Get the Look: Modern Rustic
10 ways to lose the clutter and keep the cozy
There's plain old-fashioned rustic, and then there's modern rustic. The former comes with lots of rough hewn edges, weathered wood, knotty pine, antlers, quilts and exposed timbers. The latter edits the elements down to just a few and highlights them by simplifying the rest of the room, perhaps by pairing timbers with barely off-white walls, or letting a single quilt or antler chandelier shine as a focal point. The new cozy is less cluttered, yet still feels warm, inviting and charming. Here are 10 tips for updating the warm and inviting look.
1. Let one element shine. The wonderful banquette fabric takes center stage against a white background, while rough textures, a planked ceiling and barn lights enhance the look as secondary details.
2. Use new materials. Contemporary cabinets and counters add modernity to the barn-like interior of this cozy home.
3. Go for the gloss. Glossy finishes on the ceiling and chairs reflect light and modernize this rustic outdoor eating area.
4. Planking is not just for B-list celebs: Shiplap walls, eaves and ceilings add to the rustic cozy charm, while ticking stripes and light hues keep things updated and clean.
5. Trade taxidermy for cruelty-free. This striking painting of a buck is for the new kind of cabin, where one "shoots only pictures."
6. Let the chips fall where they may, but only off one piece of furniture per room. Let one shabby piece have the spotlight and keep everything else crisp and tailored. This cabinet adds just the right dose of patina style.
This technique works for larger rooms, as seen previously, and smaller rooms like this bathroom. Repurposing an antique cabinet into a vanity adds character to this bathroom.
The same rule applies to rusty pieces, although if you are as good as this designer, go ahead and pull in two or three rusty and crusties.
7. Use industrial touches. Items like a floor lamp and French cafe stool add mid-century flair to a rustic farmhouse room.
8. Mix the old with the new. New items include a heated towel bar, contemporary mirror and hat-box toilet, while old items include the clawfoot tub, pine floors and planked walls and ceilings. A simple color palette lends balance to this bathroom.
9. Never underestimate the power of barnwood. Reclaimed wood is not only great for paneling walls, but also for creating other pieces. This unique weathered headboard was crafted from uneven leftover boards.
10. Think apres-ski...in the Alps. Those designing chalet-style digs mastered the modern rustic aesthetic a long time ago. There's a European-inspired simplicity that rules these roosts. It stresses the importance of big white fluffy duvets, large beams and most important, a blazing fire in the woodstove or fireplace.
More:
Design Elements: Beautiful Reclaimed Wood
Decorating Details: Antlers Branch Out
Design Details: Rustic Beams
More:
Design Elements: Beautiful Reclaimed Wood
Decorating Details: Antlers Branch Out
Design Details: Rustic Beams