River & Cabin Decor
Life lived along a river in a cabin represents a simple life---one that's influenced primarily by its surroundings. This visual iconography plays so much a part in one's imagination that many people strive to bring its essence into their homes. They add pieces to their decorating schemes that recreate the look and feel of this lifestyle. Comfort and utility play a role in the selection of furniture, and they encourage the kind of casual living inspired by a life lived near the outdoors brings. Does this Spark an idea?
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History
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Cabin living developed over a number of centuries, first in Europe and then in the New World. Early settlers to the New World brought their log crafting with them, but stylistically cabin life---including the décor---changed depending upon the raw materials available for building, according to The Learning Channel. Early American style cabins tended to be bare, but featured a few treasured pieces that the new settlers brought with them on their trip to America.
Features
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Cabin and river décor fall on the rustic side of decorating. This is due to the materials used to make the furnishings as well as the goals of life lived in a cabin. Timbers taken from nearby trees make up the house as well as the furnishings inside. Often they remain unfinished, or if they do have finishing, it's likely to be a clear coat varnish type of finish. Additionally, according to Home Decorating Room by Room, leather is a popular upholstery choice for cabin furniture. Plaid and striped patterned materials also find their way into cabin living.
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Accents
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Handmade is one word that typifies the accents found in river and cabin décor. Beds as well as couches are adorned with quilts made from pieces of scrap materials. Cast-iron kettles swing from the stone hearth and hand-pulled rugs lay on the floor. A few formal pieces may exist among these handmade items like a gilded mirror or a framed portrait. In terms of color, river and cabin décor favors Colonial blue or oxblood red in the East and tans and browns in the West.
Considerations
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Furnishings and fixtures should reflect the simplicity of cabin life and preponderance for handmade things. Cabin dwellers looking to recreate the look of cabins in the 1900s should seek out items like hand-thrown pottery, light fixtures made of copper with mica shades and woven curtains, table runners and bed linens.
Extras
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God is in the details as the old proverb goes and so too is the feel of river and cabin décor. Those interested in creating the perfect river and cabin décor should look for finishing touches like antique fishing creels, canoe paddles or stuffed and mounted fish to hang on the walls.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit log cabin image by jimcox40 from Fotolia.com
