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7 Elements of New England Style

7 Elements of New England Style | Read how the elements of the different regions of New England influence decor and architecture in a Massachusetts home.

For a long time, I had difficulty when it came to categorizing my style. As I often say, I don’t actually believe that most people fit into one neat little category in any part of life, and decor style is no exception. I would go bananas if I boxed myself into something like “farmhouse” without leaving the door open to other styles. My decor has always been a blend, and I don’t forsee that changing anytime soon!

I love Farmhouse style, but I also love Coastal style, and Cottage. Sometimes I even bring in hints of primitive, traditional, and rustic style. It took me way too long to realize what perhaps should have been obvious from the beginning: I have New England style. I’m inspired by this region that I was born in and I am head over heels in love with the architecture of. Every single element of my design style can be traced back to the things I love about living here.

1. Coastal

Photo via Jane Ellsworth

I am and always have been inspired by the weather-beaten coast, with its proud lighthouses and salty cedar shingles. When it comes to yard choices, Nantucket is my ultimate inspiration with its Adirondack chairs, abundant gardens, and most of all- hydrangeas the size of dinner plates. Ogunquit, Maine calls to me with its rocky coastline, crystal blue water, stunning homes, and quaint little Perkin’s Cove. Whenever I pull blue into my home- both navy and lighter shades, those are the places I’m imagining.

Our Camp Porch

Elements of New England Coastal Style:

2.

Farmhouse

Sootheby’s Realty via Hooked on Houses

I know “farmhouse” is a buzzy style right now, and it means something different in New England than perhaps it does in other parts of the country. As much as I love the idea of acreage, farmers here usually didn’t have large plots of land as far as the eye could see. They had tidy yards and lived somewhat close together out of solidarity in a new and wild land. They fought and struggled to get things to grow in the rocky soil, and what they grew was to feed their family and hopefully even to share with their parish in an abundant year.

via Country Living

I will admit, sometimes I play the comparison game and I wish for a big airy farmhouse with tall ceilings and sprawling porches on a big piece of land. However, our Massachusetts colonial with its low ceilings and neighborhood is actually much more accurate to 1800s “New England Farmhouse” style. In fact, part of our neighborhood (which was a huge selling point for me) includes historic farmhouses with beautiful barns that seamlessly give way to the new homes. Those old farmhouses are the homes I draw inspiration from when it comes to the atmosphere of our outdoor space. Having a farmer’s porch and a backyard garden (and even backyard chickens- maybe someday) is very similar to how my ancestors would have lived, and having a stone wall in our backyard made it feel just like home.

Our Exterior Makeover

Speaking of ancestors, I would be remiss to talk about New England Farmhouses without talking about my home state of New Hampshire. Both sides of my family had beautiful homes of historic farmhouses filled with antiques, big barns, and stone walls that were my playscapes as a child. Nothing has influenced my style quite as much as those homes.

Elements of New England Farmhouse Style:

3.

Primitive

Strawberry Banke via Old House Journal

Primitive style is kind of the precursor to New England Farmhouse Style. It’s based more on the communities and villages of the 1600s Puritans.

I’m obviously biased, but my parents home (my childhood home) is a nice blend of New England Farmhouse and Rustic/Primitive style. It is a reproduction antique saltbox colonial with beautiful wood beams and tongue-and-groove ceilings. It brings to mind the oldest homes in this country, the 1600s Puritan homesteads in Plymouth, Salem, and Strawberry Banke.

Our Breakfast Nook

When you see me bring in raw wood and antiques, it’s often influenced by my parents’ decor. However, I went the other direction with my love of painting tongue-and-groove white (my dad cringes when I paint things white), so I didn’t adopt the style outright. However, I do appreciate it and I love to dream up ways to decorate in their home.

Elements of New England Primitive Style:

4. Rustic

via SD Architects

Rustic log cabin style is another common New England staple. Personally, I think it can be overwhelming in large quantities (like the interior of Camp), so I think it’s best to have a few of these focal points in a room without necessarily having a whole room that is floor to ceiling wood with wood furniture. Mack is most drawn to rustic log cabin style because of Camp. I can’t pretend it’s my favorite, but it is important to include in our home because it’s the only thing he really somewhat gives an opinion on.

via Country Living

For this style, think hunting lodge. Lots of wood, plaid, fur, leather- you get the idea. In our Massachusetts home, this translates to things like our wood mantle and pine dining room furniture, which were wood pieces in otherwise light rooms. In our decor, I bring in things for Mack like a dark fur throw, wooden signs, etc. Small doses.

Our Camp

At Camp, I haven’t done much yet. I intend to try to preserve the log cabin character but lighten things up with softer fabrics and white furniture. We’re going the other direction- breaking up an incredible amount of rustic orange-toned wood.

One element of rustic style I can get on board with is the coziness, especially in the winter. There’s nothing I love more than a warm knit blanket and a fire!

Elements of New England Rustic Style:

5. Cottage

via Country Living

While the Maine coast inspires me, the Lakes Region of New Hampshire is my true heart and home and the decorating style I most closely identify with. New England Lake Cottage style is a blend of the four styles I mentioned above. Like all of the styles, its inclusion in my home was once again influenced by family, from my part, my grandparents’ A-frame lake cottage, which we simply call “The Cottage”. Mack, of course, has the hundred-year family history of “Camp” and the dwellings that were there prior to the 1980s log cabin. Camps and cottages are an important component to New England style. Unfortunately, they are somewhat a fading component, as the trend seems to be to tear them down in favor of larger Cape Cod style homes. I get it. They were generally built cheaply and quickly and were not winterized. However, I adore updated cottages with their exposed walls painted a crisp white.

Our Dining Room

When you see planking and board-and-batten in our home, that is what it is influenced by, as well as any light and bright colors.

Elements of New England Cottage Style:
(a mixture of many other styles)

6. Seaport Style

via The Daily Portsmouth

This was hard to define. However, I wanted to make sure to mention that I appreciate the historic elements of New England coastal cities. Portsmouth, NH is one of my favorite places to visit (and eat! Oh my gosh, the restaurants!). It blends the new and old so beautifully. While I prefer Portsmouth, I love the historic elements of Boston and the Old Port in Portland, Maine, as well.

Our Exterior Updates

When I bring in dark metal finishes and lanterns, those places are what I’m picturing. My plans for a brick patio are influenced by Market Square in Portsmouth.

Elements of New England Seaport Style:

7. Traditional

via Boston Design Guide

Similar to rustic style, traditional style isn’t necessarily at the top of my list, but the influence is there. I feel like I could have pushed in that direction with this house and decor when we moved in, but I also think it would have felt forced and inauthentic to our family’s personality.

Our Kitchen

With that being said, the dark wood floors, white trim, white cabinets, and white built-ins throughout our home are a nod to traditional New England style. Really, if you removed the accessories and furniture, the base in a lot of the rooms in our home is pretty traditional.

Elements of New England Traditional Style:

All in all, I love the area I’m from, and I’m so proud to be a New Englander. I love that it has played so heavily into my decor style developing into what it is. Do you love New England style? What’s your favorite element?

Design Style 101: New England

above: VT Wonen Magazine

Last time we took a look at the earthy style of the Southwest, but this time I’d like to venture into the opposite corner of the U.S. and talk about interiors with New England style. Fresh coastal-inspired colors and nautical influences are the hallmark of New England style, but I wanted to show some interiors that borrow from the traditional flavors of the Northeast and add a quirky, contemporary touch—like something you’d see in a Montauk beach house.

above: Apartment Therapy

The houses you find in new New England exhibit lots of different styles, of course, but as an outsider and student of interior design, I always tend to think of the charming and quainter version you’d typically see in rustic cottages, coastal cabins and rural farmhouses. Each part of the Northeast has its own vernacular take on New England style, but most homes in the region share similar influences.

Shaker Influence

‘Tis the gift to be simple, according to the pious lifestyle of the Shakers who settled a large part of New England in the earliest days of American colonization. Ornamentation and decadence were considered to be distractions from the Shakers’ religious and spiritual journeys, so their homes were sparsely decorated with useful and minimalist furnishings. Think: peg rails, handmade baskets, ladder-back chairs, simple wooden cabinetry and neutral colors. Rooms were often white washed, floors made of simple planked wood, and fabrics were woven from undyed, handspun fibers. This look has timeless appeal and fits right in with the Kinfolk aesthetic that has become popular in the past few years.


above: Nadia Dole home photographed by Tess Fine via Home Adore

This puritanical style of homemaking also crossed over into rural farmsteads in the area, simply because of its usefulness and ease of maintenance for working families who didn’t have time or space for excess decoration. These were people who used their bare hands (or maybe gloved hands!) to chop down the trees and plane the timber for their homes, assembling the simple structures with the help of their neighbors. Fancy decor certainly wasn’t the norm for the hard working settlers of New England, though you could often find a few elegant family heirlooms that were brought with the settlers from their Dutch or English homes.

above left: Vintage House /above right: Holly Jolliffe below left: New England Home / below right: Brian Paquette via West Elm blog

Colonial Influence

As decades went by, settlers became colonists and bustling cities began to form, mostly around major seaports like New York, Boston and Baltimore. Whereas rural homes were influenced by farmers’ needs, homes in colonial cities were highly influenced by what was fashionable at the time in England and France—mostly Georgian and Neoclassical styles marked by simpler versions of Baroque and Rococo styles alongside elegant Greco Roman influences. So, instead of heavily carved and gilded decorations on every surface, rooms were more simply designed but still with classical decorative silhouettes, like broken pediments over doorways and on cabinets, windsor chairs, ornamental columns and nature-inspired murals.

This colonial style is what Americans now think of as traditional design, a fairly popular design style for New England homes. Tailored sofas, wingback and spindle back chairs and Chippendale style furniture are common examples that we see in contemporary settings.

above: Coastal Living Magazine

above: New England Home Magazine

above: Jane Frosh home photographed by Sharyn Cairns via Home Life

above left: New England Home / above right: House Beautiful 

Nautical Influences 

Much of traditional New England style is very heavily influenced by its coastline. Industry like international trading, fishing, and even the U.S. navy lend nautical touches to the region’s design sense, just as the terrain inspires the color palette. Colors like seafoam greens, sandy beiges, sunny yellows and sky blues are common, as are patriotic color schemes in red, white and blue. Materials like jute, driftwood and shiplap (wall paneling) reflect the materials seen on beaches, lighthouses, ships and fishing wharfs. Even fixtures commonly found in more modern naval ships, like cargo lighting (as seen below) and industrial metal dining chairs, are great examples of nautical influences in modern New England design.

above: Jane Frosh home photographed by Sharyn Cairns via Home Life 

You can get the nautical look without your home looking like a Florida condo by using more polished, traditional elements like the ones I share below. Don’t be afraid to add pops of fun and modern accessories (like that seagull print), but if you want the traditional New England look, try to go a little fancier with a bit of Georgian flair. Incorporate a few accessories made from elegant materials like bronze, gold or marble that boast tried and true neoclassical style. Or keep things simpler with sleek but rustic Shaker elements, like handmade baskets, flax material and rugged wooden elements. Why not throw in a vintage portrait (of a sea captain perhaps?) and your space will ooze the classiness associated with New England style.

Get the Look
1. Spindle back bench
2. Industrial pendant light
3. Pocket watch wall clock
4. Peg rail
5. Seagull print
6. Marble striped bookend
7. Wall anchor
8. Gray and white striped pillow
9. Metal dining chair (pair)
10. Jute rug

above: photo: Nuevo Estilo, designed by Luzio Barcelona via My Domaine

My favorite New England inspired elements are shiplap paneling (which I have in my kitchen), the pocket watch wall clock and those metal dining chairs. What about you? –Mandi

Credits // Author: Mandi Johnson. Images: Noted individually.

Houzz Ireland: New England Spirit in a Contemporary Irish Home

Gayle Wall Morris was delighted when a client asked her to decorate her house on the coast of Southern Ireland in the spirit of the interiors from the movie "Love with Rules and Without" with Jack Nicholson and Diane Keaton. “When customers can clearly explain what they need, relationships with them will be great. The owner delved into the process of design and construction, was always in the know, which made the project even better. Every month we went back to the film and looked at the home that inspired the client,” says the designer.

Wall Morris Design

On project
place: Southern Ireland

Property: One -story house "G", with attic
Size: 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
Who lives here: Young man
Designed by Gail Wall Morris, Wall Morris Design

When Gail Wall Morris was hired to work on the project, the house was already under construction - the building permit needed in Ireland was about to expire. “I live three hours away from this house, so we talked by phone or email. But the client and I got to know each other pretty well and got along really well,” Gail laughs. “By the time I arrived, the block structure of the house was already ready, we just had to make small changes.”

Lighting: Hicken Lighting; joinery: Teamwoodcraft; furniture: customer property shipped from the USA

Wall Morris Design

To create an interior that was as close as possible to the house from the movie "Love with Rules and Without", it was necessary to make the two-height open-plan space more intimate. “We achieved this through lighting and built-in wardrobes that marked the boundaries of the zones. Interior details were created using ornaments, panels and shelves, seating areas on the windowsill, cabinets and tables,” continues the author of the project.

The renovation, from the first interior discussions to the final details, took exactly one year. “In the end, I often went to the site. Teamwoodcraft carpentry made all the panels, stairs and woodwork. Compliance with my drawings is simply amazing, ”says Gale.

Countertop: Artefaction

Wall Morris Design

To separate the kitchen, dining and living areas in this spacious space, the designer used different types of wood finishes. “Around the kitchen, we built small niches to separate the low areas from the high ones. In the latter, panels of different widths were used - a technique peeped in the interiors from the film, ”comments Gale.

Wall Morris Design

Built-in alcoves, interior doors and paneling on the walls and stairs all in the same style. When choosing paints for the house, the designer and client settled on a neutral palette.

Wall Morris Design

“I take great pride in my carpentry work. Carved panels help to divide the space, frame lamps, paintings or furniture. The panels on the top of the wall balanced the too high ceiling (5.5 m),” explains the author of the project.

Panel Paint: Off White, Old White; Wall Paint: Light Gray, all - Farrow&Ball

Wall Morris Design

Panel Paint: Tunsgate Green, Farrow&Ball; wall paint: Inviting Gesture 0393, Colortrend

Wall Morris Design

“A client and I agreed on a love for dark wood floors,” says Gale. - Such a contrast sets off the neutral range of the interior. To this combination, you can add another shade of wood, as well as glass and metal.

Wooden floor: Trunk

Wall Morris Design

Since the house is located in a remote part of Ireland, there were some logistical difficulties. The designer hired an assistant for this job.

Wall Morris Design

“I love the size of the cabinet. It's nice to walk into this small room with a great view,” notes Gale.

Wall Morris Design

“Many people ask where this clock on the wall comes from. My client brought them from the USA, but I could not find out the manufacturer. However, there are many similar options,” says the designer.

Wall Morris Design

A clawfoot bath was installed in the bathroom next to the master bedroom.

Wall Paint: Blue Gray, Farrow&Ball

Wall Morris Design

- Only legs were added to make the design more like the rest of the furniture. A blank panel was installed behind the legs so that nothing could roll under the cabinet, and it would be easier to clean the bathroom.”

Lighting: Visual Comfort & Co.

Wall Morris Design

The panels were also installed in the master bedroom. The room was decorated very simply - this is a place designed exclusively for sleeping.

Wall Morris Design

The exterior wall has porthole windows, one near the stairs and one in the kitchen. They were already done when Gail joined the project. “We beat this porthole at the end of the corridor on the attic floor. Initially, the window was not round, but we chose this shape so that it fits into the style of the house and is in tune with the same window in the kitchen,” explains the author of the project.

Wall Morris Design

This bathroom is located on the attic floor and offers amazing views. Gayle also used shades of gray here.

Washbasin: Artefaction

Wall Morris Design

At the roof windows, the designer arranged comfortable places for relaxing and reading.

Wall Morris Design

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American classic design

American style is a combination of historical traditions and the best modern trends. This direction in interior design represents convenient functionality and at the same time elegant simplicity. To decorate a house in the American style, it is enough to know the basics of this direction and choose the right materials for decoration.

In this article you will find not only a detailed description of the style, but also immerse yourself in the atmosphere of American reality. You will be fascinated by their lifestyle and ways to solve everyday problems with the help of proper home improvement.

A bit of history

American classics originate many centuries ago. Former settlers from Europe tried to recreate familiar interiors in their homes in the new territory. In its pure form, this was not possible, and over time, the interior design of houses in the States absorbed the specifics of the local territory, original components and echoes of the traditions of local residents. Therefore, "American Classics" is also called "American Eclecticism" in a different way.

Over time, the style changed and supplemented, but the general features remained unchanged. Idealism was replaced in the 19th century by a consumer riot. The reason for this was the industrial revolution and the wealth that fell on the inhabitants, who suddenly got the opportunity to decorate their homes without the rationality of the founding fathers. The decorative variety was supplemented by completely different types of buildings with their specificity for certain regions of the States. Spacious manors with arches were inherent in the owners of large plantations in the southern part of the country, and New England wooden houses seemed to be opposed to each other. Over time, the differences began to slowly smooth out and housing in the United States began to acquire common features and recognition.

Characteristics of the direction

Each style of modern interior has recognizable and typical features. And especially considered, because we all grew up on American classic films. Therefore, to recognize the classic interior is not difficult.

American classic characterized by:

  • Simplicity and ease.
  • Using natural materials.
  • The predominance of calm shades in the colors of the overall composition.
  • Technical equipment of the premises.
  • Thoughtfulness and comfort at the same time.
  • Absence of a large number of decorative elements.

To understand what it's like to live in an American home and "try on" this design for your home, let's get to know it better.

Open space

Imagine a spacious, bright, open-plan space where there is a lot of “air” and easy breathing. Liked? This is the American style in the interior. All rooms in the house are one living space. The exception is the bedroom and bathroom. The American-style house has a studio layout, as it has a minimum of partitions between functional areas. Usually there are no hallways either.

In Russia, it is possible to get American-style housing, but for this you will have to fulfill several conditions that are not easy for our country. First of all, combine the living room and kitchen with each other. If the apartment does not initially involve a free layout (new buildings), then you will have to do redevelopment, and this can be problematic, especially if the house is of an old stock. In this case, you need to obtain permission and draw up a technical plan.

Neutral

Ever since the first resettlement, immigrants from Europe tried to recreate their "native" interior in houses in the new territory. At that time, light shades and halftones were used in the rooms. Until now, the American classical style is characterized by the use of light colors of natural materials: peach, milky, light yellow, brown, beige, burgundy and others. To prevent the interior from looking faded, you can add contrasting elements of green, dark brown or terracotta. American style is not characterized by the use of bright colors and neon combinations.

Natural wood

Natural wood has been used on the mainland since the 17th century, but modern design allows the imitation of natural materials. Luxurious wooden furniture, wall cladding, artistic elements as decor - all this is inherent in the classic interior in the USA. Over the years, people gradually began to move away from strict traditions and clear stylistic canons, but still they did not completely lose the original style of housing design. Natural wood or its imitation is always present in a classic American interior, even taking into account new trends.

Classic flooring in the USA is parquet, wood or laminate. The ceiling is sheathed with beams or wood molding. Wall cladding is often made of wood panels.

Composite Lighting

US classic lighting - zoned. On the continent, it is not customary to install a large chandelier in the center of the room as the main source of light. Americans like to highlight certain areas with local lighting. But this does not mean that large chandeliers are not installed at all. They are hung in the living room or dining room to give the interior a sense of completeness, but they are almost never used.

Residents of the country are big fans of sconces, floor lamps, spotlights and even garlands. Some especially romantic natures prefer candles for warm family evenings, but, of course, this cannot be a full-fledged source of light in the apartment.

Massive furniture

One of the recognizable features of the trend is large and comfortable furniture without frills. Highlights:

  • In the living room, upholstered furniture is placed in the center, and not against the walls, so that you can go around from all sides. Most often, the set is chosen: a massive sofa and several comfortable, soft chairs.
  • The bedroom is supposed to have a large double bed with a large headboard. Most often made of natural wood. Of the furniture in the bedroom there is also a dressing table, a chest of drawers, bedside tables and all kinds of poufs.
  • Kitchen furniture differs from traditional European furniture in its simplicity. Since Americans love functionality, they are not interested in the additional decor of the kitchen set. The presence of an island for cooking is another hallmark of the direction in the interior of the United States. Along the perimeter of the kitchen space there are cabinets, shelves or hanging shelves with drawers.

The Continent loves household appliances and buys them in large quantities. The concentration of various kinds of useful devices in the kitchen is the highest. American housewives value their time, so the working area in the kitchen is made as functional as possible.

Functional areas

Homes in America are not only places for recreation and hobbies. Every corner of the space is carefully thought out and equipped. Rational use of space allows you to quickly put things in order and keep things in their places. Residents of the country try to use every corner of their homes. Free niches are filled with shelves. Attics and basements are equipped with storage systems. Even the place under the stairs to the second floor is used as a storage room.

Discreet decor

When decorating the premises, a large number of decorative items are not expected. Conciseness and restraint characterize most American homes. The maximum that can be found as a decor is vases, fresh flowers, paintings and photographs of close relatives in beautiful frames.

Residents of the country have a special love for vintage: Clocks, furniture (tables, chairs, banquettes, dressing tables), screens and much more.

Plain textiles

Whether it's a contemporary urban classic or a rustic classic, you can't do anything without the right textiles. Curtains, curtains, blankets and other types of textiles are selected from natural plain fabrics. A simple discreet and low-contrast print is allowed. The American classic does not imply the presence of lambrequins, ruffles, fringes and other types of jewelry. Modern classic directions allow the installation of blinds or Roman blinds. Again, it is important to choose the right material and texture of the canvas. Shades should not be bright and catchy.

Fireplace

Fireplace is an indispensable attribute of the American classic interior. Associated with cozy family evenings, warm communication and winter gatherings. Nowadays, real fireplaces are being installed in houses less and less, preferring imitation in the form of an electric fireplace. This option will be suitable for a city apartment. For the house, it is still better to install a real one. This will not only add comfort, but also warmth. And how wonderful winter evenings are with the whole family by the home fireplace with a cup of delicious cocoa with marshmallows (a favorite drink of Americans)!

Modern Appliances

There are fans of home appliances in the USA. Therefore, the classic American style is so easily adapted to modern realities. It is easy to place household appliances in the kitchen, especially if it is built-in and hides behind the same cabinet fronts. In the living room, the inhabitants of the continent cannot do without a large TV and a modern stereo system. Often in the bedroom there is a TV, a wireless video intercom call panel, tape recorders and other useful devices.

A home office is a necessity for an American family. People in the States value personal space and are really crazy about space zoning. Therefore, the presence of an office allows owners to perform current tasks more productively and not be distracted by trifles.

American interior for a home in Russia

Thousands of children and teenagers growing up watching movies considered American classics wanted the same kind of home - spacious and comfortable. So back at 9In the 0s, many fell in love with this style direction, which to this day remains in demand in Russia and the CIS countries.

Even with some difficulties, American classic design is successfully introduced into Russian realities. The interior fits well into any spacious room, a classic house without a hall and individual bedrooms, where the dining room and kitchen are combined into one.

Learn more