Wagon Wheels Are on a Roll
Shedding their ignoble status, wagon wheels are turning up as decor and even art in fashionable interiors of all styles
Lisa Frederick
October 11, 2012
Houzz Contributor. After journalism school, I fell into decorating media and immediately discovered a new passion. An Atlanta native, I spent several years as an editor for Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles magazine before making the leap to national publications and websites such as Houzz, Better Homes and Gardens and Southern Accents. I live in Birmingham, Alabama, with my husband and son, who’ve gotten used to coming home and finding the furniture rearranged. When I'm not dragging case goods across the floor, I enjoy good food and wine, college football, music of all kinds, and traveling.
Houzz Contributor. After journalism school, I fell into decorating media and immediately... More
Remember the scene in When Harry Met Sally in which a character lugs his cherished wagon wheel table to the trash pile, having lost a fight with his fiancée to keep it? Wagon wheels have been the butt of design jokes since ... well, forever. One of my former magazine colleagues used the term for any interior that she found hokey and dated. "It's a little bit wagon wheel," she'd say as we studied scouting photos — and no further discussion was needed.
But wagon wheels aren't always the kiss of death for interiors. In the appropriate setting, treated in a fresh and inventive way, or reimagined as sculptural accents, they can look unexpectedly cool (yes, cool). And they're not limited to rustic or Old West decor; they have a place in all kinds of design styles.
Still skeptical? Check out the wagon wheel ideas below, then leave a comment and tell us what you think.
But wagon wheels aren't always the kiss of death for interiors. In the appropriate setting, treated in a fresh and inventive way, or reimagined as sculptural accents, they can look unexpectedly cool (yes, cool). And they're not limited to rustic or Old West decor; they have a place in all kinds of design styles.
Still skeptical? Check out the wagon wheel ideas below, then leave a comment and tell us what you think.
This, folks, is country style done right. In one corner we have an elegant upholstered armchair, graceful draperies and an Oriental rug; in the other, a tree-twig chandelier, a firewood barrel and a wagon wheel propped on the mantel. The rustic accents dress the space down, but its design chops are unmistakable.
A wagon wheel peeks from the top of the stair landing in this home. It harmonizes nicely with the wood surfaces and distressed accents and adds a little levity to the eclectic, brightly colored setting.
This primitive wagon wheel lacks the typical spokes and rim, and as a result it takes on a completely new personality in this Asian-style space. Its circle-within-a-circle design whispers of serenity and flow; its placement on a stand elevates it to art status.
Wagon wheel–back benches offer a down-home welcome that suits these Texas digs.
An overscale wheel-inspired light fixture looms over this living area. Its sheer size, coupled with a deep red finish, gives it flair.
Perched alongside a pair of playful metal horse sculptures, wagon wheels give this garden a Wild West mien that escapes clichés.
Wagon wheel chandeliers have been on the scene for some time, but this two-tier version — complete with lantern-style shades — looks especially chic. It brings down the high ceiling in this great room and enhances the Western sensibility of a Colorado mountain home.
A row of metal rims frames this patio and gives off a vibe that's more industrial than country.
Have I persuaded you? Let me know below!
Have I persuaded you? Let me know below!
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It ties together the wild west and the working class industrial factories of the 1900's. It fits in today in both a big city loft and a mountainous cabin getaway.
http://formandreform.com/wpstore/2013/06/horseless-carriage-wheel/
These are all such creative ways to use wagon wheels. I particularly like the wagon wheel lights. Those couldn't work for me, because my home doesn't have the rustic look. If I saw them in a cabin or rustic home though, I would admire the creativity.