Mission style, or Arts & Crafts, is characterized by a style
of home design and furnishings that emphasizes natural
materials (especially wood) and showcases precise straight
lines in squares and rectangles in its design. The pieces
are generally sturdy, with a classic and timeless appeal
making it functional and aesthetic. When creating your own
Mission style interior, there are several elements to
consider.

The materials of a Mission style interior also emphasize
stone, glass, ceramic tiles, and textiles (using wool,
cotton, linen fibers, and leather). For wood, oak was
typically used, but natural cherry is now frequently
enjoyed. Oak possesses a golden brown shine, while the
cherry is more red in color. The beauty of these woods is
that they both darken naturally with time, giving them a
rich color.

Oak is commonly used for flooring, molding, doors, stair
rails, and beams in a waxed or oil finish. However, if wood
does not suit your taste for flooring, you may use tile or
slate laid in a linear pattern. Handcrafted metal hardware
is used for joints, door knobs, cabinet knobs, and is
offered in wrought iron, bronze, black, umber, or verdigris
in square or rectangular shapes. If you prefer a more
subdued look, you can opt for a soft brushed pewter or
nickel finish.

The furniture used in this style is made of wood, and
sometimes, it contains wrought iron or ceramic tile accents.
The furniture shapes are squares, rectangles and octagons.
Coffee and end tables are typically made of wood and have
glass inserts in which the stained glass is placed.
Generally, there are spindles or columns of wood built into
these pieces and are another trademark of this style of
decorating. Also, tables generally have at least one drawer
and shelving for storage. Sofas and chairs have a wood
back, bare wood arms, and cushions. This style often offers
sofas or chairs that have a deep wood shelf surround, which
acts as the arm and a table. This is a characteristic of
the Frank Lloyd Wright design and gives the illusion of a
built-in piece. Leather is often used, as well as fabrics
in cotton, linen, or wool materials. Busy patterns are
scarcely used.

The walls are either covered using a textured paint or
plastered. Paint color schemes consist of burnt yellows,
chocolate browns, deep reds, oranges, and sage and moss
greens. However, all of the walls will not be painted in
one color. For instance, there may be one side of the wall
that is painted chocolate brown and another wall adjacent to
it that is a burnt yellow. The variation in color is the
hallmark of this style of decorating. The goal is to create
a home that has a harmonious feel and works within its
environment.

For fireplaces, consider wood or stone mantels that have a
stone, ceramic, or even brick surround. The wood of choice
for the mantel is usually oak, in a golden stain, and is
either waxed or rubbed. Also, the stone used is field stone
(that is stacked dry or with mortar) or river rock. This
provides a wonderful textural visual. The ceramic tiles are
usually adorned with a motif, such as a leaf, acorn, or a
shiny finish.

To fully appreciate the architecture of the home and
materials of nature displayed, try to keep accents,
accessories, and artwork to a minimum. This is an
opportunity to provide balance by incorporating elements in
glass, ceramics, and metal. When searching for accessories
for your interior design make sure to select pieces that tie
your design together while reflecting your unique style.
Pieces that have interesting lines make the room more
captivating. For instance, you can display a bronze statue
on a shelf or in a curio. You can also decorate with nude
figurines, fancy candelabras, angular clocks, centerpieces,
ornaments, and stained glass to create the look of a Frank
Lloyd Wright room. Kitchens, bathrooms, living rooms, and
bedrooms can be a part of this timeless design. If you are
on a limited budget, consider scouring garage sales for eye
catching items at half the price.

Another thing that adds flair is decorative pillows.
Blending pillows that have elegant designs with your
existing living room furniture will help give the room a
Mission style feel while adding an interesting touch. The
beauty about pillows is that you can display them in other
areas of the home, such as the kitchen or bath on chairs or
shelving.

For wall art, you can hang Art Nouveau prints placed in
vintage oak frames. Historically, many of the Mission style
homes displayed art glass windows. This gave the
opportunity to leave windows uncovered, while appearing
decorative. However, in this day, art glass windows are
costly. You may opt for Roman shade, silhouettes, wood
blinds, or tab panels hung on a wood or wrought iron rod.
For tiebacks, consider sisal tassels, simple, or a band of
matching fabric. Fabric patterns used may be a leaf print
or one with geometric designs.

Lighting in a Mission home is important because of all the
dark wood. Mission style lamps and lighting fixtures are
generally made from brass or iron and have square glass
shades and square brass tubing. Table and floor lamps in
this style possess a simple elegance, with basic shapes
created out of iron and copper and linked to large chains in
fixtures. What were common in this period were lamps made
with square wooden bases and had stylish glass shades. The
characteristics intrinsic to this style were functionality,
simplicity, and excellent craftsmanship. For lighting,
table lamps and floor lamps are good for general lighting
and for providing ambiance. You can include accent lighting
through the use of mantel lamps, sconces, and dresser lamps.
The two most prevalent types of lamps are those in mica and
metal designs, with the body of the lamp being hammered
bronze or copper, and the shade is made from a sheet of
mica; and the glass lamps with a wood or art glass base, and
shades of glass in geometric patterns.

Giorgina Devereaux is the creator of AskGiorgina.com, which features questions, answers, and ideas on home decor and furniture. For more information, please visit http://www.AskGiorgina.com