If you want to bring an essence of Europe to your log or timber frame home, inspired by your heritage, travels, or just wishful thinking, Old World style may work perfectly for you. Old World style is influenced by many different places, from England to France to Italy and the Mediterranean. Your Old World style can take its inspiration from the sunny climates of Tuscany or the coast of Spain, or can take a more northern approach influenced by a French farmhouse or chateau, even a Bavarian hunting lodge. You’ll want to bring in elements from the Gothic and Renaissance periods of the 16th and 17th centuries.
Old World style combines warmth and formality. All aspects of the home, from the flooring to the furniture, have a comfortable, broken-in appearance that shows the patina of constant use. The rooms are welcoming but regal and grand but homey.
Setting the Stage
One of the most prominent characteristics of Old World style is exposed ceiling beams, which you most likely have designed into your log or timber home already. The rougher the beams or timbers look the better; perhaps consider using reclaimed wood that has a lot of wear and unique characteristics. The tone of the wood will contrast beautifully with your chosen wall color. The roughness of the wood also provides a good counterpoint to the more formal style of Old World furniture, art, and accessories.
Another common feature of Old World design is the curved archways found in Gothic cathedrals and Moorish designs in southern Spain. Begin with your front entry, selecting a show-stopping door with a curved top. The door style should reflect the area of the Old World you are bringing into your home, whether it be French country or Italian villa. Distressed or painted and aged wood with iron hinges, nail heads, and hardware will give visitors a hint at what’s to come inside.
Continue the same arches over windows, patio doors, and between spaces in your home. If custom windows and doors are not in your budget, many manufacturers offer options that will emulate the arches you are looking for. All of the trim around the windows, doors, and between rooms can be trimmed with substantial distressed or reclaimed wood to further the weathered effect. Again, if the arches on the interior are not in your budget, simply trimming any openings in wood will provide a similar look.
Color and texture play a large part in Old World design and you’ll want to bring both to the walls in your home. In a log home, design in some accent walls in the public spaces and perhaps consider drywall for bedrooms. With a timber frame home, your wall options are endless. Using stucco, textured plaster, or tinted clay on full or accent walls will bring color and lighter tones into you home and accentuate the beautiful wood structure. The wall treatment can be tinted light or dark to reflect sunny Tuscany, northern Europe, or whichever part of Europe you are referencing.
The floor is another place to add a feeling of antiquity to your home. If you prefer hardwood floors, look for wide planks that show the wood grain. Many of today’s manufacturers offer a hand-scraped option that shows the tool marks; others have a style that shows the “pegs” in the planks. Better yet, shop around for reclaimed wood flooring that has authentic age and character. If you want a French country look, painted and distressed wood flooring will be a great starting point. Terra cotta tile, tumbled marble, or brick flooring are also popular, especially in Old World Spanish or Italian style.
The fireplace is often the centerpiece of a log or timber home and it can help set the stage for the other Old World elements in your home. The scale should be large and the materials more ornate than the more common stacked stone surround. Carved stone or molded concrete will reflect the European culture and add an air of formality to the room. Less formal options include rustic brick or stone, tile, and metal. Consider mimicking the curve of your arched doors and windows in the fireplace. Adding metal accents to stone or concrete will increase the ages old appeal.
The European Kitchen
Color and texture are the keys to the Old World kitchen. Wood cabinets should have a rich stain but also look time worn. Kitchens in the 16th and 17th centuries did not always have closed cabinets, so consider specifying leaded glass or wire grille panel inserts on the upper cabinets with lighting inside to show off china and glass. Strategically placed open shelving will also contribute to the antique ambience. If you prefer a lighter look in the kitchen, install distressed painted cabinetry in cream or off white. For lower cabinets, select a style that looks like free-standing furniture, with visible turned feet. Bringing in a hutch and a wood-topped farm table will increase the Old World feel of the space. Using different finishes on the upper and lower cabinets and the island will add a lot of interest.
There is no reason you can’t have shiny granite countertops in the kitchen, but also consider unpolished granite or marble. Again, for interest, use different materials on the main counters and the island. The backsplash is the ideal place to introduce another texture and color into the space. Mosaics of natural stone, weathered brick, granite, or marble would work well, and you can add some artistry with a stunning tile mural above the stove or in another visible spot. There are many options for murals on the market or you can have one custom designed to fit your space. The range hood is another feature to highlight. Consider using a hammered copper, arched brick, or carved stone façade over the mechanics of the vent.
You can add another layer of embellishment to the kitchen with wrought iron, antique brass, or copper hardware and a hanging pot rack, colorful handmade pottery and glass, and rustic décor items.
Finishing Touches
Furniture in the Old World-style home is heavy and oversized but also comfortable and lived in. Consider pieces with carved, curved arms and legs upholstered in rich, patterned or solid brocades or worn-in leather. The furniture should look expertly crafted with a great attention to detail.
If you have a collection of antique European furniture, artwork, and other accessories, they will add an air of authenticity to your décor. Items such as a wall hanging or a dramatic pair of aged brass andirons are the type of details that make your home shine. If you don’t have an arsenal of antiques, start shopping estate sales and auctions to find things you love. You can add your finds to your home slowly, building on each item in the new collection. It’s important that the items you bring into your home look as if they were collected over time and generations, as they would have been in Europe.
Like all decorating styles, you can use what you like and leave the rest behind. You may love the antique European essence of Old World style, but you prefer brighter colors or less weighty furniture. You may not have the budget to add Old World details into the structure of your home, but you can still capture the overall look and feel of an old villa or country farmhouse. Designing and decorating your log or timber frame home should be fun and reflect your unique, personal style.