Modern Rugged Rustic Design
I love the aesthetic look and feel of modern rustic, rugged design. It’s the perfect marriage of modern and traditional, with a touch of roughness that adds character and a masculine edge to any space. Think of warm wood tones, exposed brick walls, plenty of texture, and metal accents. It’s an inviting and moody look while playing with high contrasts.
Whether a living room, kitchen, or bedroom, this design style is versatile and adaptable to any space. Plus, it’s a great way to bring the outdoors in, with its natural materials and earthy colors.
Designing a rustic masculine home is all about creating a comfortable and inviting space that exudes warmth and character. To achieve this look, start with a neutral color palette of earthy tones like browns, grays, and greens. Then, incorporate natural materials like wood, stone, and leather into your decor.
When it comes to furniture, opt for sturdy and functional pieces, like a leather sofa or a wooden coffee table. You can add some vintage or industrial-inspired pieces to give your space a more rugged feel.
To create a cozy atmosphere, incorporate soft lighting with warm-toned bulbs and add some textured accent pieces like a woven rug or a chunky knit throw blanket.
Finally, add some personal touches that reflect your style and interests. Hang some artwork or photographs you love, display some books or collectibles, and add some greenery with potted plants or fresh flowers. These tips give you a rustic masculine home that genuinely reflects you.
One of my favorite interior designers, Sean Anderson, is a master at creating modern rustic and rugged spaces that are tonal, dynamic and mood-setting. Black is predominantly used throughout his spaces to add depth and stunning contrast.
“His traditionalist design roots and innate southern charm would never be a tell, but Sean Anderson has an affinity for darkness. The tonal, mood-setting kind, of course, that often cloaks the walls and ceilings of his residential projects in deep, dark hues. The effect—just like the Memphis, Tennessee, designer himself—is rich with soul.” – Architectural Digest
Sean Anderson grew up in the same town as Elvis Presley — Tupelo, Mississippi — but their styles couldn’t be more different. Anderson’s house in Memphis, where he runs a burgeoning interior design firm, is moody, cerebral, and compact.
What is it about Anderson’s work that has made him so popular? The short answer is that his rooms don’t look like anybody else’s. Like many designers, he tends to stick to neutrals (“Rust is my accent color“), and like many designers, he mixes old and new, light and dark, thick and thin, rough and smooth. But he isn’t afraid to take those contrasts to extremes. Not many designers would paint the ceiling of a room in glossy black to contrast with white matte walls. He has a storage space full of items he finds at flea markets or on 1stDibs; the more unusual, the better. “I gravitate toward anything I haven’t seen before,” he says. Having had no education in design, he says, “I don’t even know what rules I might be breaking.”~ 1st Dibs
Sean began his design career in 2013 by forming his namesake firm in Memphis, Tennessee. Since its inception, Sean and his team have transformed homes nationwide with his enigmatic style and casual, collected aesthetic.
Sean’s work has received national recognition from publications such as Elle Decor, Architectural Digest, Milieu, Traditional Home, and British Homes & Gardens.
“People think black is oppressive, but it has the opposite reaction for me,” Anderson tells AD PRO. “Black is comfortable and cozy.” Against such a backdrop, Anderson and his six-person team can easily sprawl out—a significant upgrade from the cramped, single-room office the firm had nearly two years ago. “It just wasn’t working,” Anderson says, “but I love to see how the new place has affected the team. We are inspired every day.”
Yet it’s not until the marrying of old and new that Anderson’s skill is best articulated. He creates richly organic and evocative interiors by bringing together the age and wear of an old leather club chair or an endearingly scraped-up wood bench with modern fixtures.
The dining room inspired this blog post in this striking and masculine home. I’ve kept a photo of this room close at hand while re-designing my dining room. Browse through the following images of a home tour featured on Sean Anderson’s website, titled “Chapel.”
To view another project of Sean Anderson: Sean Anderson Marries Rough & Refined in a Vestavia Hills Residence
MODERN RUSTIC LIVING ROOM
MODERN RUSTIC DINING ROOM
MODERN RUSTIC BEDROOM
MODERN RUSTIC KITCHEN
MODERN ENTRYWAY
ADDITIONAL VIEWS
How to Decorate with Black
When decorating with black, there are a few key things to remember. First of all, it’s essential to balance the darkness of the color with lighter elements to avoid making the space feel too heavy or oppressive. You can achieve this by incorporating white or other light neutrals in furniture, textiles, or accents.
Another way to decorate with black is to use it as a grounding element in a space that contains a lot of other bold colors or patterns. For example, a black rug or curtains can help anchor a room filled with bright artwork or furniture.
Finally, don’t be afraid to experiment with different textures and finishes when incorporating black into your decor. Matte black surfaces can create a sleek and modern look, while glossy black finishes can add a touch of glamour and sophistication. And if you’re feeling bold, consider using a black accent wall or painting all of your trim in this bold hue for a theatrical effect.
To view another project of Sean Anderson: Sean Anderson Marries Rough & Refined in a Vestavia Hills Residence
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Modern Rustic Rugged Design with Sean Anderson
I love the aesthetic look and feel of modern rustic rugged design. It's the perfect marriage of modern and traditional, with a touch of roughness that adds character and a masculine edge to any space. Think of warm wood tones, exposed brick walls, plenty of texture, and metal accents. It's a look that is both inviting and moody while playing with high contrasts. Whether it's a living room, kitchen, or bedroom, this design style is versatile and adaptable to any space. Plus, it's a great way to bring the outdoors in, with its natural materials and earthy colors. One of my favorite interior designers, Sean Anderson, is a master at creating modern rustic and rugged spaces that are tonal, dynamic and mood-setting. Black is predominantly used throughout his spaces to add depth and stunning contrast.
Modern Farmhouse Decorating Ideas
I recently viewed the McGee & Co. 2023 Summer Catalogue and thought it provided a wealth of inspiration for those looking for modern farmhouse decorating ideas. The catalogue is full of creative design tips and stunning photos of their projects, including their new spec home located in the Red Ledges community outside of Park City, Utah. Designer Shea McGee believes our home is a canvas of creative personal expression, and what you bring into your space – from textiles and textures to tones – can affect the mood and personality of any room. Thoughtfully considering fabrics, colors, patterns, and angles of each element or room can help you achieve sophisticated atmospheres to create a stunning narrative of the place you love most.
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This stunning ranch style house is perched high on a hilltop and nestled among the trees claiming its rightful place on a scenic 200-acre property in Texas. The owner desired an ample yet understated home with natural and simple architectural expression that would blend effortlessly into the landscape that surrounds it. Heavy timber columns and stone walls ground the home to the site. Reclaimed siding and simple barn-like structures give the architecture a sense of history and regional belonging. Referencing the owner’s love of the old west, many of the interior walls showcase the same stone and wood that is on the exterior of the home. This gesture alludes to a time when materials were not mass produced but simply gathered from the area and formed as needed.
Beautiful Country Homes Tour
This post features tours of beautiful country homes designed by Beth Webb, an internationally recognized interior designer admired for her tactile, serene, and dynamic spaces. Beth believes beauty only works if it is calibrated by ease, and that elegance is rooted in simplicity. “Texture is my color palette,” says Beth, who uses a variety of materials and objects to create interest in a room. She mingles sinuous profiles with hard lines, juxtaposing masculine and feminine silhouettes to create compelling, sensual spaces. Layered light is another crucial element bringing a sense of warmth, romance and contentment to Beth’s interiors.
Atlanta Traditional Country Home
Today we begin a tour of a stunning Atlanta home where the pallet was inspired by the home owner’s (Jane Hight) vast collection of blue-and-white Imari porcelain inherited from her mother and grandmother. Having served as the accountant for interior designer Lauren DeLoach for several years, it was natural for Hight to enlist the designer’s help when decorating her home. When it came to a color palette, the pair looked no further than Hight’s beloved family porcelain. “While we knew we would use blue, finding the right shade took some study,” says DeLoach. “We didn’t want a too-saturated hue, but we didn’t want it too pale. We also needed another color to add punctuation marks here and there, so the salmon hue came from the Imari porcelain.”
Country Home Tour
The small and compact English-style country home is 1,400-square-feet and situated on a sweeping pasture across from the Inn at Brays Island in South Carolina. The owners hired Interior Designer, Beth Webb to create a pastoral blend of Anglo and Low Country traditions. “It’s interesting how a house this tiny can be so INCREDIBLY LIVABLE. Inside, all that extreme verticality means the rooms feel neither contained or compressed. Plus the house has a beautiful orientation on the property, so there’s a lovely dappling of light morning, afternoon, and evening. We took advantage of this as much as possible, especially in the galley kitchen, which we designed as kind of a non-kitchen kitchen, a space that looks more like a sun-splashed garden room with that huge window.”
Fall Decorating Ideas
Once leaves begin to change and the warm air of summer begins to turn crisp, it's time to start thinking about fall decorating ideas. Whether you have a cozy farmhouse or a modern rustic retreat, there are plenty of ways to add autumnal touches to your home. Remember, fall decorating doesn't have to be expensive or time-consuming. Pillows and throws go a long way in transforming a room quickly, and fall is the perfect time to trade out lightweight fabrics with materials that are heavier in weight and texture that add a sense of warmth. Use earthy hues and gorgeous knits for a well-layered look. Drape an extra throw on an accent chair or sofa to add coziness.
SOURCES
Akkim, Alia. Step Inside Sean Anderson’s Memphis Studio, Where Black Interiors Inspire Creativity. Architectural Digest. December 10, 2021.
Bernstein, Fred A. Designer Spotlight. Sean Anderson Marries Rough and Refined in the Southern Homes He Designs. 1st Dibs. August 9, 2021.
Blenkinsop, Pippa. Decorating with Black – 11 Inspiring Ways to Use this Dramatic Shade. Homes and Gardens. Last Updated: June 17, 2022.
