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The authors present myriad ideas for using country style to turn any space into an airy and comfortable place to be. They include information on how to bring various specific country styles--such as New England, Shaker, and "Modern Ethnic"--into a decorating scheme.
The chapter on simplicity shows how to create a sense of freedom and an uncluttered lifestyle by reinterpreting how traditional materials and patterns are used. For instance, a spare room with sophisticated gray-tinged white walls maintains the original rough floorboards and fireplace bricks as a contrast to the sleek modern lines. The chapter on decorating with color and pattern shows how to create an eclectic atmosphere by borrowing from old-fashioned traditions and giving them a modern twist. Mismatched wooden chairs around a rustic kitchen table, for example, give a room a relaxed and informal feel. Juxtaposed with a marble fireplace that would be more expected in a formal dining room, the scene takes on an appealing air of faded grandeur.
More than 200 color photographs will certainly provide plenty of inspiration to those hoping to manifest their dreams of the perfect country home--wherever that may be. --Robin Donovan
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