The new country style allows room for individual expression--it can be soft and romantic, eclectic and sophisticated, or rustic and rooted in history. Today's country is different from the look of the '70s, '80s and early '90s because it's lighter , brighter and streamlined:
- To freshen your country look, start by paring down. Instead of filling walls, shelves and tabletops with every single collectible you own, display a few of your best or favorite items. This focuses more attention and enjoyment on them.
- Country style used to be very brown with dark wood and heavy colors (figure A). Now it's lighter and brighter in terms of color palettes for rooms. Always preserve the original surfaces of antiques, but if you have furniture that isn't antique or valuable, give it a new look with a coat of white or cream paint (figure B).
- Slipcovers provide a fresh look. Instead of gingham or tiny fussy prints that used to characterize country style, use blue and white toile to update the classic country color scheme (figure B), white cotton duck or a large bold check.
- Old country style had lots of dried flowers hanging from ceiling beams and vine wreaths on the wall (figure C). Replace these with a simple display of white platters or soup tureen lids and display fresh flowers from the garden in a teapot or crystal pitcher (figure D). Fill simple bowls with fresh moss to bring a feeling of the woods indoors.
- Instead of putting pinecones in rustic baskets, pile them in a galvanized tin planter. It's shinier than what we're used to thinking of as country, but galvanized tin is what barn roofs and buckets are made from, so it's quintessential country .
- Be creative and repurpose objects. Use a dessert pedestal to display pillar candles , enamelware pans to hold hand towels in the bathroom or extra soap in a chunky bowl on the counter (figure E). Put photos or magazines in a big silver punchbowl that's never used or fill mason jars with cutlery in the kitchen. Everything functional should please your eye and vice versa.
- Give lamps a new look by covering a plain shade with vintage bark cloth or an exotic leopard print.
- There's still a deep appreciation for handcrafted quality and natural colors/materials such as Windsor chairs, pie safes, handmade textiles and salt-glazed pottery. Since these icons have become more expensive and harder to find, country enthusiasts are turning to new collectibles--contemporary handcrafted pottery instead of stoneware , black and white photos instead of botanical prints or colored lithographs, hotel silver instead of 18th century silver, white ironstone instead of Redware.
- Instead of stoneware jugs, clear glass bottles and vessels are now a cool collectible .
- New country replaces heavy ruffled window treatments with bare windows or tailored shades/sheers.
- In general, fewer patterns are used on walls and surfaces with more paint and less wallpaper. Instead of braided rugs or oriental carpets, sisal is popular, which is hardwearing and natural but very neutral and understated.
Guests Vicki Ingham
Editor, Meredith Publishing/Better Homes and Gardens
Website:
www.bhg.com
Also in this Episode
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