COUNTRY CHIC, BY THE COUNTRY CHICK .... (THAT·S ME!)

THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE INTO THE COUNTRY LOOK HAS A DREAM OF WHAT YOUR PERFECT COUNTRY HOUSE SHOULD LOOK LIKE: WARM AND INVITING WITH A SENSE OF COMFORT AND STYLE THAT COMES NATURALLY.
THERE ARE NO BOUNDARIES TO THIS DECORATING STYLE.
IT'S AS APPROPRIATE FOR A LAKESIDE CABIN AS IT IS FOR A NEW YORK TOWNHOUSE, A GARDENERS COTTAGE, OR A CALIFORNIA BUNGALOW.
THE FOCUS IS TRULY ON YOUR PERSONAL STYLE WHICH GIVES YOUR HOME IT'S UNIQUE LOOK. MIXING AND MATCHING COLORS, MATERIALS, AND FURNISHINGS; THE OLD WITH
THE NEW, FINE ANTIQUES WITH WONDERFUL "FINDS", SHOWS YOUR DECORATING SENSE. ONE OR TWO INTERESTING COLLECTIBLES CAN TRANSFORM A ROOM INTO A PERSONAL SPACE.
THE HEART OF A COUNTRY HOME IS THAT IT'S COMFORTABLE FOR THOSE WHO LIVE THERE AND EMBRACES THOSE WHO VISIT. EVEN IF YOU LIVE IN THE CITY, THE MOST URBAN HOME CAN HAVE COUNTRY ALLURE.
THE USE OF COLOR FOR COUNTRY STYLE IS A COLOR PALETTE OF NATURAL PIGMENTS AND DYES;(THINK EARTHY). MONOCHROMATIC COLOR SCHEMES WORK BEST IN A ROOM WHERE YOU WANT TO UNWIND, VARIANT SHADES OF THE SAME COLOR WILL GIVE YOUR ROOM SOOTHING VISUAL INTEREST WITHOUT DISTURBING ITS CALMNESS.
FABRICS ARE ALSO NATURAL: LINENS, WOOLS, COTTONS ALL OF THESE HAVE A HOMESPUN QUALITY.
WEATHERED WOOD AND STONE ARE ALSO NATURAL MATERIALS THAT GIVES A COUNTRY HOME APPEAL. EVERYTHING IN MY HOME IS THERE BECAUSE I LOVE IT, NOT BECAUSE IT'S FASHIONABLE OR BECAUSE I NEED IT. I ALSO I DON'T BUY ANYTHING THAT I WOULDN'T PUT IN MY OWN HOME; IF SOMEONE WANTS MY KITCHEN TABLE, THEN I'LL SELL IT; AND I WON'T HESITATE TO PULL SOMETHING OUT OF MY HOME TO FURNISH A CLIENTS WHEN I DO ROOM REDOS. SOME THINGS IN MY HOME HAVE PRICE TAGS ON THEM FOR THAT VISITOR WHO DROPS BY AND NEEDS SOMETHING FOR THEIR SELF OR A GIFT FOR SOMEONE ELSE. BY USING MY HOME AS A SHOWROOM IT GIVES PEOPLE AN IDEA OF HOW IT CAN BE DISPLAYED.
MOST OF ALL WHEN DECORATING WITH ANY STYLE, YOU NEED TO HAVE A LITTLE FUN AND INJECT HUMOR INTO YOUR HOME; AS I DO IN MY OFFICE WITH A SIGN THAT READS: "I'M A SCHIZOPHRENIC AND SO AM I"! SOME THINGS IN LIFE YOU HAVE TO TAKE SERIOUSLY. HOME DECORATING ISN'T ONE OF THEM!



CALM COUNTRY LIVING IS THE HEART OF SHABBY CHIC COUNTRY STYLE OR "SHABBY CHEAP" AS I CALL IT. SUBDUED DECORATION, WORN AND PEELING PAINT, FADED FABRICS, AND TATTERED LACE EVOKE AN EARLIER ERA.
ELEMENTS OF SHABBY CHIC: *AN ANTIQUE GAS STOVE *GLASS DOORKNOBS
* WOODEN TRUNKS AND AN IRONING BOARD IN THE KITCHEN SERVES DOUBLE DUTY AS A SHELF WHEN NOT IN USE.
* AN OLD RAKE HEAD HUNG ON THE WALL, SERVES AS A UTENSIL RACK FOR HANGING ITEMS.
* VINTAGE BUTTONS IN A JAR OR FRAMED.
A WEATHERED WHITEWASH FENCE.
* COBBLESTONE PATHWAYS THAT LEAD TO THE GARDEN.
* HANG A LARGE WREATH ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE HOUSE. '" OLD METAL WASHTUBS CAN BE STUFFED WITH PLANTS AND HERBS.
* "SHABBY" STYLE BIRDHOUSES IN THE GARDEN ADD A TOUCH OF WHIMSY.
* A ROCKER ON THE PORCH IS A FRIENDLY GREETING.
SIMPLE COUNTRY IS FARM FRESH AND COMFORTABLE WITH HANDCRAFTED AND FOLK ART ITEMS. TIN WARE, HOOKED RUGS, PILLOWS AND QUILTS. THIS STYLE CAN BE WORLDLY AND DELICATE WITH CHINTZ, CHECKS AND PLAIDS .IT CAN ALSO BE DOWN-HOME OR RUSTIC.
ELEMENTS OF SIMPLE COUNTRY:
* CRINKLE BROWN WRAPPING PAPER OR TAKE APART GROCERY BAGS AND USE AS WALL PAPER , THEN SPONGE PAINT.
* BOXES, TINS AND RUSTIC STYLE CANDLES ON SHELVES.
'* USE VINTAGE PICKLE JARS OR AN OLD CROCK TO HOLD KITCHEN BAKING UTENSILS.
AS WITH ALL DECORATING ASPECTS RELAX AND HAVE FUN!