Decorating with Color

What Does Your Home Say about You?

Is there any better way to learn more about a person than by looking at where she lives? So what is your home saying about you? And how can you be sure that you're filling your home with items and furnishings that are true reflections of who you are (instead of just a bunch of random stuff)?

It's time to discover your Home Style Profile. Just answer this series of questions, and unlock the door to the real you! http://quiz.ivillage.com/home/tests/style.htm

This is what I got, and be sure to share what you got with us too!

You don't fit into any one mold of decorative tastes -- you're more concerned about finding just the right piece that really speaks to you instead of buying the whole matching set. With a carefully crafted collection of treasured items -- mementos picked up on your travels or unique pieces that strike a sentimental chord -- you are deliberate in your selections (as opposed to the Adventurer, who buys on a whim). The same way Cameron Diaz can combine vintage and Prada, you take elements from all over and use them to create a look that's all your own.

You do need to be careful that you don't get too overwhelmed with things. A good way to keep your knickknacks but avoid having them take over your home is to go through them, choose your favorites, and put the rest in storage for a while. You can rotate them seasonally (pulling the quilts out in the fall, vintage planters in the spring) or just whenever you need to mix things up. Just make sure that any item that doesn't touch your soul in some way, you give away. There are lots of other collectors out there who would love to give it a home for a while.

What an interesting quiz! No surprise, my style is Individualist too, LOL!

Well, I'll use this thread for my update:

I think my upstairs hallway is done!!! Except I still need to replace the carpet, which I've been shopping for the last 2 weeks...I found a golden hickory laminate for my entry/foyer, so hopefully that will be installed in the next couple of weeks. Work and DD have kept me pretty busy, as well as the redecorating/remodeling projects I want to get done before she graduates at the end of May.

I've also been spending quite a bit of time shopping for window blinds for the family room. Hubby finally cleared out much of the stuff that was in there, so I hope to get it painted and new blinds in there. Not sure what color to paint. The carpet is jewel tone/emerald green (which needs replacing in the next year or two), and the furniture for the moment is a large set of rattan with chinz hunter green cushions, which I'd also like to replace sometime, or at least replace the cushions because chinz is soooo cold. (Also a tv (on a black stand), and an oak colored microwave hutch which was used in the kitchen before that was remodeled.)

So, I have lots of green that may not be staying, which complicates finding a wall color, sigh. I found neutral jute blinds, link is below. I'm looking for suggestions for paint color-HELP! At this time, I don't think I really have a mood in mind, other than welcoming/inviting. It is roughly 20' x 15', has 2 east windows, and 1 south window, with high ceilings, white ceiling fan, and a large 20' wall without any windows or doors. I've thought about a mural, but with all the furniture, the lower third will be partially covered. I'm thinking of a lakeside or tropical theme to go with the rattan furniture. I think it ties in with my northwoods living room (greens, plum/purple/burgundy, black/neutrals). I also have a barn/farm kitchen and asian scheme bedroom, so I guess my overall home theme is all about "home and travels" with a royal color scheme (red/gold/yellow/purple/green/black and medium wood tones and mostly cream window trim).

Here are the blinds:
http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/ref=br_1_2/601-2964066-9548938?ie=UTF8&frombrowse=1&asin=B0006BBWZA

Because the stairwell is fragile plaster covered with paintable wallpaper (painted light lemon yellow), I wanted to find a lightweight piece of art to hang over the stairs. Here is what I found, which is now hanging and looks great! The yellow is a bit lime green, but I think it ties together the different greens, reds and yellows I have in the house. I will try to post a pic of the stairway soon.

http://www.justforfunflags.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=T5053&Category_Code=

Ok, I think that's enough for now LOL! If anyone has a paint color suggestion for the family room, let me know!

KC

Yay! You did get your hallway done and the cute flag you wanted. Can't wait to see the photos, I bet it looks really nice on the wall.

Those shades are so great, what a good price too! I was even looking at them for my AZ room, but I have 3, 6 foot wide by 4 foot high windows and one 4' x 4'  so since I have the fabric now (got a nice southwestern print, blue, with turquoise, black, rust and white design) I'm going to make some curtains for now to save a little money. Hey, your shades look a little like dark beige and light beige stripe. Why don't you use the lighter shade beige for your wall color, and maybe get some yellow/green/beige spring like valances?

Take a photo of the laminate floor too when it's done, sounds wonderful. Use a area rug over it as stones and dirt will scratch.

Good to see you. {{hugs}}

That sounds like some great fabric! The curtains will be awesome-wish I could sew. Maybe once DD is off to college I can setup a workstation in the "new" family room.

I changed my mind about the blinds LOL! I had forgotten I had come across these, so I tried to substitute them on my online order. They will work well with my rattan set, yet still work ok with other furniture if needed. Hopefully I still will get the discount without too much trouble LOL!

http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/ref=br_1_10/602-1102070-4091816?ie=UTF8&frombrowse=1&asin=B000CPA3VY

Gotta run, but just wanted to drop you a note while I'm at work. Not sure when I will get the photo posted. Last night my home computer crashed, and hubby won't be able to get his friend to look at it for a few days (who he bought it from). Hubby's mother passed away on Sunday (she was in a nursing home, then hospital, then hospice, with pneumonia, alzheimers, diabetes), so we have a funeral soon. Possibly 2 funerals if he can get his dad to reschedule the burial in South Carolina because he has to work this weekend....

Later! KC