Rustic Style

Hooray!! It’s finally the start of spring. Whether it feels like spring is a different story… It has been a long and hard winter; filled with extremely cold weather, power outages, ice storms, and ZERO snow days. I was even beginning to get tired of skiing.

The exterior of the Mountain home in Salt Lake City that we stayed in 

My family and I love skiing, so last year, we went to the Dear Valley resort in Salt Lake City, and the year before that, we went to Switzerland. I noticed that Switzerland and the Dear Valley Resort were full of charming, rustic chalets.

Rustic Style is mainly found in vacation homes or cottages in rural areas or mountains. The idea of incorporating nature and staying in harmony with the outdoors is the main concept behind this beautiful yet simple style of design.

Part of an old Rustic home in a museum in Bern, Switzerland

The history of Rustic Style dates back to the mid-18^th century. The style was extremely popular in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, when people there led a simple life.  Rustic Style became very popular in Great Britain during the Victorian period, and was also hugely followed in the USA. “Adirondack” was the term used for the furniture there, and it reached its peak in the late twenties.    

Cabins, lodges, bunkhouses, log homes, and cottages usually follow the same characteristics: The exterior is textured, with large windows to bring the outdoors in. The homes are often built with locally available materials such as stone, timbers, cedar shakes, and other wood types. Exterior decoration is minimal.  

Textured exterior (wood) of a Swiss home in the Alps

The interiors are cozy, comfortable, and often feature an eclectic look.  The key element is that rustic style décor is made of natural materials, or finishes in natural colours. The architectural elements, furniture, fixtures, accessories, etc. are usually made of many different textures. The preferred materials are patina and pewter, wrought iron, rusted metals, natural fabric (animal hides, linen, wool, etc.), concrete, stone, rock, and wood. There is something fascinating about wood in the fact that its patterns, variations, colours, and cracks tell its life story. Wood also instantly reminds us of nature, and its simplicity and beauty. 

  

The color palette in Rustic homes is subtle and earthy. Green, gray, brown, taupe, slate, cream, and caramel work well. Walls are textured, and stone or wooden walls are usually exposed. 

The kitchen in the Salt Lake City home, ft. brown, wood cabinets and large windows for natural light

A great fireplace is usually the heart of each rustic home, so having one is an absolute must. Some lighting fixtures include antler chandeliers or a light in a cluster of pinecones. Strong and bulky furniture made of natural sources and unrefined materials are staples. Leather, suede, and soft wool are usually the preferred fabrics in rustic interiors. Flea market finds, reclaimed materials, Folk art and industrial objects are often included. Quilts, hand-made rugs, blankets, and pillows provide a lot of comfort and warmth.

Living room of the Salt Lake city home, ft. large ceilings with exposed beams,  reclaimed materials (coffee table made of old barn floorboards), large windows, rugs and pillows, and a stone  fireplace 

Rustic Style is very popular and easily affordable, and can be combined with other styles as well. Some people enjoy having a simpler and more natural quality of life, so Rustic Style is ideal. Rustic Style is not about possessions and status; but about nature, comfort, and enjoying the simpler things in life. 

Guten tag! xoxo