Rustic
Furniture Plus.com!
 Rustic
is often defined as simple and unsophisticated. However, simple
and unsophisticated doesn’t necessarily mean boring and void
of charm. Rustic furniture, while purposely rough hewn, is largely
sought after because of its unfinished allure. It hints back to
a time when furniture was handmade from local materials.
Rustic home furnishings are meant to have a tactile appeal as well
as be visually stimulating. Texture is an important part of what
makes the rustic style so popular. Often made from recycled materials,
these pieces are meant to look and feel well worn.
Unlike many contemporary furniture designs, which often seem cold
and sterile, rustic style furniture brings a warmth and natural
beauty that simply can not be duplicated. Flaws in the building
materials, rough-cut edges (often with the bark still intact) and
irregular shapes help make each piece unique in appearance and texture.
The contrast of planed surfaces and rough, natural edges are part
of the simple charm of this style.
The history of rustic furniture can be traced back to the Adirondack
Mountains of upstate New York, during the later part of the 19th
century. Though it is often associated with the American elite and
their large country estates of the time, most of this type of furniture
was created by the poorer class and sold for cash, and in hard times,
traded for food. Many pieces from this period have been preserved
in museums and private art collections.
Modern craftsman continue the rustic furniture tradition. The majority
of furniture makers that specialize in this style are small mom
and pop shops. They can often be found in small towns across the
northeast United States and continue to use many of the same building
techniques practiced for the last 100+ years.
Each rustic furniture maker infuses their own unique brand of texture,
charm and style into their work. This can be done through a number
of techniques including carving, gilding work, and other types of
ornamentation. Many craftsmen have their own signature techniques
that make their work easily identifiable.
Rustic furniture pieces for home and garden are by far the most
popular items of this particular style. Bedroom and dining room
sets are often found made from recycled wood from the same source.
Barn wood, in particular, is very popular for these pieces. When
made from the same source materials, these sets have a cohesive
quality that ties the entire room together.
Mexican rustic furniture, while similar to that of the American
Northeast, has a distinctive south-of-the-border flair. Many of
these pieces are colorfully decorated with regional painting techniques
and designs. Because a tenet of the rustic style is the use of locally
available materials, Mexican designs are made from woods that are
often considered “exotic” in American markets.
Rustic furniture has been a popular New World style for over a
hundred years. This unique craft has gone from a style created from
necessity to a highly prized and collectible art form. It has maintained
its place in home décor through its inherent warmth and a
unique blend of form and function. Rustic can no longer be considered
unsophisticated!
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