Get ready, design kittycats. European Country Elegance dives beneath the surface to explore the mysteries of how luxurious touches remain understated, authentic, and unfussy. You already know the magic involves thoughtful layering and a curated mix. (No need to explain to ye sophisticated brethren the tension created when the humble and the haute meet.) Contrast, texture, architecture, and dynamic relationships deepen a room’s character. Perhaps it is why beholding well-designed rooms never grows old!
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European Country Elegance: Authenticity Explored
Today’s interiors to inspire you exhibit a mix of rustic, European inspired, luxurious yet livable designs.
How do designers create spaces for living that are welcoming yet luxurious?
Luxury isn’t a singular concept. It can suggest rarity or excess or abundance. But it can also be communicated through
antiquity,
uttermost quality,
and fine craftsmanship.
Fine. Most of us recognize luxury when we see it. But can you access such a livable luxe mood without hiring a firm or without piles of cash?
What nuance, relationships, and hidden wisdom are hidden and achievable for everyday decorators?
Sounds like a tall order.
And sounds a bit more mindful than a zippy search on Pinterest.
True European Country Elegance & Authenticity
One thing we should clarify is how for our purposes, we are concerned with true authentic interior elegance, not an outward imitation. Think of our digital age and photos. Artificial intelligence is one example of imitation, but so are photography tricks and styling manipulation. Many details simply cannot convey in images.
For example, I once toured a historic home we considered purchasing, and the creaking of old floorboards, patina of finishes, and even the slope of the staircase revealed a story marketing images could not.
Sometimes an interior exudes elegance and authenticity in a photo whereas in real life, it is neither. A kitchen with white oak thermofoil cabinet doors (vinyl wrapped MDF fronts) may read ultra-luxurious in a photo. However, in person, the finish may not fool anyone and feel inferior.
Fake it Til You Make it?
True, in-the-flesh elegance is less common than so many attempts intending to suggest elegance. Training your eye may help, but in today’s sophisticated culture of artificial everything reflected in media, there is potential for us all to be fooled. Authenticity is rooted in nature, history, time, and human handprints.
Is it just a matter of available funds to invest in an elegant design?
An unlimited budget is swell, but there are creative options to achieve a luxe feel: (1) take your time and save until you can afford authentic materials (such as solid wood rather than wood look-alikes) or (2) realize quantity is not everything…a creative layout with fewer materials (i.e. less custom kitchen cabinetry vs. more poorly made cabinets may be the wise option). (3) Prioritize quality, knowing in the long game, it will serve you well.
Photos only tell part of the story.
The actual daily experience of living, resting within, and using a space created with machine made, man-made materials rather than nature-made or handmade may leave you longing for more character, elegance, authenticity, and timelessness.
Restraint, Curation & Moving Toward a Minimal Aesthetic
How is that even very rustic country interiors exude a high level of elegance? Sometimes the key is what is not there. Cluttered tabletops, shelves, and walls can feel luxurious and livable to many folks and lifestyles. However, a rustic European country interior may begin to feel like a stall at the local antique mall if it is too busily crammed with too much stimulation.
Sometimes it is the presence of thoughtfully chosen pieces and materials contributing luxurious, contemplative, calm quietude to the design.
Let’s face it. It’s a mad world, and calm quietude is the new luxury.
Humble materials may feel luxe and sensual when they relate to one another and tell a story about the homeowner’s sensibilities.
“Luxurious living” is subjective. Do you value rare antiques? Afternoons that stretch long to be spent just as you please? Living with pets?
Living with less stuff means creating spaciousness for not just movement or more stuff, but for imagination and rest.
Utilitarian Considerations, Cozy Factor & European Sensibilities
To truly understand why European influences are so beautiful and desirable, we have to remember that American homes are typically much larger. With smaller room sizes across the pond, decor is not simply for show. Objects and furniture must be purposeful and multi-purpose.
That sort of daily sensibility serves us all since it eschews the disposable and unnecessary. The necessary and sustainable come into clearer focus. There’s less to organize and clean. Quality reigns supreme, and time can be spent on living than collecting the unnecessary.
Restraint need not look sterile.
Let’s face it. Daily rhythms necessitate that food and dishes come out of cupboards. Books and school supplies and pet things and clothing and products are real. We just don’t see them in tidily styled photos online!
Not sure if you’re striking the right balance? Subtract and then experiment! You can always bring more back into your mix.
Bring Charm & Customization to a White Box
Let others daydream about diamonds, pearls, and fancy bags. This European country elegance design freak will gladly imagine a tower of plaster shelves. Hahaha.
What makes such a custom luxe design element attractive and elegant? It’s a commitment and a feature that won’t happen in a single day. Maybe the fact such shelves are a more Old World artisan prospect requiring time, skills, and vision.
Transforming plain white boxes into established interiors with character and romance is no small task. It helps to see such transformation modeled.
Maybe you’ve noticed a common thread running through these rustic yet elegant interiors: the luxurious elements are largely personal, everyday elegant, purposeful features.
So often, what is avoided are show-offy, blingy, look-how-much-I-spent-here gestures.
Craftsmanship, Reclaimed Materials & Handmade Elegance
Desiree Ashworth’s (Beljar Home) former Utah home springs to mind when I think of the luxe nature of fine craftsmanship.
While traditional, Gustavian-inspired, and Old World, trim around doors and throughout the cottage feels fresh. The blue-grey-green stain was custom, and I can’t imagine how many of her admirers have asked for the formula (which doesn’t exist!). 🙂
The authenticity that old light fixtures from Europe add to a new home? Beyond! Boldness can also be a very luxe move, and those reclaimed wood ceilings are bold!
When I consider how the average suburban homeowner might access such authenticity?
I think there are practices beyond relying on pricey antiques and construction materials brought back from the European countryside. A mindful commitment to incorporate old, natural, and handmade into the mix will make all the difference. Maybe the “new” in the mix is the actual bones of the new or not-very-old home.
Another idea is to steer away from polished, new, perfect, glossy finishes that reflect perfection. Livable finishes and live finishes developing patina are friendlier.
Finally, a sense of humor can be scarce in a lot of fancy interiors. Adding whimsy, smiles and surprises will lighten the whole mood.
Budget Conscious European Cottage Looks
In the mood for English country cottage chic? You may be charmed by this:
Do visit my archives with more ideas and quotes to ease you toward the timeless and the tranquil.
Peace to you right where you are.
-michele
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