Magnolia

This winter, Magnolia Journal is making space for connection—and all the shared experiences that deepen our understanding of ourselves and one another. Find a guide to Christmas lights, gather around fondue, and design a dining room that invites everyone to stay awhile.

The Magnolia Journal

A Letter from the Editor

Magnolia Post: Commitment

Magnolia Network • We have a little something for everyone.

For the Love of Lemons • Indoors and out, a potted citrus offers year-round delight.

Joanna’s Summer Favorites

Chip’s Summer Favorites

A Field Guide for the Frame-Resistant • Empty walls can be intimidating. Instead of turning the other way, collect the pieces you love and hang them in full view.

No Looking Back • (that’s not the direction you’re headed.)

Colorful Memories

A Summer Table • WE’VE GOT A MENU OF RECIPES THAT PROMISE TO COME TOGETHER QUICKLY—OFFERING CRISP, COOL REFRESHMENT AND PLENTY OF TIME TO SAVOR A SLOW MIDSUMMER NIGHT.

The Lost Kitchen • A PLACE TO BE FOUND

Summer’s in the Bag • The sultry days of summer—when routines disappear and days seem to melt together—can make it hard to plan activities too far in advance. However, preparing for fun is always a possibility. In many cases, a little forethought can allow us to roll with whatever summer might serve up next. Here we’ve rounded up ideas for bags and baskets that keep the spontaneity of the season in reach.

A Note from Jo: A Case for Failed Commitments

And I Realized Those Strings Were My Anchor

The Promises We Make • Seeing our commitments with fresh eyes

Keeping the Hive • THE commitment OF THE HONEYBEE TO ITS DAILY PURSUITS REMINDS US TO SEE GREATNESS IN OUR OWN SEEMINGLY SMALL ACTS.

Maine Stay • There’s something magical about summertime in Portland, Maine. Outdoor adventure, maritime history, and some of the best food in the country make for a destination like no other for travelers near and far.

On Point • Perhaps it is the simplicity of a kabob that holds such immense appeal. Familiar ingredients—grouped in unexpected ways—all held together on a single skewer. Whether piled high with color and flavor or kept simple, it’s a choose-your-own-adventure approach that’s always on point.

Welcome to the Gristmill • The set of Jo’s new cooking show finds its home in a stone house from the late 1800s.

Design Notebook: Countertops • In kitchens, baths, and laundry rooms, countertops handle so much of the work we do at home. We need them to be strong and durable, yet also beautiful. Whether they blend seamlessly into your spaces or add a layer of personality, the right materials set the tone for the room they’re in. When we commit to countertops that look great and work hard, the investment offers returns we can enjoy daily.

Good Natured • ON THE SHORE OF A FOREST-RINGED LAKE OUTSIDE STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN, A GARDENER CULTIVATES A HOME FOR ALL SEASONS.

What Pulls Us On • Commitment. It simultaneously takes us out of ourselves and brings us back to who we are at our core—gravity’s pull when our will feels faint. How and why we show up can take a million shapes, and that’s precisely the point. There’s no single stroke that completes the big picture. Brush meets canvas again and again until we have a living, breathing work of art in front of us. One that is shiny in some places, worn bare in others. Beautiful, nonetheless, because it tells the story of a life committed.

Chip Gets the Last Word

Sourcebook • For information about products or professionals featured, please contact these sources. We cannot guarantee availability of items or services.

Magnolia Manifesto