As we all know, choices about home décor are very personal ones and often reflect the personalities and interests of the homeowners. Although my husband and I grew up in New Jersey and New York, respectively, we love travelling out West to take in the great big skies and rugged mountains, and to ride along the dusty trails that cowboys once traversed. While in Santa Fe, New Mexico, we stayed in an adobe casita with a stone fireplace and Georgia O'Keeffe prints on the walls. Textured fabrics with Native American designs adorned the furniture and earthy tones throughout the space brought in a sense of the outdoors.
At the time, we both remarked on the cozy, warm and comfortable feelings evoked in us by our little casita. Later trips to Sedona, Arizona, and Jackson, Wyoming, further sparked our passion for all things Southwestern. While in Denver, Colorado, we purchased a dining room set made of Aspen wood and some decorative accessories to make our New Jersey home feel like a rustic Colorado cabin. Rich birch hardwood floors are featured on the entire first level of our home, and hues of rusts, golds and teal throughout the house enhance the Southwestern effect.
An appreciation of nature and the outdoors is an integral part of Native American culture, and our living room's panoramic windows enable us to view the wildlife in our yard and watch the snow fall on chilly, winter days. Special touches like clusters of ceramic pots, a large copper kettle that serves as a coffee table base and a staghorn chandelier in the dining room add to the fun. My husband, a dentist by trade, designs and builds Western saddles as a hobby. They are displayed on colorful wool saddle blankets with bold geometric patterns. Our aim was to capture a sense of the spirituality and serene beauty of the American West. Take a peek at the photos of our home and... happy trails!
Bari Ecker House Tour
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