If you've been spending much time on the decorating planets in this here blog universe, chances are good you've run across Autumn from http://www.mydesigndump.blogspot.com/. I really, really L-O-V-E love everything that Autumn decorates. It's not just her decor that's inspiring me though, her blog post about the 5 things she's learned as a decorator inspired me to write a post about some of the things I've learned too. My advice is nowhere near as high rent as Autumn's, but you may find it helpful...
1. Live in a space for a year before committing to changes.
Though I have held true to a fantasy with every one of the past 5 houses we've lived in that I wouldn't move one stick of furniture into that dwelling until it had been painted and re-floored where necessary, that has never been my reality and I'm actually glad my wishes didn't come true. I have learned that for me, it takes about a year before I really figure out the natural light, times of use, and degree of usage for the rooms in my house. You'd like an example, you say? Well when we moved into our current house the half bath off the foyer was painted mauve with a cabbage rose border. My teeth hurt everytime I looked at it so I decided that I would repaint the half bath the same color as the entryway, a color called Tree Moss by Benjamin Moore.
This gray-green color is absolutely beautiful in spaces that receive a lot of natural light or have good lighting. My half bath has neither and the color simply looks dull and a little muddy. After living in the house through the first winter I realized that the Tree Moss color didn't really look all that good in the entryway either because during the winter I don't have my front door open and therefore the entry gets almost no natural light. I have recently repainted the entryway but now I want to repaint the half bath too, a mere 12 months after painting it Tree Moss. Since I hate painting bathrooms I am particularly bummed about learning this lesson.
2. If you prime first, tint your primer!
I am always so excited to start a decorating project that I like to pop open that gallon of paint and get to work, but when I am making a major color change I have disciplined myself to prime first. Since I rarely buy my primer from the same place I buy my paint I always forget to ask to have the primer tinted. I have finally learned to make it a priority to tint the primer because I realized that I was doing a lot of extra work and spending a lot of extra money just because the primer wasn't tinted. Since I usually buy a sample of the color I'm going to paint before committing to the full gallon, I almost always have some color around that I can mix with the primer to give it a tint. Instead of painting a coat of primer and 2 coats of base color, I can usually paint one coat of tinted primer and one coat of base color. The savings in time and money is huge 'cause let me tell you, that Benjamin Moore Aura paint isn't cheap!
3. Make everything neutral but your accessories.
I'm sure this flies in the face of many a good design principle but here's the thing: my decorating budget can usually be measured by tens, not hundreds or thousands, of dollars, and that means that I need every single major piece to have longevity. I have found the best way to achieve a timeless look is to keep my major pieces of furniture, curtains, and flooring neutral. I even extend this to the wall color because I'm the one who does the painting in my house and I like to do it once and then love it for 5 years (even though I've never actually lived in a house for 5 years, I like to imagine that I would still love it...) rather than having to repaint (see the half bath issue in Lesson 1!). After living with a hunter green and red plaid couch and love seat for 15 years because they seemed like a good idea in 1992 and then I didn't have the money to replace them until 2007, I have learned this lesson well enough to never forget it.
4. Beware of scented candles, potpourri, aromatic oils, and room fresheners
I love walking into my in-laws' house because it smells like soap and mashed potatoes. I know that sounds weird and like it somehow it wouldn't go together, but it creates the most warm, welcoming, homey scent I have ever smelled. Perhaps the scent is so comforting because it's reminiscent of family dinners and holidays, but perhaps it's because the scent is so natural. I have embraced every form of scented candle and potpourri ever sold but have found that I feel most comfortable in my home when it is scented naturally: a bowl of lemons on the table, coffee beans in the candle holders, and a hint of lavendar from the fabric softener I use. Using artificial scents can create a, well, artificial smell and I find that I suffer from more headaches, allergies, or upper respiratory infections when I have those things around.
5. Fewer, bigger pieces always look better than many small pieces
I remember the first time I ever saw a Mary Engelbreit decorating book. It was the early '90s and I was fully into my sunflower/country cottage/more is more phase. I remember thinking that if I could just have the money to buy all those accessories life would be perfect. I had cut-out-heart-wooden shelves, quilt racks, and a passion for "vignettes."
Shiver. I look back now and just cringe. Not only is my current style cheaper, it's so much easier to dust, creates a lot less waste, and is much more restful. If only I had a penny now for every dollar I spent on little signs, baskets, knickknacks, tchotchkes, baskets, whatnots, doodads, baskets, and cheap, imitation "antiques." I'm sure I'd be able to afford that large beveled mirror I've been wanting from Pottery Barn.... Now I take a note from feng shui and ask myself "is it useful or beautiful" before even considering bringing it home. Simplify, simplify, simplify.
1. Live in a space for a year before committing to changes.
Though I have held true to a fantasy with every one of the past 5 houses we've lived in that I wouldn't move one stick of furniture into that dwelling until it had been painted and re-floored where necessary, that has never been my reality and I'm actually glad my wishes didn't come true. I have learned that for me, it takes about a year before I really figure out the natural light, times of use, and degree of usage for the rooms in my house. You'd like an example, you say? Well when we moved into our current house the half bath off the foyer was painted mauve with a cabbage rose border. My teeth hurt everytime I looked at it so I decided that I would repaint the half bath the same color as the entryway, a color called Tree Moss by Benjamin Moore.
This gray-green is lovely in well-lit spaces
2. If you prime first, tint your primer!
I am always so excited to start a decorating project that I like to pop open that gallon of paint and get to work, but when I am making a major color change I have disciplined myself to prime first. Since I rarely buy my primer from the same place I buy my paint I always forget to ask to have the primer tinted. I have finally learned to make it a priority to tint the primer because I realized that I was doing a lot of extra work and spending a lot of extra money just because the primer wasn't tinted. Since I usually buy a sample of the color I'm going to paint before committing to the full gallon, I almost always have some color around that I can mix with the primer to give it a tint. Instead of painting a coat of primer and 2 coats of base color, I can usually paint one coat of tinted primer and one coat of base color. The savings in time and money is huge 'cause let me tell you, that Benjamin Moore Aura paint isn't cheap!
At $60 a gallon this paint is definitely a commitment!
3. Make everything neutral but your accessories.
I'm sure this flies in the face of many a good design principle but here's the thing: my decorating budget can usually be measured by tens, not hundreds or thousands, of dollars, and that means that I need every single major piece to have longevity. I have found the best way to achieve a timeless look is to keep my major pieces of furniture, curtains, and flooring neutral. I even extend this to the wall color because I'm the one who does the painting in my house and I like to do it once and then love it for 5 years (even though I've never actually lived in a house for 5 years, I like to imagine that I would still love it...) rather than having to repaint (see the half bath issue in Lesson 1!). After living with a hunter green and red plaid couch and love seat for 15 years because they seemed like a good idea in 1992 and then I didn't have the money to replace them until 2007, I have learned this lesson well enough to never forget it.
I loved this look for about 5 years...by the 15 year mark, I hated it!
4. Beware of scented candles, potpourri, aromatic oils, and room fresheners
I love walking into my in-laws' house because it smells like soap and mashed potatoes. I know that sounds weird and like it somehow it wouldn't go together, but it creates the most warm, welcoming, homey scent I have ever smelled. Perhaps the scent is so comforting because it's reminiscent of family dinners and holidays, but perhaps it's because the scent is so natural. I have embraced every form of scented candle and potpourri ever sold but have found that I feel most comfortable in my home when it is scented naturally: a bowl of lemons on the table, coffee beans in the candle holders, and a hint of lavendar from the fabric softener I use. Using artificial scents can create a, well, artificial smell and I find that I suffer from more headaches, allergies, or upper respiratory infections when I have those things around.
5. Fewer, bigger pieces always look better than many small pieces
I remember the first time I ever saw a Mary Engelbreit decorating book. It was the early '90s and I was fully into my sunflower/country cottage/more is more phase. I remember thinking that if I could just have the money to buy all those accessories life would be perfect. I had cut-out-heart-wooden shelves, quilt racks, and a passion for "vignettes."
Stuff layered with more stuff is Mary Engelbreit's hallmark
This mirror is simplicity at its best but the price? Ooo-la-la!
What about you? Any tips, tricks, or techniques you've picked up along this life journey? I'd love to hear about them!
1 comment:
http://www.webtemplatestalk.com/member.php?u=314862
i have a Toshiba terca 8200 laptop and i have a wine32.worm netsky virus on my laptop and it turned off by its self while i was trying to remove it.um i tried turning it back on and it dosent boot up.i tried the f8 button (advanced options)and i press default option and it just goes to the blank black screen i tried to go to safe mode it had the little words coming down and then it stops after about 3 secs and just freezes.?i don't know whats going on but i need to fix it asap and i dont have a boot up cd i didn't back nothing up.i even tried to unplug the cord and the battery and hold down power button for 10sec and still dosent work i tried everything nothings works!!please please please help,its frustrating me!!
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