A Vermont home - full of nature and autumn inspiration

This home is featured in the most recent issue of Country Living - and I really like it.  It's country but not too sweet, and nature-inspired, but does it in a unique way.  See below-

What initially attracted me to this story was the homeowner - Laura Zindel's amazing earthy ceramics. Perfect for Halloween! You can purchase and/or read more about her ceramics on her site.

Laura and her husband commissioned Amish craftsmen to make all the furniture in their dining room

The home has a an interesting history. The original owner supposedly turned down many potential buyers.  He kept meticulous records of the home, and wanted the new owners to respect it's history.  One such example is the wallpaper in the master bedroom, which was installed by the original owner's (an elderly man) mother.  Laura livened up the wallpaper with sunny curtains from Anthropologie.

via Country Living

Gorgeous farmhouse modern in Chicago

This home is a great example of how one can do a modern interior and still keep it warm. All of the lovely, dark hardwoods keep it cozy, but the hard edges and careful editing keep it very zen.

What do you think?

Amazing window!


Love their entryway

A farmhouse table mixed with modern chairs keeps both rustic and modernity in check.

I'm a big fan of large mirrors leaning against the wall. It's luxurious but not stuffy.



via Rue Magazine

Creating a space with whites/neutrals, and dark accents

So reader Cynthia wrote me with a question regarding her bedroom suite and using it to create the look she's going for:

"We are in the process of moving into our new house and I was wondering if you could help us with the decoration of our bedroom? We have an antique white colour bedroom suite (same as the photo attached but the only difference is ours is antique white in colour).

We would like our room to be cosy and elegant,with loads of neutral colour and loads of dark wood. Our main inspiration is from the house in "Something's Gotta Give". We are just worried that it might look out of place with the white bedroom suite and that would throw the whole scheme off.."

Here is the style of her bedroom suite - but her's is antique white.

Here are shots from the home in "Something's Gotta Give, " to get an idea of the look she's going for


So lots of neutrals, creams, and dark wood accents. The floors are also a dark wood.
Movie shots via Hooked on Houses

Pretty much, I think the look Cynthia is going for is totally possible with the white bedroom suite that she already has. The important thing is to keep in mind the proportion of lights and darks when decorating the space. So Cynthia might want to balance out her white bedroom suite with some furniture pieces in dark wood - such as lamps, a side table, chair, etc.

This room has white furnishings but dark wood beams and a dark piano.
via Living Better Together

The white furniture in this room is kept from being too matchy-matchy be the addition of the brown leather chair.
via House to Home




3 above via DecorPad

via Ideal Home
The three images above all display a casual balance or white and/or neutrals, and dark woods.

This room is a mix of so many styles but still gorgeous
via DecorPad


via The Lennoxx


The four images above illustrate how even with dark walls white furnishings can be integrated with dark wood; just make sure you supply adequate lighting.
2 above via CocoCozy


Well, I hope I was some help Cynthia - or atleast provided some eye candy. If anyone else has some advice for Cynthia please comment!

A cabin retreat in Denmark - to rough for you or just right?

ahhh...that hot tub might just make it just right for me...


What do you think? Could you live in this cabin full time - or just a week?
via indenfor & udenfor

A "Belgian" rustic cottage with modern elegance

I'm not sure what "Belgian Rustic" means, but whatever it is I like it!
The dark wood timbers mixed with lighter neutrals is a palette I've always liked, and the nod to nature and a rustic "tied-to-the-earth" aesthetic is relaxing and homey.







Great sculpture!




Love this wooden armoire.


via Lonny Mag

Reader Question: Decorating a Tudor dining room?

Laura emailed me one of my most challenging questions to date when she wrote

"Any ideas about redecorating a dining room in an English Tudor home? My husband is an architect & engineer and thank goodness, a very handy man! We mostly do everything ourselves. We agree it is important to stay with the style of our home. Any ideas for a dining room?"

Everything I "know" from the Tudors comes from Philippa Gregory novels and Showtime's program. "Tudor style" does conjure images in my head of dark, decorative half-timbering, lush colors and fabrics, and lots of texture. I found an article by Meghan Carter on Ask the Decorator who toured Stan Hywet Hall, one of the best examples of Tudor architecture in America.

She writes, "Wood paneling, wood doors, wood furniture and wood beams on the ceiling were just a few of the more prominent uses of wood in the home, and Gilles confirmed that those uses of were common in most Tudor homes. In addition to wood, stone was used frequently as flooring and hearths and white plaster was used on the walls and ceilings."

A beautiful example of a tudor exterior.
via Southern Accents

For me, I also think of dark woods, very saturated colors and plush fabrics.


This dining set is from Pottery Barn, and it isn't "tudor," but the top table's legs remind me of the timbering used on exteriors.
via Pottery Barn


The two images above Met home created using Showtime's "The Tudors" as an inspiration. See the whole gallery here.
via Metropolitan Home

The four images below are all from a Tudor revival, so if you don't want to go for the traditional, dark wood, dark walls, etc., this revival might give you some ideas for combining Tudor style with a lighter, airier look.





See the whole revival and read about it here.
via House Trends

via Home Trimmings

Mixing your finishes and materials ads to the rich and sumptuous environment

I've always really liked this house from Country Living, and I think it's a good example of "modernizing" Tudor style. The furniture is visually and physically heavy and dark, but the decor is contrasting and the room is sparse and minimal. See the whole renovation here.
via Country Living

via Apartment Therapy

The article continues with some other good points:

"The use of tapestries, rugs and drapes soften the look of the hearty wood and stone giving Tudor homes an inviting, cozy feel you would not expect. In addition to fabric, Tudor homes incorporated numerous symbols, which also helped to give the interiors a softer more pleasant appeal.

Common symbols used in Tudor homes were the Tudor rose, the thistle, the Fleur-de-lis and the linen fold, as Gilles informed me. Those symbols would be found carved into the wood moldings and furniture, woven into tapestries and rugs and featured in stained glass. Another element featured often in Tudor homes that is easy to spot is the Tudor arch, which was used on both windows and doors.

The combination of stone, wood, white plaster, tapestries, rugs, symbols and the Tudor arch give Tudor homes a distinct feel that is part storybook...."
Read the whole article here

If anyone knows of any books or websites to steer Laura towards please leave a comment below or email me and I'll send them her way!