Rooted in Red, White & Blue: How Americana Style Inspires Our Design
- jessica80703
- Jul 3
- 3 min read
Updated: Jul 5
When we launched our blog in January, one of the top questions that kept coming up was: Where do you find your inspiration? Summer is the perfect time to soak up new inspiration. This season, we’re sharing a behind-the-scenes look at a Nashville project coming to life and the dreamy vacation spots inspiring our work along the way.
The truth is, inspiration is always happening. I gather it constantly through my clients, my travels, the stories behind the homes we design, and the rhythms of everyday life.
But this summer, I’ve found myself especially reflective, sitting lakeside in Wisconsin at my in-laws’ house, coffee in hand, watching the American flag dance in the breeze. It’s a stolen moment before the bustle of family arrives for a full day of lake activities, where overstimulation reigns supreme. Relay races, yard games, a million conversations, card games, and food... lots of food.
This place holds so much meaning for our family. We come here every summer and try to soak up as much of July and August as we possibly can. A wellspring of design inspiration. It reminds me of some of my favorite travel spots throughout the US. Newport, RI, where we first were inspired to learn to sail, a friend's North Carolina cabin with a crystal clear lake, Sailing in Florida, and the Caribbean
As I sit here now, it’s impossible not to think of the influence Americana has had on my style over the years, especially the iconic, collected look of Ralph Lauren. Chicago, where I worked at the Ralph Lauren restaurant in my early 20s.
Design is Personal: A recurring theme
Before Dogwood Proper, before my home renovations, I was a flight attendant. That role gave me an intimate front-row seat to this country. From New England farmhouses to desert ranches, I absorbed so much about regional design without even realizing it.
It taught me to see in a new way. To notice. To listen to a place. And to understand that style is so much more than a mood board—it’s memory. I often say that we experience our home through all of our senses, and I love to lean into that.
The Power of Place
Wisconsin in the summer is pure Americana, especially in this small town of Winneconne. The creak of dock boards under bare feet, bike rides to the Well for ice cream, vintage thermoses packed for a boat ride, chipped enamelware, hammocks, baseball games in the background. It’s comfort, nostalgia, simplicity—and it’s beautiful.
That vibe shows up in the homes we design in quiet but intentional ways. Hale navy paint on cabinetry. A timeworn oak bench. An American flag framed in a hallway. You’ll see it in our projects because it lives in my memory. This is the kind of inspiration that doesn’t fade—it gets deeper with time.
Ralph Lauren’s Americana Aesthetic
I’ve always been drawn to Ralph Lauren’s ability to blend formality and ease, classic American luxury, meets rustic charm. I worked as a hostess at the Ralph Lauren Restaurant in Chicago in my early twenties, and that restaurant holds such deep inspiration. His spaces feel lived-in, elegant, and enduring.
You’ll see this influence throughout our work at Dogwood Proper:
A palette of navy, ivory, saddle leather, and brass
Deep, rich stained wood
Layered textures of wovens, and antiques with soul
Fresh Flowers, Billowing Hydrangeas
Tailored upholstery with vintage textiles
Interiors that feel as good barefoot as they do in boots
Our version of Americana isn’t themed—it’s layered. It’s a whisper, not a shout. It tells a story without needing to explain itself.
How to Gather Your Own Inspiration:
One of the best parts of summer is how naturally it invites us to slow down and see. My advice? Look for the details that make your favorite moments feel like home.
What colors show up in your memories?
What textures do you reach for in your most peaceful spaces?
What music, scent, or fabric makes you feel like yourself?
The best interiors start with emotion. They’re not built around trends, they’re built around you.
Final Thoughts
Americana style, for me, is about rootedness. It’s about place and people and heritage. It reminds us of who we are and where we’ve been—and gives us room to keep becoming. Whether it’s a Nashville farmhouse or a Houston forever home, the goal is the same: to design something that holds your story.
So as we celebrate this 4th of July, I hope you feel inspired not just by the flags and fireworks, but by the beauty of your own life. Your own history. Your own version of home. Gentle blues, reminiscent of water, combined with a rustic finish on antique items, feel inspired rather than kitschy.
Comments