Urban Country Style
As decorative styles go, country tends to the sweet, urban leans  toward the street. A new book, "Urban Country Style", marries the charm of  the former (baskets, quilts, weathered window boxes) with the edginess of  the latter (concrete, factory castoffs, galvanized pipe). It proves an  excellent match: Country takes on sophistication, urban is softened.  Together they are more interesting and more livable. One example: The book suggests using rubber treads typically found in  commercial stairways in a home setting. The industrial-strength rubber  looks completely different installed on the warm wood of a residential  stair, while adding a durability any household could appreciate. And another: When remodeling, consider commercial windows and doors rather  than standard residential options. Commercial styles, often very  contemporary-looking grids, are built to be more durable and allow wider  expanses of glass that can flood a room with light. Every page has ideas like that, and the photos to illustrate the appeal. --Washington Post, April 12, 2007Everything old is new again in this coffee table book about how to  modernize country home furnishings by following a six-element guideline  called F.U.S.I.O.N. (Functional, Unexpected, Simple, Integrated, Old, and  New). You won't find needlepoint samplers and calico, but you will learn  how to create a surprisingly pulled-together design aesthetic out of items  you wouldn't normally think go together: think scratched antique wood  tables paired with modern chrome halogens. We love this book for helping us  create a look out of mismatched hand-me-downs. --TrendCentral Newsletter, May 5, 2007The book goes beyond the vague "just make it eclectic" advice from  designers in recent years. When it comes to designing, Hickman and Gent  suggest starting with function. Functionality also visually bridges the gap  between old and new. A vintage farm sink and restaurant-grade stainless  steel shelving go together psychologically because both pieces are  pared-down and utilitarian. --Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, April 14, 2007The urban country look seems to know no bounds, with apartment  dwellers and condo owners also picking up on the trend.Much like shabby chic evokes images of soft florals and worn-in slipcovers,  Hickman and Gent hope the mention of urban country will bring to mind old  farm tables, galvanized pipe and beloved antiques. And for people who  embrace this style, they want to get across that it is always a work in  progress, something that will constantly evolve as long as you are in your  home.So turn off HGTV, hit the farm supply store and start thinking about ways  to make what you already have work for you, and add what you need to make  it more functional. --The Tennessean, May 6, 2007