[QUOTE=HydroPHILE;5691181]
I didn’t mean horses everywhere (ala horse-crazy girl 
.) I meant more along the lines of the American Pickers episode with the Shatners or the beautiful barn apartment from the other thread, etc. It doesn’t have to be “horse.” [/QUOTE]
Agreed!! Not a fan of the whole horse crazy look.
I put a thread about a year or two ago on COTH about decorating a la Ralph Lauren. Got lots of interesting responses. Do a search for it, you may get some ideas from it.
There is a GREAT book called “Equestrian Style”, all about different famous and not-so-famous horse people and their homes. It is great for inspiration!!
What I ended up doing was taking my two “focal” rooms and making them very old world eclectic w/ some horse-ish touches (i.e. plaids that vaguely remind you of baker print, or aged leather/iron/clincher type touches here and there).
For the library: multiple warm dark wood bookshelves-tall-with all of my books (hundreds). Books on horses were scattered among classics and new fiction/non-fiction. I prefer to buy used books b/c they add a lot more character, imo, to my bookshelf collection. I added the very neat Roman horse figurine that I purchased in Italy. Its unique and is small, fits on one of the bookshelves. There is a very small hunt print in a old burnished gold frame tucked among one of the opposite shelves. The walls were painted a warm neutral. I am lucky that my parents gave me some of their old middle eastern rugs-I put one of the floor of the library and added an old two seat sofa that is a neutral; threw a Ralph Lauren Polo throw over the back, included a couple RL polo large pillows. I should add that the RL polo home furnishing line is one of my best friends. I don’t use it all b/c I prefer to keep a mix, but the pillows/comforters/etc. are great for spreading throughout the house for a TOUCH here/there. Its usually elegant and gentry looking. 
Can you tell I’m a BBC dork?
There are a couple black/white polo and old hunting (as in bird dogs, men in proper hats and high boots, etc., very old sporting looking) prints scattered about, and a floor lamp that is black metal based with a wood table, with a soft neutral lampshade. The whole thing feels very gender-neutral, yet warm and comfortable, with a mild “english study” type feel.
I did my bedroom similarly. I like a warm yet not busy feel so I did the walls a soft green at the very lightest/softest end of the olive family. I kept the trim eggshell white. Its a pretty combo and very calming. I like the way it holds the light in the morning, yet never becomes hot or too bright. Very appropriate for a bedroom. I added wooden blinds in the same rich warm shade that my bedframe/dresser is. Its a British Colonial style furniture so already has a bit of that naturey feel. :winkgrin: (I lurve British Colonial.) I put a fluffy white comforter on the bed and paired it with a couple plaid pillows that most horse people would recognize. and a ton of neutral other pillows, then added a very classic leather chair/ottoman. On the chair, there is a foxhunting throw. I have my black/white competition photos and a few of my favorite black/white or sepia prints matted/framed on the wall too. I added a natural textured laundry basket and a lamp that echos that texture with a slightly dressier type fabric lampshade. Its a nice mix of elegant, natural-casual, with just a hint of horsey. In fact, if you popped your head into any of the rooms, I don’t think you’d even think “horses!”.
Etc. etc. like that through my place. I love the country manor look, and I love a british colonial look…I try to incorpoate both those looks with a few horsey touches here/there and it works for me. No complaints yet from visitors-including my mother! :lol:
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