Uncluttered, yet relaxed; simple, yet refined. Those seemingly opposing ideals come together in the Mission style of interior design. Also known as the “Arts and Crafts” decorating style, it’s inspired by both nature and fine craftsmanship. It first came into vogue during the 1860s, in response to the extremely ornate Victorian style which was at its peak.
In contrast to the pretension of gilded finery and mass-produced furniture with intricate details, the Mission style developed around a desire for home to be a place to offer comfort, rather than to impress. Strengthening family ties and nurturing friendships led to this timeless decorating style appreciated in many modern homes, today.
Natural Inspiration
One of the hallmarks of the Mission style is inspired-by-nature designs, such as the wallpaper of William Morris. In the mid-1800s, he was using natural pigments to create his designs, which he stamped with wood blocks, creating artistic wallpapers that captured the rhythmic beauty of nature.
If you do use wallpaper, use it sparingly and as a focal point; if the look becomes too busy, it becomes contrary to the principles of the Mission style. Solid-colored walls will be the norm, sometimes with a suede-like texture and usually in shades of cream, to off-set the wood furnishings. Other colors should be natural as well, such as browns and tans and subdued shades of red, green, and yellow.
Harmonious Elements
With the Mission style, less is often more. Bare windows can showcase fine craftsmanship of the trim or stained glass pains. If window coverings are desired, wood shutters or blinds are ideal, but Roman blinds or simple curtain panels hanging from wood or metal rods can work.
Instead of an abundance of contrasting textures and fabrics, colors should be subdued and muted tones close together on the color wheel — nothing striking or bright. Fabrics should be natural ones, like cottons, linens, and leather. Accessories should be simple, quality-made found objects made from natural materials such as pottery and wood. Light fixtures should be Tiffany lamps or made with simple designs from wood, pottery or wrought iron.
Expert Craftsmanship
The Mission style was first officially lauded in 1901, when it was featured in The Craftsman magazine. While an element of this design style is hand-crafted elements, today you can find mass-produced Mission-style furnishings and flooring options. But the heart of the style is still all about unique, hand-made pieces — which is precisely what makes Rehmeyer Wood Floors the ideal backdrop for your Mission style home.
In our world, “Custom Milled Wide Plank Hardwood Flooring” means exactly what those words mean. We custom-make each floor individually. On the same note, our “Authentic Hand-Scraped Flooring” is actually scraped by hand by skilled artisans without the use of power tools.
Perhaps you’d like to be one of the artists involved in the creation of your Custom-Milled Wood Floor? Our Extreme Custom option allows you to design your own unique floor! The Rehmeyer Tung Oil finish and coordinating wood accessories are also perfect for the Mission style.
Rehmeyer Wood Floors
Rehmeyer Wood Floors offers a full range of custom milled and engineered wide plank hardwood flooring. Rehmeyer’s flooring is all 3/4″ solid hardwood and sold unfinished, prefinished, or completely custom finished to suit your project.
Call Rehmeyer Wood Floors today toll free at (888) 474-4047 or visit our website at RehmeyerFloors.com to learn more about our custom flooring services. Based out of Shrewsbury, Pennsylvania, Rehmeyer Wood Floors ships nationwide.
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