· Wallpaper might be an option — maybe even just one wall to add drama to a room. Add a texturized finish with plaster, sand, gold-leaf, parchment, faux stone, and a host of other paint techniques and you’ve created a whole other dimension to your wall surfaces. Texture adds depth and creates interest.

· Kitchen cabinets provide an
excellent palette for color/texture
innovation. “Cabinets have gone from
natural to stained wood to a full palette

of painted and texturized surfaces,” says one designer. “We’re seeing faux finishes such as crackling, stippling, stenciling, and whitewashing. All colors, even black, can be used in a kitchen with neutral or lively colored walls.”

· Keeping patterns simple lessens the competition with the logs. This is why so many log homes feature leather sofas and subtle patterns on accent pieces — it works.

· Area rugs work great with hard-

RAPID RIVER RUSTIC / B Y SCOT T AMUNDSON

This fully equipped bar, made of manzanita and redwood, was built on the spot in a style that would mesh with the family’s love of the outdoors. Note the waterfall that trickles into the sink at the center of the bar.

Then every few weeks review them and eliminate the ones you really aren’t excited about. Share this information with your architectural and interior designers so they can help nar- row your direction and keep you focused.

How to decide on a style

Start a tear file with magazine and internet pictures of the things you love early in the design process of your home.

Go to your library or bookstore and look at books of different styles and see which ones inspire you.

Sign up for log home open house days. Touring different styles of homes is a great way to really get a feel for what you like. Take notes and share them with your architectural and interior designer.

Unless you’re tackling a historic preservation project, it’s OK to mix styles. Antiques look great with contemporary art. Modern furniture in rustic textured fabrics is another way to go contemporary without feeling harsh. Think about the way you live and what the home will be used for. Look inside your clothes closet and you’ll be surprised to see a bit of a fingerprint of your design style. If you’re a jeans and T-shirt person, a formal style is probably not right for you.

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