Stratford-upon-Avon Living Jan - Feb 2021

image from Studio McGee
DECOR HOW TO:
THE MODERN RUSTIC AESTHETIC
What do you get when you mix
mid-century modern furniture with
rustic materials and accents? A
perfectly modern rustic look! Kate,
the founder of online homewares
company Haus, delves into how you
can achieve the look in your home.
New to modern rustic style? You’ve
probably seen it before and just
didn’t know what to call it. It involves
comfortable but streamlined furniture,
natural elements, earth tones, and
reliance on rustic materials and decor.
This style is all over Instagram and
Pinterest, and brilliant designers like
Amber Interiors and Studio McGee often
design rooms that you could easily say
are of this style.
Comfortable foundations
Comfort is key with this look. So, the
largest pieces of furniture in any modern
rustic room should be streamlined
but never skimp on comfort. In living
rooms, start with cosy oversized sofas.
In bedrooms, opt for plush, upholstered
beds. For a dining room, look for an
oversized, rustic wood dining table
around which big groups can gather.
But, while prioritizing comfort, make sure
the furniture lines are clean and simple to
keep the look modern.
Add Mid-Century Modern
Accents
Once the comfortable foundation is
laid, introduce a more mid-century or
eclectic vibe. At first it may seem odd
to mix these styles—but the contrast
they create is what makes this look so
dynamic and fun.
An easy place to do this is with your
accent furniture. Think of an eclectic
woven leather armchair or a coffee or
bedside table with an antique flair. In
dining rooms, pair your farmhouse dining
table with more modern seating, like
Wishbone or Eames shell chairs.
Create Conversational
Layouts
A family-friendly style by nature,
modern rustic interiors often have more
symmetrical layouts that are geared
toward large gatherings and facilitate
conversations. (Hence the huge, rustic
dining table we suggested above.) This
is where the look leans more rustic and
formal rather than modern and eclectic.
Layer on Natural
Textures
When bringing the modern
rustic style to life, we love
the opportunity to play
with textures and different
materials. This keeps a
room looking liveable and
approachable. Look for natural
materials like seagrass, jute,
ceramics, leather, and liveedge
woods—then mix and
match them together in one
space, incorporating them
in furniture, lighting, and decor accents!
This helps the room feel dynamic and
visually interesting
We love introducing lots of texture with
soft furnishings too - think of fringing
and tufts plus artisanal products like the
gorgeously tactile mudcloth cushions,
with their handwoven texture and
abundance of prints and patterns.
Introduce Industrial
Lighting
With modern rustic, light fixtures are
often industrial with sleek, streamlined
forms that are sculptural in nature. Look
for matte black or antique brass options,
or even rattan and include multi-level
light sources.
Shop the range of artisanal
homewares at www.hauslife.co.uk
Fox Club Chair,
£870, limelace.co.uk
Tray, £40, sweetpeaandwillow.com
22 | www.stratforduponavonliving.co.uk