Featuring lines and styles originally found in the countryside of Europe or the pioneerng days of America's mid west, Cottage style design is very popular today. With a warm and cozy feel, the richness of colour with natural timbers takes you back to the old world charm of yester-year and the ambiance of country cooking and an old rocking chair.

Colours

'Cottage' themed interiors traditionally feature a combination of natural earthy and natural textures including rustic woods and fabric in brown, taupe, gold, cream and pure white. Complimentary bursts of colour can be found on a feature wall, in accessories such as a striking floor rug or a period piece of art.  The look and feel of 'Cottage' colours can be drawn from simplier times often inspired from Europe's countryside or America's pioneering days.

Furniture

'Cottage' furniture proudly shows the craftmanship of the time with clean lines and smooth surfaces, often dispensing with heavily carved pieces so often seen in previous period styles. Materials used in 'Cottage' furniture include light-coloured woods such as pine which are known for their light grained texture and easy of turning.  Accessories or feature material on furniture are often made of frosted or clear glass and metals such as nickle, chrome or stainless steel depending on the furniture's origin.  'Cottage' furniture is designed to be built with 'purpose' in mind.

Fabrics

Furniture covering fabrics used in 'Cottage' interiors are primarily natural fabrics such as wool, linen, and cotton which, in their natural form, provide the perfect textural apect to the clean wood furniture lines.   Wool, linen and cotton are also used for their inherent neutral hues. To build on the colour of a room, bold colour or geometric pattern may be introduced through the use of curtains, pillows, floor rugs or other furniture coverings.

Lighting

So as not to distract from the warmth of the room created by the furniture and colour, lighting should be subtle and considered a true accessory to the room. Lighting is used to draw the eye to a particular piece or place within the room rather than for the more modern practicalities of other styles.  The use of ceramic lamps and shades is common in 'Cottage' design as is the use of filtered window light.

Things to remember when working with 'Cottage' style interior design:

• Natural/neutral materials and colours are the foundation platform
• Use accessories with colour and patterns to compliment furniture choice
• Subtle lighting choices such as lamps and filtered shades enhancesthe ambiance of the room
• Warm, Inviting, Comfy are words that should spring to mind when selecting any aspect of furniture or accessory to build on your 'Cottage' style interior design
• If you can manage an open fire .... your room will be complete