Rustic Autumnal Interior Updates
Rustic Autumnal Interior UpdatesÂ
Autumn, the season of golden leaves, and long walks in the crisp country air. Whether you’re squirrelling away, keeping cosy, or hosting dinners for friends and family, read on for our ideas on making the home warm, rustic and comfortable in time for the change in seasons.Â
Curate Comfort with Accessories
Introduce a sense a comfort to rooms with beautiful textiles. Cushions and throws will bring a sense of warmth to interiors whilst pulling in eclectic pattern and rich autumnal hues. Opt for tones of soft red and burnt orange for a truly sought-after aesthetic.Â
 Smaller textile accessories allow you to switch up the look of your home seasonally. Vintage ceramics in particular are a wonderful way to add rustic texture to the space. Style them with a few beautiful ceramic pieces in the form of vases, bowls or sculptures to incorporate a rustic finish to your autumnal interior.Â
Stylish Storage
Though autumn is considered a season for hibernation, it can also be a time for rejuvenation. It’s the perfect time to reflect and consider the items which no longer serve you, and make space for new pieces in your life before the winter festivities. If you decide to have an autumnal clear out, it could be time to treat yourself to some chic rustic storage. Â
Make sure you have room for all your favourite cookware in the kitchen as well as those extra special items. You can even choose storage which offers a display feature, like a French dresser or cupboards with open shelves.Â
Dine in
For the ultimate autumn dinner party don’t forget to invest in a beautiful dining table. Our range of reclaimed wooden dining tables offer a beautiful rustic appearance with unique aged detail. When dressed with an autumn tablescape, they will instantly give the kitchen an abundance of charm. Allowing you to enjoy entertaining. Â
Whether you’re cooking for the family or having people over, a Home Barn table will look after you for years to come. Complement it with a beautiful wooden bench - most of our tables have the option of a coordinating bench to go alongside it. Ideal for refectory style dining.Â
We hope this blog has given you all the inspiration you need to refresh your home in time for autumn, let us know how you get on. Â
How to Choose the Perfect Kitchen Table
How to Choose the Perfect Rustic Kitchen Table
At Home Barn we love the warmth and welcoming appeal of a rustic kitchen table. Often the centrepiece of most rooms, it’s an addition that has many jobs; it can be a work station, a place where plans are made as well as an area to eat and drink. Â
All of our tables are handcrafted in England using characterful reclaimed timber. Each design detail has been considered to make them perfect for everyday use, as well as delivering a country chic aesthetic. For those longing to find the ideal table for their home, we have pulled together a few options below to help you find the best table to suit your lifestyle.Â
The Family Table
Full of charm, the Snowdon Table is a great rustic kitchen table for the practicalities of family life. The textural whitewash finish can easily be cleaned and maintained, and will also give complete peace of mind for years to come. Thanks to its characterful rustic appearance, this table will age beautifully over the years. Whether used for family meals, crafts evenings or homework sessions. Made from carefully hand-selected reclaimed elm, the Snowden has a perfectly imperfect appearance. A particularly wonderful solution to suit the practicalities of family life whilst maintaining a chic and welcoming aesthetic.
The Entertainers Table
For those looking for the ideal table to entertain guests and loved ones, the Modern Rustic Oak Dining Table is wonderfully suited to the host or hostess of any household. The option of 2 extension leaves is especially useful, it makes for a superior choice for organising dinner parties with friends and family. Or, equally it provides a comforting place for quieter nights when packed away.Â
The Modern Rustic Oak Dining Table is meant to be enjoyed, whilst elevating the look of a room. Handmade from solid European oak, it offers a truly timeless style and furthermore, is completely unique due to its individual knots and markings. Â
The Rustic Jewel
The Tennyson is a beautiful option for those with an eye for characterful pieces. Thoughtfully made from solid kiln-dried European oak, the Tennyson offers chic style as well as practicality. It is the focal point of any room. The naturally aged look of the timber is forgiving to the wear and tear of life. Offering a relaxed yet sleek appeal. This is the perfect rustic kitchen table for both modern and traditional style homes. Â
Pull up a Seat
Benches provide a lovely seating option for any rustic dining area. They perfectly complete the refectory look, allowing for more people to sit around the table. Additionally, our benches are made with the exact dimensions to perfectly sit alongside the chosen table. Providing an arresting and cohesive dinner setting. Â
With a beautiful selection of tables available across our portfolio, we hope this blog has inspired you to find the perfect table for you, whether it's for delightful dinner parties or quiet family nights in.Â
Introduce Vintage Homeware to Your Interior
Introduce Vintage Homeware to Your Interior
Our homes are places we hold close to our hearts, filled with love and memories. They are a reflection of our individual experiences, and personal tastes. Each room tells a story through the decorative pieces within it. Adorn your home with vintage homeware, and antique accessories to weave history into the aesthetic of the interior, and give a richer narrative to the story of the home.
We’ve pulled together a selection of our most useful ideas to help you bring the allure of vintage homeware into your interior.
Introducing Vintage Homeware to the Living Room
The living room is a place often associated with comfort, a place to relax and entertain friends. When decorating this area, it’s important to bear in mind the surfaces and textures within the room, as they add depth to the space. To decorate with characterful homeware, start with a rustic or reclaimed wooden bench. The soft undulated texture of the wood feels beautiful under hand, bringing interest to the room. This can then be decorated with treasured pieces from your collection, or antique accessories that have been collected through the years, creating a laid back, layered look.
Textiles are an important aspect of the living room as they give the impression of comfort. Including vintage textiles such as, hand-woven kilim rugs give a sense of uniqueness and character to the home. To give a further sense of comfort through vintage decorating, fill a rustic trunk or woven basket with blankets or cushions.
Bring Antique Accessories and Rustic Furniture to the Kitchen
When it comes to the kitchen there are several lovely ways you can add a touch of character with decorative antiques. Put together an eclectic mix of antique ceramics, and arrange thoughtfully on open shelves. Consider varying shapes and heights, and lay them out uniformly to draw attention to their differences. Alternatively, experiment with varying lay outs for a relaxed look.
The centrepiece of any modern rustic kitchen, is the reclaimed wooden table. The beautiful timber has textures, colours, and marks that can’t be manufactured and will evolve over time. Loved ones will gather around for generations to come, and the kitchen table will become part of your homes story.
We hope you enjoyed reading ideas of how you can bring a touch of history and sophistication to your home.
Summer Entertaining Ideas: Reclaimed Outdoor Furniture and Accessories
 Summer Entertaining with Home Barn
Though admittedly speckled with the occasional shower, British summertime also provides the most delightful opportunities for entertaining. With long warm evenings, and the scent of flora and fauna passing in a gentle breeze, curate an atmospheric outdoor space with outdoor furniture, and vintage accessories, to welcome guests into the garden this summer.
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Dine Alfresco with Reclaimed Furniture
Possibly the most important aspect of summer entertaining is dining outdoors, where everything tastes a little better. To create the ultimate outdoor dining experience, make sure to select a set of outdoor dining furniture. Our option of choice is of course a reclaimed wooden table, like our Garden Dining Table which is made from solid teak. For those looking to add a hint of rustic character to their exterior, this rustic table will slowly become more beautiful over time, weathering slightly as it’s touched by sunlight. Though we recommend covering for winter, when alfresco dining is sadly not so easy.Â
Once you’ve sourced the perfect table, create a wonderful outdoor tablescape. Lay your favourite crockery and fill a selection of vases with fresh flowers and foliage, preferably from the garden. For a sweet, eclectic look, you could use vintage bottles paired with lovely long-stemmed flowers. Not only is this sustainable as you’re repurposing the glass but it will add character and texture to the spread. Finish by scattering candlesticks along the centre of the table, (opt for vintage candlestick holders for extra charm) then you can dine by candle light under the stars... how delightful! Â
Garden Party in Style
Summer is the perfect time to have a get together in the garden, and enjoy the beautiful weather and fabulous company. To prepare for hosting guests, firstly, spruce up the garden with rustic outdoor furniture and vintage accessories. Then, you can gather friends for drinks and nibbles in the sunshine! Â
We like to make sure there is always enough seating for extras, so everyone can sit outside to chat. Benches are a flexible option, and offer a laid-back casual feel. Our Bamboo Garden Sofa has a cream seat cushion for added comfort, and looks great paired with the Bamboo Garden Armchair. This matching set exudes a calm, soothing feel with its geometric profile, perfect for creating an effortlessly cosy spot to unwind.Â
Add a sprinkling of loveliness with rustic planters. Repurposed pieces such as, our Antique Victorian Bath Vegetable Planter are sure to start some interesting conversations! Planters will also make tending to flowers easy and enjoyable, giving a summery feeling to the garden. They also allow you to style your outdoor event with fresh blooms, which makes for a charming environment.Â
We hope you can fully embrace summer this year, and enjoy the outdoor air with friends, from the comfort of your garden.Â
The Home Barn Guide to Sustainable Interiors
The Home Barn Guide to Sustainable Interiors
Sustainability. It’s the word of the moment, and rightly so. From making more conscious decisions about the clothes we wear and the food we eat, to eschewing plastic and swapping the car for a bike, we all know that we need to make better choices for the sake of the environment. The same goes for the things we buy for our homes.
When it comes to furniture, choosing antique or vintage pieces is about the most sustainable choice you can make. Here at Home Barn, we have always celebrated homewares which have had a life before they found their way to our Buckinghamshire shop. The brilliant thing about buying antique furniture is that nothing needs to be produced – a sure-fire way of reducing your carbon footprint.
Then there’s the fact that you’ll also be buying something truly unique, rather than mass-produced in a far-away factory. Really, who wants to have another generic item which can be seen in houses up and down the land? Antique or vintage pieces will add to the charm of your home, making it feel lived-in and loved, and they’re bound to be more of a conversation starter than something from the high street.
Our dining tables are all made from reclaimed timbers, which give them a wonderfully rustic look and means that you never have to be precious about the inevitable spills and knocks which will come over the years. Much of our glassware is made from recycled glass, and for special meals our vintage linen table runners add a relaxed sense of occasion.
Textiles add a lovely element of texture and warmth to any room and, old or new, our selection of cushions and vintage kilim rugs are always made from natural materials, which are not only better for the environment but also look and feel wonderful too.
When it comes to decoration, think beyond contemporary prints and posters. From vintage signs and ceramics to sea fans and sun-bleached shutters, adding decorative antiques to your home really adds interest, which can be especially helpful in modern or new-build homes. Even domestic items like vintage washboards and garden sieves look stylish when grouped in a considered way. It’s all about breathing new life into the old, so that it can continue to bring joy for years to come.
hope you have enjoyed reading our The Home Barn Guide to Sustainable Interiors blog post.
If you are looking for more daily inspiration follow our Instagram page
Sarah and Sally x
How to style your home for Christmas – with vintage details
How to style your home for Christmas – with vintage details.
We don’t do Christmas by halves here at Home Barn; it’s a truly magical time of the year when our beautiful rustic barn in the Buckinghamshire countryside becomes a twinkling beacon of all things festive. It’s especially pretty under a dusting of snow.
Naturally, we love the timeless appeal of vintage Christmas decorations; from zinc garlands to glass baubles, artisan tree toppers, candelabra centrepieces, elegant festive wreaths and plenty more besides. So here, we share our tips for using vintage decorations to add a flourish of festive cheer to your home.
Handcrafted and sustainable
Vintage Christmas tree decorations abound here at Home Barn (you can never have too many!) and we like to keep the colour palette simple and the materials sustainable. So consider decorations in rustic metals like zinc, tin and aged brass, as well as glass – such as our glass baubles  and glass icicles which reflect light beautifully. With plastic-free Christmas decorations in mind, our handcrafted zinc mistletoe garland is a great alternative to tinsel, while our traditional handmade decorative felt gloves and ice skate decorations bring with them a comforting touch of nostalgia. They’re perfect for Christmas gift ideas, too.
How to style your home for Christmas – with vintage details
Festive feasting
One of our most treasured festive rituals is feasting around the dining table with friends and family and we love creating Christmas table settings brimming with natural materials and twinkling lights. Mixing textures adds interest, so cut glass tealight holders flicker alongside a vintage linen table runner and foraged foliage, moss and berries from the hedgerows. When creating your Christmas tablescapes, think about adding interest at different heights. Try filling a glass bell jar with a cluster of pillar candles to add drama to the table, or create a similar effect with our tall candelabra table centrepiece.
Piquing the senses
We like to consider all the senses when styling our home for Christmas, especially when creating a festive focal point in the main living area. Cire Trudon scented candles [add link when live], vintage silvered glass demijohns [http://old.homebarnshop.co.uk/shop/vintage-glass-home-accessories/vintage-silvered-carboydemijohn/] filled with foliage, warm yellow firefly lights and textural decorations work beautifully together on the mantelpiece above a crackling fire. Arranging sparkling items such as our glitter bird decorations with real feathers  and vintage Christmas lights in front of a large rustic mirror reflects and amplifies the twinkling light. Throw a soft knitted blanket or fluffy sheepskin rug over a fireside chair for extra Winter warmth.
So why not come vintage treasure hunting at Home Barn and for our lastest updates follow along on Instagram
Sally & Sarah
xx
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Decorating with Neutrals – the Home Barn Way
The leaves have turned golden and are crunching underfoot, there’s a chill in the air and the nights are drawing in. Autumn inevitably sees us retreating into our homes, and frankly we couldn’t be more delighted. What could be better than a relaxed and cosy evening in, surrounded by the comforts of home?
Here at Home Barn, our countryside location means that we’re constantly inspired by the colours and textures of nature, and never more so than in the autumn. The quieter, less showy tones of umber, russet and taupe are a sophisticated palette cleanser after the brasher colours of summer, and provide some brilliant interiors inspiration.
Think of a rustic reclaimed wood dining table topped with a mismatched collection of ceramics, vintage linen and antique glassware in a soothing neutral palette. It’s an instantly calming and timeless look.
The trick to decorating with neutrals is to add layers of interest. Start with reclaimed or vintage wooden furniture and use vintage decorative elements which tell their own story to add texture. Our antique pottery and ceramics make distinctive vases to top a cabinet or dining table and look striking filled with dried flowers or even a single branch – an emerging interiors trend.
An antique mirror is a thing of beauty in itself and will also bounce light around the room, while framed sea fans and botanicals also add interest and depth to walls.
Soften the look with tactile natural fibres like linen and wool in subtle colourways. Traditional kilim rugs will add warmth and cosiness to a wooden or stone floor, and our vintage linen grain sacks make wonderful cushion covers. Don’t worry about things looking perfect – embrace the Japanese philosophy of wabi sabi, which sees the beauty in imperfection.
Decorating with neutrals doesn’t mean that colour can’t play a role, too. In fact, a pop of colour can really make the look hang together. A soft, mustard-yellow cushion amid a group of grey, taupe and ivory fabrics adds an unexpected element – rather like the sun coming out on an autumn day.
Sally and Sarah x
