When I was doing design consults I developed a few techniques that I found would help me determine what my clients truly loved for their homes.
This technique would help eliminate any jump towards a new trend that they, thought they loved because it was the new kid on the block.
I called this technique, “Creating an Informative Vignette!”
This is something that all of you can do for yourself, and you might be surprised at what you learn about yourself.
The only requirement is you have to be completely, and totally honest. You have to fight against thinking about what you, “think,” you want to put in your home.
Here is what you need to do to create an informative vignette…….
I would like you to go through your home, closets, cupboards etc., and pull out 5-6 items that you absolutely LOVE!!!!
These items can be clothing, shoes, towels or pieces of furniture and accessories. The requirement is you HAVE to LOVE it, and have always loved it. It does not have to be anything that you even use in your home right now just something you have had for a long time and truly love.
After you do this I want you to set up a vignette using these items.
Look at what you have created from this perspective:
- Color
- Texture
- Style
- Feel
By doing this you will see what you need to have in your home to make your home your own personal style.
Once you have done this you will be able to make plans for future purchases more consciously than emotionally.
If your new purchases do not fit into the list you just made, or if it would not fit in the vignette, chances are you will not love it long term, and by long term I mean for more than two weeks or two years.
I was reminded of this technique this past week. At the end of summer I like to have my carpets cleaned.
I had them cleaned this last week so we had to move some of my furniture and decorative accessories off the carpet, and onto the hardwood floor of my kitchen/dinette.
I made a comment to my hubby how much I enjoyed seeing my things grouped together. Then…….. the light bulb went off in my brain, “this is an, Informative Vignette.”
Here is my Informative Vignette. The items were literally just placed on my table that already had the lime green pitcher and the blue bowl of green apples on it. Not the best photography, but it illustrates the point I am trying to make.
If I were to look at this as an exercise that I had my client do I would come up with these answers:
- Colors: Crisp colors with high contrast giving a fresh look. Black and white as accents to a blue,white and green color scheme.
- Textures: Smooth and refined finishes.
- Style: Traditional with touches of vintage.
- Feeling: Simple, understated elegance, fresh and clean.
When thinking about this post I referenced back to the original post I did on this technique. I read some of the comments and one in particular stood out to me.
The reason this particular comment stood out was I know this person, and we have recently had some conversations about staying true to who we are in our homes.
She recently started questioning a few elements in her own home, as we all do from time to time. In fact she wrote a couple of post about it here and here.
Look at the post before you read her comment that was written over a year ago.
My friend Delores from Vignette Designs wrote:
vignette design said...
Great advice. I love my majolica, my vintage oil paintings, my living room drapes, my welsh cupboard and my little deer trophies. I guess that says traditional European style.
I would have to say that my friend Delores has truly stayed true to who she is and what she loves in her home, wouldn’t you? I think Traditional European style is a perfect style for her.
I hope this post has made you think about your own, “Informative Vignette!”
“Enjoy the Process” Of:
Finding new ways of discovering your own personal style for your home!
Kathysue