a post I use regularly to help my clients
Friday, November 11, 2011 by {darlene}

{the following post is a repost from my archives. I often refer my clients to this post to help them identify the things that they truly love in their homes}

* * * * * * * * * * *

vision :: words of reason

In defining what we love, and creating a vision of personal style, vocabulary is so important. If we can find the words to describe what it is we love, 1. we can communicate that to others, and 2. we can remind ourselves of our goals as our spaces evolve.  

In my first post on this topic, I encouraged you to try to NOT use design words to define your style {words such as: “eclectic” or “country” or “traditional” or “minimalist” or “coastal” or “modern”}. Instead, today, I am going to encourage you to try to find your style words by using regular adjectives or descriptive words that appeal to you on these levels:

These words should describe:

  1. How you want your home to feel
  2. How you want your home to look, and
  3. The purpose you want your home to serve.
{Sound familiar? It is the same basic list to the one that I shared in this post on how one begins refining your personal style.}

So take out your design style notebook and jot down the first words that come to mind in reference to the above list of 3 criteria. After you have written down all of the words that you first think of, refer to the list below, and see if any of these additional words help you to refine your vision.  Final step?  Think on it, and then, narrow it down to five or so words that best describe what you want from your home.

more descriptive words:
{this list is certainly not exhaustive. In addition, why not take a thesaurus and try to nail down the perfect words for your own personal style?}
playful,  vibrant,  comfortable,  lush,  fresh,  flowing,  rich,  bold,  energetic,  peaceful,  serene,  elegant,  simple,  conservative,  adventurous,  unexpected,  order,  neutral,  textured,  showy,  artsy,  flashy,  glamourous,  regal,  formal,  bare,  creative,  sophisticated, wild,  daring,  fun,  welcoming,  uncluttered,  warm,  crisp,  bare,  breathes,  minimal,  reserved,  homey,  natural,  earthy,  cool,  cozy,  earthy,  sparse,  kid-friendly,  rustic,  relaxing,  firey,  exciting,  calm,  open,  colorful,  free,  comforting,  light-hearted,  gutsy,  posh,  plush,  proper,  etc.

 

{photo via Jones Design Company}

Here is my own personal list. I use it whenever I make a design decision for my own home.  This keeps me in check for my overall vision for our home, and it is especially helpful when trying to make purchase decisions:

darlene’s words of personal style:

Sophisticated
Simplicity
Glamour
Elegant
Order
Breathes
Comfort

This way, when making decisions or purchases, I can ask myself: “Is it elegant? simple? will it add a touch of glamour or a touch of simplicity? will it help my space to breathe? will it help me unclutter?”

What is on your personal style word list??

Don’t worry if you think that your home does not currently fit into the description that these words offer. In time, as you keep these words of design reason in mind, you will slowly be able to turn your home into a place that you love, where everything serves the purpose of your home and family.

I would love to know your word list. Whenever you come up with it, come back to this post, and share it here in the comments!

Labeled: lessons in design | 6 Comments
design in progress :: my current favorite room
Wednesday, November 9, 2011 by {darlene}

……..My husband and I made the crazy decision 6 years ago to bite off a bit more than we can chew, and we bought Fieldstone Hill, a gorgeous, historic stone farmhouse built circa 1820.

{Fieldstone Hill, after a few years of rescuing}

It came with wide-board, pumpkin pine floors…. that were black. It came with an authentic log cabin from 1796… that needed a new roof, and still is filled with holes. It came with stunning, deep window wells… that caused my hair to blow in the wind when I was sitting on our sofa. Oh, and that was the least of our list. In the first week of living in Fieldstone Hill, the septic backed up and filled our basement, the water stopped running, we had water dripping from our light fixtures, and black mud regularly shot in geysers out of our steam radiators. True story. No exaggeration here, folks.

oh. and I was pregnant with our first baby.

Yes.

All that to say, this decorator has not spent much {hardly any} energy or funds on decorating our home….

 *********

Want to hear the rest of the story? Today I am guest posting at Cottage and Vine’s “My Favorite Room” series! I will meet you over there for pics of my current favorite room in our home!

Labeled: blogland, here at Fieldstone Hill | 9 Comments
a room I love :: a gutsy place to put your sofa
Tuesday, November 8, 2011 by {darlene}

It’s “A Room I Love” Day….just a simple hello, from me to you, featuring a Room that I Love, and a quick list of why I love it:

I came across this photo on Pinterest yesterday, and I wanted to share it with you to get your thoughts.

This room features a sofa that is placed directly in front of a wall of bookshelves. Personally, I thought this was genius. So often, we are limited on where we can place furnishings based on how many full walls are available. What to do if there is only one big wall for a storage piece, and there is not enough room to have a sofa that sits in the middle of the room?

Why not layer?

{ via BHG}

WHAT I LOVE:

  1. the concept of placing a sectional sofa directly in front of a large wall unit. Brilliant and lovely.
  2. the height and beauty of “en masse” globes lift the eye and add fun color.
  3. the fact that the shelves are highly organized with additional storage concealers.
  4. the color coding of the books makes art out of regular house hold items.
  5. charcoal and orange.
  6. that light invites a place to read.
  7. the L shape of the sectional is echoed in the shelving
  8. the rug reminds me of the books on the shelves 

DO YOU LOVE IT?? WHAT DO YOU LOVE? Is there a place in your home where you can use this sofa/shelf trick??

Labeled: A room I love, en masse | 27 Comments
ditto :: adding function and class to your living room
Monday, November 7, 2011 by {darlene}

I love so many things about this classy living room.

First of all, it is an excellent example of how to handle a long floor plan. But I also love its elements of classic decor that is elegant without being fussy. It is a gorgeous example of what I love best: farmhouse simplicity AND high-gloss glamour, coexisting in gorgeousness.

It is filled with may ditto-worthy details. Let’s dissect what makes this room so classy and functional! I wonder, what would you ditto from this room?

{design by Lili Abir Regen via Elle Decor}

DITTO :: {WHAT I WOULD STEAL FROM THIS SPACE}:

  1. a room centered around the fireplace.  If I were designing a living room from scratch, the very first thing I would think about would be placing the fireplace in a central focused area, and then designing the rest of the space around it. It gives a comforting center to the entire space. And nothing says home quite like a hearth.
  2. two identical, facing sofas. I love, love, love this layout for a living room. What is the best seat in the house? The sofa! Well, if you have a choice in the matter {I do not! I can only afford one. But I am very thankful for my one sofa!}, consider having two sofas that flank your fireplace. It is a wonderful way to usher in conversation.
  3. A desk on the back of the sofa. This is an excellent example of how to break up a long room into warm, useful spaces. By using the back of one sofa as a “wall,” the desk creates a separate section of this space. Suddenly, you have an office! {one with a view of a fireplace!}
  4. A splash of chartreuse. Is anyone else absolutely loving that gorgeous, chartreuse wing-back chair? It is regal and dramatic and energetic all at once. That is where I would choose to sit! And to those of you afraid to make such a daring choice: take note that there is no other chartreuse in the room. It stands alone in its gutsy color, but is grounded by its classic form.
  5. bold awning stripes. I love awning stripes. And I really love chocolate awning stripes. What I am loving about this space is how this pattern is used on both polar ends of the room… ditto! Just gorgeous!
  6. separate conversation areas. If you have a long room, have the guts to turn your furnishings in toward each other, creating separate seating areas. Your room won’t feel smaller – it will feel bigger. And it will be ten times more practical and user friendly. That’s what homes are for: living in!
  7. plenty of fresh flowers and plants. You simply can’t go wrong by adding topiaries and bouquets all around the room.
  8. plenty of party seating. This room seems like the perfect place to have a party! The walls are lined with spots to sit in cross-legged loveliness. From slipper chairs that line one side of the room, to two sofas, to low upholstered benches that can be pulled out for extra guests, to a lovely spot beside a table… this space offers plenty of resting spots for your friends as you entertain.
  9. broad, custom trim. If you are aiming for a feeling of grandeur in your home, consider using broad and elegant trim like that around the passageway into this living room.
  10. a low ceiling. It seems as if all new homes are built with a “great room” that has soaring ceilings. This effect can be gorgeous, but it can also feel hollow and bare. I would like to use this room as an example of how amazing a standard sized ceiling can be. I am a big fan of standard ceilings, because a standard ceiling offers a feeling of history, coziness, and comfort. If an effort is put into the architectural details and beauty of the room elements {like the trim, flooring, and mantle in this space}, I think that is a more effective, substantive way to make a room feel grand.

WEIGH IN. SO, WHAT WOULD YOU DITTO {STEAL} FROM THIS SPACE??

WHAT WOULD YOU DITTO, 1-10? OR SOMETHING ELSE?

I LOVE HEARING YOUR THOUGHTS!

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Labeled: ditto | 14 Comments