The Complete Guide to Relaxed Country Interior Decorating

Architecturally, this style combines the best of distressed and contemporary elements.

Structural additions include exposed wooden beams, tongue and groove timber cladding, timeworn textural walls and richly detailed timber architraves and skirting boards.

These can be juxtaposed with simple French-style wall panelling, chalky painted walls, generous central fireplaces and cast iron bracket shelving with Fleur De Lis style corbels.

Photo source: Architectural Digest

Painted or original stripped timber floorboards are the primary flooring choices.

Alternatively, opt for natural stone, vintage checkerboard ceramic tiles or uneven classic flagstone flooring in kitchens and bathroom spaces.

These can be softened with runners and floor mats made from simple woven or ticking striped sisal and jute rugs, animal hides, or vintage style flat-weave area rugs in Persian, Aubusson, and Turkish designs.

These come in hues of soft peach, cream, muted red, pale blue, crimson, sand, and ecru.

Photo Source: Armadillo

For ambient lighting, nothing adds a feeling of country charm more than an oversize antique or vintage crystal glass drop, wood or rustic metal chandelier.

These sit comfortably alongside dome pendants crafted from natural materials of cane, rattan, raffia, or seagrass.

Alternatively, distressed enamel, bronze, brass, and glass ceiling pendants can add symmetry, form, and dimension to kitchen islands and dining rooms.

This style prioritises natural light and minimal window coverings.

When in use, window treatments include French-style painted timber shutters and simply hung curtains and roman blinds of cottons, flax sheer linens, or light-weight woven materials.

Fabric blinds are seen in plain soft neutrals, or patterns of ticking, toile, florals, or checks, which work to soften the rustic architectural elements.

Key pieces include a vintage leather armchair or studded chesterfield sofa, a trestle table, a chippy, timeworn painted sideboard, a rustic rattan rocking chair and a recycled timber farmhouse table with long bench seating.

Dining chairs, tables, desks and hutches can be French polished, stripped, painted in chalky neutrals or feature a mismatch of the three.

Storage furniture includes large built-in or freestanding kitchen cabinetry with open glass or closed shelving.

Examples include an oversize painted or stripped timber hutch, tallboy or a 2- or 3-part display cabinet.

Slipcovered washable armchairs and lounges are a primary feature of this style.

These can be nestled beside upholstered bay window seats and piled with feather-filled scatter cushions, creating the perfect nook for spending time with family and friends.

Large, vertical and arched mirrors with iron or wooden frames anchor entryways and fireplace mantels.

Smaller framed vintage still-life and landscape compositions are grouped together in kitchen and dining nooks or displayed as part of a vignette in the open shelving.

As always, adding something loved, something with lustre, and something living will energise and balance any room in the home.

Kitchenware decor includes vintage enamelware, chalky white ceramics, decorative baskets, large wooden chopping boards and zinc, glass or ceramic jugs and vessels to house seasonal blooms.

Ground the space with wall mounted rattan baskets or jute shopping bags, which can be filled with dried lavender, flowers, onion, garlic, or herbs.

Throughout the country home there is an abundance of fresh flora and foliage, with the aim of bringing the outside indoors.

Unstructured wild flowers, hydrangeas, Autumnal leaves, lichen covered branches, boxwood topiaries and fresh herbs are picked fresh from the garden.

These are displayed in old vessels, rattan baskets or hung to dry.

Lastly, berry and eucalyptus sprigs, flowering kale, freshly cut garden roses, lilac, and tulips can be tied and bound together with raffia for a fresh, unstructured floral display.

Photo Source: Leanne Ford