5 Most popular Country Style Interiors (Part 1)
Country style was first mentioned in UK. Then gradually it started to form in USA and Europe. It reflects the ethnicity and culture of the region therefore it varies from country to country.
However, all Country styles have many things in common:
- simplicity and practicality,
- use of natural materials (common to a particular area)
- vintage furniture (old furniture that is no longer used in the city flat).
- no artificial materials such as metal plastic, linoleum and acrylic wallpaper, etc.
Country style has close relationship with the “village life”, old traditions are often romanticised (tools that were used to work with on a field are now used as decoration). It is perfect for soulful and friendly people and for big families. Many, overwhelmed by technology and high tech are looking for an escape into the nature in their country residences, therefore they choose country style.
All the varieties of country styles use similar materials:
- Walls- wood, stone, wallpaper, paint, stucco, bricks, hey
- Floors- wood, unpolished stone, parquet.
- Ceiling- white paint or wooden structure of the house.
English Cottage
I decided to start with English cottage as it is claimed to be the first of its kind. I am personally a big fun of english country style, it is always somewhere on the border between cosy and strict. The patterns and styles are typically eccentric with a mix of classic furniture chintz and checks. Walls have often painted a shade between duck egg blue and watery green — darker below the dado rail and lighter above or covered with wallpaper with muted stripes. The interiors are never very colourful and bright, they perfectly match with the surrounding nature and weather conditions of the area. Colours commonly used are brown, red, green, yellow. Dark cherry and red woods.
Home libraries always overwhelm with amount of wood, upholstery there, is often made of leather. Starting from old times, libraries were mostly the places for men’s meetings therefore it has always been the most formal room in the whole house. As a rule they remind a space of a hunter or a collector.
Living rooms very often were occupied by women. Overall atmosphere is relaxed comfortable and plane. Fireplace is a must have in each common room, it adds a lot of warmth solace during cold rainy evenings.
Bedrooms are commonly flowery and easy going, filled with cushions and hand-made art.
Furnishings and decor include china arranged on the wall, framed botanicals, landscape paintings, floral embroidered pillows, crystal candleholders, vases of fresh flowers, embroidered rugs, dark-stained chests and pine bookcases. Pictures are perfectly hung. Large imposing portraits on the walls; and small charming watercolours in tight groups around the fireplace. Woollen warm rugs are casually thrown on soft furniture.
Contemporary english cottages are less textural, the pallet of the walls is mostly white (creme), but the upholstery and window treatments are still made of organic linen and cotton and still decorated with flower pattern. Wooden structure of the house is they key of the interior, it is proudly exposed in every possible way. Furniture is simple, often vintage and restored. Link below is a great way to start selecting furniture and decorative elements for a flat in contemporary English country style.
American Ranch
It looks a lot like farm house, the rooms are usually big with large windows. Unlike english style American ranch is more easy going, the house has a strong connection with the kitchen area. Kitchen and dining are usually one big space. In American ranch, flower pattern is also very common, but it is less decorative in general. The prevailing colour is creme. Furniture is simple and very often painted, light floors. Indian motifs are very common as well. As I mentioned before, country houses reflect the culture of the area, so in American ranch, you can sense wealth and the size of the farm, its ambition. Thinking about examples the first thing that comes to my head is the houses in American TV shows, such as “True Blood” and “Madmen”
In the middle of 20th century, it was common that wife with kids would live in a big country house, while husband would go to the city for work every day. House wife was a very common and respectable status. In this scenario it was definitely a family house with a lot of space for life. Interiors were a mix of country and classic styles.
To be continued ( Russian Izba, Swiss Cottage, French Provence, Tuscan House)….
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