Rustic Accents

Interior designer Gail Claridge has a fondness for all things country, especially pieces that exhibit a rustic, timeworn look. Some of her favorite furnishings are made of green willow, which is cut and formed while still green and as it dries it takes on a weathered bark finish. Country colors, like red and green, bring out the best in country decor. In Claridge's barn house, she's used an old wood-burning stove for added country character. Updated with a slick countertop, it's now a functional antique. The kitchen cabinets are a bright red with chicken-wire inserts.