I took the 10 question "Design Style" quiz on the web site for the HGTV show Find Your Style. I'm "Rustic Comfort."
Rustic ComfortI'd say this is right on the money. My furniture, still in storage in California, is from the "American Impressions" collection at Ethan Allen. The collection, now called "New Impressions," is Shaker inspired...interesting that I picked up on this since this area is known for being the home of the Shakers!
The verdict is in, but there's a twist. Your design style is a combination: part updated country, part ethnic flair, both with a contemporary look and feel. You need a home with casual and practical style — an environment that'll work for kids, pets, company and more. The emphasis is on simple yet attractive, durable furniture will hold up over time while your colorful accessories energize and entertain for years.
"The furniture for this design style could be contemporary or traditional," says Julie Rackley, an interior designer in Bellevue, Washington. "The common threads are comfort and durability." That means easy-to-clean synthetic blends like micro-fiber, which cleans up swiftly with a sponge. (So long silk!) Function is a key consideration as well. A multi-purpose ottoman that doubles as a coffee table or storage unit would work for you.
Design Tip for Rustic Comfort
Choose color! Dress up your functional style with worldly colors, borrowing from Mediterranean and Hacienda styles. Try high energy colors like sunny yellows and oranges, but don't forget the popular jewel tones for a splash of elegance in the dining room or bedroom. "For 2008, we're going to see a new direction in red, towards bluer jewel tones," says Becky Ralich Spak, a senior designer at Sherwin Williams. "Shades of violet and deep purples that have been absent for so long are going to start showing up again. These energizing colors are also elegant."
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