I think all of us creative types love to look at pretty images. I know with the internet and blogging we are inundated with an abundance of beautiful rooms.
Sometimes I think it might confuse us to what we really love, because we see so many images of different styles, and different colors that we really love, but we would not put them “ALL” in our rooms.
Most of us are probably pretty eclectic in our style. We gravitate towards more than just one style. I know for myself it would be hard to pin-point just one style or word to describe what my home reflects.
I think that is what makes a home interesting. If it has a nice mix it will have the homeowners personality. If it is one style or a copied vignette from a showroom, it will lack soul or personality.
In my years of consulting with clients I developed an exercise that would help me analyze what direction or style to take them towards in making their house a home that they would love.
One of the exercises I would have them do was to clip images from design magazines that they loved. I just wanted them to go with their first impression, and what they were drawn too by the picture. After they had several images I would go over each image with them ,and begin analyzing what it was in each image that drew them in.
Each picture would evoke some kind of feeling or emotion. I would keep track of what they said and when we were done with that exercise I would have a very good idea of what this homeowner needed in their home to give their home it’s own personal style.
We have all heard of Pinterest!! It is a very good way of clipping and saving images that speak to us in one way or the other.
I have several boards that I have pinned images on. I have one board in particular where I put what I call my, “All time Favorites!”
This is very much like what I had my clients do for years with images from magazines.
I thought it might be fun for me, and hopefully for you to go through some of my all time favorites to see what design elements speak to me………
I am showing you this image first! Why? Because I really love this, in fact I have pinned it three different times here and once in my own picture files. There is nothing here that I don’t love. Here is the list of words I would write down if my client showed me this image:
- Black and white (high contrast)
- Lots of light
- Natural elements with plants or florals
- Textures with baskets
- Simplicity
- Lantern hanging fixtures
- Stripes in flooring and roman shade
- Clean
- Crisp
- white
- order
- reflective surfaces
- charm
- vintage
- lantern type hanging fixture
- plant for touch of life and greenery
This is another image that I have saved several times in my own personal photo files.
- Warmth with wood
- black and white contrast
- real flowers and foliage for life and the color green
- lots of light
- vintage pieces
- blue
- symmetry
- cottage charm
- checks
- black and white contrast
- natural elements with flowers adding pops of green
- warmth with wood
- lots of light
- charm
- simple, clean, uncluttered
- contrast of black and white
- texture with baskets
- vintage pieces
- live plants to add life and pops of green
- charm
- lanterns
- stripes
- crisp white open and airy
- live florals to bring in green
- lots of light
- lantern type light fixture
- warmth with wood
- vintage and antique pieces
- contrast with white
- symmetry
- green with plants
- lantern type fixtures
- stripes
- Contrast with white
- painted green cabinet
- green in florals
- warmth with wood
- texture with baskets
- stripes in rug
- checks
- contrast with white
- Green in cabinet and tile
- live plants
- crisp,clean, airy
- stripes in tile work and towels
- Lots of light
- black and white contrast
- green with fruit and outside views
- vintage charm
Shall we go through the list of words that describe the feel and requirements I will need to have in my home in order to make it my own personal taste?
- Lots of light
- crisp, clean, airy
- contrast with white
- black and white
- live plants/flowers for life
- Reflective surfaces for light
- colors: black and white, green and blues
- texture with baskets
- warmth with some wood
- lighting vintage and lanterns
- symmetry and order
- checks and stripes
- mix of vintage,antiques and new
A consistent list will occur right before your eyes.
I hope this little exercise will help you in your own journey of discovering what you need in your own home to make it your own personal style.
Design is an ever evolving process that can take years. Our taste will also evolve, but and I do mean, BUT, always stay true to who you are and try not to fall into the pit of trend-land. If you maintain a look that you love you will be able to evolve over the years by simply tweaking and adding a few new pieces now and then. Remember what I always say.......
...............“Enjoy the Process” Of:
Discovering your own personal style!
Kathysue