Embrace your COUNTRY

My living room that has been opened up to my family room

I"M A LITTLE BIT COUNTRY, I"M A LITTLE BIT ROCK AND ROLL.....

So goes the song by Donnie and Marie Osmond.  It resonates with me a bit.  As a designer, I was told awhile ago that "country" wasn't really in anymore...I took a bit of umbrage towards that statement.  I've always been a bit country in my design.  Going on 24 years of marriage, I started out with many pieces that were either purchased or inherited and if you've read my blog for awhile, you'll see that my husband is someone who thinks that unless something is broke, you don't replace it.  So, I've added contrast to most of my rooms and tried to tweak some of the things that I could easily tweak.  Matt and I decided to open up the room from my living room to my family room.  We took out the pocket doors (that never worked properly) and removed about a foot of wall on each side of the opening; just enough to make the room appear as one large space, but not enough to have to add expensive beams for support (as this is a supporting wall).  My hope was that our beautiful living room would be enjoyed and used.  It was one of those spaces that no-one ever went in.. I added the Holly Alderman lithograph, framed by my amazing framer Peter, owner of Fast frame on East berkley street in Boston.  The piece is such a great contrast to my super white (Ben Moore) flat walls and Satin Impervo glossy trim.  My next plan is to have my british colonial chairs painted a dull black.. I'd like to replace them but as Matt says, " if they aint broke" (actually, he doesn't say that but I think it would be a lost cost solution) and they really are beautiful.

Photo Eric Roth


I moved the modern white bureau to another room and added the piece above.

Our family/living room from another angle.  Many contrasts (wood and metal...shiny and dull...black and white...leather and upholstery).


Here is a space that works for us.  The gorgeous piano; inherited from Matt's grandmother takes center stage.  I've tried to add similar elements to both areas, like the pottery Barn heathered chenille rug ( I've actually order two from Merida Rug that are larger, but have amazing texture)  I've pulled  black into both spaces with frames, lights, mirrors, art work.  And that gorgeous green that you see on the leather with pillows has been added as a throw in the living room and  with several accents.  Being "Country" can work with any style of decorating.  I added contrasts to many of the rooms with contemporary, clean lined accents and furnishings.  Because everything is so simple ,  it works.  We also changed out our family room sliders and added these beautiful, true divided french doors .  The piece to the left was once in our bathroom and now adds clean and simple lines ( it's the image above...i am so bad with the computer...sorry).

view from the kitchen, we added hardwood to the family room years ago  and although I wished it all went the same direction, I love the warmth it adds and is SOOOOOOOO low maintenance.

The Thomas O' brien Hicks pendant is one of my favorite additions.  Talk about contrasts, my farmhouse table could not be more "country" and the Hicks pendant could definitely be considered "modern" but it works so well together .

My good friend Chuck Hrenchuk (contractor to the stars, owner of  Attention to detail),  made me the gorgeous black framed bulletin board in my mud room area..

My dining room stayed the same however, I'm thinking of spraying my wicker chairs black and adding a new light fixture.

My stairs have a new runner and I'm having the railings painted black.  The walls have become a gallery of sorts for me.  Important photographs, kids art work, letters are all framed and grouped together.

And lastly, I need to give a shout out to my modern, country beautiful puppy, Stella.  She's made an amazing difference in our lives , we miss Lilly dearly but love Stella's energy and personality.  

Beautiful Stella

So, as the song goes,  you can be a "Little bit Country and a Little bit "what-ever it is you like.  The only person it has to matter to is you (and maybe your partner..yes definitely your partner..looking to make 25 years).
All my best, kelly