Hey Guys,
First of all, before I get into the topic of the worst decorating mistake you’re most likely making, I need to tell you how overwhelmed with gratitude I am after receiving the dozens of kind, kind messages on the blog and on email.
I really and truly wasn’t expecting that.
But, thank you too for those who have some great ideas for the blog!
I love a lot of your suggestions for making shorter posts or republishing old posts.
The only other thing in case some of you didn’t see it, is to please not give me any kind of medical advice.
{this next part rewritten on Sunday evening and does not apply to 99.999% of you. It’s written for the .001% who feel it necessary to shame and humiliate me for expressing my feelings.}
I know that you mean well, but some of the medical advice is triggering to me as two close friends were following a modified paleo diet and became ill and then died way too soon.
And I am about 10% away from being a vegan. So, when someone suggests that I NEED to eat a lot of meat, I could vomit.
I appreciate that you’re trying to help, but the kind of help I need is with the website. I apologize if I did not make that clear in the post. I thought I did, but apparently, some people misunderstood.
Of course, you can tell me about your experience but to suggest that you have a cure for something that you don’t even know what the malady is; I find odd. And this is not directed at any one person. I don’t know who said it; it was a few people. And I was not in the slightest bit angry at whoever said it. I just want to make it clear that this is not helpful for me.
But then, today, a couple of people felt it a good deed and healing to attack me personally for saying that I wish not to hear medical advice that I did not ask for.
The presumption is that attacking me is also part of the cure?
That’s forkedup!
Fortunately, 99.999% of you are nicer than nice, so no worries!
Alright. That’s all for today.
love and kisses,
Okay, fine. That’s a little too short because I didn’t discuss today’s topic:
The worst decorating mistake you’re probably making
And it’s not for designers, except that us designers see it ALL THE TIME by our clients or would-be clients.
What’s the mistake?
You start buying stuff without having a plan. And actually, I have done a post about that which you can read by clicking the link.
Why is this a mistake?
Well, it frequently leads to painting oneself in a corner. (lame pun intended) :]
You bought something because it seems to be what you need.
At the time.
And then, you have to work with it.
What can happen is that this purchase becomes a thorn in your paw as you discover that it’s not really the right thing. But now, it needs to be worked with it, because you own it.
No, it does not.
Oh, your husband will divorce you if you sell it or give it away?
Fine. Get a divorce. If that’s all it takes, then he’s an idiot.
He’s not an idiot?
Maybe not about some things, but people make mistakes and you know the saying that it’s not wise to put good money after bad.
A comment from Wednesday’s post
Dear Laurel, I want to start by saying I’m a loyal fan and completely addicted to your blog. I think I have read every post 10 times. I purchased your paint color guides and I’ve read those dozens of times as well…
Now on to my decorating dilemma.
I live in a 1979 Tudor?
home that we bought 3 summers ago. The entire place was brown when we bought it. Brown walls, brown ceilings, brown stained trim, brown cabinets. Didn’t realize how much brown until we started painting it all. In the main living room, I purchased no less than 40 paint samples before deciding on BM ivory white for the walls and simply white for the ceilings and trim. And THEN I discovered your blog and paint palettes. 🙁
So now I’m completely at a standstill with my decorating.
I love my paint choices. The house is so much brighter and updated. However, I am completely torn between two worlds and I have no idea how to move forward. On the one hand, I’ve always wanted white slipcovered sofas and chairs, neutral rugs, and lots of blue and white accessories.
My other love is deep rich colors like navy, dark green, and red, in velvets, silks and Persian rugs. I don’t know how to proceed. It feels like any purchase I make now sets me down a path with no return. We don’t have limitless amounts of money for decorating.
My dear sweet husband is very patient with my buying things and then returning them and having many empty rooms. I did just buy 8 panels of navy silk curtains from the Serena and lily sale you mentioned a couple of weeks ago. They were an amazing bargain. I think I got all 8 for $625!
I plan to add pleating and maybe trim to them. 4 went in our bedroom and 4 are in the dining room. But i don’t know what’s next. Please help me decide! Will one style be more enduring? Is there any way to combine the two without looking like a schizophrenic decorator? Much love!!
Oh my yes!!! And so happy for Krista to get those drapes for that bargain price!
But dear Krista. What is the problem?
Okay, fair enough. The cardinal sin of purchasing the drapes before knowing what else is happening was committed. But, as I see it, you dodged a bullet. And don’t beat yourself up either. Everyone does this. I know that I have– for myself, that is.
But, it’s really in one’s best interests to develop a cohesive decorating plan.
It’s not that it can’t be deviated from. It’s that it allows for a framework so that one can make choices far more easily.
Let’s look at what Krista has, because to me, the answer is not so difficult.
- She de-browned the ersatz 1979 “Tudor” and now it has a fresh clean palette of whites.
- She has four windows with navy silk panels.
- She loves white slipcovered sofas (me too!) with lots of blue and white accessories
- And she also loves rich navy, reds, greens and Orientals.
Can all of that work together???
Yes, Absolutely. In fact, it hearkens quite well to the post from a week ago about the dated Tuscan Home.
Do you recall where I talked about running a thread of the color but not in the same concentration throughout the house?
So, how does that apply in this case?
For example, the dining room could be navy and white. Krista could go for a tone on tone navy scheme in that room.
Or, she could go for a dark blue and white wallpaper.
Not this one because it’s mega bucks from DeGournay, but here are the navy silk drapes in this lovely room by Windsor Smith.
There are numerous possibilities.
If there is a rug, I would probably stick to sea grass if on a budget because a good Oriental will be more expensive. Or, layer a smaller Oriental over the seagrass.
However, I love a classic Oriental rug with white furniture.
Two images from Spike Lee’s old townhouse.
This is a process, but what I would do is start with a neutral scheme. Then blue will be the secondary color in the palette, but it could also be green or red.
That will need to be part of the plan.
After the second color is chosen, I would then choose one more as a third color and the fourth one maybe not at all, or just as a small accent. Or, there might be a fabric that has all of the colors.
Remember this lovely from F. Schumacher?
You could even make one room predominantly blue.
I googled the navy silk drapes and got an image from a couple of years ago at Serena and Lily. Here, they used a dark blue on the wall. But the walls could also be white or gray.
I love this blue on blue room accented with a crisp white. I don’t know the original source, so if anyone does, please let me know.
These aren’t the same drapes, but I could see Krista’s drapes working in a room something like this.
Shea McGee did navy trimmed drapes in a dining room with white upholstered chairs and white Chinese Chippendale chairs.
These are similar or maybe even the same chairs from Jonathan Adler
Studio McGee accented this blue and white room with green and brown and lots of different whites.
If you go to the site via the link, you’ll see the entire project and how effectively they used a neutral as well as this jewel-toned color palette in one home quite effectively.
Love that over-scale mirror. It looks so familiar and I tried to find it. Does anyone know where it’s from?
Don’t forget to check out this week’s sale’s page if that interests you. The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is in full-swing. Please be sure to check out my carefully curated faves in the link. Oh, and all of Serena and Lily lighting is on sale up to 30% off!
xo,