North by Northwest

As summer heats up, I often daydream about 

previous vacations when my family 

loaded up in our big blue van 

and drove from Texas to the northwestern 

National Parks: Grand Teton, Glacier, Yellowstone. 

So in honor of those memories, this week's summer style is:

North by Northwest

Old Faithful Inn ~ Yellowstone National Park

Dark, cool and inviting, 

Old Faithful Inn's Log and Limb Lobby

is classic rustic resort architecture and believed to be

the largest log building in the world.  But you 

don't have to go to this extreme to capture the 

rustic charm of the Northwest in your home.

Architectural Digest ~ June 2005

Our inspirational bedroom is located in Utah 

and features many of the same elements 

as the lodges that dot the 

northwestern sector of our country;

 wood, stone, neutral tones.

If you don't have stone walls, select a paint 

color from nature to help set the proper mood.

Benjamin Moore's Aganthus Green 

is a soft, tranquil green ~ like moss in the woods.

Next, let's find a bed.

Nantucket Thistle Lowpost Bed

I love this bed from 

Leonards

  It has a little more personality than a 

traditional lowpost bed ~ it's thistle top is in keeping 

with our nature theme and I love how high it sits, 

almost like being in a tree house!

For bed covers,  

William and Mary Matelasse' 

color~ bone~ from Williamsburg Marketplace.

Again, simple elements from nature 

layering our look.

Need extra covers under the cool breeze 

of the air conditioning? 

Maggie & Reese's own

 Pom Pom Throw 

in Rustic Brown looks right at home 

in our woodsy atmosphere.

Most National Parks rely on their 

natural beauty and wildlife to draw in visitors.   

Esty's Two Cats Antique Prints shop,

 is a great place to find vintage prints 

of a wide variety of animals 

in soft colors for your walls.

Since most of us do not have rustic wood paneling in our bedrooms, why not introduce the wood and stone elements of our inspiration room by replacing the traditional end table with one made of wood and stone!

Sandblasted Wood and Stone Table

And for the little finishing touches,

Etsy and Ebay are wonderful, inexpensive sources 

for everything from vintage dog figurines, 

to brown and white Transferware 

As you can see, it does not have to be expensive or overdone to create an inviting space, sometimes 

all you need to do is let nature take it's course!

A trip down memory lane...

Maggie's family circa 1993

Fishing in Yellowstone

City boys getting off the beaten path!

If you haven't been to a National Park, consider a trip soon. It is a great way to introduce your kids to their country.

And if you can't visit, please consider donating to our National Park Service

to preserve our parks for future generations.

Yellowstone's ~ Morning Glory Pool

~Happy Trails, Maggie

Be sure to check out our 

North by Northwest 

board on Pinterest!