Low maintenance

Natural materials tend to age well and be low maintenance. -And having stuff around that doesn't need frequent maintenance and replacing tend to give one more time to do what one would rather do!

Images from bungalowclassic.tumblr.com

Interiors with character (or, random inspiration 2)

The most inspiring interiors are neither the ones that were put together with expensive items, or are organized and anally matchy-matchy in style, or color, etc. The real beautiful interiors have a quality that is hard to easily replicate, they're not formulaic. They are not just for show, they don't seem lifeless and perfect as if the stylists have just left, or empty like a fancy hotel suite waiting for its guests. They are lived in and the inhabitants' lifetstyle added to the room's style. They have character.

Images from brendan-i-am.tumblr.com

Casually mismatched dining

Cool looking walls and a nice casual table set up with a mismatched variety of chairs make a charming dining room.

Image from theseabarn.tumblr.com

Colorful patchwork upholstery

Great way to use up left-over pieces of fabric... Don't throw that stuff away, make a quilt or upholster something; cushions, chairs... anything, with patchwork. The colorful stuff adds a casual vibe... creative and fun!

Top image from QuiltsPlusColor.blogspot.com middle image from decoratrix.com and bottom image from butahouse.blogspot.com

Cozy Scandinavian

I can't decipher the language so I am not sure but I think Norrgavel makes furniture and their gallery has some inspiring and beautiful images. That attic made a great bedroom with those exposed beams and rough wood, and the dining chair looks great, classic style but with modern clean lines, and all the kilim rugs and pillows in that bottom image make the the place nice and cozy!

Images from Norrgavel.se

Equipale furniture

I love these equipale chairs. The rustic natural materials, naturally tanned leather, and that they are still made by hand as they were centuries ago give them a lot of character -and yes, they are very comfortable and look great!

Top image from an ebay listing by roxx (obviously won't be there forever) and the bottom image from ppebble.blogspot.com

if it'll last it looks good

Cool chairs these... They look comfortable and like they would last and age well...

Image from DesignSponge.com

The good life

Clean, simple, rustic, and easygoing place by the interior designer Sarah Lavoine. Notice the lack of status symbols in or around this place. The exterior shots are great, I just wish there were more of them.

Images from CoteMaison.fr

Cozy living room

This is Amanda Peet's living room. It's bright, unpretentious, easy-going and comfortable. Way to go Amanda!

Images from DominoMag.com but I saw them on Decorology.blogspot.com first.

Flexible & eclectic -and I don't mean your aunt!

A casual and comfortable living room. The barn light above, that Adirondack style chair indoors, that red stool used as a side table, and that big pillow that can be used as a foot-rest are nice and comfortable touches. It's nice that you can move most of those things around as you see fit.

Image from HouseBeautiful.com

Long live long life!

I love things that last with little or no maintenance. These shelves and the chair below fit the bill. The chair has a warm wooden seat and back and the metal frame will keep it solid for a very long time so it won't become wobbly after a couple of years.

Image from NY Times' Schoolhouse Decor slideshow

Live the resort life!

The climate wouldn't let everyone merge their indoors and outdoors as well as they did at the North Island Seychelles resort, but the underlying principles of using natural colors, textures, and materials (along with an easy-going attitude) can be applied anywhere. Notice how the materials they used are not only natural but also processed and finished minimally, some are almost found objects. They also let age and the elements add some character instead of constantly refinishing and repainting things.






All images from North-Island.com

Sergio Rodrigues

Brazilian architect/furniture designer Sergio Rodrigues designed very comfortable furniture with simple structures. The Kilin chair below and the Woodstick sofa both have suspended sitting areas without any rigid structural elements poking you. And the natural/tropical look is just great!

Above - Kilin chair image from a dwell.com slideshow


Above two images of the Woodstick sofa from deconet.com

Atelier AM

I first found out about the work of Atelier AM through a DesireToInspire.net post and knew right away that their use of neutral, natural colors, rough textures, aged wood, and natural elements was a perfect match for Unpolished Life. When you combine such elements you get spaces that have soul!






All images from AtelierAM.com

Simple, Easy-going, Relaxation!

The UXUA casa hotel in Brazil created simple easy-going environments that are dramatically beautiful using inexpensive and natural materials. The log vanity with a plant wall is a bit over the top, I know, but everything else offers great and realistic inspiration. Well done UXUA!






All images from the UXUA hotel website.

Nightwood NY

Myriah Scruggs and Nadia Yaron of Nightwood in Brooklyn, NY, give new life to reclaimed wood and out of commission furniture. The look they create is easy-going, warm, and unpretentious. Hats off to Nightwood!


All images from NightWoodNY.com