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A Home Where the Buffalo Roam: Western Interior Design |  |
May 15, 2007
by Kate Robb
Design Programs Columnist
Chalk it up to our love of the American cowboy or the romance of frontier living, but Americans love the feel of the prairies and mountains in their homes--even if they see brick walls ouside their windows. If it's done well, western-style interior design can be a luxury. If it isn't, it's as corny as you can get. Aspiring interior designers will want to learn the difference.
Classic and Innovative Interior Design
Western style is timeless, and many of us yearn to go somewhere that looks like where Lewis and Clark forged over mountains. The style stirs up a sense of rugged adventure and courage, even in its most luxurious forms. The contrast of rugged luxury may be just what your clients are looking for.
All in the Elements
The real beauty of Western design is that anyone from a daring mountain climber to a CEO with a house in Colorado can appreciate it. It can work in a master suite or as a theme for an entire home. Here are some of the classic Western elements:
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Wooden features like log furniture, images of pine trees, and acorns
- Leather, fur, and wool accessories
- Native American blankets and beadwork
- Antler chandeliers or lamps
- Images of animals like elk, deer, bear, moose, fish, horses, cattle
- Darker colors like navy, forest green, and deep red
Remember that luxury is the main thing in Western interior design--if it feels like there's a fire crackling (even when there isn't), then your job is done.
About the Author
Kate Robb is a freelance writer and university professor.
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