Western Lodge Design

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K. Stone, one of LoveToKnow's own interior design writers, continues as our expert this month. She's an experienced interior decorator, even running her own design business for the past three years, and is definitely up to any design challenge you can send her! Check out her website http://www.adoreyourdecor.com

We just recently built a house. I like the Shabby Chic look and my husband likes the western/cowboy look (ex.cowhide pillows, tooled leather etc.). Can I merge the two or is that not possible? If I can, then how do I do it? Please help.

Thank You Suzie R.

Well the good news is that shabby chic style and western style both share a casual, rustic elegance. Plus, an eclectic design which combines items from various styles will create a more interesting space. As you combine colors, furniture, and accessories, make sure there are common elements which create design cohesion. Harmony can be achieved with color, finish, pattern, shape, or texture.

Shabby chic style usually involves sun-faded fabrics and furniture with distressed finishes. These laid-back items will look great combined with western elements like leather or metal accents. One idea for a seating area is to use a slip-covered shabby chic sofa in combination with a leather arm chair. Add a faded floral print throw pillow to the chair, and then add tasteful leather pillows to the sofa. Western themes can be subtly brought in with natural materials like stone, slate, or wood. Shabby chic vibes can be instilled with floral arrangements and flea market finds.

An eclectic room with western design elements.

If you want all leather seating for a more western feel, then choose a light color like cream which will play into the shabby chic style. As long as the color palette complements one another, you can safely combine fabric, leather, and animal hides.

If the western style is just too much for the main living areas, maybe your husband can decorate one adjacent room to his liking. An office, study, den, or game room would be the perfect spot for his Wild West style to shine.

Since combining these two styles can be challenging, you might want to seek out an interior design professional. It is a good idea to have your husband present at the consultation, so that the designer can get everyone’s perspective and style considerations.

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