SET THE Mood

The structure had formerly been used as a country store and possibly a tobacco barn before that. It’s believed it was built in the early 1800s and was once a home for early settlers to their area, given that the logs are hand hewn, but its exact age has b

Mix Old and new. In this seating area, the antique ladder-back chair on the left and the more modern one on the right both offer the plain, comfortable style Penny desires. “It’s my peaceful place. When you walk through that door, you really feel like you’re stepping back in time,” she notes.

Be Sentimental. Quilts are used to great effect in the cabin, bringing in color—and memories. On the trunk, a quilt one of her sons used in his youth is displayed on top. “I just like knowing that a group of ladies or a lady sat down and took her favorite fabric or maybe fabrics that meant something to her and she pieced it together,” Penny muses.

Use all Your SenSes. Orange-clove pomanders and beeswax candles bring homespun fragrances to the space, and the scents of warming potpourri often waft from the woodstove.

Share a Story. Penny likes incorporating items with history, like antique button-up shoes, into her displays. “Back in the day when these things were made … they used so much detail. They really took pride and care into the items,” she says.