The Cottage Journal’s latest special edition, Southern Cottages, features a variety of beautiful homes. Among them is the home of cookbook author Gena Knox.
With business owner and mom also among her credentials, Gena is already an inspiring woman. To see her home—with its warm touches and creative accents—only adds to her appeal.
Gena’s love for the South is as much on display in her cookbook, Southern My Way, as it is in the details of her home. Throughout her Athens, Georgia, cottage she has blended vintage and modern elements for a result that is both uncomplicated and lovely. As she explains, “I love clean lines and very little clutter and accessories. I try to follow that same idea with my cookbooks. Clean, simple recipes and format without a lot of extra, unnecessary information.”
I hope you enjoy this snippet of Gena’s home. Find it and more cottage décor inspiration in Southern Cottages.
Gena can really appreciate the open design of her home while creating new recipes and perfecting old ones. The floor plan allows her to work diligently in the kitchen while keeping an eye on her son and daughter who often play in the adjacent sitting room.
For her children’s bedrooms, Gena created two contrasting looks. She chose a black and pale blue palette for her son’s bedroom, while her daughter’s was adorned in a lavender and white theme. Both rooms impart a sense of serenity and playfulness with accessories including oversized stuffed animals, a patterned cornice board, and box pleat window treatments.
Gena and her husband converted the space above their garage into a playroom for their two children. They added storage closets and reading nooks, which double as cozy beds for sleepovers. White pine painted a muted gray and barn-style doors provide a harmonious backdrop for this creative use of space.