All I can say is….I want to be here. The hand made rocker and soft pillows beckon to me. The dark primitive shelves of books speak my name. The lampshades made of string charm me.

A rumpled daybed by a cozy fire calls me, especially during a chilly summer thunderstorm. But enough poetry! Rustic interiors are not for everyone. Personally, I love the feel of it for a vacation home. If you want to bring this flavor into your own space, there are simple ways to do it. You will notice that almost every piece of furniture is made from sticks, branches and split tree trunks. The homeowners created this retreat on the shores of Saranac Lake in upper New York State and called it Tapawingo.

Indeed, their veins must be infused with “pioneer” blood.  By that I mean they actually made most of the furniture themselves. I don’t know about you but I am not so ambitious. If I were creating a rustic cabin look my first stop would be antique stores, especially ones out in the country. But we can also shop for twig furniture online. There are many resources.

I have also seen wonderful rustic pieces made from reclaimed wood in www.wisteria.com and www.sundance.com.  Notice that the all of the fabrics are cotton or linen, soft and worn looking and kinda rumpled. Prewashed fabric is available from dealers. The pillows themselves are not to be filled very tight. I would definitely use down and feather and leave a lot of space inside the pillow cover for squashing.

This dining room captures my imagination.  Fabric draped over the beams is a great touch.

Two birch four-poster beds are hung with nubby linen canopies.

The welcoming front porch gives us a closer look at the texture of the log exterior walls. When the bark is left on like this, it takes rustic to a new level. To recreate this type of cabin look, you will want to pay attention to your walls and trim. If you don’t have paneling,paint the walls a dark color. Recycled wood anywhere (the mantel, for example) will really make  that charming rough hewn statement you are going for. Stay away from polished finishes of any sort. Zinc and iron, pewter and tin are best.

I can’t resist showing you a photo of the A-frame chapel, the scene of many a wedding, baptism and ceremony (the owner is a minister). Rustic spaces certainly have their place in the world and in our culture. The extreme informality gives us permission to be ourselves….which is the most relaxing thing of all.

Photographs from Homestyle Magazine

While the outside shell of this factory building in Milan’s Navigli District is probably rusty steel and darkened stone, the inside is a large sleek white space with minimal furnishings. For me, that is part of the magic of lofts. In geode-like fashion, the outside is a rough and craggy crust but… it opens into a brilliant gemstone that fascinates. Although contemporary interiors can often be sterile and uninviting, this one is not (for me, anyway). Why? It’s the exposed concrete trusses that still exist from the old factory days. Their irregular soot smudged finish seem to say “yes, workers toiled here doing their jobs for the community.” There is a history here and it brings humanity into the interior design.  Thus sculptural stainless steel chair is ‘Lofty” from MDF Italia. The area rug is a 1970’s Taporso.

Double clerestory windows distinguishes this factory building from most others. This is called a doppia columbina, or ‘double dove’ in Italian. The owner and designer of the space, Toni Meneguzzo, recognized the great gift that these windows provide with the extraordinary amount of light that will enter there. Meneguzzo is a fashion-turned-interior photographer and, as you can see from these photos, has an eye for composition.

Perhaps a little concrete goes a long way. The concrete truss that extends down the center of the room has been covered over with plaster board in a prism shape and painted white. Steel bookcases flank one of Meneguzzo’s large photographic creations. The enormous mustard sectional called ‘Bora Bora’ is by MDF Italia.

A bright red table and chairs from HP Haus plays against a black (possibly steel) floor and white walls of the small entry/office space. I love the collection of Japanese Godzilla figures on the left shelf. Hanging above the table is a net basket which actually functions as a lift for heavy photo equipment and bulky objects that need to go up to the main living space. As you can see, the stairwell is very narrow and steep so….this seems like a workable solution which harkens back to the old basket on a rope.

A clean minimal bedroom continues the theme of mustards and reds found in the other parts of the loft, bringing balance and flow. The bed is covered with a suzani tapestry purchased in Turkey.

A streamlined polished stainless steel sink makes an elegantly simple bathroom. But where does he hide the toothpaste and shaving cream? I think there’s a door on the left to hold the clutter of actual living. When I see places like this I always wonder what they look like on a daily basis. Are there newspapers strewn on the floor? Does this morning’s half eaten bowl of granola destroy the impression made by the sleek kitchen counters in this photo shoot? Is the whole effect ruined? Well….let’s not think about that. I’m crazy about this place and would love to see it in person sometime.

Photos from The World of Interiors May 2009

The interior design of this home is the epitome of continuous flow (some readers know that this is my favorite subject!). Whether you like this style or not, It is an absolutely text book example of successful decorating from the point of view of establishing a theme and sticking to it. Neutral colors continue from room to room to room, with accents of bronze, gold, rusty red and blue. It is clean and uncluttered, but we are not bored. No….there is enough eye candy assembled on shelves and tabletops to keep us interested while still allowing us room to breathe. Luscious expensive fabrics and simple, classically designed furnishings. This is the home of Dallas designer George Cameron Nash and his partner Mark Williams.

A sensational bookcase display is created by mirroring the backs of the cubby holes.  One or so well chosen objects is placed in each compartment with lots of “air” around it. Not too chock-a-block full. There seems to be a running theme of collectibles from the Far East mixed with red and blue coral to establish that color palette into the room.

This dining room is spacious and simple partly because the polished floors are left rugless. This is often considered “cold” but remember, temperatures are warm in Dallas, Texas. And that wood is so darn beautiful. It’s a luxurious backdrop for all of the furnishings as it….you guessed it….continues throughout the space creating a fabulous flowing design element that “pulls the rooms together.” The lovely curved chairs are from Rose Tarlow - Melrose House. Cane back and leather seat. The contemporary painting is an oil on panel by Jeff Bertoncino. Doesn’t it punctuate the bronze/gold elements beautifully though!

There is a running theme here, and it’s hard to miss. That’s why we feel so good looking at it. Sleek unembellished design that is uncluttered…..not a pattern on any of the fabrics. Neutral color palette with pops of red and blue. And all underlayed with polished hard wood flooring. I think I’m in love!

Photos from Veranda Magazine September 2009