WORSHIPING NATURE FROM WITHIN

It might seem a stretch to say that a house or its occupants "worship" nature. But the romantic temperament takes enormous delight in earth, sky, sunlight, water, trees, flowers, and plant life of all kinds. A good home ought to express heartfelt feelings about nature, not only through the way the house looks on the outside, where it meets the land, but through the character of its interior as well.
One of the ways this is accomplished is by offering eye-catching connections between the interior living spaces and whatever lies beyond. A romantic responds to the idea of floor-to-ceiling glass or a sitting area extending outward toward the trees or an assemblage of corner windows that dissolves any sense of confinement. While sitting inside, you can be visually immersed in a rainstorm, snowfall, or bright, sunny weather. The goal, in at least part of the home, is to blur the distinction between indoors and out. The connection to nature intensifies when materials on the inside, such as a stone floor, continue beyond the house's walls. At the same time, it's a good idea to have some spaces that feel sheltered from the outdoors. Contrasts of feeling—openness and exposure in some areas, coziness and retreat in others—help make a home romantic.

Natural materials may be employed on the interior. Wood and stone communicate a sense of reverence toward nature. So does any natural material that's used as part of the house's structure, such as wood posts, beams, and brackets. Really mesmerizing emotional effects come, however, when nature in all its roughness is brought inside—as a wall built of logs, as a rock face, or some other element not wholly smoothed, tamed, and made mild. In some instances, the structure may evoke the character of nature. Beams and brackets that support a roof may echo the lines of tree limbs. A column may suggest a tree trunk. Analogies such as these can enrich a homes emotional repertoire. Where possible, existing natural features, such as a stone outcropping, might be retained and incorporated into the house. In a romantic home, nature is close by.