If you want to expand your horizons beyond that one vintage horse poster Ikea made and we all bought, there are many options that won’t break the bank
This article first appeared in the May 2018 issue of Heels Down Magazine. For more stories worth reading, subscribe now in the app and get a new issue delivered every month.
Photography: Taylor Rea Photography
“Equestrian style” home decor seems to constantly be trending on Pinterest and in glossy style magazines, but how do we make the jump from dirty horse blankets on the kitchen floor to the clean and classic country style everyone is aspiring to?
Luckily, Heels Down Magazine found someone who is both a die-hard horse lover and interior decorator. You may know Alli Addison from her killer Instagram account, @miltonmenasco, where she chronicles all elements of the tasteful equestrian lifestyle, from high fashion to fuzzy ponies. We had a lengthy conversation about the convergence of horses and lifestyle, how to execute a luxury look for your home on a budget, and using “crunchy old bridles” as decoration.
Alli, 33, is a typical rode-before-she-could-walk horse nut. She pursued business and marketing degrees, and then a long stint working on branding in the California wine industry. She’s had an incredibly varied career, working with just about every kind of design aspect one can imagine, from construction to smoothies.
With dozens of client home remodels under her belt (which she did her best to infuse with horse references), her own home is full to the brim with personal and vintage equestrian pieces. “My poor husband,” she said with a laugh.
Defining “Equestrian Style”
In both fashion and interior design, the term is broadly used to describe something timeless, traditional and classic. For the home, think wood floors, marble, white and navy with cognac leather and brass accents. Alli combines these with a lot of neutral colors. “I love grey,” she confesses.
Incidentally, this look is not only very current, but also has staying power.
While horses are often associated with old hunt or racing scene paintings, there is also a wide selection of contemporary and modern equine art out there. Alli emphasizes that a more traditional home looks great with a few modern pieces, and vice versa. Mixing it up keeps your old-timey horse items from making your home look like a gentleman’s club. One of her favourite looks is a clean, fresh white interior with vintage tack hanging from the walls.
Decor Hack: Old Tack
Rusty bits, dried-out saddles, and those terribly unsafe velvet hunt caps come cheap and are fairly easy to find. Alli has her first pony’s bit hanging above her front door, a bridle hung nonchalantly from her coat rack, and old, faded helmets nestled into her bookshelves. Her tip is to create a collection of the same item, and display them as such. For example, she is planning on hanging six antique leather girths, inherited from a childhood friend, all in a row on a blank wall. “My husband’s going to hate it!” she exclaimed.
Sentimental mementos from horse shows, like ribbons and numbers, can also be featured in unique ways. A large, clear vase can be stuffed with show numbers, with notes and anecdotes written on the back of each one. As for ribbons, Alli recommends hanging them “messily, and in no particular order.” Color coordination is key, and her daughter requests pink fifth-place ribbons for her bedroom everytime Alli is leaving for a show. Her son is slightly more ambitious, asking for blues and reds. Green ribbons can even be hidden within flower arrangements.
Vintage treasures can often be scored simply by asking the clerks in antique stores to show you where the “horse stuff” is. A ten dollar bit of mystery tack or set of decorative old spurs can add the “authentic” charm that your muddy barn boots just can’t quite mimic.
Horses on the wall
If you want to expand your horizons beyond that one vintage horse poster Ikea made and we all bought, there are many options that won’t break the bank. A quick perusal of Etsy and Ebay reveals prints, horse head drawer pulls, and throw pillows to suit just about any personal taste. Equine artist Susie Benes even has original drawings and paintings for sale on her website for under thirty dollars.
You may also have a fantastic gallery wall hidden deep in your iPhone camera roll. Funny moments, portraits of your horse being adorable, scenes from the barn or shows can all be tied together by being made black and white, and sent off to be printed at Shutterfly. Addison says she “buys gallery frames from Pottery Barn, which are pretty cheap and they seem to carry all the time. Then, I cover a whole wall, floor to ceiling, in an Instagram-style photo grid. It looks fabulous.”
Doing it yourself
As for your own home reno, Addison suggests that the more permanent fixtures, like countertops, flooring, and backsplash tiles be as neutral as possible. “Neutrals are in right now, which I love, and also is consistent with an equestrian style interior,” she said. Bright, fresh and clean were the three words she used to describe what is happening right now for the home. Popular jewel tones, like dark teals, burgundies and hunter greens, can sneak in to the palette through your more expendable items, like furniture, rugs and pillows.
What about decor “don’ts”? “The brown rut,” Alli said immediately. “I go into some people’s homes, and it’s all brown floors, beige walls, and wood furniture.” Trying to infuse some white, anywhere, freshens it up, whether it be a wall or a bedspread. At the end of the day, she says, decorating your home is extremely personal, and the best sign of success is feeling happy in your space.
The takeaway? Let loose. Hang your old bridle on the wall. Add a pink ribbon, for good measure. Your personal treasures are the most authentic equestrian decor pieces out there.
