Home on the Range | Home on the Range Blog

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!

December 19, 2012
No Comments

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?

December 7, 2012
No Comments

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.

Traditional Media Room design by Phoenix Interior Designer Sesshu Design Associates, Ltd

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!

December 5, 2012
No Comments

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.

November 28, 2012
No Comments

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

November 23, 2012
No Comments

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.

November 14, 2012
No Comments

Design Tips and Trends,Events and Happenings,Featured,Western Style

Home on the Range Featured on Houzz!

Houzz has quickly become the most used and well known website for interior design. Like the Pinterest of homes, it is a way for designers to share their work and projects with other designers, and with the rest of the world. Home on the Range has been privileged to have multiple projects featured on Houzz, and we are excited to share a few of them with you today.

So Your Style Is: Rustic

“What it is: Rustic style proves the old adage that everything comes full circle. Our pioneer ancestors would get a good laugh out of how fashionable the look is today — they probably dreamed of plastered walls instead of rough logs and carpets instead of bare plank floors. But thanks to rustic style’s unpretentious roots, organic textures and shapes, and natural warmth, it’s become as popular in the heart of the city as it is out in the woods….” click here to read the rest of the article

Eclectic Powder Room design by Denver Interior Designer Lynne Barton Bier – Home on the Range Interiors

“Style Secret: Repurposed Objects

To a large extent, rustic style is about making do with what you have — just as it was in the old days. Found objects are key: old pails turned into sinks, wire baskets transformed into light fixtures, wooden crates reimagined as stair treads. It’s less about whimsy than about creating a sense of invention by necessity.

Inspired addition:Rustic interiors lend themselves to cross-pollination with industrial style. Feel free to take a bit of a risk with accents such as offbeat lighting, decorative displays and artwork. You can also turn to folk art. With its self-sufficient, homegrown appeal, folk art looks particularly nice in rustic rooms….” click here to read the rest of this article

Wagon Wheels Are on a Roll

Traditional Living Room design by Denver Interior Designer Lynne Barton Bier – Home on the Range Interiors

“Wagon wheel chandeliers have been on the scene for some time, but this two-tier version — complete with lantern-style shades — looks especially chic. It brings down the high ceiling in this great room and enhances the Western sensibility of a Colorado mountain home…” click here to read the rest of the article

City View: Sweeping Design Soars

“I was born in the 1970s, so when I think of Denver, I think of Alexis Morrell Carrington Colby Dexter Rowan and the rest of the clan over at Dynasty. I also think of the opposite end of the spectrum, Outward Bound programs. Like a lot of the rest of the country, I have a view of Denver that’s all kinds of wrong. While the city and its surrounding areas are full of people who love an outdoor adventure, this doesn’t mean they don’t have style. These adventurous Coloradans draw inspiration from viewing and exploring the spectacular landscape around them, as well as from preserving it…” click here to read the rest of the article

Modern Bathroom design by Denver Interior Designer Lynne Barton Bier – Home on the Range Interiors

“I believe that the biggest misconception about Denver style and the style for the surrounding mountain area is that it is very traditional and western. On the contrary, Denver is becoming well known for its cutting-edge contemporary design style, where rustic elements are often intermingled with contemporary lines and furnishings,” says Lynne Bier of Home on the Range Interiors… click here to read the rest of the article

Don’t forget to check out Home on the Range on Houzz to see our other projects, photos, inspirations and ideabooks!

November 2, 2012
No Comments

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

9 Ways to Decorate with Pumpkins

Halloween is finally here! It’s easy to “fall” into the Halloween spirit when the leaves change and begin to drift off of the trees, the evening light develops a warm glow, the days become chilly and brisk, and the smell of wood smoke permeates the crisp autumn air. Jack-o-lanterns, spiders, and ghosts start to dot the neighborhood landscape, and before you know it, Halloween has arrived.

We absolutely love this holiday, though our Halloween decorating style tends to fall somewhat short of super-spooky witches and ghouls. If, like us, you are looking for a more natural and traditional looking Halloween display, pick up a couple (hundred) pumpkins from the store or pumpkin patch and read on. We have put together a list of 9 ways to decorate (and decorate with) everyone’s most beloved holiday gourd.

9. The Chevron Pumpkin: People are WILD for chevron this season, and what better way to venture into this fun pattern than by painting it on a pumpkin? Keep it even more current by using white, gold, glitter, or a mix of all three to cover the creation. You could also consider using different geometric patterns like herringbone, houndstooth, or a tribal print stencil.

Image via Feeling Lovesome

8. The Pumpkin Stack: What a way to welcome party guests or trick-or-treaters! I love the idea of the pumpkin stack- it looks chic and rustic with the tin bucket base, but it’s easy to make, and best of all it can say whatever you want it to!

Image via bhg.com

7. The Mumpkin: Get it? “Mum” pkin? I love this pumpkin idea because it mixes a fall icon with the last remains of summer in a way that incorporates all of the colors of the season. I have never seen anyone make mumpkins before, have you?

Image via Lowes Creative Ideas

6. The Pumpkin Planter: These are kind of the same idea as the Mumpkin, but a little bit simpler and more elegant. You can use flowers, or almost anything else (like fall foliage branches or cat tails) to fill these pumpkin planters. So many ideas!

Image via FYI Modular Homes

5. The Pumpkin Entryway: I LOVE this entryway. The use of pumpkins of all different sizes, colors and materials provides a great holiday flare, while the hurricane lanterns and pedestals help to add a layering effect that creates a depth to this display that really makes it unique. Crows are optional.

Image Via Sense-ational Living

4. The Pumpkin Bowl: Throwing a Halloween party this year? You can thank us later for this idea. Everyone will love grabbing their snacks out of a pumpkin, and we think the bandanna inside adds the perfect touch of Western to the serving bowl. We have also seen punch bowls inserted into hollowed-out pumpkins that make perfect cauldrons for serving your Witch’s Brew.

Image via bhg.com

3. The Pumpkin Pillow: Not all of your pumpkin decorations have to be perishable. These homespun pumpkin pillows add warm, rustic colors and textures to any space they occupy, and the best part is you can bring them out every year!

Image via Pinterest

2. The Pumpkin Basket: Who would have thought? Throw a pumpkin in a basket for an instant rugged look. All the better if you can add a burlap pillow, pinecones, and a hurricane lantern. I love this display because it shows how you can turn your existing outdoor furniture into an elegant fall scene with only a few simple additions.

Image via Opulent Cottage

1. The Pumpkin Mantle: Once again you can see how easy it is to transform your home landscape with a few simple touches. This photo brings the outdoor display inside by adding small and medium pumpkins onto the mantle. Paper flowers (or any wall decoration) add height and broaden the decoration area, extending it off of the mantle and giving the impression of a fully decorated space.

Image via A Place For US

We hope you enjoyed browsing this pumpkin extravaganza as much as we enjoyed creating it. Home on the Range has everything you need to create these Halloween displays (except for the pumpkins), so stop in and see what simple accent pieces you can find to create a Halloween masterpiece today!

One more note: don’t hold us to this, but we heard that putting little silicon “do not eat” packets inside carved pumpkins will keep them from molding and rotting- give it a shot and let us know on our Facebook page if it worked for you!

October 31, 2012
No Comments

Design Tips and Trends

Off the Hinge: Using Old Doors In New Ways

The next time you are in the market for a way to add a rustic, earthy touch to your home, the solution may be simpler than you imagined: doors. You heard it here first, old doors are coming back in new ways.

You can instantly add both character and texture by re-purposing a pair of distressed doors as your headboard. Build this headboard yourself from doors that have some deeper meaning to you (for instance, using doors from your childhood home), or just hunt for some really unique doors that speak to your style and taste.

Image via Pinterest By: Houzz.com

Using distressed doors as furniture adds a one of a kind quality to any room (after all, no one will have the same doors as you!) It also brings character, style, and a natural raw quality to your space.