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Design Tips and Trends,Featured,It's All in the Details,Western Style

Whiteout Conditions

Whiteout Conditions-How to use white in design if you live in the mountains

Image via Architectural Digest

We all know that trends have a way of coming back around.  For better or for worse, the things we think we’ve left behind tend to constantly resurface in the present.  This holds true in every aspect of culture, and interior design is no exception.  Recently, we have seen all white decorating make it’s comeback.  From shabby-chic to super-elegant, living room, to bedroom to kitchen, interior design trends are experiencing a whiteout.

Well, we live in the mountains.

In the mountains, you can’t just slap a coat of whitewash up on the walls and reupholster the furniture in stark white.  Why?  Because Colorado winters already provide more white than just about anyone is prepared to deal with.  We currently have 136 inches of white here in Steamboat Springs, and while the idea of having a chic white interior may sound exciting, you’ll find that if you live anywhere that it snows for a significant chunk of the year, the results of this color shift will be underwhelming.  In our neck of the woods, it’s important to make warmth a central factor in design.  This doesn’t have as much to do with where we place the heaters as it does with the colors, textures and materials that we use when creating spaces.

But if you are over the moon about this trend, and if, like us, you are a ski town-dweller, you don’t have to just suffer through it and resign yourself to using only colors from the rainbow.  You CAN use white in your interior design, you just have to be a little bit more cautious and subtle about it.

Following these VERY IMPORTANT tips will ensure that you can stay current in your mountain retreat without creating the feeling that you live in an igloo.

1.  Avoid using entirely 100% white.

Experiment with different shades of white, like off-whites, eggshells and ivories.  Subtracting even minutely from stark white will warm your room up exponentially, while still giving you the look you are going for.

Image via Houzz

Image via A Bohemian Life

2.  Add some rustic touches.

Think less shabby-chic and more rugged-elegant.  Beams, logs, and wood floors go a long way in making mountain interiors feel more cozy and inviting, and when you combine that traditional rustic style with white accents, the contrast that it creates is just beautiful.

Image via Houzz

Image via Houzz

Image via Velvet and Linen

3.  Accessorize wisely.

Don’t choose all-white accessories… instead, choose accessories (like throws, pillows, candles, candle holders, mirrors, frames, etc) that will highlight the white that you already have in the space rather than overwhelming it.  Fur and burlap are materials that are very in right now, and not only are they perfect for accessorizing in the mountains, they also look fantastic when paired with white decor.

Image via pinterest

Image via the Gifts of Life

4.  An accent color wouldn’t be the end of the world.

Give it a shot.  You might be surprised.  Try out a red pillow here, a red candle there.  Since you’re working with white, you can really use just about any color you want.  Actually, that’s not true.  Try to stay away from blue and other “cool” colors and instead search out warmer colors like reds or golds.  They don’t have to be vibrant, but adding a little bit of color will make you feel warmer, even when it’s cold outside.

Image via the Gifts of Life

Image via Donald Lococo Architecture

Image via Houzz

5.  Texturize.

When decorating your space, try to keep texture in the forefront of your mind.  Textures are a sneaky way to apply feeling and style to a room without having to just come right out and say it.  Imagine a white room, wood floor, wood beams.  Now imagine that same floor with a fluffy sheepskin rug on it.  Better right?  Thought so.

Image via Pinterest

 

We were going to make one big long post with our mountain white decorating tips AND products that we suggest for mountain white decorating, but we thought that would just be too much for you all at once, so make sure and keep an eye out next week when we will do a follow up to this post that will include great products for decorating with white and where to find them (spoiler alert: it’s Home on the Range).  Until then, enjoy the rest of your week, and Happy New Year from Home on the Range!

 

Design Tips and Trends,Featured,It's All in the Details,Western Style

Our Favorite Christmas-scapes

Christmas time is finally really here, I have just been so excited about it!  I love the lights, the trees, the smells, the spirit, the music, and mostly the SNOW that we’ve been getting in the last few days!  To celebrate the season, Home on the Range is going holiday from now until the big day!  Join us for a series of Christmas blog posts that will help you get inspired to bring the holiday spirit into your own home (if it’s not already there).  

Today we’re sharing some of our favorite Christmas-scapes with you.  Whether you’re in the mood for tree-scapes, mantle-scapes, table-scapes, or entry-scapes, look no further.  We have compiled a collection of Christmas decorating glory that we hope will help inspire you to take your own Christmas-scape to the next level.

 

Outdoor Christmas-scapes:  Incorporating items like lanterns and candles with a wreath or leftover greenery from your Christmas tree makes a beautiful impression without taking up too much of your precious holiday time.  Try arranging greenery in containers like baskets, planters or old washtubs and adding pine cones and branches for a rustic approach.

Image via Blomsterverkstad

Image via Modern Country

Image via Houzz

Christmas table-scapes: Setting your table for Christmas is one of the easiest ways to add a holiday feel to your home that also makes it feel well polished and put together.  Mason jars are ever-popular centerpieces, and using different sizes and styles creates a little bit of visual excitement and variety.  Candles are a table’s best friend, not only during the holidays, but at any time of the year.  Candles are pretty, and you can use different colors and shapes to highlight your current decorating theme.  Best of all, when lit, they contribute an intimacy to your dining experience that is hard to achieve without them… think “mood lighting”.

Image via Houzz

Image via Houzz

Christmas mantle-scapes:   There are so many many many ideas for decorating your fireplace mantle for Christmas, whether it is big or small, fat or skinny, short or tall.  The mantle decoration is one of the most eye-catching displays, and will set the theme for your entire Christmas decorating scheme.  Adding or changing a few simple elements can give you an entirely different feel, so play around with it and see what works best for you!  A few key elements to get you started are candles, greenery, and berries (or anything else that will add a splash of color)  Here are some of our favorites:

Image via Michael Graydon

Image via Laughing with Angels

Image via Growing up Gardener

Image via Houzz

A few extra details:  At Home on the Range, “It’s all in the details” are words we live by.  Seriously, the details make the space.  Focusing on the small picture will create a unique environment, and will begin to allow the big picture to fall into place on its own.  Look at what you already have in your home and try to imagine what you can work with to create something new.  If you are unsure of where to start, or if you are just looking for a little bit of extra inspiration to fill in your decorating holes, you can try a few of these easy decorations that are simple and elegant, but pack a big style punch.

 

Image via Pinterest

Image via Jim Fairfax

Image via Chic Fluff

Enjoy your Christmas decorating time, and don’t forget to stop into our showroom for all of your last minute decorating items!  All of our Christmas decor is 30% off through Christmas Eve!

Design Tips and Trends,Featured,It's All in the Details,Western Style

Going Stag (and Get Twiggy) Christmas Edition!

Christmas time is finally really here, I have just been so excited about it!  I love the lights, the trees, the smells, the spirit, the music, and mostly the SNOW that we’ve been getting in the last few days!  To celebrate the season, Home on the Range is going holiday from now until the big day!  Join us for a series of Christmas blog posts that will help you get inspired to bring the holiday spirit into your own home (if it’s not already there).  

Image via Clarendon Lane

 You may recall that in the recent past we showcased some current rustic trends in design- using natural items like antlers, branches and trunks in decorating.  What we want to talk about today is how easily those trends transition into holiday decorating.  Have you seen Pinterest lately?  They’re everywhere!

We love how rustic design brings the outdoors in, and what better time to do that than at Christmas?  Think about it, you’re already dragging a large fir tree from the woods into your home while singing songs about Santa’s antlered animals, so while you’re tramping the forests why not collect a few extra armloads of goodies?  Or, if you’re a little less Jeremiah Johnson (or maybe your snowshoes are in the shop right now), stop in to the Home on the Range showroom… we can help you choose everything you need for a beautiful, natural Christmas this year.

Here are a few of our favorite “Stag and Twiggy” holiday displays, along with some tips for how to incorporate them into your own space.

 

Antlers for ornaments: I think this is such a cute idea!  Use antlers to hang extra ornaments from, it will help bring a holiday feel to your entire home!  You can use elegant antique ornaments, or use colorful new ornaments for a more funky modern feel.

Image via Houzz

Image via BeeldSteil

 

Twig Stars: Collect branches from wherever you can find them (we have them for sale here at the Home on the Range showroom, hint hint) and use them to create rustic stars that you can hang on the wall… try wrapping Christmas lights around them for an extra holiday kick.

Image via Pinterest

 

 Twig Centerpieces:   Twigs and branches can make beautiful focal points for centerpieces.  They add height without being too heavy or solid, and you can still see through them!  If you want to add a little something extra, you can hang tiny ornaments from the branches, spray them with shimmer, or use pre lit branches.

-I love the pine cones and lights in the base of this centerpiece, it looks very wintery and natural, but cozy and warm at the same time.

Image via Julie Mulligan Floral Style

 

-I like the lights at the tips of all of the branches in this centerpiece.  White decorations are growing in popularity this year, but if you live somewhere like Steamboat where it snows ALL the time, you have to be very careful when using white in decorating.  It tends to feel cold and bare when what you really want is a warm, inviting respite from the outdoors.

Image via Trendy Tree

 

Stag Centerpieces:  They’re so cute.  I just love these tiny deer, I can’t even tell you.  Intermixing deer with greenery, lights, candles, and any small antique items you might have on hand is a quick way to make a beautiful, unique centerpiece that will get you plenty of compliments.

-This is probably my favorite centerpiece ever.  In the whole world.  I wasn’t kidding when I said I love tiny deer, but even more than just that I love the punched tin candle holders mixed with the glass tea lights which contrast with the natural pine cones.  It just works.

Image via tumblr

-This one is perfect because it combines the rustic elements of the “stag and twig method” (I made that up, what do you think?), burlap and birch bark cups with more traditional, polished items like glass and white tea lights to create a centerpiece that perfectly embodies rugged elegance.

Image via The Enchanted Home

Or, if you already have your house all done up in rustic style, there are also ways to decorate around your existing pieces.  I love this mantle-scape with the wreath around the faux stag head.  The pinecones, feathers and lanterns in the display give the room a very lodge-y feel that is easy to recreate in your own home.

Image via the Everyday Home

 

If you are looking for any of these holiday decorations, stop into the Home on the Range showroom, we have swag, garland, twigs, branches, ornaments, feathers, stag heads, antlers and figurines, as well as candles and candle holders.  Basically we are your one stop shop for everything rustic and Christmas!

 

 

 

Design Tips and Trends,Featured,It's All in the Details,Western Style

Guest Post: Have a Real Rustic Christmas

We are excited to have Alexandra from TilesUK guest posting for us this week!  She has lots of great ideas about how to create a rustic holiday display in your home, just in time for Christmas decorating!

Have a Real Rustic Christmas

Christmas comes but once a year, so you need to make the most of it and create a welcoming atmosphere. Your solution…a cosy, snug, rustic design. Rustic Christmas ornaments and decorations are uncomplicated, yet give a stunning look in their simplicity. Whether you’re simply adding a few elements, or completely redoing your living room into a log cabin, you can be sure to find a wide variety of Christmas decorations that will suit all your needs.

So why not grab a mulled wine, sit back, and settle in to enjoy some rustic Christmas inspiration?

The Tree

Image via HGTV

Items of the outdoors are key when it comes to a rustic design, so why not do this quickly and effectively by welcoming a real Christmas tree into your living area? For a rustic tree, it’s always good to keep to a colour theme; red, gold and brown are always nice. To create a warm and textured feel to your Christmas tree, you can add wooden and felt ‘mix and match’ decorations, stars and reindeer which have simply been sewn and stuffed. These are perfect examples of rustic tree decorations. One tip to remember; try and keep away from tinsel. Instead, try adding glittery twigs which can hang out of the Christmas tree, which will add a new dimension and a unique feel to your tree.

Take a Rustic Seat

Image via A Ribbon at a Time

Setting the dining table is just as important as decorating the tree. You should begin your design with an eye-catching centre piece, large bark candles varying in size, or a small, ‘cute’ Christmas tree would be perfect. You can complement the centre piece with a rustic backdrop; a table cloth which is green tartan, for instance, would be perfect. When setting a rustic Christmas dining table, don’t neglect colour just because you’re going for a rustic design, this does not mean everything has to be wooden or brown. Consider setting the dining table with vibrant red chargers and pine green plates. For a little finishing touch, you can add snippings from your Christmas tree, or a few red berries over your table.

Bits and Bobs Around the House

Image via Something…

Simple additions throughout your home will make a massive impression. In keeping with the colour theme of your tree you can add candles, bunting and other decorations. Leaving handfuls of baubles and pinecones, lost in a little ribbon and sprinkled with a pinch of glitter, will welcome the rustic theme throughout, for an inexpensive price and minimal effort. Hand crafting a few items is perfect for creating a rustic feel, whilst creating your own bunting out of recycled Christmas cards is not only ‘green’, it is ideal for the rustic Christmas feel.

Image via Rock River Stitches

Hopefully, these simple tips have given you some great ideas on how to create the perfect rustic home at Christmas. Remember not to neglect a room; even if you just simply place a few pinecones in the corner this will be extremely effective. Try to make some of the pieces yourself, this way you will save money and keep the kids out of trouble while you wait for Santa to arrive.

 

 

This blog was written by Alexandra, a keen home interior design follower who loves to share her ideas with anyone. One of the rooms which is hard not to neglect is the bathroom, so why not get it in tiptop condition ready for your Christmas guests with TilesUK’s  help?

Design Tips and Trends,It's All in the Details,Western Style

Get Twiggy

Get Twiggy-Using branches and trunks in decorating

We have been talking a lot about the rustic design craze lately, and a huge part of making a space feel truly rustic is the ability to bring the outside in through design and decorating.  Sometimes this can be easier said than done, and, short of plying up your carpet to create a dirt-floor, you may wonder exactly HOW to bring nature into your home.  One easy way that has been gaining in popularity is the use of raw trunks and branches in furniture and decorating.

Image via Pinterest

Furniture is the simplest manifestation of the twig method.  There are many companies that sell amazing natural wood beds, chairs, tables, you name it.  Like this beautiful bed from La Lune Collection.  Can’t you just picture sleeping in this?

Image via La Lune Collection

Another more creative way to add arboreal charm to your space is by incorporating it directly into the room itself.

I absolutely love the spaces that use full aspen or birch tree trunks along walls and in corners; it gives you the feeling that you are really IN the forest.

A more subtle, but nonetheless charming way to achieve this effect is to incorporate branches into already necessary aspects of the room, such as banisters, hand rails, light fixtures, or cabinet hardware.

Image via Cococozy

Image via Pinterest

Finally, if you are afraid of jumping full force into tree house commitment, try adding some hints of the woods in different places throughout your home.  Here are a few ideas to get you started:

Image via Vibeke Design

Image via Etsy.com

Image via Blue Roof Cabin

And, like always, don’t forget to make Home on the Range your first stop for all things twiggy.  We have lots of items and pieces to show you that will help you bring nature into your home, so stop into our showroom today!

Design Tips and Trends,It's All in the Details

In-Home Library Inspiration

Who doesn’t want a library in their house?  I know I sure do.  I think it might have started when I was a little girl watching Beauty and the Beast, or it may just be because I love books so much, but the idea of having my very own special library just tickles me to death.  There are so many ways to create your own in-home library, whether you have a lot of space, or just a little bit.  Adding a library to your home gives it that little extra touch of class and personality that will set it apart from all others.

Here are some of our favorite library inspirations, along with some little tips for getting started.

1.  To create a library, all you REALLY need is a lot of books, the rest will follow.

Image via Institute of Man

2.  Ladders help… so do spiral staircases.

Image via Der Buch Blog

Image via Bodie and Fou

3.  If you have an entire room to dedicate to your library, the possibilities are endless.

Image via Pinterest

Image via Beautiful-Libraries

4.  If you don’t have an entire room to dedicate to your library, the possibilities are endless.

 Hallways are perfect for libraries:

Image via Home on the Range

Stairwells work great too: 

Image via Space Says

       Or, use an empty wall:

Image via Falling is Like This

For advice on taking the plunge to create your in-home library, stop into Home on the Range.  We have shelves, chairs, bookends, candles, lamps, and anything else you might need to bring your library dreams to life.

 

Design Tips and Trends,Featured,Featured Products,It's All in the Details,Western Style

Going Stag

Image via Martyn Lawrence Bullard

Get it?  Going “Stag”? We crack ourselves up sometimes.  But seriously, today we are going to talk about a new trend that is very “deer” to our hearts (oops, did it again).  It’s a trend that brings traditional icons into the modern age: using antlers and taxidermy in interior design.

Image via Cote de Texas

I think this trend is developing as an add-on to the rustic cabin/mountain lodge craze that we have been seeing over the past year.  And, just like with the cabin craze, it seems that people are re-creating a classic figure.  They are taking the deer head, a rustic lodge accessory that is steeped in tradition, and turning into something different that fits a newer definition of style.  Instead of seeing massive taxidermied elk glaring down at us with glassy eyes, we are seeing antlers incorporated into centerpieces.  We are seeing smaller animal skulls mounted on plaques.  We are seeing subtle signs of wildlife in the home that give us the overall impression of a rugged environment, without being visually assaulted by it.

Image via Pinterest

Now, if you are a lover of (live) animals, or are still scarred from that scene in Bambi (you know the one I’m talking about), don’t fret.  You can still hop on the stag-wagon… we’ll show you how.

Image via Pinterest

In many spaces, hunting trophies are actually being replaced by faux taxidermy. Wooden deer heads can be mounted over mantles, and statues can take the place of skulls.  Remember not to forego the purchase of antler accessories for “moral reasons”.  Did you know that elk actually shed their antlers every year?  In Jackson Hole, Wyoming, the Boy Scouts then collect these antlers and auction them off to fund their program, and that is where the majority of your antler products come from.

Image via Spring Creek Ranch

You can also consider other ideas to enhance your room, like bringing the deer off of the wall.  Using other stag accessories like pillows, throws, art, towels, etc. can really help you create a cohesive feeling in your space.

If you’ve just been absolutely dying to bring some modern tradition into your home, here are some ideas for you.  These are all products that we have in the Home on the Range showroom right now!  Don’t delay, or you could “deer”ly regret it (okay I’m done, I promise!)

Stag Pillow

Stag Tea Towel

Wooden Deer Head

Deer Sculptures

Plaque Mounted Antelope

Design Tips and Trends,It's All in the Details

Nooks and Crannies

Do you ever just feel like you need to escape sometimes?  We all know the feeling: like you just need a little hideaway to curl up in with a good book, away from the rest of the world.  Not forever, just for a little while… in a space that is comfortable, calming, unique and special.

When you imagine your happy hideaway, do you picture it in the attic or a closet?  Probably not.  You probably conjure up dreams of deserted islands, tiny forest cottages, and other faraway fantasies, but you just might change your mind when you see some of our favorite in-home nooks and crannies.  The best thing about these special spots is that you don’t have to undergo a major remodel to achieve one.  In fact, you can create a super relaxing room of your own with almost any extra space you might have available… the more obscure and hidden in the house, the better.

Have an empty attic or crawl space?  We love these cozy hidden gems:

Image via Pinterest

Image via Houzz

What about a hall closet or pantry?

Image via Cheez Burger

Image via Joie De Vivre

You can even make a special reading nook right in plain sight… it could even be your own BEDROOM!

Image via R&R corner

There are a few important elements to keep in mind when creating your in-home escape.

  • Comfort is key.  Fill your cranny with pillows, blankets, bean bags, etc… as many as you can, floor to ceiling if you have to!
  • Style it up.  This is your very own special space, and you want it to be a calm, happy place to be.  If it’s filled with things that you absolutely love, then you will love escaping to it!
  • Function.  Make sure that you can actually use the space (i.e. you’re not trying to relax or de-stress in a 2×2 broom closet).  If your room is windowless, consider adding some extra lights to the room.  Unless you want to sit in the dark, and then that is up to you.

There are so many ways to make a special little nook in your home, if you need help with ideas, feel free to ask!  You can find us on Facebook, or at our showroom (where we have LOTS of hideaway friendly furniture and accessories.

Design Tips and Trends

The Perfect Picture Display

Images via mary schanner photography

Your home isn’t just a reflection of your taste; it’s a reflection of your life. Photo walls are a great way to showcase your memories, while also displaying what makes you unique.  There is no limit to what you can do with a photo wall.  You can make it simple, elegant, modern, rustic, traditional, eclectic, or any mix of the above.  It all depends on your creativity!

Image via Laura Winslow Photography

Picture walls are a great decorating idea for hallways, stairwells, and even small walls. While picture displays do take some strategic planning as far as placement and frame choice, once done, a photo wall can be the perfect addition to your space.

Image via Mix and Chic

The frames you choose will naturally control which pictures catch the eye first. Don’t be afraid to use different textures, but the frame colors should all compliment the room. Different frame sizes effortlessly add depth to the display and draw attention to certain photos.

Image via attic.

Image via Ciao! Newport Beach

Take a moment to strategize. Tape off space on the floor the same size as your wall, and try out different arrangements.

Image via Crush Cul de Sac

Don’t be afraid to be different. Throw in some sentimental pieces in your frames, such as the letter your mother wrote you on your wedding day or ancient black and white family photos.

Image via Casa in Stile

Try the eclectic (but rapidly growing in popularity) corner arrangement.

Image via Apartment Therapy

Try a different way of hanging photos: use string, rope, clothespins, drawer pulls, whatever you can think of!

Image via Urban Comfort

Image via Shelterness

Make a shelf display.

Image via Two Twenty One

Finally, after you’ve laid out frames and you know the arrangement that works best for you and your space, start from the middle of the wall and work out.  This will make your life much, much easier!

The Home on the Range showroom has TONS of beautiful and unique frames that will help you get your photo wall started, so stop by today!

For other great ways to make your home cozy and inviting, check out our Pinterest page.

Design Tips and Trends

Creating Your Perfect Home Office

A cozy and inviting office is an ideal place to set-up and work this winter. If you create a space that you love being in, then you won’t mind working over-time!

Image via Home on the Range

For your perfect home office, choose a spot in your house that offers you plenty of functional storage space and keeps distractions to a minimum. The location of your office should really be dependent on how you work. If you know that you will easily be distracted by street activity or tempted by a sunny day, consider an office tucked away towards the back of your home.

Or, if you want a bright and energetic space, placing your desk in front of a window might be just the ticket.

Image via Home on the Range

Every great office needs substantial storage. Loose papers and beaten up boxes aren’t just visually unappealing, they also make it hard to function.  Cabinets, shelves and drawers will be your office’s best friend.

Image via 42Concepts.com

Offices don’t always have to be traditional work spaces either. Your home office can be a reflection of yourself in every way, and you can add flair to your office just like you do in the rest of your home.  Here are a few examples of some of our favorite unique offices:

Image via Splendid Sass

Image via My French Country Home

The last thing to remember when creating your home office is to keep it comfortable. You want to create an environment you enjoy being in. Invest in a comfortable chair and create a welcoming atmosphere, and remember that this is your home office, not a cubicle.

To find your perfect traditional or eclectic office pieces, stop into Home on the Range today!

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