| The unique look of rawhide lamp shades for kitchens | | | | and wonderful textures. This is where you can really |
| and country decorating has been popular since the end | | | | shine. You have complete control at this point. |
| of the great depression when women first began to | | | | Play it safe with earth tones of tan, cream and rust or |
| look at their homes in ways other than utilitarian. This | | | | be bold and use a rich orange, red, blue or green. If you |
| was the case with not only kitchens, but living rooms | | | | would like to have a western kitchen flavor just add |
| and later family rooms and dens as well. What is also | | | | dark red with grey, black and white. If you feel like a |
| now called southwest décor and western style | | | | southwest kitchen, choose a southwest rug with a |
| as well as ranch style came naturally as the designs | | | | turquoise background or accents. Different patterns |
| sprung from the use of everyday items. The same | | | | can be used around the space if the same color |
| was true with country style homes. As the wealthier | | | | schemes are used. The great thing about wool |
| class began to have second homes called country | | | | weavings is they are so versatile. Not only great on |
| homes, the working class began to use the same | | | | the floor, they also make perfect wall hangings |
| techniques in their homes too. | | | | because they are of tapestry quality. Place a long |
| As lanterns and oil lamps gave way to the first rustic | | | | narrow wool table runner or a small woven rug on |
| lamps it was rawhide that was one of the first chosen | | | | your table as a centerpiece base. Carry the theme to |
| materials to serve as a shade. If you like the | | | | floor runners in hallways, in front of the counter or |
| handcrafted work and style of a bygone area, the | | | | behind an island. It's hard to go wrong because woven |
| rustic texture and color tones of natural rawhide will | | | | wool rugs add so much to the overall design with the |
| definitely be part of what you want to incorporate into | | | | hand hewn wood and hand laced rawhide shades. |
| your country kitchen. There are also a few other | | | | By now your room is coming alive and looking great. It |
| elements that will help you create the country style | | | | just needs some accessories to give it the "wow" |
| look. | | | | factor and pull the whole thing together. One of the |
| For a country kitchen consider the natural look of | | | | best types of accessory is Indian pottery. Use clay |
| wood. It's best to keep with a primitive or rustic style. | | | | vases on the table or counter with dried flowers or |
| Rough edges and uneven surfaces are desirable. If | | | | eucalyptus. Native American pottery is perfect for the |
| you have a large kitchen, darker woods can be used | | | | look because it is usually hand coiled and more |
| whereas lighter tones are better for smaller areas. | | | | primitive in appearance. Place it around the room and |
| Rawhide lamp shades should be used in any area | | | | use pitcher and bowl sets or painted dishes to set the |
| where a table lamp or desk lamp would be placed. | | | | table atmosphere. Add to the homey feel with hand |
| Depending on the layout of your kitchen, a floor lamp | | | | carved wooden dough bowls, a primitive log ladder or |
| may also be utilized. One fabulous feature of rawhide | | | | wrought iron. As you will see, all of these elements |
| shades is that they are available in light or dark as well | | | | build on each other for a wonderful country kitchen |
| as colors to fit your particular color palette. | | | | and with a few variations on color you can also include |
| As you use rawhide lamp shades and rustic wood | | | | elements of western style or southwestern decor. |
| furniture you will be delighted to see the dramatic | | | | As you consider adding rawhide lamp shades to your |
| impact they make. With these two elements in place | | | | kitchen, along with the other design elements, it may |
| the back drop will be set. Now, there are a few other | | | | not be necessary to buy new lamps. Rustic lamps are |
| things to consider that will bring the kitchen to life. Along | | | | desirable but it is the leather lampshades that make |
| with rawhide, lamps and rough wood furniture pieces in | | | | the difference. You may be able to use lamps you |
| the kitchen, the single largest contributors to a country | | | | already have. It's amazing what a transformation is |
| kitchen are area rugs. Not the machine made versions | | | | made with rawhide lamp shades. |
| but real hand woven wool rugs with their rich colors | | | | |