Rustic Country Decor - How to Decorate Cottage Style Homes
Rustic country decor and how to decorate cottage style homes are extensions of American country style decorating. In addition, traditions are borrowed from French, English and some Swedish country looks. Rustic country decor can be defined as coarse, charmingly simple, unfussy, unfinished and yet with endearing qualities. Rustic country decorating includes the use of natural woods, aged surfaces, rough finishes and simple lines. Cottage style homes are comfortable, modest, quaint homes that can be made of thick stone or log wood. Floors in rustic country decor and cottage style homes are made with stone or wood materials. Wooden floors were traditionally constructed with boards that were bare and simply waxed and hand-polished (high-gloss varnishes did not exist). Sometimes the boards were painted with light colors. If you like floor coverings, use oriental rugs and throws for visual warmth and color. Rustic country decor is about handcrafted objects, simplicity, furnishings that you enjoy and connecting back to nature. Rustic cottage furniture is commonly made with pine and perhaps painted with hand-painted designs such as flowers, birds, animals, country scenery or leaves. Use ladderback chairs, rocking chairs, benches, wicker furniture and Windsor chairs. A large rectangular table made of pine is a good option for your kitchen or dining room table. To give your furniture a rustic look, brush a coat of paint on the furniture piece, then rub most of the paint off. After it dries, apply wood stain unevenly for an older weathered appearance. It will be perfect and rustic looking! Baskets can be used to store wood, pine cones, flowers, plants and needlework. Brass candle holders, oil or kerosene lamps, sconces, hurricane lamps, tin lanterns, recessed ceiling fixtures or a vintage wrought-iron or metal chandelier provide successful lighting for rustic country decor and cottage style homes. Colors used in rustic country decor or cottage style homes are neutral tones ranging from white to bone, earth tones, red barn, blues and greens. For rustic country decor in the kitchen, use open shelves, hutches, buffets, plate racks and cupboards for storage. Often, country kitchen storage is crammed with stoneware pots, plain glazed earthenware and glass jars. Kitchen pots should be made of copper, steel or cast iron -- cookware tends to be large and plain. Use open shelving in the rustic country kitchen to display plates, dishes and dinnerware collections. Natural woods, light colors and bright fabrics work great for window treatments. Adding a rustic butcher block island creates a wonderful visual effect as well as provides useful functionality. A rustic country decor bathroom has neutral tones or soft colored walls, antique-looking lighting, and wooden antiques or antique reproduction cabinets and vanity. Knowing how to decorate cottage style homes and bathrooms can result in creating a calm and elegant atmosphere. Clawfoot tubs, pedestal sinks, country style antique brass faucets and old-fashioned country cabinets provide the kind of atmosphere that makes you want to spend time there. Plain white towels are recommended instead of patterned or bright modern patterns. Use wicker or wire baskets to keep your sponges, loofas and shampoos handy near the tub or shower. Understanding how to decorate cottage style homes means including items like quilts, antique furniture or reproductions, flea-market pieces, trunks, chests, armoires, stenciling, wallpaper, adirondack chairs, flower wreaths and bistro chairs. These types of elements give cottage style homes the kind of rustic country decor that is simpler, very personal and warmly inviting. Whether in a seaside setting, an urban environment, a countryside location or a wooded mountain retreat, cottage style homes are cozy and unassuming, combining the past with the present. Read all you can find and learn what creating the rustic country cottage means to you no matter where it's located. Enjoy expressing your personality and showing what the definition of home means to you. Copyright 2005 InfoSearch Publishing David Buster is VP of InfoSearch Publishing and webmaster of http://www.yourdreamloghome.com - visit the website and learn more about rustic country home decor and design, rustic kitchens and bathrooms, log cabins, fireplaces and firewood and much more.
Related News
Westboro Paint and Decorating - Community Advocate
Westboro Paint and DecoratingCommunity Advocate, MA -9 hours agoBy KA Esposito Contributing Writer Westborough - If you're looking for a comfortable place to plan your next interior decorating project and a place that ... |
Who's That: Interior Decorator Nina Freudenberger is a designing woman - New York Post
Irmo family room on HGTV’s ‘Rate My Space’ - The State
Interior Design Examiner - Examiner.com
Examiner.com |
Interior Design ExaminerExaminer.com -Aug 26, 2008Driven by a passion for design, Diane Leone is a Certified Interior Decorator who has produced award-winning interior decorating. ... |
Pelletier purchases Angelica school - Wellsville Daily Reporter
Pelletier purchases Angelica schoolWellsville Daily Reporter, NY -5 hours ago... into the Angelica Inn. After retiring from that project, she renovated a Main Street storefront for an interior decorating boutique. ... |
Top mentor - Dallas Voice
Dallas Voice |
Top mentorDallas Voice, TX -13 minutes agoThat role has been filled by India Hicks, a fashion model whose father was an interior decorator; her godfather is Prince Charles, and Hicks was one of ... |
Paint controls mood of a room - London Free Press
Paint controls mood of a roomLondon Free Press, Canada -15 hours agoLighter colours are key in a small space, says Leisa Bertelsen, an interior designer whose family owns Clancy's Rainbow Paint and Decorating Centres in ... |
Beverly Biehl of Frisco: The hen in the foxhole - Dallas Morning News
Beverly Biehl of Frisco: The hen in the foxholeDallas Morning News, TX -Aug 22, 2008Beverly Biehl of Frisco runs her own interior decorating and feng shui consulting business. Her e-mail address is Beverly @TheIntuitiveInterior.com. ... |
Interior Decorating for Your Dollhouse - Corsavoo.com
Interior Decorating for Your DollhouseCorsavoo.com, France -Aug 23, 2008Decorate with simple furnishings in neutral colors. If your dollhouse will be a display item, then you have much more latitude in designing its interior. ... |
Modernize Your Living Space With Simple Techorating Tips - North American Press Syndicate
|
|
 |
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Varieties of Fabric Shower Curtains
If you are looking for an easy, inexpensive way to revitalize your bathroom, consider changing your shower curtain. Though we often take them for granted, shower curtains are at the center of a bathroom's décor. As the largest thing in the room, they set the mood and the style temperature for the entire bathroom. In addition, since a bathroom is largely functional, a shower curtain is one of the few opportunities to make a statement.
The Benefits of Quartz Cuckoo Clocks
Unlike windup cuckoo clocks, which require rewinding every one, two or eight days before, quartz cuckoo clocks use a more modern timing mechanism, drawing power from batteries and running continuously until the batteries run dry. Battery cuckoo clocks run for approximately one year on a new set of batteries give or take a little, depending on the type of battery used and the amount of animated movement built into the clock. Obviously, moving one small bird in and out of it's little house once an hour is going to take a lot less battery power than moving a small group of animated characters in a moving scene out of their housing, around to the front of the clock, sounding the cuckoo noise, playing the accompanying music, and moving them all back inside again as often as every half hour, as is the case with some ornate clocks.
Dont Hire Someone to Steal Your Joy: Decorate Your Home Yourself!
In researching what makes people happy, I discovered that "Planning" makes us happy. Therefore, why should a homemaker turn over planning to an interior designer who creates homes to make money and impress others? Furthermore, most designers ignore the important outcome of creating a home, which is to support the emotional well-being of the residents.
An Introduction to Adjustable Beds
Adjustable beds, also known as Semi-Fowler beds, can be adjusted in position to suit the requirements of the user. Those who have medical conditions that require them to sleep in certain positions generally use adjustable beds. They may be also used by those who are temporarily or permanently bed-ridden to make them sleep more comfortably. Sometimes, even those without medical needs can use adjustable beds just to have a comfortable sleep.
Go Vintage When Decorating Your Hearth
With the weather cooling, it's time to put on the fireplace. Curling up near a cozy fire is a wonderful winter pastime but you'll need the right tools to tend your fire. Vintage fireplace accessories can add just the right atmosphere to your décor. Here's what you'll need to keep your fire aglow.
Corner Bakers Rack: Create Extra Storage Space and Style
One of the most highly sought after pieces of furnishings for the kitchen is the baker's rack. In addition to adding that special element of style, baker's racks are also very practical in that they can be used for extra shelving, storage space and/or as a work center. This multi-purpose nature of the baker's rack is what makes it so popular and the perfect addition for any kitchen or living space.
Decorating The Bathroom ? Dress Your Mess For Less
The bathroom may be the hardest room to decorate. Its use and nature make the room decorative uninspiring, and its limited size and necessity of function make it difficult to add very much. Further, making a major change to the room's décor generally requires huge sums of money, when you consider the expense of changing tiled floors or walls, or replacing existing fixtures such as showers and sinks. However, there are a few thrifty things you can do to turn your bathroom from an eyesore into a place of decorative elegance.
Posters as a Decorating Style
When I think of decorating a room with posters, I think of the 70's with black light, velvet and the famous Farrah Fawcett poster.
How to Make Roman Shades
Roman shades are a simple and elegant window treatment to block the sun or prying neighbors. Nicer than plain plastic shades, but less expensive than ornate window shades, Roman shades provide the perfect start to a beginning home decorator.
Couch Slipcovers - An Easy Way to Give Old Furniture a Stylish New Image!
Fitting new couch slipcovers is a great way to instantly disguise worn or outdated upholstery, for not much effort or expense. Ready made slipcovers are designed to be really easy to fit over your old couches or chairs, giving them a fresh new look within just a few minutes. If you're tired of the drab appearance of your room, simply adding some stylish furniture covers can work wonders at improving the look and feel of your home. As well as sofa slipcovers, there are all kinds of coverings for other types of seats, from oversized recliners and ottomans to wing back chairs. Giving your home a makeover with slipcovers can be straightforward and quick, not to mention affordable.
The German Grandfather Clock Tradition
We expect a lot from our clocks. We expect them to be breathtakingly beautiful. We expect them to make a strong statement about our status in life. They should brighten our home with their elegance. Their rich chimes should fill our life with music. Above all else, though, they should be reliable and steadfast.
Long-Strip and Engineered Hardwood Floors
Longstrip hardwood floors are wide and long, and each plank has 2 to 3 strips of thin hardwood. These planks can be floated, stapled and glued-down. The floors can be installed in all parts of the home and are made up of numerous wood plies that are glued together, using a tongue and groove connection made from soft core. The core is sandwiched between a hardwood finish layer on the top and soft wood ply below.
How to Create a Positive Environment in Your Home With Vastu
Our homes, carefully oriented, have the power to give us comfort and security and to be one of our best investments. We spend a great deal of time and money to accomplish this. However, many of us do not know if we are creating a positive and life-supporting place to live and work. Many people have reported health and financial problems after they had moved into a home or have done home improvements. Unknowingly, we may be doing more harm than good! Vastu Shastra, the architectural science with roots in ancient India, takes into account environmental factors that we may be unaware of yet influence the quality of our lives.
A Look at Luxury Down Comforters
For those striving to create a bedroom retreat, a haven from the rest of the world, luxury is a necessity. Along with good color choices and fine furniture, a lavishly dressed bed is top priority. One of the most important ingredients for an extravagant bed is a luxury down comforter, and price is no object.
Beautiful Lighting Tips 101 - A Crash Course in Lighting Design
Many people cannot immediately identify why they may like or dislike a particular room or interior. Proper lighting and illumination is the single most critical factor in designing a pleasing interior environment. A successful lighting design is pleasing to the eye, focuses attention on key room features and eliminates shadows and "hot spots". There are several lighting applications that can be used to meet specific lighting needs or to achieve a desired special effect.
Tuscany Style Decorating Ideas
Earthy colors and natural materials are two basics for the "old world" style of decorating. To get an idea of the colors we're talking about, go for a walk outside and take notice of the beautiful colors around you, the blue sky, the golden sun, even the chocolate brown of mud in the springtime. Ok, so you don't have a view of the blue/green Mediterranean Sea but you've seen pictures of it haven't you? On that walk, stroll through the produce department of your local grocery store and note the dark purple eggplants, the red peppers, yellow lemons, green olives. These are some of the colors you'll want to consider for your Tuscany decorating. Natural materials will include wood (think rustic, sturdy type furniture), tile (colorful ceramic for wall accents) natural stone for flooring and unpolished metals such as copper, tin, or pewter for accents.
Psychology Of Colors: The Dining Room
Colors affect our minds, our physiologies, and our social interactions. The colors you choose when decorating a room can have an effect on any occasion that you hold there. The dining room is a place of delicate social situations that occurs between the most intimate of relationships. By first considering the psychological effects of the following colors, one can help to make the dining room a more relaxing place to eat and gather.
How to Buy Discount Bamboo Flooring
Bamboo flooring is a relatively new alternative to standard hardwood floors. It offers similar and perhaps superior qualities of strength, hardness, and appearance. Using bamboo (which is actually a grass, not a tree), and modern processing, beautiful hardwood floors can be made that offer the added bonus of saving many of the exotic trees and forests that are cut down for standard hardwood floors. Typical bamboo flooring can cost around $6.25 per square foot, plus installation and preparation charges. The range is usually between $4 and $8 per square foot but there are wholesale bamboo flooring companies offering it as low as $2 or less per square foot.
Tuscan Style Decorating - Three Essential
If Under the Tuscan Sun left you breathlessly and hopelessly in love with tuscan style decorating you're certainly not alone. The rolling hills and the call of the earth itself seem to have imparted their presence into the psyche of those who either read the book or saw the movie.
The Benefits of Metal Wine Racks
The number of metal wine racks available may seem overwhelming, but by narrowing your search you can find your ideal metal wine rack quickly and easily.
|