apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I think layering multiple natural textures and colors are key, but simplicity in the style of furniture, whether antique or contemporary, are very important as well.

does anyone know where i can find similar black ceraemic lamps?

I would add that the key to this look is to make the room look like it has evolved over time and put unexpected elements in to keep it interesting yet simple.

I love it! This is me.

love this. just took that quiz
44% Cottage Chic
33% Rustic Revival
23% Vintage Modern


I am actually trying to do a mix of all three.

I like it very much. I would probably not use the variety of horn collections....but the rest is cool.

I always come up with rustic revival when i do that quiz. I love the look, but I have to admit I don't like raw wood. Most of my wood is painted with only the centerpiece of the room a stained wood.

Does anyone know where the mesh cocktail table with the glass top is from? Or something similar.

Love all of the above, and also love plastic and reflective surfaces - forest meets Barbie, I guess.

Wow, I love this decorating style, but had never heard it characterized that way. Now I'll have a term to use when I maybe, someday, hopefully can hire a designer or afford to buy things, rather than have my design be dictated by what's in my rental, IKEA, and what hand-me-downs I get (though I I'm grateful to get them!).

In the meantime, I agree with baileyb! When will the dead animal horns, the tongue-in-cheek deer mounts, random objet under bell jars, and the birds, nests, etc. go away? While I'm all for the sentimental piece of driftwood, rock, or shell, etc., most of this artfully (or not so artfully) arranged junk seems so contrived....

I like stuff a bit natural/rustic, in that I like old stuff and natural materials, but I'm not a fan of any sort of dead animal parts (whether "rustic" looking or mod/contemporary). Gross.

Contemporary and rustic are two words that should not go together or two styles that should not go together for that matter.

Contemporary is not a style. It simply means what's happening right now. In the 60's, gold and avocado appliances were contemporary. In the 1700's, Federal Revival was contemporary. If rustic/natural is what's happening now, it is by definition contemporary.

I specially like the painted floors in the last two pics. I know most people feel wood should be stained, but painted floors seem so romantic and different. Also love the large pieces of pottery in the second picture! they seem to be the contemporaty touch in that room.

I disagree that "rustic contemporary" needs to be all neutral colors. For me, at least (and I think I'm part rustic, part vintage modern?), I think the defining characteristics are simple, clean lines in furniture, unpainted (but possibly stained) wood, and natural elements. (I agree with the others about the animal parts, though.)

I am a bit surprised to not find any greenery in something called "Rustic", but I guess Rustic doesn't imply outdoorsy. Does Rustic really require all that neutrality? If I could restrain myself, my home would resemble this; I find it soothing. I'm doomed to living in environments of too much color (is there such a thing?) where my sense of humor leaks out.