From cowboy ranches to adobe haciendas: how to do a Western-inspired interior without being kitsch

Design elements taken from the natural world are of course a huge part of a Western interior. Western traditions are drawn from old ways of life that involved living off the land, in a dramatic and awe-inspiring landscape, and even in the modern world, it’s impossible to imagine living in the West without being in love with that landscape. “The West,” Meta points out, “is known for its national parks and efforts to preserve the unique beauty and diversity of the landscape.” She cites the use of “natural materials, rocks from the mountains and rivers, and local wood in the flooring, walls and ceilings,” as hallmarks of the style, wherever you look. Wood is hugely important, as one can see from the characteristic ‘swollen burl’ furniture of Thomas Molesworth and his successors, which incorporated the swollen knots that trees sometimes form, in order to suggest that the wood was completely unrefined and reflective of its original natural state. Monumental stone fireplaces are another recognisable feature of the Western interior, often with stones simply stacked on top of each other in their natural shape, again suggesting the idea that few human processes have intervened between nature and architecture. In the south-west, the use of adobe (mud-brick), and white clay for walls is similar – these are the materials that have naturally and necessarily been used for buildings for thousands of years, but they have now become part of a self-conscious decorative style.

The modern Western interior does not need to feel entirely raw and rough-hewn, however, and if you’re not going for the pure cowboy style, there are plenty of elegant ways to reference the natural world. “There’s definitely an art to creating something that feels quintessentially western without being kitsch,” says Emily Janak. In a log cabin she decorated a few years ago, for example, she used Atelier Vime’s graceful rattan pendant chandeliers to provide a suggestion of the outside world (though it was a feat getting them from Provence). “The rattan is fabulous because it echoes the hay that was in the field behind the cabin in summer,” she explains. Colour can also be enormously helpful in reflecting the landscape. “Colours inspired by nature of the west are what I am drawn to,” says Meta. “Pale green sage brush, the deep terracotta of the earth, and vibrant blue of the sky.” Tom Cox agrees. “I favour earthy tones and warm colours that reflect nature and comfort. Rich browns, warm reds, soft greens, and blues are my go-to shades. These hues complement rustic materials beautifully and add depth to my spaces. It’s all about achieving a harmonious balance that feels both grounded and interesting.”