Living in the city has its advantages. You are close to amenities, jobs, health care and schools. But, there is something to be said for the quiet, slower pace of country life. You can have the best of both worlds by adding a touch of country to your city home. If you long for the relaxed style of country living, the following suggestions may help you in your desire for comfort and convenience.
Simplicity is key
The casual charm of a country décor allows you to be more creative with natural elements. Nature is the quintessential part of country living so incorporating some of these components into your city home may be beneficial and affordable. It's all about low maintenance surfaces that can take daily use and accessories that don't need daily dusting and fussing.
There is no need to spend a lot of money on accessories in a country decor. Simple accessories can be made from natural elements. Adding items found in nature and using them as accessories adds to the charm of the country style. Whether actual natural items, such as driftwood or interesting rocks, or items representative of nature such as craft birds and nests, botanical prints or photographs, nature is a wonderful element to include in any décor style.
Bring the outdoors in via fresh-cut flowers or tall vases filled with interesting twigs or tall grasses. Use garden accessories indoors for a unique look. Place tempered glass on top of a birdbath to create a unique dining or occasional table. Make a coffee table base out of two garden columns or planters. Use an old door or barn board planks as a tabletop for instance.
You can go with a natural and rustic look by choosing accessories that are weathered in appearance and somewhat distressed. Unique pieces such as vintage shaving accessories, an old shoeshine box and vintage textiles (framed or not) will add character and a sense of history to the décor.
Natural wood finishes in a country décor is another way to bring the outside in. Whether you opt for natural wood cabinets, pine furniture or simply add roughly hewn wooden accessories to the mix, wood warms up any room.
Plank flooring and wall treatments are a great element to add to a casual, country room. The more wear, dents and dings that a real wooden floor gets, the better it will look over time. Even painted, wood elements add country charm.
The appeal of open cabinetry is another attractive casual element of the country life. Remove the cupboard doors in the kitchen and let your dishes, pots and pans take centre stage. Hang utensils, pots and pans out in the open for easy access and to add to the casual look. In other rooms, decorative baskets can be used for open storage and to provide easy access to the items being stored. Rustic open shelving can be used in any room to store and display books, CDs, DVDs and accessories.
If you prefer a more contemporary country décor opt for more contemporary-country accessories such as black and white nature prints or photos, finer country antiques, decoys and antique china place settings. Mixing these items among casual/contemporary furnishings will offer the old and the new but still provide a comfortable, stylish setting.
The stylish Kohler kitchen pictured here has a modern sink, countertop and stainless-steel island top but is accessorized with rustic items. The ancient wooden box filled with onion bulbs and the rough-hewn cutting boards look wonderful juxtaposed against the sleek, modern surfaces. As well, the vintage textile framed in a contemporary black frame adds character. You can see how combing city and country can produce an attractive and unique space.
Other items that may provide that sense of country solitude include CDs of country sounds such as crickets on a summer night or the sound of a babbling brook. These soothing sounds can be very restful after a day out in a noisy city. If it's the wide-open spaces of the country that attract you, then include large prints or photos of similar scenes in your décor.
Perhaps you enjoy remembering simpler times and could include vintage collections of glass milk bottles or Campbell's Soup paraphernalia from the good old days. Whatever brings you a sense of joy and peace is important to include in your home.
connieoliver@shaw.ca
