Dear AT:SF:
We are building a house in a mountain town (yay!) and are looking for interior design ideas that are contemporary with a "nod" to the mountain setting. To me, that would mean simple, organic, natural and open, with materials such as reclaimed wood, stone, leather and maybe some un-shiny metal. . .
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. . .Are there any books, magazines or web sites I can look to for inspiration? Western Interiors and Design and dwell are sometimes useful. For the most part, though, I'm finding that "alpine contemporary" usually involves log furniture, maybe a black hammered-metal chandelier, and snowshoes, animal skins, and blankets on the walls.
I would love any ideas or suggestions of design elements/materials/colours that make you think of a mountain life that's not necessarily taking place in a hunting lodge.
Thank you!
Kim
PS. I'd send a picture of an example interior, but so far I've only found the don'ts and not the do's. Here's a mountain instead...
Kim,
We immediately thought of Ros Byam Shaw's book, Naturally Modern: Creating Interiors with Wood, Leather, Stone, and Natural Fabrics.
Anyone else?
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Well, this might either seem obvious or just not what you were thinking of, but how about looking at some Frank Lloyd Wright? He excelled at situating a house in it's landscape, using natural materials, windows for light to bring the outside in, etc.
One book to check out is Wright Style: Recreating the Spirit of FLW by Carla Lind. The link is too long to post, but you can find it on Amazon.
I like Maryja's idea. That way, you really showcase some of the materials, rather than their rusticity (not sure if that's a word). Also, then you can incorporate more modern elements too, if you want.
I higly recommend some of Ralph Lauren's decorating ideas. He has created some sleek, sexy mountain get-aways in ads and his stores that were modern and clean without every relying on that cliched and boring "alpine-look."
Good Luck....sounds fun!
The Aspen restaurant in New York would be a great model.
http://www.aspen-nyc.com/decor.php
i'm 100% on the Frank Lloyd Wright idea too. A good example would be Falling Water house he built and it's literally built around a huge boulder that's actually part of the house itself.
I went with that contemporary/modern design and just placed it in the mountains, beside a stream etc. He's not the only one but it can be done quite easily.
I can invision a mid to late 60's through 70's era modern house, repleat with the requisit pop/op modern furnishings set in the woods or mountain and having it fit in nicely as long as it's designed with the location in mind by leaving the outside of it natural.
I just bought a beautiful book (called Superb Cabins) that showcases cabins in modern styles (most with small square footage). Not all of the examples include furniture, but it gives a good idea of spare, nature-oriented dwellings. Here's the amazon link:
http://tinyurl.com/2u96ng
You might look at Fay Jones' work, too.