Southwestern style reflects traits of the old southwest.  This often includes colorful area rugs, scenic wall hangings, and rustic furnishings.  You can bring a touch of southwestern flair into your home while maintaining an overall modern style.

Modern Southwestern Style would consist of contemporary style furnishings, and subtle modern colors, but integrate many of the motifs you would find in southwestern style.  For example, you could paint your room in the latest 2008 neutral color trends, which includes subtle and natural shades of green and blue.  You can add simple sleek modern furniture pieces.  Finally, you can find accessories reminiscent of the Southwest, and updated wall décor art pieces that remind you of the Southwest.  One such piece of wall art décor reminiscent of the southwest is this set of Two Velsen Metal Wall Stars. 
This set of Two Velsen Metal Wall Stars is 24” and 36” in diameter and are three-dimensional starts with simple cutouts that create a beautiful ornate design.  While they can be integrated with just about any design style, they are decidedly Southwestern and modern at the same time.   

This metal wall art décor set would be at home over your fireplace, over your bed, or in your kitchen.    If you have a tall ceiling as I do, you can purchase two or three sets and arrange them in a way that fills the entire all above the fireplace or above a doorway.  You can combine this set of stars with other star sets to create a unique arrangement on your wall.  You can even fill the entire room with various pieces of wall art that remind you of the southwest but are in more subtle colors and modern finishes.

• November 2007