Emily Henson - Modern Rustic

Paint shades, wallpapers, fabrics and finishes the modern home can be decked out and dressed in every colour and pattern under the sun.

But in recent years, an earthy, gutsy interiors trend has emerged as the perfect antidote to this embarrassment of decorating riches modern rustic.

In it, interiors are laid elegantly bare, with striking details such as soaring rafters or exposed stone walls taking centre stage. The beautiful bones of a property are celebrated, as are materials, furniture and textiles that have sprung straight from the natural world, bursting with organic beauty.

Rustic wooden beams, pillars and lintels support this renovated Dutch farm building and contrast with modern touches like the sleek concrete floors. Walls are plastered with a stucco made using local river clay, which has been softly coloured using natural pigments. The result is a rustic wall treatment that is both environmentally friendly and offers excellent soundproofing, too.

Modern rustic style suits our current mood. In these austere times, we want our homes to look authentic, not flashy; we want our rooms to feel grounded and safe, not self-conscious and styled. In the modern rustic home, muted colours, natural materials, sensual textures and a love of simple, skilfully designed furniture creates spaces with real warmth and integrity. Every piece must earn its place in a modern rustic scheme, from the sofa to the saucepans, but the overall feel is relaxed, enveloping and calm. Despite its use of recycled materials and objects, this is not a typical vintage look; it is more original than that. Modern rustic incorporates the latest interior design know-how and exciting, contemporary materials, and brings rusticity with all its honest, unpretentious appeal, beautifully up to date.