Holly Kuhn - 30 July

I have always been inclined to bring order and beauty to things around me. Whether it was at my desk at work, my dinner table, or my first tiny apartment, turning an ordinary space into something interesting and beautiful was an effortless and enjoyable process for me. As I began to explore the art of decorating, I realized it was more than just something I enjoyed: it was something that would shape who I am.

My interest in design started out as a collection of ideas about home decorating, and those ideas eventually grew into a retail store, Old Glory Antiques. I have come to realize that this collection is really more centered around an attitude about life. My growing love of decorating had presented an opportunity for me to identify, acknowledge, and now put into words those things that are most important to me. The ideas I had been collecting and developing were about how I wanted to live my life and nurture my family, build relationships and create memories, and honor the past in hopes of remembering what is most important as we build our futures.

My design work at Old Glory Antiques resonated with peoplefrom the thoughtful selection of merchandise to the carefully curated displays. Visitors to my store would feel comfortable and inspired in an atmosphere that felt familiar, yet fresh and new. I was often asked what term I use to describe my style of decorating, and I did not have a succinct answer. I decided to give my collection of ideas a name, and to define the elements that comprise my signature style so I could share my process. As I sat down to describe my approach, it was hard to determine if I was describing the decorating of a house or my attitudes about life. Indeed, I believe the two are closely intertwined. Home is not just where you live, it is how you live.

As I began to describe the elements of my signature style, I also discovered that I often draw inspiration from the ideas, the spirit, and the examples of people who have played an important role in my life. This signature style I have developed over the years includes an appreciation of hard work and functionality, a love of beauty and creativity, a respect for the past with an eye toward the future, and a pursuit of discovery, innovation, and individuality. These were ideals I had come to know and love as part of the great American spirit exemplified by the generations of my parents and grandparents, and they continue to influence my life and my design.

And so, my collection of ideas on decorating that had grown into my signature style was named the New Americana. This style combines worn wood finishes, classic home furnishings, and personal collections with ease and sophistication; and it finds inspiration in discovery and possibility.

The New Americana goes beyond stars and stripes. It captures the great American spirit in the design of spaces that are hardworking, practical, resourceful, and honest and that have an appreciation for the simple beauty in everyday life.

In the pages that follow, I describe the elements that make up this signature style and share spaces that have been inspired by the New Americana. It is my hope that you, too, will find inspiration and ideas for bringing beauty, comfort, and authenticity into your own home.

PartOne

Elements of the NewAmericana

Decorating is about more than creating a beautiful space oradopting the latest design trend. It is about creating a quality of life and a spacethat reflects how you live every day. New Americana style is based on the beliefthat authenticitycreating a space that reflects how you live and what makes youhappyand comfortmaking that space welcoming, familiar, and intimately charmingarethe foundations of a beautiful home.

Beautiful old shutters with original paint are the perfect backdropfor a painting of a West Texas landscape. An antique pine grocers desk with awell-worn patina completes the space.

InspiringAuthenticity: Foundations of a Beautiful Home

The design of a home begins long before the review of houseplans and the selection of paint colors. It starts with identifying what isimportant in your life, then being intentional about the design choices you make. Agood starting point is to think beyond design and the specifics of paint,blueprints, and furniture selection. Focus on how you intend to live in the spaceand examine what makes you feel peaceful, safe, and comfortable. Make intentionaldesign choices around what you have determined is most important to how you live.

Authenticity is one of the foundations of New Americana style and hasalways been one of my guiding design principles. I have never designed my home toimpress others. I design it for the enjoyment and functionality of my own family. Iadvocate being willing to set aside preconceived notions of how things should lookand design your home for the way you want to live in the space.

An example of this New Americana style commitment to authenticity inmy own home is how I went about decorating my kitchen. Since I am not much of acook, the utilitarian aspect of the kitchen has never been a priority for me. I do,however, love the fact that my kitchen is the place my family always gathers whenthey come to visit. Making my kitchen feel like a warm and welcoming space isimportant. It is the first place the kids stop when they come home; it is where weenjoy long conversations around the dinner table; it is where we meet at the end ofthe day to catch up. I like to make the kitchen feel less like a cooking space andmore like a gathering space, which may go against how most rules of design willdefine the kitchen. In building your authentic home, there are no strict rules ofdesign.