UncategorizedBringing in the Modern January 8, 2013Y’all know I’m a country girl. My style is pretty eclectic and could be described by many words: country, rustic, white, quirky at times, sometimes sparkly, sometimes masculine (wools, plaids, wood, etc.), but rarely, if ever, would I have used the word MODERN. What I think of as all modern rooms feel very cold to me. I know, I like white, but I like wood and some other elements with it to warm it up a bit. But in my weekend Pinterest search for the next house that I described yesterday, I realized that modern is really creeping itself into my design style. In small ways, maybe, but it’s creeping. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t know that I’ll ever let go of country. I can’t imagine not drooling over an image like this. {via} By the way, I’ve GOT to find some old lockers for our next house mudroom. And I don’t think I’ll ever let go of white plank walls and all of the country goodness seen in this little nook from the Southern Living house. {via} But, as I said, modern is somehow finding it’s way into my design heart. Here’s just a few of the images I noticed this weekend pinned all over my favorites on Pinterest. {via} {via} We’ve got some major modern going on in this one with the black and white graphic rug and the chair shape. {via} But do you notice something other than modern in these pictures? There’s rustic/country elements as well. Like this one above, I’m loving the rustic reclaimed wood table and the Farm sign on the wall (can’t get more country than that) with these modern red chairs. Here’s another good example… {via} Love. Major modern chairs, but old country-ish vintage paintings mixed in and another rustic wood table. Apparently, my subconscious has been onto this for a while because I picked out these chairs for Christmas. {via} My vision was to pair these with a dark stained rustic outdoor dining table. Much like this image. {via} I love the mix of country rustic dark table, white modern chairs, and maybe add in a graphic black and white outdoor rug…ahh, perfection. So, my design style is evolving, y’all. Or maybe I’ve always liked this (I pinned these images a LONG time ago) and I’m just now realizing it. Either way, I’m learning to let go of “labels” that restrict and define our style. Your style is what you like. It’s your home after all and it needs to be a place that makes your heart skip a little beat. It doesn’t matter if someone labels it country chic, modern glam, rustic, mid-century, or such a mix of all that they can’t even define it…who cares? It’s your home and it should be filled with you. There aren’t rules for that. In our current home, I’ve struggled with this. Overall, I do love our home and what we’ve created there. You can see it here. We knew going into doing this house that our design was limited by several things (neighborhood, money, etc.) and that we would be moving on at some point. But I also limited myself by labels. I can remember many times that I wanted to do something, but didn’t because I thought, “Is that too modern for my country style? But I really love it…” or “Ooh, I really love this quirky element, but is that just too much for ‘my defined style?’ “ I guess it’s kind of good timing to be processing this. I don’t regret anything done in our current house, but I am so excited to be a bit freer in my design with the next home and really make it a place that speaks to our soul. Not a certain “magazine’s” soul. Not Pinterest’s soul. Not even another blogger’s soul. But the soul of our family. One final example of my apparent love of mixing country and modern…I pinned this fox pillow specifically to rest in one of these modern white chairs at my rustic outdoor dining table. {via} Can you picture it with me? Sleek/modern/metal white chair and this country goodness? Yep, that’s me and I love it. So, along with white walls, rustic/country elements, and all the other things that have been a part of my design world so far, expect to see a bit of modern joining in with that little design posse. I think they’ll be great friends, don’t you? *** What do y’all think? Do you think your design style has a “label?” Or are you more of a “no rules, do what you like?” kind of designer like I’m becoming? Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think it’s wrong to say you like rustic or modern, etc.. But it sure is fun to just design for your family and your family alone…no rules and no pressure.
Shannon says January 8, 2013 at 1:29 pm Um.. if you find lockers anywhere you must share!! love all your country meets modern inspiration. Reply
Merry Monday says February 13, 2016 at 2:11 pm Look for schools being renovated or industrial plants going out of business. You may have to get permission, but some places that have closed will allow you to remove them yourself for free! Reply
Kristina says January 10, 2013 at 3:07 pm I don’t really know what my design label would be, or if I even have one. I love elements of cottage style, modern/industrial, beachy/coastal, and even now some country, thanks to you. And I like whimsy too. So I guess I’m eclectic?? I say there are never any rules to decorating your own home. Reply
[…] in an urban downtown area. Through me becoming a bit more of a city girl, I’ve developed a deep love and appreciation for all things mid-century modern and cool […] Reply