BRINGING THE IN OUTSIDE ALMOST 25 YEARS AGO , interior designer Connie LaMont and her architect husband, Wayne LaMont, moved their family from Newport Beach, California, to the Seattle area and did something that might be considered radical for two longtime urbanites: They moved into the woods. The couple bought acreage deep in the Douglas firs and built a home that showcased the natural surroundings. They’ve been there ever since. “Living out in the woods suits us,” says LaMont, owner of LaMont Design. “I can’t imagine living anywhere else.” Enjoying Mother Nature doesn’t always mean retreating to the forest, though. Now more than ever, homeowners are intent on making their houses sanctuaries by bringing the outside in with nature-inspired colors, textures, and materials. Creating a soothing home environment and drawing from nature to do so is nothing new, but it has picked up steam in recent years. Many current decorating styles are nature-inspired, from “farmhouse chic” (whitewashed woods, floral textiles, glazed pottery) to “rustic industrial” (rusted metals, chunky wood, masonry). Take a cue from Mother Nature and avoid making your elements too “matchy,” LaMont says, because nature doesn’t decorate in this way. “Don’t go for perfect, and try not to square up everything,” she says, “but give them flow.” 24 /
Quarters magazine / SPRING - SUM M ER 2017
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