interior design blog

The new comfy, cozy rustic styles are trending but can be very confusing. Is farmhouse the new Shabby? Isn’t organic the same as rustic? What is woodsy? What is modern farmhouse? How can I add just a touch of rustic? Can I mix vintage with everything? I get these questions all the time!

Confused? I can tell you what you are probably doing wrong…..Don’t pick just one style….How boring would that be? Plus when you limit yourself and focus on just one exact style, it’s actually harder to pull off!  That’s when you usually call me in to fix it, which is great, but you can do it yourself, really! Mix it up, pick at least 2 or 3 styles you like and start in. Don’t be intimidated.  How many times have you seen a room in a magazine where you thought, “Oh, I like this but I wouldn’t have done that, or put that there”.  I know I have a million times. But someone else loves that room! That’s the best part about being unique with your own style… it is your unique style and there is no way everyone is going to love it, but you do.

I love that my style is a crazy mix of many things:  Farmhouse, rustic, reclaimed, repurposed, boho, vintage, ranch, industrial, cottage, shabby with a touch of chic and a hint of modern. The blunt version:  flea market finds, DIY projects, wood and a few modern conveniences.  I love a room that has character, is lived in, has a cozy feel and reflects who I am the moment you walk in.  Yes, I have a thing for anything distressed because it has a story, has been a little abused, and is in need of some TLC. The best part…..it’s my unique style.

Growing up we lived in every inch of our house and we didn’t have that room that was off limits except for holidays.  There were always a few scratches and dings on the furniture and an eclectic mix of furniture pieces, some bought and some inherited that were one of a kind. In full disclosure most of the scratches and dings did come from me as a child! Back then a wreath or dried flowers was considered “rustic”, and many would have things refinished so they were perfect again. However, today we pay top dollar for all that furniture with imperfections and it’s the “new rustic”. Who would have ever thought? I love all things distressed and like to rescue furniture as much as I like to rescue animals.

My advice to you, don’t get hung up on styles or names. My rustic might be your organic but we share the same style vision so who cares what it’s called…it’s your own unique style and you can mix anything and call it whatever you would like! That’s what you’re missing and that’s what you will be happy with. If you’re looking for your wow factor, what draws attention is your unique style, not the same thing everyone else has. Years ago we called it eclectic, which was the fancy word for mismatched. Maybe different chairs at a table, at a table, colors, or opposing textile styles.

Mismatched fashion is huge right now. I can grab anything out of my closet whether it matches or not and look like I spent hours pulling it all together!  That’s what you can do when you start mixing styles. Graphic designers, interior designers, fashion designers, magazines, social media posts always mix up styles and make it their own to create interest and to give you something new and interesting that you haven’t seen.