Being a decorator for a few years, I have been lucky enough to have done some pretty cool things, in some pretty cool homes.
When I am decorating for my own home, however, I am quite practical. I believe in comfortable, family-friendly spaces.
So when I am looking through magazines I see things that just make me cringe. I know we all do it. We look at those great ideas, and think…"'No way could I ever decorate like that.”
Here are a few examples:
Anything free standing that could possibly fall, would definitely fall. Never could I do that.
Now, I am all for cool architectural decor, but having a giant target over the mantel in a houseful of boys…
I think NOT.
Certain colors look great on certain people, however, I will never paint my house aqua blue because, quite frankly, the color is hideous on me. You really need to use colors in your home that look great on you. If you can’t wear it, only use it in small doses in your decor. Don’t cover your walls in it!
As much as I love a full-length mirror… I really don’t want a full-body shot of me as I slink into the tub, or the ever-ungraceful getting out of the tub. Ugh! I could never place a long mirror that close to the tub or shower. {Shaking just thinking about it.}
Everyone loves a great tablescape, but when I look at this picture, I see my cat eating the plants and drinking out of the glasses. Cracks me up! I never do table settings, and yes, if I did the cat(s) would be locked in a room somewhere upstairs.
Same as the aqua room…I am NOT a pink kind of gal.
I could NEVER…have white upholstered or slip-covered chairs in the kitchen or dining room! NEVER. It looks fabulous, but so not practical for a family of five.
{All photos courtesy of House Beautiful.}
So, that’s my short list of things I could never decorate with.
How about you? Practical or a little on the fancy schmancy side?
Hope everyone has a fabulously comfortable Labor day!
~Misti
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15 comments:
Maybe these places are strictly for the emptynesters. I do love white, but I have grandchildren too, so not for me either. Hugs, Marty
Great post, Misti! It made me think, though...I too love white, but with children - it's not practical (especially in the Midwest where the black dirt gets tracked on EVERYTHING! So, how do you incorporate the things you love, but still be practical? This is the place where I'm stuck right now in my house!! Thanks!
I think most of this is just staged and if someone lived in those houses they don't have kids are grandchildren. I do have one room painted aqua it's the girls playroom Ocean theme it works well in there but not anywhere else. And I have two pink rooms one very light for my 9 year old and a very hot pink for my 5 year old. It works in both rooms because the girls are happy. Before kids my house was nicely decorated and always cleaned up with new items, not anymore and that is ok because my kids will be gone soon. I do wish some magazines would redo a real room for a real family.
Ally
What a fun post! Hope you had a good weekend...
Great post! If I had white slipcovers, they would never be on the chairs. They would have to live in the washer because of my four grandchildren, ages 3,4,5, and 6!
Have a great day.
Charla
I LOVE this post, as a decorator myself I am always thinking of how my active two boys (4 and 2)would treat it. I did recently take a risk and I put a glass topped tea cart that belonged to my mother back beside our entrance and so far it is doing ok. Thanks for the fun blog post.
Daily laying it at the Master's feet!
Laura Ann
I love your post. I would never have they things you mentioned, either. I have grandchildren, 8 of them, yea you read it right ages 7, 6, 5, 2, 1.9, 5 mths, newborn, and one due in December. So, even though I am an empty nester. I still have to think what they can do to my house. Fortunately for me, I like natural, earthy stuff with splashes of color thrown in. So my house still looks pretty with rich brown, orange, red, green, lots of wood and stone.
Maybe a little TMI - I got carried away. :)
Fun post, Misti!! Yea, I am very practical too, so not too , too much frou frou for me. I cannot imagine a totally white room although the pics are gorgeous!
Suzanne
some of your photos I would do...so what would I not do...For myself, I would never do a blue room, Never do a modern space, never do alot of glass top tables. This was a fun post, I may just copy it...ha Thanks for visiting , as it brought me here.
I agree with all of those, except the aqua. I am considering a very light shade for my bedroom. Its my favorite color. Though I might reconsder and use it in the accessories. I am so bad, I have a hard time committing to color....
come and see me, girlfriend!
Practical - because of dogs, grandchildren, guests, and husbands.
Oh my goodness, a target over the mantle. Yeah um, my husband would think that was the best toy EVER! No way would that not get used in our home too. I agree with everything you just said.
I have to decorate thinking "What will my two year old do to this?" But at least I still decorate. I put a couple of pictures of my new home up today. I'm having fun with it.
Jenn
We live in a practical house. We have leather furniture. The house had carpet when we bought it. Within 3 weeks we had all the carpets removed and had wood floors put in.
I could not have any piece of furniture that was white in my house.
I love this post and the pictures and totally agree with your comments.
A few years ago I got new furniture for my living room and worked with a young designer at the furniture store I went to. She really didn't listen to a word I said and ended up finding my own area rug and lamps. It was all her taste, not mine.
But (and this is the funny part) I wanted color on my walls so she recommended this orangy color. I painted with that color and for a year felt like I was sitting inside an acorn squash. It was awful.
My living room is now "cozy cottage" Behr paint. It is creamy and soothing. I have lots of other colors in the room and it is great.
You are totally right when you said that if you don't like to wear a color, don't paint your walls that color.
Love this! I couldn't agree more about the white dining chairs. Or the full length mirror in the bathroom. Yikes!
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