Authentic, robust, practical, and refreshing, natural decorating is not so much a style as a way of life, a preference for relaxed simplicity after the overdesigned interiors of the eighties. Natural decorating takes the long-term view--incorporating materials that age well and improve with the years, furnishings that bring comfort, simplicity, and practicality to the forefront. The richness of chalky colors and earth tones, the easygoing sympathy of wood, stone, and terra-cotta, the refined simplicity of linen and calico, muslin and raffia--all of these ingredients work together in effortless combinations for a natural sophistication and understated elegance that transcend the fickly whims of fashion. Natural Decorating is a practical guide to bringing natural style to every feature in an interior.
Treatments for walls range from whitewash to organic stains to natural brickwork; floor finishes range from natural fibers to polished stone and limed wood; windows and doors receive curtains made of muslin, ticking, or parachute silk and feature wood blinds or etched glass panels; furnishings are a mix of styles and materials and covered in natural fabrics; display objects bring nature indoors to create simple finishing touches. All the projects provide essential information so that readers can assemble the look they want with ease. Supplementing the projects is a resource section that includes a guide to environmentally friendly products and a directory of suppliers.

Photographs by: James Merrell