A Twist of Americana for Modern Homes

As we prepare to celebrate Independence Day in the United States, we thought we'd take a look at the Americana design esthetic and look at some successful rooms that blend true Americana pieces with modern styles creating a warm, eclectic environment.

What is Americana?

In short, if it's American then it's technically "Americana." However, there is a common misperception that "Americana" is simply red, white, and blue flags and accents; things like bunting, carved and gilt bald eagles, early American flag varietals, or even muskets from the Revolutionary War Era. While this is a type of Americana, it's not the whole shebang.

In reality, Americana is so much more than patriotic colors and embodies a rich history of items that characterize all things American; whether cultural, historical, or civic in nature. Often Americana pieces include 18th and 19th century antiques, artifacts, tools, or historical maps. It might also include items relating to American folklore or cultural heritage (think along the lines of needlework, toys, jugs, hope chests, early to mid-20th century pop culture etc.). True Americana enthusiasts might include weather vanes or early American portraiture in their collections along with vintage Coca-Cola signage.

Here are a handful of general categories of Americana collections:

-- Patriotic (Flags, red/white/blue, stars and strips, etc.)

-- Colonial (early American furniture, homemade pieces, rustic)

-- American Legends (classic Hollywood icons, 20th century pop and sports stars, pop culture)

-- 20th Century Pop Culture (vintage gas station signage)

-- Fraternal Orders (memorabilia from clubs, organizations, fire departments, etc.)

What We Love:

For all the quirks and stylistic traits of Americana pieces, we believe that Americana elements can be added to any home style. Here are a few of our favorite examples.

Image Source: https://www.countryliving.com

Take this room (above), featured in Country Living. We love the mix of contemporary, armless sofas juxtaposed with more traditional pieces (look at the area rug, the foot stool). But more importantly, we L-O-V-E the use of the grouping of portraits on the mantle along with the antique glass collection. Subtle? Yes. But very, very effective!

Image Source: https://www.countryliving.com

From the same article in Country Living, this living room again offers a warm, eclectic blend of old and new. The Americana elements include the gilt American Bald Eagle crested mirror adorning the window. But also note the red, white, and blue J.F.K. poster on the wall.

Likewise, this living room (below) embodies the integration of Americana pieces into a modern look. Notice the primitive chest repurposed as a coffee table along with the collection of accessories on the industrial shelves -- an assortment of antique quilts, carved decoy duck, antique books, and a collection of large woodpins. Rounding out this pleasing look is a silver trophy cup serving as a vase, a bullseye mirror flanking the space between the door and the windows, and finally, adding a fun element of wall art with the vintage food stamps sign next to the shelves. Eclectic? Yes. Effective? Absolutely!

Image Source: https://www.countryliving.com

If you want to see more examples of rooms we love, get more ideas for integrating Americana elements to your home, or to see some of our merchandise to get the look, we encourage you to take a peak at our Pinterest board: Americana Twists for Modern Homes!

Keywords: Americana, patriotic, independence day, july 4th, 4th of july, july 4, american, collection, folk art, pop culture, stars and stripes