Gaucho glamour

Cowhide rugs and rustic touches soften modern interiors

For their home, restaurateur Ken Oringer and his wife, Celine, were inspired by Argentine design, which he describes as ''a modern take on the American Wild West.'' (Essdras M Suarez/Globe Staff)

Known for tango, Malbec, grass-fed beef, and gorgeous scenery, Argentina is turning heads for its fresh approach to interior design.

Long called the Paris of the South, Buenos Aires is full of Belle Époque buildings, boutique hotels, and tree-lined boulevards with sidewalk cafes. Yet just outside of town, rugged estancias, or ranches, stretch all the way across Patagonia. The landscape's juxtaposition of modern and rural translates directly to the country's design aesthetic. Merging its European and South American influences, Argentina's style takes on a comfortable feel. Contemporary interiors on their own can feel cold, but Argentina's native accents warm things up. Cowhide rugs, leather chairs, and alpaca throws soften the lines of low profile tables and streamlined sofas. Clean lines, reclaimed wood, and splashes of color come off earthy but elegant. The mix is striking yet casual.

Restaurateur Ken Oringer has frequented Argentina's local parrillas, or grills, which provided the inspiration for his Beacon Hill steakhouse, KO Prime. After traveling through Buenos Aires, Patagonia, and Mendoza's wine country, Oringer and his wife, Celine, got hooked on the country's adventurous sophistication. It's reflected in the restaurant's lounge, filled cowhide seats, leather stools, and chunky wooden side tables.

The space felt so comfortable, the couple just revamped their South End brownstone in a similar style, with woods, metals, glass, natural fabrics, and pieces they picked up abroad (including handmade steak knives which had to be hand-delivered). They love the eclectic mix. Oringer calls it "a modern take on the American Wild West - with nicer finishes."

Argentina's gaucho lifestyle, polo farms, and grand estancias are all very masculine, which makes the style appealing to many design-conscious men. And for anyone looking to go more contemporary, it offers a way to keep interiors minimal without being severe.

"Furniture in Argentina is more organic and not too industrial looking," says Buenos Aires native Fernanda Bourlot, who owns Simplemente Blanco in the South End.

Bourlot applies the same craftsmanship and attention to detail to her earthy home accents, linens, and pillows. Textiles have long been part of Argentina's history and they remain the key components that make it so inviting.

When moving from Charlestown to the Macallen Building in South Boston, Suburban Shopper publisher Marjory Binder ditched her old furniture and started fresh. While walking her dog, Roxy, in the South End, she stumbled upon Diseño, which is packed with Argentine imports including leather chairs, cowhides, and colorful accessories. She immediately fell for the look.

"It fits my taste," Binder says. "It's relaxed European - you can put your feet up on the table."

Binder enlisted the store's owner, Frank Campanale, for help. Working with a few staple pieces, including chunky wooden tables from Diseño and a sleek sofa from Brookline's Italian Design, they added shearling throws, cowhide runners, and pillows in linen, silk, goat hair, and lamb's wool for extra texture. A few colorful ceramics and five pieces of artwork from Buenos Aires native Dalila Puzzovio added to the warmth and personality. Suddenly Binder's modern apartment was a comfy place to relax.

The key to the look is to mix the contemporary and the artisan, the cool and the hot. And even on a budget, the look is accessible. West Elm's fall collection is studded with sturdy farm tables, earthy end tables, and organic home accents.

A good starter is a simple hide, neutral or zebra-print, placed under a sleek table or layered on a couch. It's an attractive focal point that works in any style, be it vintage, traditional, South Beach, or Manhattan. Liven up neutral palettes with splashes of gold, orange, purple or red - many of the same hues found in old Argentine blankets and ponchos - and color can come anywhere from decorative glass to a bright blanket on the bed.

Campanale advises shoppers interested in Argentine design to experiment, but not overdo it. "A little bit of cowhide," he says, "goes a long way."