The faster cities grow and industry develops, the more people feel the need to escape from the daily noise, stress and chaos that have become indispensable companions of the pretentious concrete jungle, in which every day it is more and more difficult to breathe and feel life. Private houses on the outskirts of megacities or even beyond their borders become salvation.
Country style in architecture
The motto is “back to nature!” perfectly characterizes residential buildings in the country architectural style, which is currently at the peak of popularity, which indicates a lack of simplicity, warmth and comfort in people's lives. Country music is ideally suited for “therapy” of such conditions. For some, it’s enough to dress up in this style, while others radically change their lives and move to the countryside, where they embody the traditions of the most soulful direction of architecture in their own home.
Types of rural houses
Country style in the design of a wooden house includes several varieties.
There are Russian style (the characteristic features are a rectangular frame made of timber or logs), European (the walls are finished with light plaster), Spanish hacienda (lined with clay tiles, sometimes of different colors, and ceramic tiles), Scandinavian version (high ground floor, lined with stone, long roof overhangs), English (monumental facade preferably made of stone or red brick, symmetrical elements, presence of turrets), American (rectangular or L-shaped structure with large windows, presence of columns that play the role of decoration).
The French Provence style also belongs to the rustic style, but is usually distinguished as a separate direction of design art.
Story
The name “American country” itself appeared in the 20-30s. last century is what collectors call the style that grew out of early American farmhouses. Its popularity came half a century later - in the 1970s. during the technology boom. Cities became larger, the noise level increased - and residents went to relax outside the city, at least for the weekend.
Early American farmhouse style. The love for an open plan takes its roots from here.
Around this time, the era of the hippies was ending. The “flower children” grew up and made their own nests. Some of them chose the most environmentally friendly styles
, some prefer boho style, while others liked the spaciousness, naturalness and accessibility of country style. This is because country music is joy and celebration of nature, fresh air and freedom.
This style has a lot of typically American
: still the same open plan, love for massive furniture and large spaces in which it is easy to breathe. But enough features: let's take a closer look at them.
Features of country style houses
Despite the wide variety of country style houses, the rustic style has certain features that immediately set them apart from other houses.
These include the use of only natural materials, mainly wood, less often stone, some deliberate roughness of design, a low base that does not attract attention, small windows decorated with shutters on the outside and flowers inside, a gable roof with a large angle of inclination, which allows you to quickly get rid of precipitation in the form of rain and snow.
The attic space is used as a living room; sleeping areas or children's areas are often located here.
Simple and concise architecture will not require complex projects and a large investment of money, so country-style house designs are considered relatively inexpensive, which adds charm to them in the eyes of buyers.
A country-style country house will fit perfectly into any site, complementing it with its attractive exterior and the naturalness of the materials used.
The first floor is usually complemented by a veranda or terrace.
French country
Whether you have been to France or not, you probably imagine French country as something like a weathered barn among fields of lavender and friendly sun. French country is a mixture of elegance and modest simplicity. It provides an Old World aesthetic that is enhanced by the stability and presence of rustic finishes, timelessly attractive with sophistication in curves and details.
In French Country, there is a contrast between the ornate, intricate and elegant details and the rough, rustic, rough-hewn ones that serve as much of the style's charm.
Don't shy away from adding elegant fabric to the space by placing a wooden chest nearby.
Show off the scuffs, chips and grace of once elegant furniture. Use lantern-style pendants as lighting elements.
French style kitchen
French country is predominantly pastel, in several tones of a neutral palette. It has a lot in common with the Provence style, which is also the embodiment of the village life of the French countryside.
French country is popular around the world for its effortless elegance, splashes of color and accents of natural or rustic accessories. Decorating your home in French style won't cost you a fortune. In fact, you can use your creativity to repurpose existing furniture to create a delightful space.
Basics of French Country Decor
French country has a warm and comfortable feeling. When it comes to colors, it's best to stay on the warm side of the color spectrum, with colors that have medium to low intensity. Think about:
- soft yellow (the color of butter);
- warm pink;
- soft blue;
- creamy
The furnishings should have graceful and simple lines. French country style has a lot of painted furniture. Buying old, damaged furniture works well for this style. Wrought iron or rusty metal accents are also often included in this shabby chic look.
The fabrics are always thick, always relying on traditional fabric. You can keep it in stripes, checks or add wool - anything will do.
Kitchen
Tip There are many jars in the kitchen where basic food items are stored. Find old identical cans to duplicate the look. Add hand-drawn labels or print them on your home printer. For the walls, imitate the decor of old streets with their distinctive “Grocery” signs and such.
You can make your own signs. Just find craft stores that have inexpensive wall signs or metal signs. Use wrought iron stands to place pots or utensils with hooks for security.
Simple lines with accents
Dining room
For a traditional French Country dining room, choose distressed white single chairs and use a round wrought iron patio table or garden table for an inexpensive dining room.
You can also repaint your wood set or purchase a new one painted in pastel or natural wood tones.
Living room
Country houses should not be burdened with heavy drapery, as in the traditional style. Add openwork panel curtains to let the sun flood into the room while maintaining privacy. In front of the window, place a wrought iron bench with cushions for seating near the window.
Bright living room in light colors
Bedroom
An old iron garden gate would look great as a headboard if you're looking to add French Country style to your bedroom. Use an old metal garden bench at the end of the bed as a seating area . Dressers painted in warm, pastel colors, slightly distressed, will bring a feeling of comfort to the room.
Bathroom
Use wrought iron towel racks or antique wrought iron fruit bowls to hold towels. An old painted buffet under the sink works well here.
It's always nice to wake up in a bedroom like this
Color spectrum
Country style home design involves using natural colors to paint the facades. In principle, the exterior decoration of a country-style house does not require much effort; it will look great in the soft color of natural wood and stone, which adds special comfort and beauty to any type of building.
If you want to repaint the building, then preference is given to wood and coffee tones, olive, sunny yellow, eggplant, currant colors, and any pastel shades.
Exterior decor
Decorative plaster, wooden boards and panels, cast iron openwork parts, as well as decorative tiles and clay fragments are widely used for wall decoration. Each country style has its own decorative features for the exterior of the house, but what you definitely shouldn’t do in each case is to resort to glazing large areas, because this way the house will resemble an office building or a high-tech building.
Some tips for exterior decoration:
- the decor of the walls of the upper and lower floors should be different, with the exception of Provence;
- the decorative pattern of the end and front ones should also be different;
- the upper floor is decorated with tiles and lathing, the lower floor is decorated with brick, and the entire house is faced with stone except for the foundation;
- the corners are covered with the same material that was used to cover the base;
- wooden decorative elements should be the same color as the window frames, or darker;
- the tone of the walls should contrast with the color of decorative elements and window frames.
Interior decoration
The country style in the interior of a country house should fully correspond to its appearance.
Here, the floors are usually laid from solid boards, the walls are sheathed with wooden panels, plastered, painted or covered with paper wallpaper.
The ceilings shine with white plaster or paint, high rooms are decorated with wood from clapboards, boards, open ceilings and beams are left, contrasting the white fabric of the ceiling slabs.
Standard windows are decorated with light curtains that let in the maximum amount of natural color. The curtains themselves can be matched to the tone of the wall decoration or create a contrast with them, drawing attention to the cozy wooden window sills.
Garden decoration
Gazebos and outbuildings are decorated in the same style.
A wattle fence, instead of a fence, and clay figures to decorate the garden will look original. Paths made of brick or wooden flooring will look great.
Country style is diverse, the abundance of details only adds harmony. Antique collections, rare furniture, and amber trinkets coexist comfortably here.
If you prefer this style, it's worth ordering a project or trying to recreate it yourself.
Lighting
The photos of country-style houses show that to create an attractive design, you will need to create a good lighting system.
Since panoramic glazing is not very welcome in the rustic style, most of the light flux will have to be obtained from artificial lamps.
Chandeliers and sconces are chosen in an antique style; imitation candles and candelabra, forged and wooden bases, rag and paper lampshades will help create an antique atmosphere.
What is country music?
Country is a philosophy of a measured way of life that developed in a particular country. In Russian, this is a rustic style. Many trends in design have been developed, called French and English country. There is country modern, Russian rustic style also exists.
However, in Russia, country music is seen more in the American tradition of the times of colonization and the beginning of the New World, when a new view of decor and amenities was formed. In this respect it is very similar to Rustic, but not as harsh and authentic. Unlike rustic, country has retained some sophistication and even elegance.
The interior should reflect the simplicity of the village way of life
Having undergone countless influences and assimilations from designers around the world over the years, country has evolved into an umbrella term encompassing American, English and French styles.
Design principles
Key trends include painted and unpainted wood furniture, quilts, baskets, folk art, handmade rugs. It's a welcoming, livable approach to decorating that helped develop a new enthusiasm for antiques, flea markets and branded items that is evident in the style today.
However, nowadays the approach to country style has changed somewhat towards more sophistication, but the value of handcrafted items, well-designed furniture and accessories remains and expands with each generation.
Country style is a philosophy of a measured lifestyle
The following items have found their place in country music:
- rustic Adirondack chairs;
- patchwork quilts and rugs;
- Atlantic style garden furniture;
- porcelain from the early 19th century.
Ingredients vary by many factors, such as personal taste and region. But every country room in your home will radiate a comfortable, relaxing aura if it is done in a country style where all the items have been lovingly assembled over time.
Colors
Country is adaptable. Create warm, cozy rooms in colors such as:
- red;
- yellow;
- dark green;
- grey;
- buttermilk;
- rust;
- straw.
Warm and cozy style
Go for neutral walls with trim done in colorful colors such as blue and wine red. For a modern country look, especially in a small space, paint your room's walls, trim and ceiling a cream or soft white.
Floors
Go for polished wood floors that reflect light and show the grain, or paint the floors in a so-called "diamond" pattern, which is a classic design example of the 18th and 19th centuries. Available in a variety of wood types, prefinished wood floors are a modern alternative for high-traffic areas such as kitchens and living rooms. Rugs, woven rugs and thick rag rugs will add a new level of interest.
Make polished wood floors
Textile
Let the breeze blow along the edges of simple curtains in romantic shades. Roman blinds or short curtains made from natural fabrics such as cotton, linen and wool are desirable. From seat cushions to table napkins, find simple, custom "loom" patterns that work best. For example, look to checkered or striped throws in shades like turquoise, lime green and creamy yellow.
Furniture
The decor of the style is low key but welcoming to friends and family. Sofas and chairs should be designed to last for years of use. Dining tables should be spacious enough to accommodate all relatives. Beds should be kept simple, with folded blankets and pillows in winter, open to fresh cotton sheets in summer.
The style is discreet
Kitchen
Choose distinctive accessories such as quilts, baskets, hand-carved toys, as well as tableware, all kinds of carved flat plates and jugs. Open shelving or high panel cabinets, a mix of glass and solid doors together, or a mix of wood and painted cabinets will keep the kitchen dynamic.
Tip Display your collection of black metal or cast iron pans or copper cookware by keeping them separate.
Kitchen option in this version
Bath
When it comes to bathtubs, clawfoot bathtubs and antique-style sinks are widely available today. A standard white bathtub covered with tongue-and-groove panels is also appropriate.
Invest in ceramic tiles made from durable raw materials, such as quality porcelain tiles. Use a checkerboard pattern on walls and floors. Include shaker-style storage for towels and robes—wooden hiding places for everyday toiletries. When night falls, light the candles in the wrought iron chandelier.
Country music is a celebration of simplicity.
Clawfoot bathtub - the highlight of the bathroom
Interior colors
For decoration, calm colors are used that echo the natural tones of the surrounding landscape. There should be no bright colors or metallic accents in the premises of a “country house”. The entire setting is aimed at creating an atmosphere of peace, diluted with bright objects that bring joy with their rich colors.
The optimal colors are yellow and brown, olive and light green, gray and white tones. Blue and dark red elements serve as accents.
What does style mean, history of origin
The period of existence of the style corresponds to village housing. Country in translation has two meanings: “village” and “country”. The style is considered rustic. In each country it has its own characteristics associated with the traditions of the local people. Russian country will be different from American or European. However, the official date of birth of the architectural style is considered to be the 70s of the last century. It was at this time that country music began to be used in the construction of houses in the United States. Gradually the style spread throughout Europe and migrated to our country.
Decor and furniture
A feature of the village house was the abundance of decorative elements. Their role will be played by various rugs, napkins, baskets, boxes, antique dolls and other toys.
All these items can be purchased somewhere at flea markets, especially if you choose the Russian design option, or you can make them yourself. The decor should be completely oriented towards the traditions of the chosen design style.
The furniture is selected from natural wood. Old items taken from grandma's attics and old dachas will fit well into a rustic interior. Self-made tables, benches, chairs, and chests of drawers look great.
If higher powers do not provide handicraft talent, then they use the most simple furniture, not burdened with unnecessary decor. To give it an authentic look, it is artificially aged or additionally painted in light shades.
Upholstered furniture is selected in massive shapes with cozy pillows that promise a comfortable rest. The best color options are floral motifs, stripes or checks.
Recommendations
Knowing all these signs, it will not be difficult to decorate your home in a suitable way. At the same time, it is important to take into account a few more mandatory recommendations for decor:
- All wooden parts are painted the same colors.
- If the building has two or more floors, then the decoration of different levels should be different - the first level is decorated with one material, and the second with another.
- Usually the front wall differs in decor from the side ones.
- If the base is finished with stone, tiles or wood, then all corners of the building should also be finished with this particular material.
Appliances
Even a rural house cannot live without modern household appliances. But to create a style, you will have to choose the most minimalist designs, hide them behind the fronts of cabinets, and put them in special wooden frames.
A rural house attracts with its coziness, comfortable living, warmth of materials, soft colors that will remind you of a carefree vacation, help relieve the stress of big cities and find peace of mind.
