My husband and I lived in the northern VA area when we were first married. Many Sunday afternoons we would ride out to the rolling hills of Northern VA....a landscape that would take your breath away. One Sunday afternoon, we went to a little quaint town called Round Hill. There was a home {open house} going on...an all stone...colonial Civil War home built in the early 1800's even came with it's own carriage home protected by a stone wall. It was the first post office in the town.
We stopped and I was in "awe"....this was the beginning of my love for antiques, century homes and primitive decor.
I began to collect rustic and primitive decor....finding just the perfect piece. 
Oh...guess what???We bought that Civil War home and made it our own...it was our first home and there will never be another like it. Later, we moved from Va to Ohio and bought another century home in a quaint town
called Hudson, OH.
I still love old homes and they are my first "love" when it comes to "homes". However, if you have ever remodeled a century home ...you know a lot of love and patience goes into it.
Well, as the kids started to come ..."modern"..."new"..."bigger"..."closets"..."pantrys "were more important than the year it was built. But, I still had all my primitive and colonial decor. So through each house we have bought and sold...I have taken my stuff and made it work.
I still love my primitive "stuff" and the old colonial decor.
However, I have also come to appreciate some of the newer styles and colors. So I have found ways to incorporate my primitive stuff and find special rooms to express my new modern and "shabby chick" type decor, too. If you have been stuck in one type of decor there are ways to incorporate other "styles" in your home.
Tomorrow, I am going to feature my first floor bathroom....there is nothing primitive about this "space" and my laundy room would make George Washington run for cover. So I want you to start thinking....do you feel you are stuck in certain "mold" of decor?
As your "taste" changes through the years... how do you incorporate the "new" with your "old" stuff?
47 comments:
hmmmm, this is interesting and made me ponder, because I think the last few years I really found my style, but is it just a phase and in a few years time I will be after a completely different look, I don't think so as my stuff is quite classic and not really in fashion. I was only thinking earlier that my neutral linen curtains have been with me for a good few years now and I still love em
I love the way your post goes through the journey
thought provoking...
Sarah
Okay you are really making me think on this one. I seriously have NO IDEA what my style is.... Do I even have one? Hmmmm..... This is going to be a fun little series.
:)r
I truly love old homes. One of my dreams is to buy an old Victorian and remodel. My husband, on the other hand, will not even buy a used home. So, I compromise. I consider our style traditional and it shocks people when they come over. They see us as more contemporary. But we aren't. I can't wait to see more your style.
I am all about the shabby vintage look - it works well with little ones as well that tend to scratch up and ruin a lot of furniture!
LOL, my home is such a mish-mash of decor. If someone walked in their first impression would probably be... Do you run a day care? :-/
our style has changed so much. When we lived in Philadelphia I collected a lot of American country antiques. You would have loved it. There is a great antique show every Valentines weekend called the Heart of Country antique show in Nashville. Great stuff.
i have actually thought about this... the style i have created in my home. and my answer? traditional whimsy! either that or coney island!!! some lighthouses... ice cream collectibles... chili peppers & carousel horses!! somehow it all fits together :)
I love that you love and appreciate old homes...me? I think most of them are haunted. Yes, I really think this. :)
we are traditional, classic and a bit modern too.
I've always tried to purchase traditional pieces that I could decorate around and change the theme when I wanted something a little different. Since we have always lived somewhere near water due to my husbands career, we have a nautical feel in some of the rooms. Now that I'm looking around, maybe it's time for a little change! :)
Have a great day,
Jo
I often think about this & find it hard to like just one style. I usually take pieces from different ones & blend them all together.
Love your old home - it's beautiful.
First of all, I LOVE the picture of your house...it's beautiful! Now, I must be honest, I really don't know what my decorating style is right now. I do know that when we got married 19 years ago, I was very much into the country look. Now, I guess it's more contemporary. I decorate with a lot of wrought iron and dark woods...it's a vast difference from what I did when we first started out. Seems like everything had a ruffle on it.
What a neat post. I can't wait to see what comes next!
How amazing to have owned those period homes!
After 10 years of our home looking exactly the same, we're in the middle of trying to re-define our style. I'm really at a loss right now - but by this summer, we will have a plan in place.
I love the inspiration I get from other bloggers sharing their homes and ideas. Thanks for doing that. Have a great day...
I have no idea what my decorating style is. What a great series. I can't wait to read more!
I love old. There's not much that is new in my house and if it looks too new, I can make it look old. Country antiques and toile are all over my home. I just want things to look warm and inviting, like they have been gently used. I do change things with a new rug, curtains or paint.
This is a very good topic and I would like to know what my style it. I would probably describe it as French garden traditional. Hmm never heard of it but that is what I like.
I do love older homes but you are so right, they require a lot of care! Our last 3 houses have been brand new and I like that I was able to instill my own style into them from the start. I would say my style is classic or maybe traditional with a twist. I don't like formal, fussy rooms....I like a room to look like it has evolved over the years, lots of layers and textures! I am looking forward to part 2!
I love your style. My taste evolves in little ways. New pillows or drapes maybe, rugs etc.
I don't get the whole shebang every few months like some of my friends do. I have things forever. I like what I like and am happy with it for the most part.
I have no clue what my style is....I seem to just mix and match whatever I like.
I have the new with the old and what a mess and I am a sign nut guess who I am???
So much to think about... my style has changed with time. I can't put myself into one category though... wish I could when I see some homes all flow... love!maybe one day, but i would have to have a home sale to start from scratch and hubby would not hear of it!! Eclectic would be how I describe my style, vintage meets anthropology meets shabby chic with a touch of retro... did you just throw up? is it too much!!!
great post,
LuLu
My style-
French country +
classic +
pottery barn +
romantic =
My home
I mix everything. I like old, new with lots of my homemade things. Can't wait to see your upcoming pics...I love getting new ideas.
I think our style is mostly traditional with a little transitional/modern and a little cottage thrown in for good measure.
I have found that using a mostly neutral decor allows me to change things up with accessories and inexpensive items to go with the current trends if I desire.
I also think that no matter what the current decorating craze is, if it isn't YOU, then don't do it!
I've always been VERY traditional, lots of French country influences, but lately I've been drawn to more contemporary. I like the clean lines and the decluttered look. But the two just don't mesh and I'm not ready to give up my traditional so I'm kind of stuck.
BTW, I hope you're getting the answers to your big decision.
I grapple with this idea...I keep many of the things I have and rotate. Move in new, move out old. Only sometimes do I actually get rid of something though, because things come back in style. They really do, or they can be repurposed.
P.S. i forgot to mention I loved your photos of the things you have collected! came back to re read your post on this snowy day!
LuLu
That is a beautiful house! It must've been exciting to live in a place like that. :)
Most of my stuff comes from hand-me downs, thrift stores, or clearance sales and I do tend to pass stuff on when I get tired of it. I've been working on not doing that, and not flitting from style to style, but coming up with my own style - combined from all the things I love. I'm pretty eclectic, I think. :)
It is funny because I was just thinking about this question this morning as I thumbed through Elle Decor. I definately have been Pottery Barnish for the last several years but am finding I love the midcentury modern combined with antiques. I loved this months Elle decor and realized I do love a little fancy, schmansy stuff too and it can get a little boring if you have only one style. I definately want to change our home a little...
My house is always evolving. But I think my style and taste pretty much sticks with an eclectic decor. I love some primitive stuff, traditional stuff, shabby chic...and even some modern. I guess I'm just a mixed up mess!
I think my style is a bit of mish mash. Mostly whatever I come up with and think look good. Ha ha Great post!
Great post! Makes me think -- guess ours is a bit traditional is what I would call it. I definitely need some decorating tips!
Janet
I love old stuff! Love it! But I do incorp. quite a few new pieces in my home. I mostly got started with antiques because I love garage sales and autions. But now I truly love my pieces for their beauty~a reflection of the past! I live in a 100 year old farm house that we redid! Your are very correct...love and patience go into remods. Now we are trying to sell it and build new. funny how that works:)
Just discovered your blog via whatever and I'm so glad I have! It's fascinating what informs our sense of style and taste and how it develops. Great post.
Great post! I have found that with most areas in my life I don't have ONE way about me! Just like I can't pick ONE favorite song or movie!
So, in adding that I think I can say that I am drawn to crisp modern style with warm tones and a touch of shabby chic in there. I love Southern French style but I barely have any of it in my house---it is a new phase!
There are a few styles that have always caught my eye but strange enough, my house doesn't reflect them! I am still "young" in the home ownership/housekeeping department (9 years) and most of my things are hand-me-downs and don't really "go" together. I have only bought one piece of furniture myself and that was my TV hutch. It's an antique buttercream shabbied up with stain and I love it! I wish my home told a better story about me but that will come in time :)
What a cool post topic....I can hardly wait to see part two!!
I would have a very hard time describing my style.....I am really a mixed bag I guess. The one thing I do know is that I have REALLY changed throughout the years. I used to be have very modern or contemporary taste......that is the one thing I know I am not today:)
Looking forward to tomorrows post!!
I love the colonial style but it wouldn't work in my neck of the woods...darn it. I would say my style now is transitional. Which, I think, means traditional with a little modern.
I saw a comment you left on "Amy in Ohio's" blog and I had to stop by yours and ask...Have you seriously NOT heard of Little Debbie snack cakes before? lol
Ahh..yes, I have heard and eaten Little Debbie's cake..I must of been referring to something else and put it in ONE long sentence...punctuation and blogging do not go hand in hand with me.
sandy toe :)
p.s. My hips wish I had not heard of Little Debbie's :)
How fun! You know what, I don't think I have ever figured out what my style is! I think it's kind of a mix between Pottery Barn and Traditional with a little modern thrown in to mix things up!
I am interested to see you bathroom and laundry room!
XOXOX
Jen
that home is gorgeous! i would have been in heaven to live in such a historial home. it's my dream to live in one of the historical houses in downtown charleston sc.
that home is gorgeous! i would have been in heaven to live in such a historial home. it's my dream to live in one of the historical houses in downtown charleston sc.
This will be fun! I can't wait to see more tomorrow! Great post!
HI again! Yes I love all styles too and am just beginning to appreciate how they all work together if you Love them! So I'm trying to get over my "perfectionism" and just let go and mix it all up even if each room is different in style! When I get bored with one I just keep walking around to each room and then I satisfy all style needs!!!lol Nutty but it works for me (right now that is!) Happy decorating - Jeannette
I love the picture with the little girl holding the Lamb!!! Love it!!!!
Oh my goodness...you lived in a Civil War home?!? How cool is that!?! LOVE the photos and your story! I can't wait to check back again! Love from Colorado, Denise :-)
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