Designing a Treehouse.
Welcome to the first installment of Treehouse Gallery’s design journal. The idea here is to give us another venue to exalt the virtues of rustic handmade, hand finished-in other words, touched-furniture and all of the attendant trimmings.
If you’ve ever been to our store you know we are lovesick admirers of furniture that has been handcrafted (and, sometimes, distressed beyond all recognition), rather than manufactured, and of accessories that have been created in the same manner. Or, better yet, that seem to have emerged straight from the earth, itself (how many olive jars is too many?).
You need only drive by the store to see that we have been in a mood for change. Not only have we repainted and added elements to the actual building, but on Saturdays we have The Emotional Gardener displaying a gorgeous selection of plants from her nursery. Come inside, though, and you’ll see that the storefront isn’t the only new face. Meet recent additions to the staff Teresa, Laura and Chelsea. They’ve come aboard just in time to help recreate the garden courtyard, fluff up the annex showroom and realize Bob’s dream of opening a coffee shop on site. And, because why have only one big project at a time when you can have a dozen, we are also designing an apartment to be featured in the Bungalowfest Festival of the Arts Design Showhouse. This is a fantastic event to be a part of and one of my favorite projects I’ve worked on in the six years I’ve been with the Treehouse.
Of course, whenever you decide to make changes, you are faced with the beguiling question of where to start. Admittedly, starting everywhere is maybe not the best plan, unless you are among the rare sort who works well amidst upheaval. I’m often asked how to go about introducing rustic furniture into an existing design style, and I think the best place to start, here, is with something you love or with something you need. Beyond that, there are just a couple simple rules of thumb to make an Old Indian Door Buffet look at home among a formal mahogany dining set.
Don’t try to match stain or color. If the pieces are all the same tone, but one is rustic and distressed, it will not look like an intentional design choice. It will appear that you’ve tried to add in a matching item and failed. Or, people may just think that the movers dropped it down the stairs. Better to choose something several shades lighter or darker. Or, a painted piece where the others are stained. For balance, add some accessories that do coordinate with the rustic piece around the room. The contrast can be lovely.
Don’t be afraid to pick a strong color, even if the rest of the space is neutral. To be grossly romantic about it, consider how pretty a single bloom appears on a field of green. You can make a color a focal point by letting it stand alone in one large element or create a mood by spreading it around in the accessories.
And, most importantly, if you find a piece that you really love, feel free to ignore any and all rules. You are the unifying element in your design. And really, what makes rustic furniture so enchanting is the sense that it has been loved.
Larissa Gilbert