hand, Angela Hillstrom, attributes her work with antique textiles back to an original 19th-century rag doll that was gifted to her.

A Connection to Founding Father Paul Revere Have you ever considered how the many necessary activities and items involved in the day-to-day lives of our early ancestors could be extremely hazardous to young children in their own homes? You’ll have to pick up a copy of this issue to discover which antique, once owned by Mary Revere Lincoln, daughter of Paul Revere, played a role in protecting these children.