Since I have been using this picture all week, dreaming up visions for identifying our personal styles, it is high time I shared a ditto post on one of the dreamiest dining rooms I have ever seen:

{design by phoebe howard}

ditto :: {what I would steal from this space}:

1. I. love. that. wallpaper. oh my. I ADORE it. I am digging around to try and find the source, but, if you happen to know the source… please share, please oh please oh please! The grand paisley medallions make a statement of ‘glamour’ {one of my personal style words of choice}.
2. Brown and Grey: my new favorite mix of neutrals {hence my blog colors….}. Here the chandelier hangs like a pale silhouette in front of the soft taupes, creams, tans and golds. and it is lovely.
3. A table for eight or more. Maybe I watched too much “Little House on the Prairie,” but I have always loved the idea of a huge family table. Honestly… what else is the point of a dining room if not to all be together, eating and laughing?
4. Classy, but completely comfortable: enough room for food and elbows between guests, plus plenty of delicious cushion on the seats. This space manages to be sparse but cozy; and I cannot help but think that the perfectly stuffed chair cushions have something to do with that.
5. Steady doses of beautiful cream accents: from the chairs that flank the sideboard, the tall cream candles, the beautiful centerpiece planter, the border around the mirror, to the ceramic statues of art on the sideboard. cream on the rug… beautiful, yes, but I would never recommend it under a dining room table; not if you want that big family dinner I was talking about.
6. Nailhead trim; edging the top and bottom of the wallpaper, and trimming the chair fabric. What a smart and wonderful detail that leaves this room all buttoned up. I love this as a fresh and simple way to add class to your formal spaces.
7. Never underestimate the beauty of a luscious and well-loved plant. Asparagus fern, I believe? In any case, the bright yellow-green adds life and a punch of color to this calm space.

This week, I am doing a series on how to create vision for your home by defining your personal style.
You can check out the previous posts by clicking on the links below:
Monday: “vision :: what do you love?“
Tuesday: “vision :: pretty as a picture“
Wednesday: “vision :: words of reason“
{I would still love to know what style-words you picked for your home… leave them in a comment on Wednesday’s post!}

On Tuesday, we talked about taking an interiors image from online or a magazine, and using it to start defining your personal style. Our goal was to compare the pictures in groups, looking for commonality, and then getting a big-picture idea of what you love; of what the general theme of your personal style is.

Today, I want to talk about looking for details, as opposed to commonality. That brings me to one of my favorite pastimes:
“Ditto-ing” a picture.

If you have been reading Fieldstone Hill for even a tiny little while, you know that my feature posts are called “dittos.” I analyze a space, pouring over the tiniest detail, and then I determine what it is that I specifically love about it. This is where I always discover that it is in “the details in a room” that good design is born.

Today, I want to encourage you to do the same thing. Take one of your absolute favorite images, and dive into every detail, every color, ever furniture shape, every choice, every accessory, every practical touch… and make a list of what you would steal from that space. Need inspiration? Click here to read my ditto posts.
Interestingly enough, I find that this process does not lead me to copy a design. In fact, it is rare that I even use more than two ideas from any one image in the same space. For example, if I were working on a dining room… I would likely end up with a combination of my own ideas, a smattering of what is actually available to purchase, and I would use a few “ditto” ideas from several different images {from pictures of a variety of spaces.. from kitchens to patios}.

So, go ahead. Analyze the details of a space to your heart’s content. Decide what it is you love about another person’s design. And take confidence in the fact that even famous artists {like Matisse, for example} did exactly the same thing.

{Henri Matisse. Woman with a Hat}

see you tomorrow, for a “ditto,” of course!
-{darlene}

{thank you to everyone who is cheering me on in my dream of Fieldstone Hill Design.Love Fieldstone Hill? thanks. you rock. Would you consider sharing the love by Following {click Follow in the right sidebar}, Liking on Facebook, or linking here from your blog. I just knew you were awesome!}

Personal Style Words:

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 interior design words to define your style {words such as: “eclectic” or “country” or “traditional” or “minimalist” or “coastal” or “modern”}. Begin thinking outside of these boxes to find your style words.

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.}

Sooooo, Homework time!:

One.

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.

Two.

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.

Three.

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 Style 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, classic, comfortable,  lush,  fresh,  flowing,  rich,  bold,  energetic,  peaceful,  serene,  elegant,  simple,  conservative, interesting, adventurous, unpretentious, unexpected,  order,  neutral,  textured,  showy,  artsy, funky, flashy,  glamourous,  regal, effortless, timeworn, spacious, formal, informal, bare, unique, creative, musical, sophisticated, wild,  daring,  fun, artistic, hospitable, welcoming, charming, uncluttered,  warm, hip, crisp, airy, breathable, bare, edgy, industrial, breathes,  minimal,  reserved,  homey, sentimental, inviting, ordered, natural, modern, unexpected, soothing, earthy,  cool,  cozy,  earthy, quality, sparse, storied, refined, lux, purposeful, kid-friendly,  rustic, vintage, relaxing, light, firey,  exciting,  calm,  open,  colorful,  free,  comforting, sumptuous, light-hearted, organized, colorful, gutsy,  posh,  plush,  proper, imperfect, beautiful, etc.


{pic. 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 personal style words:

The starred choices above are the three that I have memorized, and “take with me” in my mind – especially when I am purchasing for my home. I also try to keep the whole list in mind. 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 words 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!

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{design: phoebe howard:}

{via martha stewart:}