NATURAL MATERIALS WARM UP A SPACE
AND CONNECT IT TO THE OUTDOORS
Though the lines and details of modern homes may be clean and simplified, that
doesn't mean the homes need to be cold and sterile. In order to connect with
nature, the ideal modern interior is warm and comfortable. Using natural materials
with an emphasis on texture. Using the exterior materials that literally slide
indoors; natural/organic materials that add an element of connection to the earth.
THE ENTRANCE SEEN HERE, to a home
for a multigenerational family on Whidbey
Island, north of Seattle, features a rustic
flagstone wall and cedar boardwalk. Native
Pacific Northwest landscaping envelops the
modern farmhouse complex.
The same cedar decking from the
boardwalk flows inside the house, creating
an easy transition between the interior and
exterior spaces. It also brings the feeling of
being outside into the house, enhanced by
the dappled shade from surrounding trees
that dances on the walls and floors.
The walls are clad in stained alder board,
and clear cedar planks run along the
ceiling. This marriage of different wood
types adds texture, warmth and interest
without overwhelming or cluttering the
space.
