Hunter’s Wives with Modern Style, Unite!
Mmmk, here's the deal. My husband is a hunter…a very avid one. Any hunting is his happy place, his second favorite holiday next to Christmas and Easter as a tie. It's how he recharges, and time in the woods allows him a rare chance to go inward and really think. As a result, we have mounts…like, many mounts. Muskie, ducks, turkey, coyote (sigh), squirrel, deer, and elk. And my style? It’s more modern and sleek.
But I wouldn't dare take his passion away from him.
So, with some reluctance (insert mini moment of dying to self for the greater good), I agreed to have the mounts in the main space of our new house when we built it. (Also insert wife of the year award).
That meant I had to find a way to make all the carcass actually look nice…like the house would be naked without it! I had to mix my modern style with his more "rustic" style (aka, dead things style).
Want to know how? Here are my best tips on mixing modern style and rustic style in a cohesive way, creating some sanity for you.
Tip #1: Go BOLD with Color
Taking risks with color on more permanent architectural components in your modern design sets a bold statement. Any type of mount is a bold statement in and of itself, so having various pieces and colors that feel bold offset the shock of all of those mounts together. You do have to be careful, as you don't want too many focal points; this will confuse the eye. But you also don't want to have a giant wall with a million mounts, and then have everything else quiet and muted in color and texture. When choosing a color, if your style is telling you to go bold, I say do it!
Tip #2: Mix your Color and Materials
Many people think that once you choose one color family, you have to stick with it in all of your materials. However, your modern style can absolutely mix blacks, browns, and grays…in both architectural components and finishes! Not only will this help you tie in the various tones of rustic animal mounts (how else would those whitetail deer and black duck mounts make sense together?), but it will also make it easier to accessorize because you won't be pigeonholed to a color family. Have you ever been in a space where everything is various tones of brown and tan? It feels very….dull. And monochromatic. Be brave and mix it up! Think stone and wood and metal and concrete and tile and carpeting…all together! Lots of dimension, lots of color, lots of interest, and many opportunities to unify your husband's rustic mounts in your space!
Tip #3: Mix your Shapes
Just because you have one square item in the home doesn't mean every single detail of your modern design has to be angular as well! In the past, people thought that if they had a square dining table that everything else in the home needed to be square or rectangular, too. However, adding some rounded edges and softer shapes helps to tie in the more organic nature of animal mounts. You’ll want to make sure that your modern design includes more than just a round item in a sea of squares; mix them all up! Square tables, round mirrors, rectangular benches, circular ottomans…once you start mixing your shapes, that becomes your theme and it’ll all make sense together.
Tip #4: Layer it Up
Layers are key. You want to have various materials, all layered up, to add interest and softness to your spaces. My personal favorite way to mix my husband’s deer mount style with my more modern/sleek style is by adding lots of blankets, pillows, and rugs with varying textures…especially furs and skins! You don’t have to invest in real furs and skins if that’s outside your budget; there are many on the market that are faux and just as beautiful. Also, have fun with your furniture layout and create mini spaces to add dimension, interest, and coziness!
I’m just scratching the surface but these 4 tips are a great place to start! Do you have tips to share? Feel free to comment below.