At Stay For Vacay, we are not in the remodeling business nor are we interior decorators. But it is important to us to keep our homes fresh and comfy for our guests. When it was time to renovate our mountain vacation home, Ski Lift Summer Drift, the goal was to create a mountain retreat in the Poconos. We wanted to incorporate a modern rustic design with the functionality and durability needed for an Airbnb short term rental. What better style to choose for our vacation rental home in ski country?! Inspired by the exposed wood beams on the vaulted ceiling, we decided to get some modern rustic house ideas as we began the renovations.
What is the Modern Rustic Design Style?
To get the look, first we had to figure out what is the modern rustic design style. We did some research and discovered a modern rustic house is defined quite simply as rustic charm with modern amenities. It has the warm tones of the rustic style and the clean lines of modern décor. It is influenced by the natural beauty of the outdoors and the materials and colors found in nature.
Rustic Charm, Modern Amenities
Modern rustic houses have a comfortable, warm feel. There’s an emphasis on natural wood, stone and metal. They have a neutral color palette such as brown, black, white and gray and possibly a pop of color. Cozy textiles warm the space. The homes also embrace natural light. The design should incorporate some of these elements. Before the renovations, Ski Lift Summer Drift already had some rustic charm we could build on to achieve the style. In a previous blog, Ski Lift Summer Drift Gets a Facelift, we highlighted some in the before and after pictures.
7 Modern Rustic House Ideas
Now that we know what it is, how did we achieve the modern rustic design in our house? Embracing the rustic charm with a modern twist, we focused on these modern rustic house ideas.
Modern Rustic House Idea #1: Neutral Color Palette
For our neutral color scheme, we used brown, beige, gray, white and black. Most of the walls are either beige or gray. One of the bathrooms is a crisp white with black accessories. But we did choose a pop of color to break up the neutral tones typical of a modern rustic house. Benjamin Moore’s Mystic Lake paint brings a twist of color to the kitchen cabinets. We used the same color in a high gloss finish for the fireplace. A pop of color that is just right.
Modern Rustic House Idea #2: Cozy Textiles and Texture
We used cozy textiles to warm the space. While most of the textiles we used were solid colors, we did play with some patterns and texture. A whimsical barn door curtain hides the washer/dryer in laundry area. Who says you can’t have fun with a modern rustic design?
Modern Rustic House Idea #3: Inspired By Nature
Since this is a townhome with units on both sides, we don’t have as much natural light as we might like. But we do have sliding glass doors leading out to the balcony with nice mountain views. This becomes the extension of the living space, bringing nature indoors. Also, we used stencils of a birch tree forest on a wall in the half bath. It was our way of embracing the natural beauty of outdoors in the space.
Modern Rustic House Idea #4: Highlight Wood, Stone and Brick
We had the most fun, and greatest impact, with this category. An added benefit is we started with many of these elements already in the home. The wood beams on the ceiling are original to the home. So is the brick behind the fireplace.
We searched high and low for a real wood dining table that would work in the space. When we couldn’t find the right one to fit the style, we had one made. And we got a matching bench too! The custom wood dining table and matching bench complement the wood beams. On Facebook Marketplace we got a great deal for an antique real cedar chest. It does double duty in the living room as additional storage and adds to the modern rustic décor. Let’s not forget about the new tile in bathrooms. The color and texture of the tiles give that stone feel.
Modern Rustic House Idea #5: Incorporate Metals and Modern Elements
You will see the metal influence throughout the house. The chandelier above the dining table mixes the rustic with modern in a surprising way. The fireplace is original to the house and is metal. Some of the beds have metal headboards. In the bathrooms, the vanity faucets and accessories are black and metal. Light fixtures throughout are metal and wood.
Modern Rustic House Idea #6: Open Concept Floor Plan
The open concept floor plan already existed. There’s an easy sight line through the sliding glass doors to the mountain views from the balcony outside. The townhome also had high vaulted ceilings and a loft space. To improve on what was already there, we played with some furniture placement and removed some furniture that was too large for the room. We ripped out the carpet and installed luxury vinyl plank flooring in rustic, weathered gray tones throughout the common living areas.
Modern Rustic House Idea #7: Comfort and Warmth
The fireplace! Warmth and comfort all in one shot. We painted the brick behind the fireplace to lighten the room. We added a chair/daybed combo and a throw blanket for the pop of color and extra warmth.
Now it’s not just a fireplace, it’s a cozy nook perfect for curling up with your favorite book and beverage of choice.
This fireplace is representative of our take on modern rustic. It has a pop of color. (Idea #1). There is texture (Idea #2). Inspired by nature…well that might be a stretch but go with it. (Idea #3). The brick surrounds it. (Idea #4). It is metal. Nailed it on that one! (Idea #5). It’s the focal point of the open concept floor plan. (Idea #6). And it’s comfy and warm. (Idea #7).
Bonus Tip
So, there you have it. Our transformation to a modern rustic house. We could only fit a few pictures in this blog. But you can see how the we used the modern rustic house ideas in the whole house by checking out the Ski Lift Summer Drift gallery page. Many more pictures are there.
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