But the 1870s homestead that came with the 105 acres wasnt always so picturesque. The house was in such disrepair, recalls designer and homeowner Caroline Brackett. But for her and her fiance, Jodah Mullinax, it was near perfect. Credit:Alison Gootee Id always wanted land and a lot of animals and space, she says. He was very much into historic homes and relics. When renovations began, the duos optimism about their new-old home proved to be well founded....

Say farewell to summer with this super-Southern sipper. Along the way, we stumbled upon this simple but seasonally perfect cocktail. Heres how you make it. Credit:Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Priscilla Montiel If so, congratulationsyoure halfway there! If not, fire up the kettle and use thissweet tea recipe. The baking soda in the recipe is entirely up to you! Credit: Photographer Victor Protasio, Food Stylist Margaret Dickey, Prop Stylist Christine Keely...

All you need are two pantry staplesand you likely already have them on hand. Humblebeans and ricewill never not transport me straight back to my childhood. Quick and easy:Its also super cheap and takes little to no effort. Credit: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox If you have microwavable (orleftover rice), dinner can even be ready in under than 5 minutes. Season your beans. Let your spice cabinet be the silent hero of this meal....

If you select links we provide, we may receive compensation. Its a home fit for any Southern hostess. Amazon Imagine having not one but two front porches all your own. Credit:Amazon Its stately symmetry recalls the verandaed antebellum homes ofNew Orleans. But in any configuration, though, this charming tiny house is ahomemade for hosting. As homey as thistiny houseis, its far from the only one on Amazon. Credit:Amazon Find more enchanting options below, with that same Southern charm as the one above....

If you tap on links we provide, we may receive compensation. It even has a fully equipped kitchen. Step into thismodern tiny hometo enjoy elevated design without the high price tag. Credit:Southern Living The living area encompasses about a quarter of the interiors space and extends into the 48-square-foot open kitchen. Unlike most tiny houses, this homesthree-bedroom designis flexible enough for every throw in of living situation. The larger 68-square-foot bedrooms are ideal for a full- to queen-sized bed with a small wardrobe or dresser....

And that includes black pepper! Which is probably why ourCandied Bacon Crackersare so popular. And also because theyre made with only four ingredients. Credit:Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless What Are Candied Bacon Crackers? So each bite is sweet, savory, spicy, smoky, chewy, and crunchy. With just four ingredients! Credit:Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless This helps the bacon drippings drain as the crackers bake, which keeps them from getting soggy....

After a birthday cake failure, this trifle is the only dessert I’ll make for parties. Foolishly, I volunteered to bake ahomemade birthday cake, something Id never done before. But I love a good challenge. Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox Alas, it culminated in one of the most embarrassing cooking fails of my life. My cake “fell and was concave in the middle. My icing then ran inward to form a gooey sticky pool....

Making salad dressing from scratch is easy when you have the right formula. Were not tacklinghomemade ranch dressing todaywere talking about DIY vinaigrettes. The classic ratio for a French vinaigrette is 2 parts oil to 1 part acid. Credit:Getty Images Personally, I prefer a vinaigrette with equal parts oil and acid. I like this for three reasons: One, I like a tangier vinaigrette. Two, its healthier (and less expensive) to use less oil....

No more scrambling as guests arrive or forgetting to pop the chicken in the oven on time! Especially if you’re solo-hosting! (If its the day-of, ideally youll have already decided on themenu.) Credit:Getty Images It’s important to first evaluate any recipe you’re using and the timing required for dish. Heres an example of part of a recent dinner party prep list of mine. Credit:Alison Gootee; Styling: Raina Kattleson Credit:Cameron Beall...

And it sleeps seven comfortably. So how do you make the interior of a seashell-size abode feel as expansive as King Triton’s castle? “It’s more like designing for a tour bus.” Credit: Joseph de Leo; Styling: Liz Strong Here’s how she solved that small-space conundrum. The double-duty ingenuity continued in the bedrooms, where a tailor-made armoire provides accessible storage in the primary. A shape-shifting dining table further enhances the home’s space smarts....

If you hit links we provide, we may receive compensation. We love the scalloped top and embellished turned legs. Getty Images (1); Wayfair (1) The oft-overlookedend tableis more important than you think. Credit:Getty Images (1); Wayfair (1) The design can tie a room together and increase storage. We found a cant-miss70 percent-off Kelly Clarkson tableatWayfairs extended Way Day sale. But youll need to move fast to take advantage of this deal because it ends tonight at midnight PT....

If you tap on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Shoppers love its neutral colors and intricate design. Real Simple Rugs are an easy way to upgrade your space. Credit:Real Simple The trick, though, is finding one thats versatile, durable, and doesnt cost a small fortune. Right now, its up to 72 percent off as part of Wayfairs Big Outdoor Sale. It has an extremely low pile, which prevents shedding, snagging, and fraying....

The location was amazing. We kind of just fell for it. Whenever its rainy, we love going down there, says Lauren. Credit:Helen Norman We have hurricane lanterns, and we light those and listen to music. Prioritize Laid-back Living Nothing in the home is fussy. I didnt want this place to be rigid at all, she says. Credit:Helen Norman I always think of Alice in Wonderland, when the walrus and the carpenter build the little oyster shack....