One of our favorite challenges is to create an elegant and comfortable home while keeping it rustic… Welcome, Rustic Chic! In many homes that we’ve completed over the past few years, Rustic Chic is a leading force in style. From a travel home in Florida, to a ranch in Oklahoma, to a mansion in Southlake, elements of the country have made it in to our designs at client request. Rustic in the design world can mean many things: country cabin, mountain lodge, western ranch… and it’s OK to mix them together as long as it fits in your decorator’s overall design plan.
For decorator Kay Crinkelmeyer, the key to keeping Western elegant means incorporating rich materials with the raw, natural ones. “Hammered copper pairs nicely with elegant tooled leather. Natural reclaimed wood furniture coupled with real turquoise accents can really make the look rich and rustic at the same time.”
When creating a Rustic Chic space, it’s important to rely on the natural elements like rock, wood, and stone. By adding a custom area rug or piece of artwork from a local artist, the room starts to come together.
“Lighting also plays an important role in creating richness in a room. Rustic Chic rooms look best with lots of natural light accented with rustic metal chandeliers and perfectly placed lamps,” decorator Lisa Stewart added.
In bedrooms, fabrics that mimic authentic Native American designs can be used as focal points or as accent fabrics mixed with solids. Earth tones and neutrals when coordinated well with leather trims, metal accents, and ceramic pieces artistically bringing the look of the outdoors into a home. Kristi Hunt, interior decorator, notes, “Rich plaids and buffalo checks as bedding on a real log bed add character to a lodge bedroom.”
For all the Rustic Chic homes created by the crew at Designs by K, the creative details are what make the overall look extraordinary. Adding family photos or heirlooms, custom faux painting, or one-of-a-kind accessories can make all the difference in the world.
