i love my home. i love doing little (and big) things to make it more *us*. i remember when i was in my early 20s and trying to set up a homey little apartment...but not really knowing where i was going with it. at that time, my mom hadn't been in the car accident yet, and she was working as an interior decorator. so she helped me to do some simple little things that made all the difference in figuring out *my style*. i've continued to practice what she shared with me, and i think it has guided me in developing and allowing for changes through the years. hopefully my style has become more refined and maybe a little bit more sophisticated(?) than it was. although i am still drawn to a lot of the same things/looks and colors that i always was. i have always been a salvage collector, estate sale and flea market lover. i remember taking brooke with me to auctions when she was really small, before j was born. so this way of decorating/thought isn't new to me. i love a bargain. there's something really satistying to me about decorating my home well, without spending a ton of money. there are certain pieces in my house that i consider investment pieces, but they are few and very selective. i bought a little custom dresser about 20 years ago, that i love as much today, as the day i ordered it.
okay, i gotta get on with *the list*.
the *b* home decor list
1. finding your style. i know that a lot of you who are reading, already know your style...but if you're not doing this, it might be fun for you anyway. this was my mom's suggestion to me, years and years ago-keep a home decor notebook. fill it with magazine pages, quotes, paint and fabric samples, whatever catches your eye. but don't stop there. when you look at the things you've chosen, figure out exactly what it is that you love about it. sometimes for me, it's the colors, or one specific piece in the room....many times it's not the overall look when i pick it apart...it's just one thing. very helpful. now, i have several notebooks filled, and one of them is divided into sections for the rooms in our house. another thing i did when we first looked at the house we're in now, was to create a simple little plan for the color scheme throughout. i wanted it to be unified in a way, but yet distinctive....with a different feel in different rooms.
i put this together 3 years ago, and it's remained pretty much true. those of you who are scrapbookers will notice that i used scrapbook papers for my color bases :)
2. when you buy paint for your home, go with a good quality. tom taught me how important this is. paint is such a simple, relatively inexpensive way to update and change the look of a room, but if you're using a lower quality product, it usually ends in frustration. also, i usually buy the pint tester before i paint a room. it's saved a lot of mistakes for us.
3. window shop....except when shopping flea markets! i have several local stores that i window shop in often. taking in the details of what works and what doesn't, has saved me costly mistakes when buying. i rarely make a spontaneous purchase at a retail store. shopping estate sales and flea markets is a totally different mentality. when we go to the big walnut flea market, i make a list, on the way, of what i'm looking for, so tom can help me spot things. when i see them, i buy without hesitation. for example, the island we have in the kitchen was bought this way. NO regrets. it was on my list, we discussed it as we were driving and knew that we wanted something that had a finished backside, so when tom saw them unloading it off the truck, he immediately started talking price to the owner and had dibs on it. it would have been sold if he had waited until it was in the booth. and as he was writing a check for it, several people inquired about it.
4. make it personal. i don't really listen to *the experts*. i tried to work with one of the decorators at nebraska furniture mart a while ago. she absolutely shot down every idea i had. i wanted to say, "listen, i know what i like, help me make it happen!" but she was WAY old school traditional and wouldn't listen...so i left and went to allen's, where the lady i worked with listened to me and encouraged me. i love what i bought....and we have a long term plan for the room now. so in addition to making it personal...trust your gut.
5. don't be afraid to make a bold statement. subtle is good at times, but sometimes you need something really bold. something that screams YOU. in my case, i'm thinking of our bedroom and the huge canvas of tom and i. i would have never thought i would have or WANT a canvas of me/us in our room, but i love it. i think the thing i love about it, is that it really represents us now. it's not a glamour shot, it's imperfect, but it's a reminder to both of us of what really matters. sort of a *as long as we have each other, it's gonna be okay". i love that our room is a refuge. i just bought new robin's egg blue jersey knit sheets and even that simple thing, makes such a difference.
6. notice the little details. sometimes just changing the hardware on built-ins, or buying new handtowels for your powder room, or changing a vignette on the coffee table, or centerpiece on the kitchen table, or uncovering windows and letting the light in...all these things can brighten a room. i like to have fresh flowers too. most weeks, i just include a fresh bouquet in our groceries.
7. get inspired online. i know all of you know about decor8...but i can't do a post about my faves, without including it! probably my #1 favorite online inspiration. another thing i love online, is the availability of original art. find art here. i love original pieces.
8. if you can't buy it, or find it, make it. that's what i have done in my home. lots of canvases. i love custom and you can't get more custom, than making it yourself. that's how the canvas in our family room came about. i wanted these really funky custom colors and couldn't find what i wanted anywhere! and i'm patient...but just wasn't finding anything even close. so i made exactly what i wanted...colors, quote, whimsical feel....
9. see the beauty in your everyday surroundings. okay, how cliche does that sound? ha! anyway you know what i mean. i love that we keep our fresh fruit in a pretty trifle bowl tied with a pretty ribbon on our kitchen table....functional and beautiful. when we first moved into our house, we had a little swimming party and i bought izze soda to drink....as we were sipping on it, i thought of using the empty bottles as vases....or even just standing on our built-ins. the feel i want in our family room, is casual, relaxed, less feminine :), so i thought the bottles would lend well to the feeling. i'm even finding myself wanting our kitchen shelves to look aestetically pleasing....so i recently cleaned out all the oddball cups and glasses and replaced them with inexpensive target drinking glasses that coordinate with my vintage juice glasses. when i open the cupboard, i love the way it looks. and whether that SHOULD have an effect on my mood, i don't know, but it does. another little thing that i adore in our kitchen is the apothecary jar i bought at a thrift store a year or so ago and have filled with tom's signature wintergreen mints. the dude loves them and always has them in his pockets. all the kids and grandkids know it and will ask if he has a mint. so cute. i guess the things that mean the most to me, are the things that represent *us*. that say something about who we are and what we like. i have to say it makes me sad when i walk in someone's home and it doesn't tell me anything about them. no magazines laying on the tables, no books, no photos, nothing personal. even if everything is well appointed and immaculate...i usually feel sad for them.
10. go to the library and get the book, "use what you have decorating" by lauri ward. it's old, but the principles hold true. i learned so much about furniture placement from this book and about not spending money to get the look you want. i saw it a few years ago at a thrift store and snatched it up! it's classic. rachel ashwell's shabby chic books are classics to me as well. i know her style isn't going to go with everyone's taste, but her decorating philosophy is SO dead-on, for family living...slipcovers, casual, yet elegant, a place for well-loved pieces, etc...
11. clean and declutter. nothing works to make a house look better than to have it clean and decluttered. simply making the bed, or straightening a desk, makes all the difference. many times having a friend come over to help you see your house clearly helps too. i love helping friends stage their house for a party or to sell.
12. have a clear conscience and live well, and your home will reflect that. i think you can feel oppression in a home. the minute you walk in, you feel it. it's dark and heavy and almost palpable. so live well and enjoy your home!
*edit*-i'm so passionate about this, i can't stop! i thought of two more things i wanted to share. one is: when you are ready to get a room shaped up or decorated-focus on that one room. don't get distracted....just focus your energy on that one room, instead of trying to do the whole house at once. the other thing that i try to do, that i wanted to share- enjoy the process. don't get too anxious to *get it all done*. i always feel a little sad when i have a house all done. i think there's only been one time in my life, when i felt like i *finished* a house....and it wasn't necessarily a happy feeling. i loved what i had done, but i didn't like *being done*. okay, now i think i'm done with this list!
i hope this little post inspires you and even if it has one tip that works for you...i'm happy. feels good to have it documented for me too. i feel a little inspired myself. now i just need to get busy!
one more thing i want to share. my friend cari kraft, artist extraordinare, was featured in an article in the omaha world herald yesterday! i was so excited when i saw her name! and i am super excited to let you know that she will be doing custom work with me and my photography business! she's working on some samples currently. so i will be offering, through cari, custom soldered photo pendants to my photography clients! as soon as i have a sample, i'll photograph and show you! so excited about this! i wanted to link the article, but the world herald website is down right now.
hey, it's friday! have a great weekend and God bless!
Great tips Becky! That's why I keep coming back to your blog. it seems as though I love all the same things as you! :) I've been out of town for a week so I've been reading your posts from last week. Now, I'm in the mood to do something in my home. ;) Thanks for sharing!
Posted by: Gina | April 18, 2008 at 01:40 PM
Oh Becky, I wish you lived closer - excellent advice, and I can only keep trying, keep being inspired by your magic!
Posted by: Kirsten | April 18, 2008 at 01:55 PM
I couldn't agree more with the whole working on a room at a time. I had a "master plan" for this house too and it's been fun to work on it a room at a time. I can't fathom the "being done" part. I love putzing around with things here and there and letting the whole thing "evolve". :)
Happy thoughts, friend. :)
Posted by: kelly | April 18, 2008 at 02:59 PM
Wonderful suggestions! I love the process of forming my home. I love the little changes I make weekly or monthly and I agree with the bed making portion so much! I think we have a lot of the same tastes :)
Posted by: Tina | April 18, 2008 at 04:57 PM
WOW!!!!!!!!!! This post is amazing....total inspiration! Love it! Have a great weekend....
Lynn
Posted by: Lynn | April 18, 2008 at 10:18 PM
I've been reading your blog for quite sometime and just felt the need to finally comment. I love your posts and today's tips are great. I love constantly making little changes - tweaking things here and there. I can't imagine ever living in a "finished" home - how boring!
Love your blog! And have a great weekend! :)
Posted by: Jerrie | April 18, 2008 at 10:41 PM
Becky, loved the post, and sent it to several friends. Concise and inspiring!
What do you do with all your books? I find them to be a decorating challenge at times, at Christmas I turn them the opposite way spines in, so that they are less distracting. Any tips?
Posted by: Kim | April 19, 2008 at 01:01 AM
Thank you for all the hints. I so hate my house right now, mainly because it feels like a house and not a home. There is so much junk everywhere and I am trying to dejunk it and make it feel like us. I am releasing the stuff to make way for the feeling of a home. Thank you.
Posted by: Terri Paulson-Sasaki | April 19, 2008 at 10:03 AM
What a great post. I'm in the process of sprucing up around here, and you've given me that extra inspiration to keep going.
Posted by: Barb | April 19, 2008 at 01:01 PM
love this post so much, becky!
your home is gorgeous and totally a reflection of your beautiful, giving spirit.
i must tell you that my tastes over the past year have changed dramatically and i am not sure how. i always have loved streamlined and linear (very Pottery Barnish) and while i am still drawn to that, i am also drawn to vintage looks.
i guess i am a work in progress!
Posted by: melissa deakin | April 19, 2008 at 03:11 PM
I'm in the "still defining my style" stage. I am drawn to a clean style, but I'm most happy when I bring home unique pieces. It wasn't my big purchase couch that I love, but my weathered green shelf my Dad gave me from his office. I'm actually glad we're tight right now because it's giving me time to think and plan and fall in love before I ever purchase anything. :) Great post!
Posted by: JenGallacher | April 20, 2008 at 11:31 AM
Becky, Becky, Becky... You're so good. Love that! I'm on the lookout for 2 matching leaded stained-glass windows to hang over the sink. The window rises all the way to the ceiling. The light in our house is so wonderful. Transom windows all over the place and curved doorways. Very 30's. I have enjoyed nesting in this home for the past couple of years. I wake up most mornings with that being one of the top things in my mind. We're eagerly awaiting our farm sink (delivered tomorrow) so Steve can put in the rest of the countertops. We ordered our tile almost a month ago. It was a special order, but we're anxious to get it all put together. So cross your fingers. Can't wait to post pics! We have very similar styles for sure. I'm headed to the Canton next month for some major flea market fun. Okay, take care B!
Posted by: Camille @ Heart-Shaped Rock Cottage | April 20, 2008 at 01:27 PM