Country
Style
Country Influences
Country
design style incorporates nature with a link to the
outdoors, whether direct as in lots of sunshine and
garden views, or more indirect, through natural
materials or garden prints. Regardless of the actual
surroundings, country style celebrates the fields,
forests and streams. Thus, cut or potted flowers and
greenery can be important aspects of country décor.
Materials and objects with a nod toward our agrarian
roots are common in country spaces. Thus, we have
full-fledged farmhouse kitchens with central hearths or a
collection of simple farm implements hung as art. The
kitchen is important as a casual central living space in
this style.
Country
Values
Country
style places a certain emphasis on keeping a
comfortable, efficient home. This emphasis extends
to opening the home for company. Country style is
very hospitable an welcoming with over-stuffed
chairs and
informal order.
Country
Details
Country
colours also take cues from nature. They can range
from sky blues and cloud whites to the bright yellow
and blue of Provencal countryside to the rich tones
of autumn leaves. There can be a homespun feel to
textiles and decorative objects. For example,
Matelasse and quilts. Patterns can be bright and
cheerful as in checks plaids and florals or
unpretentious as in muslin, chintz.
Natural,
sometimes rough fibers and textures predominate in
soft furnishings and decorative objects. For
example, baskets or wooden bowls. Decorative objects
often have an integrity as useful or once-useful
items. Cottage style is, in fact, renowned for
re-claiming the beauty of old, often worn, found
objects. Bottles or enamelware, for example.
Collections (needlepoint, pottery) can be used as
displays. Harvest tables, wrought iron and shutters
are also country details.
Country
Materials
Stone
and tile are common features in country interiors
whether used as flooring, backsplash or
wall-covering. Wood is also predominate in
furnishings whether painted or stained.
Free-standing wood pieces can give a kitchen an
authentic country feel. One heritage piece, say a
pie-safe or a trunk, can evoke the craftsmanship
that indicates country style.
Contemporary
Country
In
it’s contemporary form, country style takes on a
simplified, uncluttered aspect with fewer patterns
and cleaner lines. While in the English Country
manor style, more layers and patterns give the
impression of well-worn, well-rooted family life.
Finally, in the Urban Rustic version of country
,rough-hewn elements are displayed in modern
settings.
Again,
creatively re-claiming andre-inventing the
usefulness of the old can come into play. Hence, an
old mill wheel can function as a coffee table or old
barn doors as room dividers.
Above all, country style is down-to-earth, comfortable
and rich in history.
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Gallery
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Period
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Urban
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