Look for opportunities to increase your connection with nature and the outdoors through larger windows, glass doors, skylights and the like. In selecting materials, reference nature in contemporary but unexpected ways. Rubbed steel and open grained woods done with subtlety and refinement, are ideal.
The interior should feel clean and not dark. Warm, saturated tones create a warmer feel, while cool grey tones make for a more Nordic feel. Pull the colors from the surroundings, such as grass green and sky blue from the landscape. Aim for a mix of saturated and light colors that play with light and how one moves through home.
\”Modern lighting for tasks, plumbing fixtures, doors and hardware should all be carefully considered. Keep accessories spare to evoke a Zen-like experience.
\”Mixing furniture eras and styles will keep a home from looking like a clichéd cabin in the woods. Opt for comfortable deep-down sofas, rich full drapes with blackout lining, lots of table and floor lamps, large easy coffee tables made of earthen materials like stone, wood and bronze. Swedish antiques and Brazilian vintage finds always make strong statements in these settings.
\”For walls flooring, felted upholstery on bedroom walls, simple wallpapers like the Strie collection from Farrow and Ball, thick plush rugs and carpets (both vintage and new) and thick plank open-grain wood flooring enhance the look.
The goal here is to maintain the natural elements in conjunction with symmetry and clean lines. Materials, like wood and stone, should reflect natural elements. Put a more rustic frame on a piece of modern art or mirror, add round and softer features to balance them out, opt for wood flooring with a fabulous contemporary rug atop—over-dyed, Moroccan, cowhides, etcetera. I also love a great stone fireplace.
\”Ideas for furnishings include a refectory table coupled with modern chairs or a modern fabric with a pop of color on a more traditional occasional chair.
\”My color palette leans toward earth tones with the occasional splash of something bright to catch your eye. For walls, go for wallpaper that very closely resembles wood or use neutral paint colors.
