If I had done it all right when we moved in these stories would not be in my home. I would not have an amazing art table for the kids. My home turned into what it is today. And I still find myself shifting, using more color, simplifying my accessories. The journey, dreaming, planning, trying, failing, getting a great deal, making something from nothing, redoing old furniture is much more appealing and fun then a pretty room to sit in.
I love what you said, it was perfect. I will be sharing this post. It explains why I have done what I did. Thank you! Oh I so agree! Our homes turn into what they are today because we let them evolve as we do, I bet you smile every day at that gallery wall and art table!!! I agree that home decor must evolve and change over time. Where is the fun in having something completed, then stagnant?
I do subscribe to the buy what you love theory and being willing to spend on an item you will have for a long while. However, even if you invest in a big ticket piece for the long haul, it is alright to eventually let go of it when you need to move on to new decorating adventures. I totally agree. I hate to see a room that has been purchased as a whole because it is so impersonal. I recently purchased a beach condo that I intend to use when I retire and I have had so much fun shopping my home.
It made me realized how much I truly love some of my things because they all have a story. I purchased them while traveling, a family member gave me a piece, or I spent lots of time refinishing it. What really amazes me is that I am using things purchased 40 years ago in my new condo and it reminds me of my first apartment which I loved.
Melissa, this is such wonderful advice for anyone. I want it to evolve over time and not to look like I bought everything at once. I love to scour through thrift stores trying to find things that catch my eye. It can be tough to let go, but only keep what you know you will really enjoy and use.
I agree! I have such fun with creating a home! Love the down to earth advice. We all need a dose of reality when decorating. There is nothing prettier than a room that has pieces that have been collected over time. I take years to get the look I want, case in point, my kitchen. It has been over 37 years in the making and it is now the kitchen I have always dreamed of, nothing fancy, but totally ME!!
Love this post and I am going to share it on FB!! Thank you for being YOU!! I like the idea of decorating slowly, bringing in new pieces to fit in with what you already have because the existing pieces tell a story. But I had to sort of start over last year. But when I finally moved in my condo a few months ago, things surprisingly worked.
I like the feeling of individually picking up things I love, and then at the end working. By the way Melissa, thanks for the amazing blog and design ideas you have. Would you ever do a blog on decorating TINY spaces? Would love to see more of those! Thanks for the amazing work!!!!
I love writing about small spaces and do that from time to time but I should really try one on TINY spaces! Great idea. I have been hunting for something like that as well!!! I see things that work work from time to time, but I have a few other particular things I want like drawers and a certain length, and it always seems what I find is not right.
Awesome Melissa!!! I look forward to the read!!!! Thank you, I appreciate your keeping me in mind if you see a sideboard that might be suitable for me.
Here are two that I found. If any of them sound suitable for your space I can email pictures and the store where to find them. Also price point is a little high. Oh thanks! I would love to see them and more details! I might just give up and go with plan B, at least for the meantime but I will be keeping my eyes open just in case the right thing comes along! Who knew it was going to be this hard?! Amen… Decorating for me has been like you said a never ending love story. I have had plenty seasons of change…some that are better than others.
Thank you for being the voice of understanding and reason when it come to decorating. I hope someday we meet. Me too Teresa, I would love to meet you and thank you in person for what an encouragement you are to me!! Well said! We purchased a home two years ago that we use on weekends and will eventually retire to. I have been taking it room by room. If it takes me 15 years, at least it will be exactly what I want.
I pinned this blog post so I can read it when I need a reminder to enjoy the journey We have moved over 30 times between army life and overseas second career work. That is an opportunity and a challege. Furniture was changed when the movers crunched a peice. We finally took up residence in our old.. I get the minus -3 year itch regularly which my husband does not. I have had to learn to love this place. Most of the cheap auction furniture had been tossed to the curb.
There was no style, just need. We had not stored much when we moved overseas for years. There is so much beauty and creativeness abounding in the homemaking, decorating world I have had a time settling. Mostly it is because it has taken this long to get to know this house that is so different from quarters, bought homes and apartments.
We had to get to know each other. I am finally at peace with that slow process. Of course expense is a factor. As for traveling, we bought art…street art to gallery art.
We also bought significant crystal or pottery pieces, a mix of quality and price. We did not buy anything we did not love, at least at the time.
Jim bought me beautiful small boxes that were easy to pack. So even if my auction couch is ugly, my art looks great and my sidetables are elegant!
I love that!!! Enjoy getting to know your home. That makes it worth the wait. This post. Melissa, as long as I have followed your blog, you rock my world when I least expect it. Great post. I am starting with my sixth blank canvas in 12 years of marriage-next month and I plan on not moving for a very long time after this one; …I have some really nice furniture pieces but the material will not work in our new design plan…does anyone know how cost effective it is to reupholster a sofa…would slip covering be a better option??
I love this post, Melissa, and I completely agree! I love the look of a home that has unique pieces sprinkled throughout that the homeowner obviously thought very hard about. Your house is gorgeous! I have been looking for a small French cup drying rack like the one in your picture.
The ones i have found are too big. Where did you find that one? Good Morning Melissa…Patty from Colorado here! I believe the best decorated homes are the ones that have evolved over time. I also believe if you find something you truly love, you can make it work somewhere in your home. Never worry about what someone might think of how you have decorated your home, because so often people love what you have done, but do not have the decorating confidence to just do it themselves.
If a home is put together with thought and love….. Who is to say what is right or wrong when it comes to decorating….. Blessings, Patty from Colorado. I love this post. I agree with this method, slow over time to find what you truly love. My problem is that I grew up in a family that kept everything forever or until it absolutely fell apart-to make the most out of it. I struggle with feeling guilty over changing something out when it is still perfectly good, but no longer my taste or style.
It takes the fun out of change for me. But I keep working at it because I really want to live in a space that I feel good about and reflects who I am. Sometimes it benefits me because I find exactly what I wanted at the right price. I really needed to hear this! It seems like white trim coordinates well with all sorts of looks—rustic, formal, etc. Perhaps basically ignore it and do what you really want to do. Maybe just consider the oak trim to be another rustic type of feature and see if you can reimagine your space with a balance of lighter woods and white and pretty colors!
I recently painted my bedroom a dark glossy hunter green and it really makes the natural golden maple trim pop. I love the idea of rooms that look collected over time, they tell much better stories about their inhabitants Hi, Melissa! I need to completely redo my living room except for the floors and wall paint. Not doing away with the fireplace but want to recover it with something. My question is where in the room should I start? Should I start with recovering the surround on the fireplace or start with choosing the new furniture?
Beautiful post. Love that! Congrats on your BHG Blogger award! What a lovely post. Like so many other commenters, I thought your advice was full of grace and wisdom. Not too many people live without budget constraints on home dec, and a lot of us have shoestring budgets! Since finishing a large home reno eighteen months ago I have been rediscovering my style and slowly adding bits and pieces to my home.
Five months, according to new research. Barclays Mortgages reveal first-time buyers take over five months to feel at home and content in their new property, with 24 per cent saying it took over half a year to find the perfect sofa , decide on a preferred colour scheme, paint and decorate, and even hang up wall art. We all have different opinions on what truly makes a house a home ; one that is comfortable and reflects a lived-in space.
It could be as simple as family pictures, cosy furnishings, large scale renovations, or a house that is filled with love and warmth. In the research, the living room, bedroom and kitchen was considered to be the most homely rooms and often prioritised for initial home-improvements. The bathroom is often fourth in order of importance. Interestingly enough, over half of first-time buyers lack the commitment to make their new abode feel homely, with 37 per cent saying they've contemplated giving up on home improvements.
Gail Precious, from Plumstead in South East London, knows only too well about the many unexpected bumps in the road in making a house a home: 'My partner and I were so excited when we recently purchased our first home, and from the moment we had the keys in our hand we were planning what we wanted to do to make it more to our taste. Now add the hours and hours of designing called Design Development and finding the items called Sourcing ; ordering everything called Procurement and expediting.
Design professionals by nature are fast, so a good one can complete this in weeks. Totally worth the wait? Oh, and you there, in the back of the room with your hand raised: NO… it never takes 30 minutes like you see on the fun HGTV shows!
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