Rustic Americana Style for Design (Southwest, Spanish Mission, Lodge)

Historical Overview: Rustic Americana stretches from the sun-drenched desert of the Southwest, to the lodges of the Adirondacks in New York. These styles are grounded in the philosophy of hand craftsmanship  but are much more tugged in their execution and simplicity. They often include sun-baked desert colors, soft edges on heavily textured finishes and geometric patterns based on traditional Navajo Indian prints, with all materials and surfaces being hand-hewn in feel. Southwestern themes are more rusticated than Spanish Mission styling because of the American Indian influence.

The Spanish Mission styling shares many details with a Southwestern room but us more refined using metals more extensively and geometric patterns in woodwork. Patterns in materials (such as tiles) are influenced by the Moorish design aesthetics taken from Spain by Colonists to Mexico and then reinterpreted by settlers in California. 

The Lodge look is based on Western ranch building materials and methods: log cabins with leather furniture accented by naturalistic patterns and native geometric woven designs.

CABINETRY/MILLWORK: Walnut, pine, oak. Very rustic cabinet detailing. Doors with turned posts. Stile-and-rail doors with curved or square top. Plank door styles or square raised or recessed panel designs work. Cherry cabinets could be used as long as the style is very simple. Cabinet finishes can be whitewash, pickled, natural or light tomes. Hand-carved details in simple naturalistic motifs accentuate this space.

HARDWARE: Rustic metals, wood, wrought iron, pewter are all appropriate.

COUNTERTOPS: Countertops need to be natural and heavy in appearance and texture and matte in finish. Wood, slate, soapstone, ceramic tile are appropriate.

COLORS: White, off-white or neutral base color with warm, sun-baked color accents; grayed tones are also excellent accents.

SURFACES: 

 Floors: Generally random patterned flagstone, slate or wide random plank distressed wood floor.

 Walls: All surfaces are simple in finish; oftentimes, having almost a sense of Colonial whitewash                                                       finish.

Ceilings: White or soft neutral colors with dark, rough, heavy beams.

ACCENTS: The motif, in any pattern, is typically naturalistic. Reproductions animal pelts, antlers, baskets, fishing gear, sandals, landscape paintings, horticultural prints, etc. all have a sense of a rustic homestead. Wrought iron and pounded brass metals, succulent and cacti greenery, natural fiber, nubby area carpets in solid colors or with Navajo Indian patterns, leather or twig furniture and heavy pottery add detailing. Avoid accents that are imitations or traditional Indian artwork, or items that have a "Decorator Catalog" image. This theme is susceptible to becoming an overdone cliche' of a beautiful style.