Who's good with home decor? - YouLookFab Forum

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Who's good with home decor?

Helena

Veteran

Hi everyone, I'm in the process of doing a refresh on our house - some re-painting and sprucing up of things - and wondering who's good at keeping up with what's in and what's out in home decor? Figured maybe some of your style know-how extends to homes!

Specifically, I'm wondering about the modern farmhouse style, as well as teal as an accent color - I feel like these have been around for a while and not sure if they are now classics, or trends that have been around too long and thus might be on their way out the door. Love to know your honest thoughts! xx (Excuse the mess in the photos!)

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17 replies

Latest reply was from Helena

JAileen

Veteran

I think both your kitchen and living room look pretty nice! And not messy. I like them as is, but knowing you live in a cold cold climate, I’d probably add some warm colors. Yellow? Orange? I don’t know.

ETA: as if it weren’t obvious, I should add that I’m not an expert.

rachylou

Veteran

Chip and Joanna Gaines - well, I guess the decorating part is really Joanna - are great for modern farmhouse. Esp with teal. They have a line at Target if you want to go window shopping for inspiration. And their show, of course, Fixer Upper.

Modern Farmhouse would be great for your house. Looks to have the right bones for it. You’ve got a touch of relaxed glam in there too.

I’m thinking you might consider another layer of lighting... I’m seeing only one lamp in your living room? Are your sofas ‘denim’ colour?

I love home decor stuff. Mind, I’m actually too lazy to do anything about it, lol. My real style is ‘cluttered’ and ‘idea dabbling’ and ‘what results after arguing with Mummy and Losing.’

... wait, I have to tell you about Mummy’s old metal cabinet. It’s to be refinished and repainted. I told Mother to get rosy lavender, like the kitchen walls. She came back with NAVY, like the baseboards! You know, originally the woman only wanted to redo HALF her kitchen floor. And she wants to put the cabinet where it will block the door to the basement!

Ohmygoodness.

Aquamarine

Veteran

I’m far from an expert, but my first thought was you could add some pops of color, either in throw pillows, tablecloth, or tchotchkes. Especially this time of year, I crave warm colors as it gets dark and cold out.

I don’t know how old your kids are, but big green plants (spider, ferns) can add natural color and interest. (I avoided big plants with little kids running around.)

Jules

Veteran

If you want to do a deep dive - look up Maria Killam. It does take a bit of reading to get what she’s talking about. Helps you understand short and long term colour trends and ‘classics’. I don’t agree with everything she says, and I have a different esthetic, but still a good framework for understanding what you see in stores, what will work in your home, etc.

Helena

Veteran

Thanks all! Jaileen and Aqua, yes, definitely some color needed - it's easier to see this in photos for some reason ... sort of like selfies and outfits!

Rachy, oh gosh hahaha!! I would love to see. I love the idea of lavendar and navy together though - so feminine and pretty! I'm not sure about the cabinet blocking the door though lol!

Jules, thank you - I will check out this blog!

rachylou

Veteran

Not to hijack, but... Here is the kitchen. I may yield to the navy because if it’s to be the rosy lavender I have to take the cans back and exchange... did I mention I was lazy?

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KikiG

Veteran

Love your kitchen!

You might really like the blog http://www.thenester.com. She has a new book out about Cozy Minimalism that I'm wanting to read. I think you will relate to her style and choices.

I'm no longer loving the farmhouse look, and I"m not buying more; I think it is over saturated in the market and it isn't making me happy right now. Two many things going on. It is starting to remind me of 1980s country, which I still see at estate sales. I seem to want fewer, but larger pieces that make more of a statement.

I'm not buying any more fake succulents. Mind you, I haven't tossed the few that I have, but I'm stopping there.

I just got a new sectional sofa for a newly redone room, and I deliberately didn't "go gray" with it, as Maria Killam has me looking toward the next trend cycle. (Maria is to color and home decor trends what Angie is to fashion, and I save a lot of time by just listening to them both, and shopping with them in my head.) I went with a sort of linen tweedy neutral taupe for the sofa and greige walls (BM Edgecomb gray) which, if I get bored, will let me change accessories for a fresh look.

Navy looks fresh, and I"m adding some gold hardware or accents, but not making major commitments. I re-did a piece of brown wood furniture (painted it with this really great magic paint from Amazon) and got "champagne" colored (light gold) hardware.

Christmas decor at my house over the past few years is trending more toward a more spare and natural look.

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

Love your kitchen and LR overall. I think the kitchen would be easy to add color in the way of new curtains and a place mats for the table maybe. I also like navy right now for some reason but orange and coral go really nice with blues if you want to add some warmth. A few hints of a warm color added to the LR would be nice too. Rug on top of rug can work - one or two different pillow covers. Change out or add art with new color.

Anonymous

Yes, modern farmhouse!
Teal is a great colour.
“In” and “out” only matter for the main neutrals on the wall.

I personally like white on the walls

A few “pops” of green. With the teal would be nice.

Oddly enough, Chapters of all places, has great, fun, pillows.

Helena

Veteran

Ooh Kiki, I think "cozy minimalist" is going to be my decor moniker!! I'll check out that book. I agree, too much gray is too "gray" ... These couches are 100 year old Ikea ones that refuse to die, so they are not a long term commitment at this point.
Rachy, I love your kitchen - that palette is so fresh!
Texstyle, thanks, and I'll consider some hits of warmth ... I do need to refresh the art, too. I'm also loving the look of navy for decor. Blush too!
Smittie, that's a great tip re: wall color ... I'm doing a super-light greige-ish color this time (painter comes tomorrow!) which will give me a fresh canvas to start from. My striped cushions are from Indigo!

Runcarla

Veteran

Torontogirl, where does your natural light come from? (North, South, East, West?). Is your floor dark brown?

There is no end to the neutral love in home decor, but confetti colour is showing up in multicolour rugs and art, and colourful cushions, throws, etc. Wood furnishings seem to be lightening up and Scandi and mid-century modern seem to feature a lot in home dec magazines.

DH and I have embraced the neutral trend. We are working with cherrywood floors, dark wood cabinetry, south facing windows, and open concept bungalow living. BM Revere Pewter on the walls, BM Dove White on trim. Pale caramel furnishings in the family room, grey in the music room, silver and gold, and pale woods streaked grey.

#1 family room before
#2 family room after*
#3 music room before
#4 music room after
#5-7 close ups of soft furnishings
#8 the piece of furniture that set the theme for our decor
#9-10 hallway drop spot (I LOVE this mirror!)

*chairs are usually opposite the couch, but arrangement gets reconfigured during football season.

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Runcarla

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I'm meeting with a contractor about the rec room later this week!

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Brooklyn

Veteran

We did a Reno a couple of years ago and I also found Maria Killam’s blog very helpful.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

I agree with KikiG re farmhouse and the grey trend, and would throw chevrons in for good measure. If they are really, truly, authentically you, then go for it, but if you want a trendy house, those things are what you’d be replacing.

I get my decor ideas mostly from Apartment Therapy. Also from Lonny, Emily Henderson, Architectural Digest.... And you know how stores have “design tip” pages to sell their stuff? I look at them all the time, not to buy the pieces, but just to see how they’re putting things together: Pottery Barn, Crate & Barrel, IKEA, Target, World Market... I have such detailed plans! Now just need a home to carry them out in, lol.

Runcarla

Veteran

The Benjamin Moore Colour Trends for 2019 are really, really nice. Soothing, I would say. Their colour of the year is Metropolitan and it is a neutral grey. I don't think neutral palettes are going away.

Torontogirl, your rooms are classic in a Martha Stewart Living kind of way, but not as austere. Rather, comfortable/lived in looking. Is your house an older home? Anyway, I think you have a lovely neutral palette to work with and you can change things up with an investment in soft furnishings (pillows, throw blanket, rug) art and a few accessories (vase, bowl, lamps.)

Pic below from Canadian House and Home August 2018 - similar 'feel' as your living room but staged with colourful rug, pillows and art wall. Note the use of blue!

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Helena

Veteran

Thanks everyone! I started replying on my phone, then gave up, then forgot *sigh* ... the spent the last two days shopping up a storm to accessorize space based on everyone's suggestions and info!

Carla, thanks so much for sharing your spaces too! Cozy and gorgeous ... amazing what a few adjustments can do. We have used Revere Pewter too - it's a great color.

So, I ended up going with navy - duh, my signature color, how could I have not thought to use it in the house - and this is where I'm at so far. It feels 100% fresher and better. Just a few more details to sort and pictures to hang/adjust, then spending and decorating hiatus as Xmas looms! Thanks everyone

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Helena

Veteran

PS - Carla, love the CT picture! I never think to go there for decor ... hmm, maybe after lunch ... lol!!