How To Do 'Country Style' With A Contemporary Edge
There is an appeal to country style that deep down, none of us can’t resist. Even you hardcore minimalists out there find the charms of a well-worn leather armchair enticing or the patina of old wood table top irresistible to touch. We all share a soft spot for country style homes, but sometimes it can feel like you’re at Grandmas house. As much as we love visiting Grandma, we don’t want to live with her full-time (sorry Grandma). This time we’re going less rustic, and more refined. Here, we’re taking cues from those that set the trends, and there’s a contemporary twist.
The country look is familiar, warm and above all, it’s comfortable. These are spaces that invite us to spend a lot of time in so it’s no wonder that this contemporary take on country style is so popular.
Left: Natural materials are layered on a white backdrop. She has combined natural textures for a harmonious room; shearing upholstered armchairs sit on a vintage silk rug with wood floors and an antique wood buffet. Project: Amber Interiors Photo: Tessa Neustadt Right: This kitchen delivers texture in perfect proportions. The clean white architecture contrasts with the textured tumbled stone floors (reclaimed French limestone no less), which keeps the look fresh and not provincial. Project: Amber Interiors Photo: Tessa Neustadt
This time around, we’re embracing a cool, clean, more refined country style whilst still incorporating aspects the country charm we love. These are spaces that are designed to be lived in. They are inviting, approachable, bright, light with an element of the unexpected.
There are flavors of bohemian beach, California eclectic and farmhouse with mid-century modern in the mix. And although it may look casual and effortless, it’s carefully curated. This look is fresher than Hamptons style yet has more warmth than contemporary architecture. Maybe this contemporary country style a reaction to so much technology we use in our lives, instead we crave something authentic and real; something familiar. When we walk on the floor we want it to be real timber, we want to run our hands over real stone benchtops and we want to see evidence that human hands have crafted something unique. The imperfections are totally ok, in fact we embrace them.
I’m super excited to bring together some of my favorite designers, stylists photographers (and my girl-crushes) that are known for this hugely popular style.
Left: Byron Bay abode bathroom: A delicious combination of textures creates interest with the handmade zellige tiles, timber ceiling and concrete floors, which is softened with a linen curtain Right: Byron Bay abode kitchen: The rough grey-off timber in the kitchen look chic, and doesn’t look like a rustic farmhouse because of the combination of elegant marble and fresh white walls. Project: Byron Bay Abodes Photos: Jessie Prince
1. Texture, Naturally
The finishes have a beautifully worn patina; think soft buttery leathers, characterful dining table tops and hand-scraped timber floors. These finishes tell stories, they have history and are beautiful just as they are. We’re not looking for that ‘fresh out of the box’ look here, instead we want that already lived-in look.
We’re combining texture rather than applied colours; a vintage silk rug laid over tumbled limestone; a plump linen sofa with a chunky undyed wool blanket.
They key to pulling off this modern country look, as opposed to an overstuffed country style is the clean white walls as a backdrop.
The spaces don’t feel so perfect and precious so you can really make yourself comfortable. And really, isn’t that what it’s all about?
Left: Palm Beach Kitchen: An open shelf made of marble is always going to elevate any humble kitchen objects on it. Project: Alexander & Co Photo: Felix Forest Right: byron bay abode detail: when all of the objects on the shelf are one colour, like this black collection, it instantly looks pulled together and neat. Project: Byron Bay Abodes Photos: Jessie Prince
Left:: This isn’t a ‘display kitchen’ rather it’s a kitchen to cook up a storm in. Treasured vintage kitchen pieces and handmade ceramics are on display giving this space soul and personality. Right: Sweet collections of kitchen pieces are readily at hand, inspiring you to cook up a storm, or at least put the kettle on! These kitchens are well loved! Project: Jersey Ice Cream Co Photo: Nicole Franzen
Above: Open shelves under the bench give this kitchen a casual easy feel, nothing here is too precious and everything gets used. Project: Jersey Ice Cream Co Photo: Nicole Franzen
Left: White textures provide a beautiful backdrop to a gorgeous ceramic collection. Right: By keeping the kitchen all white, the gorgeous objects collected by vintage queen Lynda Gardener are the hero. Project: Room + Board Photos: Marnie Hawson
Above: Open shelf kitchen: This inviting kitchen by Kara Rosenlund mixes gorgeous ceramic and vintage pieces that are in a similar colour palette that works so beautifully.
2. Kitchens on show
Unlike minimalist contemporary kitchens that aim to hide everything ‘kitcheney’ behind cupboard doors, country kitchens love to have everything on show. At the same time, this look is pulled together and more refined than Hampton style.
There’s that feeling that there is a cake just about to come out of the oven- these kitchens are designed to be used and loved. Here, the very ‘things’ a kitchen needs to be functional are on show. We see open shelves with functional ceramic pieces displayed. Even underbench storage is open with pots and pans easily accessible
Even the appliances are on show rather than integrated with large free-standing ovens taking center stage and with an equally large feature rangehood.
Left: The ultimate in incorporating vintage into the kitchen is with the kitchen sink. Jersey Ice Cream Co have used a vintage concrete wash basin as the kitchen sink in this gorgeous country kitchen in a way that looks intentional and chic. Designer: Jersey Ice Cream Co Photo: Nicole Franzen Right: Lynda, Queen of Vintage Gardener always hits the mark without looking too fussy. This space is layered with Armadillo rugs and a sofa piled with cushions and yet everything is considered. Project: The Estate Trentham by Lynda Gardener Photo: Marnie Hawson
Left: Who wouldn’t love to rummage through the vintage ‘out-takes’ of Lynda Gardeners collection. This artwork is perfection on this dado height painted wall combined with the Major Minor bedlinen. RIght: How does a landscape painting, ceramic vases, old bottles and butterflies look so incredible together? They key to creating a vintage vignette like expert Lynda Gardener is to group objects in similar colour tones. Photography: Marnie Hawson
3. Vintage
Incorporating antique pieces instantly gives a space soul and are key to the contemporary country style. We’re looking for a rustic console table at the entry, a sweet side table with turned legs or a dining table that bears the marks of many dinners' past. We’re looking at simple shaker style or farmhouse pieces that can be picked up from antique dealers or if you’re lucky enough, an op shop. The odd mid-century piece works well to tighten up the look, but steer clear of anything post 1970s. Look for worn leather armchairs, armoires and milking stools, and avoid chrome, acrylics and bright colours.
Vintage rugs used on floors and also upholstered onto ottomans for an injection of pattern.
I can hardly think of another person that incorporates vintage pieces into interiors better than Lynda Gardener. This isn’t a passing trend rather this is at the core of her design aesthetic and has been for years.
We see a lot of landscapes and portraits from around the 1920s – 1940s.
Left: What a way to make an entrance! This house in Malibu by Amber Lewis is exactly why she leads the way with this look. It has the elements we know true to ‘country style’; the hand-scraped wood floors, vintage floor rug and antique pieces but when combined with the Lindsey Adelman light – it takes on a whole new feeling. Project: Amber Interiors Photo: Tessa Neustadt
Right: The mountain house in LA designed by Emily Henderson (in collaboration with the loyal readers of her blog) aimed for ‘rustic-modern-Scandinavian-contemporary-minimalist-kitchen.’ vibes, in her words. And I couldn’t put it better myself. The light fitting by Katy Skelton does a lot of the heavy lifting for ticking the ‘minimalist’ box. Project: Emily Henderson Photo: Sara Ligorria-Tramp
Left: This kitchen would still look gorgeous with a predictable lantern style light however this LAAL light elevates the whole look and makes you look twice. Right: These simple pendant lights add to the clean lines in this kitchen. Projects: Enoki. Photo: Jenah Piwanski
4. Lighting is Lit
The key to creating a cool modern country style, and not an out-dated ‘grandma’ country style, is with lighting. Lighting needs to be contemporary to elevate this country look and tighten up the room. Lighting is how we can mix those traditional country elements and see them through a new lens.
It should be a contemporary contrast to the textured materials, it’s best to avoid ‘old world’ style lighting. Look for the unexpected; metallic fittings give an elegant feel to a room and an asymmetrical form makes the space feel dynamic.
Left: I mean, come on. This kitchen is really quite grand, yet still cosy. Amber admits that this house had ‘more charm in the closets that any newly built home I have seen in years’ so it was had great bones to begin with. The ceiling with the skylights floods the room with light and gives the kitchen loads of volume Project: Amber Interiors Photo: Tessa Neustadt
Right: The bathroom at The Lodge, Byron Bay Abode is a calming space with the bath framed by the window and a timber pitched ceiling. The symmetry creates a perfectly harmonious space. Photo: Jessie Prince
Left: Palm Beach kitchen . The timber ceiling adds warmth to the crisp white and marble kitchen. Project: Alexander & Co Photo: Felix Forest
Right: The Mountain House by Emily Henderson had existing timber ceilings, however they aren’t what you see here. Designers will understand the frustration when the wood is just not the ‘right’ colour and texture. It drives us crazy. Wood needs to have no orange tones at all, it needs to have a bit of texture but not too rough and definitely not too smooth so that it doesn’t look real. At the end of this project, these ceilings are perfection. She talks about the excruciating ceiling journey here for those interested. Project: Emily Henderson Photo: Sara Ligorria-Tramp
5. Feature Ceilings
To achieve this modern country look, timber ceilings and exposed beams are essential. A flat plasterboard ceiling is just not going to give you all those refined rustic vibes. Of course, timber beams aren’t something you can just achieve buy from a store one in an afternoon. The existing architecture becomes really important when looking at this contemporary country look.
Left:: Everyone from The Fonz to Jerry Seinfeld loves a banquette seat situation but THIS takes it to new levels in the style department. That custom wicker banquette by Amber Interiors is just incredible. Topped with a leather seat pad and accompanied with an antique chair it’s pure perfection. Right: I challenge anyone to resist curling up with a good book and a cup of tea here. This living room by Amber Interiors just looks supremely comfortable and inviting.
Projects above: Amber Interiors Photo: Tessa Neustadt
Left: Palm Beach bedroom: There is a certain ‘princess’ appeal to a four-poster bed, however this gorgeous black steel version is anything but fluffy. Alexander & Co have combined textiles and finishes that are fit for a queen. Project: Alexander & Co Photo: Felix Forest
Right: : This loft bedroom is the definition of comfort and aesthetics. I just want to lie on that bed and roll off onto that lush rug and roll around, don’t you? Project: Emily Henderson Photo: Sara Ligorria-Tramp
6. A Word on Comfort
Creating true comfort in our homes seems obvious but comfort can be overlooked, as there are so many other requirements we’re considering. When creating a contemporary country look, comfort is at core of this look. Bring on the comfort and ease of banquette seating, plush linen sofas with *extra* cushions, and the cocooning feeling of sleeping in a four-post bed. Not only do we want to feel comfortable, we also want comfort on the eye. That’s why these spaces are harmonious, the colours are natural and aren’t jarring and everything makes sense.