Style Report: RUSTIC CHARM
Homeowners are finding warmth and comfort in the weathered and the worn. Rustic retreats, whether it be a mountain lodge, a cabin in the wood, a nordic cottage, a barn in the country or a farmhouse from an age long gone; these are what designers are creating for their clients in every income bracket. We are craving surroundings and souvenoirs that have stood the test of time, or at least give the illusion that they have.
In the Fall of 2014, ICON stated, "From a trendy New York studio to a ranch house deep in cowboy country, rustic chic is now the predominant tool for designers who want to offer an elegant and comfortable ambiance to their clients. Things are looking up, and the expansion of brands like Houzz — which has just gone international — shows how fast the industry is developing." Last year (Spring 2015) BAZAAR was breaking down the biggest interior trends spotted on Pinterest with "rustic chic" being one of them.
“Farmhouse style is obviously a big trend and I don’t think that’s going away in 2016, but I think it will be refined a bit more and I think we’ll see more Gustavian/Swedish influences.” - Miss Mustard Seed Interiors
“Weathered wood continues to be a hot trend in home furnishings as well as outdoor decor. Farmhouse style remains supreme as long as it looks authentically vintage and aged. From barn doors to tobacco baskets to bread boards, these styles will be around for quite some time.” - Laura Collins Design
"Old barns are getting a second wind as a rustic modern farmhouse. Preserving the exposed beam structure and A-frame roof, architects are transforming buildings into a worthy living space, preserving its rich history with reclaimed wood furniture and craftsman accents. Capture the same look regardless of your home’s previous life with farmhouse pendant lamps and wood-and-metal tables. And enjoy the laid-back charm that comes with country life." - Kristin Hoffmann/Dot&Bo
"Life slows down in the country. The air feels cleaner. The butter tastes better. The farmhouse décor is more charming than you ever could have imagined. Natural wood tones, antique metal accents, upcycled bottles, and old-fashioned jars recall a simpler time, when all that mattered was quality time with the ones you love. Bring home rustic farmhouse furniture and the warmth of country living, and rediscover what’s important." - Stephanie Spiteri/Dot&Bo
"The popularity is not so hard to understand if you take a deeper look at the style. It easily blends in with all kinds of décor, does not need a high-end look or finish since shabby chic is the target, and can be coupled with all kinds of upholsteries and accessories to make them look instantly rich and inviting. There is no hard-and-fast need for a uniform look, which makes it easy for designers to search for items that will create a more out-of-the-box experience." - ICON
"The farmhouse style is extremely versatile and can be played in a number of ways. Use chippy finishes, hand me downs, and homey quilts for a rustic look. Add a crystal chandelier, rich colors, and touch of sparkle for rustic glam. Try pretty florals, bright bold colors, and quirky accents for a fun finish, and use metals and rich wood tones if you are going for a rustic industrial style. Any way you play it, the farmhouse trend is a sure winner with it’s cozy and comforting vibes and easy-going nature." - Erica Sooter/Dwell Beautiful
"Five building products that you can use to create a unique rustic space: bark shingles, bark panels, faux stone panels, faux beams, barn wood and even corrugated metal panels." - Lights In the Northern Sky
"Weathered wood continues to to be a hot trend in home furnishings as well as outdoor decor. Farmhouse style remains supreme as long as it looks authentically vintage and aged." - 2 Bees In A Pod
"The most recent development for the rustic-chic trend is to veer toward a more Scandinavian slant for the décor. There is an enduring quality in the Nordic styles that is enhanced by their clean, bright lines, which combines with their inherent and functional minimalism." - ICON
"We’ve seen some other blogs say that the Farmhouse trend is starting to fade, but we think it’s just beginning. With more and more style combinations revolving around this look, we expect to see many more designs that fit into these quaint, pitched-roof buildings." - Dot&Bo
Not only is the QUILT an effective statement to invoke rustic charm, but it is also touted as at design trend for 2016.
While quilts may remind you of sleeping at your grandmother's or bucolic summers spent horseback riding and playing in the barn, "they're anything but dated," Anne Hepfer of Anne Hepfer Designs tells ELLEDecor.com. Still, it can be hard to mix a beloved, vintage quilt into your space without it beginning to look, well, old-fashioned. Fortunately, Hepfer, along with Lacey Chaus of Lacey Chaus Interiors, have a few tricks up their sleeves for blending your cozy quilt into your contemporary home:
- use more rather than less (mix prints and pattern sizes)
- geometric patterns work well in modern spaces
- use in unexpected ways (hanging as art or the upholstery of an ottoman)
With it, you're not just decorating but immortalizing an age-old craft. "Quilting dates back centuries and is a true art form," Hepfer points out. "Begun out of necessity for bedding and warmth, skilled quilting became a social event with groups of women working together to create beautiful pieces to decorate their homes."
Some other elements that are part of this rustic style are still going strong such as antlers/trophy heads, sliding barn and dutch doors, fireplaces and wood beams.
"Adding antlers to your wall or a display doesn't have to be dark and manly. It is simply a rustic type of decor that can actually add interest to your room. So many of my favorite bloggers seem to be embracing this look in different ways and finding ways to personalize them for their own style and space." - Anderson+Grant
"The sculptural shape of antlers adds so much texture and interests, but their neutral color doesn’t make them overpower the space." - Tidbits & Twine
"Barn doors are definitely trending right now, and there are so many ways to introduce them into a space. The finish of the doors can easily take them from the farm to an urban loft." - Popsugar
"Construction trends are ever changing, but one that is here to stay for a while is the raw wood beam trend. Wooden beams or timbers add a natural element to any home. No matter the use as interior or exterior architectural features, these beams are certainly eye candy with plenty of charm and character to go around." - Angela Vinet/The Times
"Let’s be honest here. The wood-burning fireplace is never going to go out of style, whether freestanding or hearth style. These fireplaces have even been put into homes in decades when they should have been lost completely to modern heating systems. They add a sense of comfort in city apartments. They pull the design of a room to centrality in large, sprawling country cabins." - John Harvey/KUKUN
RUSTIC CHARM proves the old adage that everything that goes around comes around. Our trailblaizing pioneers would be shocked at the price we pay for common items they saved pennies for. They aspired to move beyond log hewn walls and enamelware for things more refined and elegant and today many are working for the opposite. RUSTIC CHARM is unprententious, organic and natural. It is just as popular in the city as it is in the woods. The style feels honest and effortless. If this is the look you are aspiring for, just remember:
* Rustic is all about PATINA (peeling, weathered, rough and worn).
* Weathered wood/rough beams help anchor and define a space.
* Too many mass-produced or overly tailored pieces dilute a room's rustic style.
* By maintaing some sleek and clean surfaces it allows the rustic notes (patina) to stand out.
* The look is about making do with what your have (purchased, salvaged or inherited) and transforming them for new uses.
* This rustic style makes an easy transition into (and partners with) INDUSTRIAL style.
