Warm and Cozy Wildlife and Hunt-Themed Inspired Rooms
I don’t know what it is about this time of year…oh, wait…yes I do. It’s the chilly mornings and cooler nights, hot fires blazing away in fireplaces on blustery days and the rich, gorgeous reds, greens and golds of autumn leaves. Yes, those are some of the reasons I feel my love for cozy, warm rooms dressed in what I think of as a “hunt theme," reignited with a passion.
Before we proceed on, I need to state two things very clearly: 1. I could never shoot anything…even if my life depended on it. I am NOT the person you want to be stranded with on a deserted island when the plane crashes. You would probably starve to death, unless you like berries…a lot. 2. “Hunt theme” is probably the wrong terminology…but it’s just the first thing that comes into my mind when I wander into these stunning rooms filled with antlers and feathers and such.
Wonderful rooms, rich in history and tradition, make me think of old, country estates with men gathered together in front of crackling fires, sipping aged bourbon and smoking cigars. They conjure up thoughts of wonderful dinner parties with ladies and gents dressed in their elegant finery. While open, bright interiors are all the rage and I do love those, too…maybe we could take one room in our home and imbue it with this warm and cozy feel...if just for the season.
Before we proceed on, I need to state two things very clearly: 1. I could never shoot anything…even if my life depended on it. I am NOT the person you want to be stranded with on a deserted island when the plane crashes. You would probably starve to death, unless you like berries…a lot. 2. “Hunt theme” is probably the wrong terminology…but it’s just the first thing that comes into my mind when I wander into these stunning rooms filled with antlers and feathers and such.
Wonderful rooms, rich in history and tradition, make me think of old, country estates with men gathered together in front of crackling fires, sipping aged bourbon and smoking cigars. They conjure up thoughts of wonderful dinner parties with ladies and gents dressed in their elegant finery. While open, bright interiors are all the rage and I do love those, too…maybe we could take one room in our home and imbue it with this warm and cozy feel...if just for the season.
This family room/den has that definite "hunt" feel with the rich, green velvet sofa, plaid chairs, leather ottomans and antler trophies. A beautiful Federal mirror flanked with pheasants on either side, is a nice focal point for this cozy room. The aviary art work and deer accessories complete the look. I think I see a glass of Blanton's on the rocks in the foreground.
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| My own family room with warm, brown judges paneling, seemed destined for some "hunt" inspired touches. A couple of doggie lamps, pheasant plates, hunt painting (not visible in pic) and duck decoy helped to complete the hunt-inspired look. Now I just need an antler chandelier to replace the never-used ceiling fan. |
If stained paneling is just too dark for your taste, get your hunt theme room on with painted paneling. The red paneling and woodwork in this room is just gorgeous! Notice the artwork, zebra rug and ottoman and doggy lamp. I think I even see pheasant feathers tucked into a vase. Umm, I could definitely use that idea in my family room. This room feels like an updated version of the more traditional hunt themed rooms of yesteryear.
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| Like the animal/hunt theme idea but not so much the paneled rooms? Here's a lighthearted approach with zebra accents, aviary pillows, and deer statuary. Even the shelves get a bit of the wildlife theme with elephant and zebra forms. |
Here's a great way to get the country house/hunt theme going right in your entry. Hang some vintage fishing creel baskets from a hat rack or even from your newel post. This look would also be great in a back stairway, hallway or mud room.
This back entry of a low-country river house gets a touch of the hunt theme.
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| Dining rooms are a natural place to decorate in the hunt theme since traditionally that was how food was brought to the table. Do it up right with a big, beautiful antler chandelier. |
Antler chandeliers come in some very elaborate styles and every size imaginable. You can enjoy them guilt free since it's my understanding they are shed naturally and left in the woods, free for the taking. If that isn't true, please allow me to continue in my ignorance. :)
Have you noticed how absolutely perfect the color green is in rooms decorated with a hunt theme? Beautiful damask chairs surround a table with hunt themed china and a pheasant feathers centerpiece...all underneath another stunning antler chandelier.
While we are gazing upon hunt themed dining rooms, here's a little inspiration for a tablescape. The china used for this tablescape is Spode, Woodland topped off with acorn soup tureens and pine cone napkin rings. Flatware is Spode, Woodland, as well. The centerpiece is composed of pheasant statuary and live nandina, tucked down into a cache pot and accented with real pheasant feathers. The red pillar candle holders were topped off with faux antler candle holders.
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| This room with it's soft, green walls, warm, wood table, nature themed art and antler chandelier is a lighter, airier version of a hunt themed room . |
Love this candle holder. It would be lovely displayed in a dining room on a hunt board surrounded by silver trophies.
This mountain retreat is tastefully decorated in a hunt theme motif. Note the amazing antler mirror flanked on either side with pheasant feather arrangements. The walls are filled with wildlife inspired art and antler trophies while a side table boasts an antler lamp and horns adorn the coffee table. Even the firescreen has a woodsy, hunt feel.
by MCM Design
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Mountain lodges with rock fireplaces are natural rooms for hunt themed decor.
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| This bedroom could work well as a guest room or a young boys room in a hunting lodge or mountain retreat. I think I'd add one more antler plaque over the left bed, just to balance out the look. Note the swordfish painting above that bed.
Hunt themed rooms are definitely not for everyone, but the feeling is cozy and warm...perfect for our cool autumn days ahead. |
Ideabook updated on Nov. 9, 2010.
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These are some lovely rooms minus any animal heads, skins or limbs real or fake. I think they have their place on the actual animal not on someone's wall, floor or table. Antlers are OK because they can shed naturally and don't express or imply an animal had to die to get it. I think gorgeous artwork depicting animals is so much prettier. Thanks for sharing these, very nice.
Heather and Pat, thanks so much for your comments!
Mihalsky...I bet he will love it! I'm more the gatherer type, too. :)
-UrbanAccentsNY