Recently, I made a house call to a potential client who lives in a house similar to this one.

She and her family recently moved here from a much larger home and is looking to decorate using her existing furnishings as well as a few new pieces.

When decorating your home I believe the interior decor should reflect the character of the exterior.  With that said, which room would you expect to see in the home pictured above?

 If you chose the image labeled “C,” then I would agree. Most homes built like this one are located in heavily wooded areas and sometimes sit on lakefront property.  Usually parquet floors can be found in the foyer, heavy wood cabinetry in the kitchen, vaulted cedar ceilings and a stone fireplace in the family room, skylights throughout, and sometimes a loft overlooking the family room.

Unless you are planning a complete renovation both inside and out, I would recommend going with a rustic style decor based on the existing architectural elements.  Instead of fighting what’s already in place, try creating a continuous and harmonious relationship between the home’s interior and exterior.  Even if a rustic decor is not your preference, you can still achieve a look you will love. Here are a few examples of how to combine rustic decor with other decorating styles.

Do you agree that the home’s interior should reflect the character of the exterior? If so, which decor combination which would you select? If not one of these, what would you do?