I bought a cheap piece of art the other day, a Target $40 black framed photo of a street scene in Italy. Why am I telling you this? I’ve never bought anything like that. It’s interesting that I’m just now beginning to figure out what I like and dislike. I’ve never had a place of my own to decorate. The apartments I had during college were fully furnished, and besides my cousins house, they are the only places I’ve ever lived besides this house. I’m learning that there are different aspects of my personality. My bedroom, the one before mom died, is romantic; purple and elegant, with dark wood furnishings. Then I moved into mom’s old room and suddenly I went the opposite with a more modernistic look. Oh, there are still touches of my romantic side in there, but it’s more subtle; a Thomas Kinkaid print on the wall for one thing. The dishes I picked out are totally different than those I’ve coveted in the past. When I was younger I tended towards frilly, flowery china, and what did I end up buying? Oh, there are flowers, but they’re not pastel – they’re on a brown background with leaves. This has been fun, this discovery of who Bailey Stewart really is.
So, does your decorating style realistically reflect your personality?
23 comments:
Oh goodness, yes. I tend toward traditional looking furniture, but in modern fabric (hence a leather couch, burgandy). But, I also prefer simple lines and colors. Not everything has to match, I like the eclectic look when it comes to my wood pieces, and adore antiques. But, I've tried glass and modern and ended up hating it. My plates, hahahah. The dessert plates are cats, by Warren Kimble, but the regular plates and bowls are white with green trim. I like your question!! *g* It's wonderful that you are finally getting to explore who you are!
This is interesting -- then again, most things are when I'm on a deadline ;) ... My tastes change, I think. With age, with the seasons, with financial status, and even just moods. I can totally love the purple romantic or thing with wafting white muslin curtains ... just as easily as I can go for modern, clean, functional lines or funky shapes.
I've lived in several different climates with very different geography and lifestyles, and that definitely impacts my choice in decor as well. My "African" look just doesn't look right here.
However, right now ... it boils down to who gets to do the cleaning and dusting -- The simpler the better :) :).
It is a neat question. Enjoy the discovery, Bailey.
I'd like to say, "No, of course not." Being a single guy, however, it's just me and my two cats, and I decorate my house to fit me. My buddies love it, but my daughters say the inside's a hybrid between a fishing lodge and a locker room.
Bill
I think so. I agree with Loreth. I find my tastes changing with certain seasons and most definitely with age. Funny how I'm sold on just about anything lime green, orange or yellow. I think I repressed myself as a child!
I think my decorating style reflects the fashion (or not) at the time. I've never been one to follow fashion, so if something's been "in", I've not used it - and I've owned several properties in the past 23 years. When Laura Ashley was in, mind, I did follow the same kind of thing, just from a cheaper shop. Then, when it went out, I started to buy from there instead. I do try to give different rooms different moods while still keeping them all tied in together somehow, such as the same coloured carpet/floor covering or brilliant white woodwork everywhere.
It's fun discovering new likes and dislikes. I had the same experience when I bought my house 5 years ago and my style has changed somewhat since then. I want to pare down, remove all the clutter and have clean open lines. Sort of an airy cottage look with some splashes of bold color. I'm still working on it bit by bit. Can't wait to get the ugly carpet yanked up and warm laminate flooring put down in its place...
Does that fact that I need to simplify and get rid of all the junk gathering in my house reflect my personality? Hell yes!
CUTE kitten in your avatar Bailey!
I don't know if I really have a decorating style. I tend to go more for the earthy tones. I guess it would be the Sante Fe look. As long as things don't look cluttered
Yes it does. I like simple things with open spaces. I like wood furniture and my colors are mostly white and blue.
I'm so glad you're able to discover who you are, Bailey. :) That is something that not all of us figure out (who we are, not necessarily who YOU are - LOL!).
My tastes change with the weather. And certainly with my moods. I'll spend a fortune on something one week and hate it the next.
Have fun discovering the real Bailey!
Nice to have found a little bit of yourself.
I think much of my 'style' is in rebellion to my parent's house. That is stuffed to bursting with things. I mean stuffed. I like space and simple lines (I'm the queen of IKEA). And then I like to add things I pick up on my travels. Shells, wood.
Unfortunately my house is a bombsite right now, the aftermath of Christmas with kids and the lack of book shelves (DH said we just needed less books--I let him live).
Hmmm... style... I think I remember that word, and it never applied to me. Okay, maybe it did only in that "she sure has her own style". *gg*
I've pretty much compromised to the tastes (or non-tastes) of my spouses over the years & now... on my own for the 1st time in almost 30yrs, it's interesting to find my "feminine" side coming out, and the need for light & brighter colors. It's spilling into the types & colors of clothes I buy/wear & how I have my home done. It's really fun to find these hidden aspects suddenly popping out!
oooh, somebody has the day off from work ...
Hey Bebo!
I'd love to get rid of all my clutter and go minimalist. Unfortunately the rooms in our house are too small and we have loads and loads of books, ornaments, framed photos, picture, etc. that we can't bear to part with. Mushroom coloured carpets are not a good idea when you've got black cats. I'm going to have to buy a Dyson Animal vacuum cleaner as my present one is useless. There's black fur everywhere and a new hoover will be cheaper than redecorating. It's great that you're discovering your decorating style, Bailey. I think mine is still evolving and tends to be influenced by practicalities more than anything else. *gg*
Personally I find it HILARIOUS that it is Bailey Stewart who you are trying to find :) :) :) :) :)
oh and my thoughts...I change everyday!!! Somedays I am very traditional...others not so much! But I have learn I am NEVER modern :) go figure :) then again I am home so seldom it is more my hubby's decorating that takes over...AND that is SCARY!!!! hee hee
I have no style right now. I've always been a bit of a traditionalist and that changes very little. I do want to decorate my office in shabby chic when I finally kick my kid out of there. Until my kids are grown to a certain age, my decorating is pretty nil.
This is such fun, to find what you really enjoy. People are usually surprised at the colors in my house. Bright colors, and lots of them. The kitchen is my favorite room (not that I cook or anything) and it's pear green. I've also been getting into the Indian trend, with a tapestry in the stairwell and some buddah art.
It is wonderful to search out your true self at any stage of your life. And Like Loreth says, tastes change as we age. Although, I still love the patterns, colors, and stuff from my early 20's, I wouldn't necessarily decorate my house with those now. Well, maybe a teeny tiny corner.
Probably the only style I don't like is frilly. Hate ruffles. I have a real mish mash of furniture from japanese pieces to traditional to modern. It seems to work for us lol.
What you're doing--exploring the new Bailey--sounds like great fun and so wonderfully healing after all you've been through recently, Bailey.
I have atypical taste. My surroundings reflect my eclectic personality and, thankfully, my husband supports and encourages my self expression.
Our home is decorated with my artwork and my daughter’s, as well as objects and furniture I’ve painted. I also use lots of photographs in my decorating. Many are very old ones dating back to the 1800s that I’ve picked up at garage sales and thrift stores. I like the warmth they add and love studying them wondering who these people were and what their lives were like.
Isn't it odd that some of these same thoughts just crossed my mind too when I considered how much of my furniture actually belonged to my parents?
I don't think I've ever been a frilly kind of person. Well, there was one blouse that I got about 35 years ago that fits slightly into that category. But the dishes I have are Japanese with an orchid to one side of the plate. It's only a four-piece setting that I won from Avon.
I have never been the chintz- covered furniture kind of person. When we got it, the furniture fell into the minimalist Danish style. The art is somewhat eclectic with both the more romantic style of the late 19th C. and the more expressionist style of ? (forgot his name). The more romantic style was painted by my great-uncle: mountains, bouquets of wildflowers; parts of political cartoons and the like.
And then there are my travel and exhibition posters. Lots of variety to put on my walls. I'll do it sometime and send you some pictures.
I have four nice teak pieces, though I think I ruined my desk this summer with the perspiration from my arm while I was on the computer. Of course, there are also frequent white paint marks of unknown origin which my happy movers caused somehow. Nothing like having good furniture ruined by others.
My desk, my couch and my armed chair have been with me since my middle teens and I still love them, especially the desk. When I've got everything set up as best I can, I'll take pictures. I really feel fairly comfortable here though the apartment could be somewhat larger so that I can get all my books in.
Good show on the spam once again. I guess the people you were talking about re the mystery are, I assume, not the ones who have the noisy kids.
Overall, I think my tastes in furniture and decorating have changed very little. I can't understand people who'll change their whole decor on a whim. Of course, the financial aspect plays a big role too. There are a few things that I keep purely for sentimental value but on the whole they're things that I really like even if they're 50 years old, i.e., that I've had them almost 50 years. Of course the things I've picked up throughout my travels play a big role too.
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