Rustic French Style
Unruly vines fringe an elegantly symmetrical Loire Valley manor house, and a rough stone wall encloses its tangled gardens. In hidden corners of the surrounding French countryside, rustic arches frame rolling hills.
Family life often focuses around meals.Tarragon and rosemary bushes scent the air. Wine and cheese are set out in preparation for dinner al fresco. Rustic French style, inspired by this ancient pastoral landscape, creates welcoming, airy interior space with interesting, antique textures.
Special Feature
English Country Style
In the English countryside, pretty villages dot rolling hills and cobblestones line narrow medieval streets. Come in through the garden gate, and you'll find a steep thatched roof overhanging ancient leaded glass windows. Old garden roses creep around the carved oak door. The grounds, whether a picturesque cottage garden or the rolling parkland of the local manor house, are lovingly cared for. Everything is fresh, tidy, and welcoming.
In the bedroom, sunlight warms sisal floor mats, woven throw rugs, and terra cotta tile. Simple, airy comfort prevails. Delicate botanical prints with plain white frames adorn color washed walls. Bedroom furniture -- head and footboards, side tables -- is whitewashed, bleached, distressed.
Form follows function in the rustic kitchen. A brick ceiling, weathered wooden cabinets, and hanging pots evoke earthy meals -- cassoulet, coq au vin -- cooked for family and friends. Straight-backed chairs are placed at a scarred wooden work table for trimming fresh vegetables or enjoying a morning coffee.
In the dining room, family and friends are welcomed by a massive stone fireplace. Wood paneling glows; the panes of leaded glass windows reflect the firelight. For a special occasion, this room can be dressed up with candlelight and white linen.
And on the way down to the wine cellar, a surprise: floral tiles peek out from the stair kick boards.
Upholstery is minimal and unfussy, and windows are covered with sun-bleached shutters or plain curtains.
Sun bleached, colorful shutters protect the home from the strong southern sun.
The rolling country side of the Loire Valley epitomizes the Rustic French Style. Organic, time worn charm, and a sense of being connected with the earth, root the rural French traditions.
Rustic French Style Inspirations
A layered rug look complements a hand made tile floor.
Brick archways support this rustic beamed ceiling.
Uncluttered stone walkways and arches.
Color washed walls
create a light and airy feel in this bedroom.
This time worn roof offers protection from the elements as well as pure, rustic charm.
Lithos Venetian Plaster
Finishing Venetian Plaster with natural polished marble effect
Lithos is the contemporary version of the famous ancient Stucco Veneziano. It is a beautiful and highly refined decorative finish for hotels, offices, shops, exhibition halls, living rooms, etc. Ideal for all types of interior surfaces such as cement renders, Gypsum plasters, prefabricated panels wood and its by-products, as long as sufficiently smooth. With the range of colours and the applicator’s capacity and inspiration, it is possible to attain a variety of designs and chromatic effects. The resulting coating, in addition to being highly attractive, is abrasion resistant and washable.
Spread rate: 35 to 45 sq. ft. per quart.
0.8 - 1.0 kg/m² (for a recommended dry film thickness of 1,0 mm)
Early American Style
Colonial Amercians drew inspriation from their European heritage. Curent design styles would filter across the ocean and become reinventedin early America. Proportion and scale took reign over ornementation, A neutral color palette of grey blue, greens and rose pinks is readily apparent.
Stucco Rustico - Aged Plaster
Stucco Rustico is a Traditional interior and exterior textured plaster that epitomizes the rustic old world charm commonly associated with Tuscan environments. I love this treatment for its ease of application and the natural, organic glazed appearance that results when using mineral based plasters and glazes. Whether a rough application or a smooth finish, this treatment holds true to the test of time and, in fact, feels as if time itself stopped to wash the walls personally.
The Rustic Color Palette
The Rustic Style color palette falls within a distinct range of color tones and is essential in creating a successful Rustic interior. By using the appropriate color tones you can create a variety of design styles ranging from Period and Historic, regional or thematic. Color helps define our experiences within an interior and exterior environment. It affects us on a physical, emotional, and spiritual level and can be calming and passive, expressive and vital.
Painted Floral Details
Floral patterns used as accents in fabrics and furniture are common place details in the English Country home. These graceful and organic patterns complement the cozy interior of this style and work particularly well with lace window treatments, an heirloom tea service set and the natural and rustic charm of wooden ceiling beams and slightly irregularly textured walls.