Do you.....

[Mandy]

Keep up with all the new interiour trends?
The colors, and decorations?

I used to change decorations, curtains, wallpapers, colors, and all regularly.... but really couldnt be bothered anymore.
For the last few years i have a more traditional interiour, with dark wood, glass, silver, and crystal, and feel happy with it.
I cant bring myself to rush out and buy the latest goodies.

Same with Christmas tree decorations, i used to buy all new decorations every year, depending on the color trend, but when i look at the new color trends for tree's black/white i seriously can not get myself to like it.
For one tree i have Victorian decorations, for the second tree i have white/silver, i wont be putting both tree's up this year.

[katepoet]

I had beautiful furniture that we had inherited and artwork - just lovely things that I decorated around. But when my husband was out-of-work a few years ago, after 9/11, we sold most of it to keep the roof over our heads and the medical bills paid. It's a humbling experience but we know many Americans who have had to do the same thing recently or in the past during hard times. Now, in this rental house with our life on hold in so many ways it has been hard to be inspired. The last few weeks I have been feeling more like "nesting" here and find myself imagining things on the walls or the possibility of entertaining friends down the road. It feels good to enjoy it again. Must be part of the healing process.

As to style - not too modern - not glass and brass - but a compromise between modern and traditional. Warm colors, a mix of our own art and whatever we kept, practical is big with us - lol.

[Gina]

Mandy, Being I am a realtor I do see so many beautiful homes. I do get ideas as far as changing sometimes I have a hard time. My husband is not one for change and he will say we just painted or you like the look of borders , now you want to redo it! geeze sometimes its not worth the hassle so I shut up. I no longer use drapes, I have verticals and just put up valances, in which I like to change. As far as furniture I like the traditional furniture <wood> never goes out of style. I do like to fuss with my house . as we can older our needs do change.

As far as Christmas decorations, I use to buy every year esp. after Christmas. Great sales. The last few years I don't I have so much stuff I am starting to throw out and give away. I have only one tree and last few years I changed my theme to Victorian so of course I went out and brought all new ornaments. Gradually tho..lol This year I am slacking off buying presents, can't be bother I am doing the gift certificates route lol...

[Janet]

I tried a few years ago to update, do the faux painting. I did get the family room, living room, kitchen and hall done, oh and my son's room and computer room. Still need to do the two bathrooms and my bedroom, but I'm ready to go back to white walls, everything looks so much cleaner. I just haven't got the energy, maybe after Christmas.

I would like to do new flooring and new furniture, but everything I buy new, my husband screws up. He just doesn't take care of things like I was brought up to do. Would think nothing of sitting in a new chair with dirty pants on. ugh!!

I guess I kind of have my own style, not the greatest, but I can live with it for now.

[judy]

I did my house when I got my ex out. I took a 6 month sabbatical (teachers have it sooo good!) and took my time, went to the expensive shops and got ideas. I copied what I liked and bought things I loved. I had such a great time doing my home the way I wanted it.

I'm not big on furniture. I like the necessary stuff, but like pretty things around me, like my canopy over my bed. I make most of these things.

No more decorating after that, but now that I'm going to move, I can do it again!

[rivermom]

I don't think I keep up with the fashions. I guess my style here at home is more traditional than anything. A lot of wood, beiges, etc. Very earthy, rich, and deep in tone.

The house is "never" done. I keep bringing in pieces as the years go on and give away what I no longer use.

Mandy - I've seen bits of your decorating and you have beautiful taste!!!

I'm with you though....I don't think Id ever like a black/white Christmas tree. When it comes to Christmas decorations I'm still in favor of the traditional colors.

[DianaB]

I don't try to keep up with the changes in decorating either. I used to have the country style when we lived in the old farmhouse and it fit it so well, but after we built our new house it just didn't go any more. I have antiques that I incorporate throughout our home and basically I decorate with what ever catches my eye. It all has come together very well in my opinion. I'm always adding things or moving things around.

As for the Christmas tree, I use the same ornaments every year plus any new ones that I've bought. I collect Hallmark ornaments and have a lot to go on the tree. I think that the designer trees are pretty but they just don't have the memories to go with them. The kids always have their favorites and, of course, there's Rachel who is our Christmas tree angel. She's a porcelain doll that I made from a kit. I'm always for making memories.

[Mandy]

Ok... i wonder if it has to do with age, where we come to a point in life, and are just happy with the way it is, and are not into all the latest colors, gadgets, and stuff.
The way my house is now, i find it very plain, lots of dark wood, earthy colors, no clutter, and easy on the eyes.
I gave so many things away, my attic use to look like a flea market with stuff i had collected, and for what? To collect dust. LOL - when we moved i cleared out, and kept things i really wanted, and i promised myself, never to have an attic that looked like that ever again!

[rivermom]

Originally Posted by Mandy

Ok... i wonder if it has to do with age, where we come to a point in life, and are just happy with the way it is, and are not into all the latest colors, gadgets, and stuff.
The way my house is now, i find it very plain, lots of dark wood, earthy colors, no clutter, and easy on the eyes.
I gave so many things away, my attic use to look like a flea market with stuff i had collected, and for what? To collect dust. LOL - when we moved i cleared out, and kept things i really wanted, and i promised myself, never to have an attic that looked like that ever again!

I think a part of it does have to do with age Mandy - One just becomes content and puts more of a focus on material memories being added to the home. When you are young it's just "stuff" you have, atleast that's the way it was for me. Now much of what I have there is a story behind the pieces. A nick-nack (sp) from a travel vacation, a special gift from a friend cherished behind glass to keep it safe, a piece of furniture that's been in the family for ages, or a new piece that the kids can fight over one day...

[Gina]

Originally Posted by DianaB

I don't try to keep up with the changes in decorating either. I used to have the country style when we lived in the old farmhouse and it fit it so well, but after we built our new house it just didn't go any more. I have antiques that I incorporate throughout our home and basically I decorate with what ever catches my eye. It all has come together very well in my opinion. I'm always adding things or moving things around.

As for the Christmas tree, I use the same ornaments every year plus any new ones that I've bought. I collect Hallmark ornaments and have a lot to go on the tree. I think that the designer trees are pretty but they just don't have the memories to go with them. The kids always have their favorites and, of course, there's Rachel who is our Christmas tree angel. She's a porcelain doll that I made from a kit. I'm always for making memories.

Diana I love the Hallmark ornaments, I have collected them since I first got married, and continued on through the years for my children. Two years ago I decided to stop and saved them for my children. I started a Victorian tree , but the Hallmark are very memoriable to me my mom use to buy certain ones and she is deceased now. So those are special.

[Janet]

You all are so lucky with traditions and all for Christmas trees. We never had any thing like that. It was always a chore. I'm beginning to get a little more sentimental about certain objects for the tree...ah with age.

[Tink]

I love to decorate... my dh has actually teased me about decreasing the inside dimensions of our homes by painting so often. LOL

I don't have the energy to do all I used to, but I still get a bug occasionally to switch things around. I too prefer things with a history and sentiment to them. I never buy pricey items, but do buy things I can personalize or change to give me that same look.

I usually do a theme on my Christmas tree. I've done one with red velvet bows and candy canes, crystal angels and musical instruments, apples and pinecones, snowflakes and snowmen, blue and silver, gold and burgandy, etc. This year I'm uninspired so far... but I'm sure something will come to me. Many years I've had more than one tree just so I could play with more themes.

What I'd really like to do is to decorate outside on a small white wooden shed we have to make it appear to be Santas workshop. It would be something I'd need help doing though so probably wont get done this year.

[DianaB]

Originally Posted by rivermom

I think a part of it does have to do with age Mandy - One just becomes content and puts more of a focus on material memories being added to the home. When you are young it's just "stuff" you have, atleast that's the way it was for me. Now much of what I have there is a story behind the pieces. A nick-nack (sp) from a travel vacation, a special gift from a friend cherished behind glass to keep it safe, a piece of furniture that's been in the family for ages, or a new piece that the kids can fight over one day...

I agree with Sheryl.

[Mandy]

Originally Posted by rivermom

I think a part of it does have to do with age Mandy - One just becomes content and puts more of a focus on material memories being added to the home. When you are young it's just "stuff" you have, atleast that's the way it was for me. Now much of what I have there is a story behind the pieces. A nick-nack (sp) from a travel vacation, a special gift from a friend cherished behind glass to keep it safe, a piece of furniture that's been in the family for ages, or a new piece that the kids can fight over one day...

True, when your young, it's just stuff, as we mature, i think we get to appreciate the value of things, even if they arent worth a dime, we appreciate the sentiment, or the memories something holds.

[Mandy]

Originally Posted by Tink

I love to decorate... my dh has actually teased me about decreasing the inside dimensions of our homes by painting so often. LOL

I don't have the energy to do all I used to, but I still get a bug occasionally to switch things around. I too prefer things with a history and sentiment to them. I never buy pricey items, but do buy things I can personalize or change to give me that same look.

I usually do a theme on my Christmas tree. I've done one with red velvet bows and candy canes, crystal angels and musical instruments, apples and pinecones, snowflakes and snowmen, blue and silver, gold and burgandy, etc. This year I'm uninspired so far... but I'm sure something will come to me. Many years I've had more than one tree just so I could play with more themes.

What I'd really like to do is to decorate outside on a small white wooden shed we have to make it appear to be Santas workshop. It would be something I'd need help doing though so probably wont get done this year.

Thats exaclty what i meant! Having different themes in the house, when i got tired of them, change them, throw or give them away, and buy others.
Same with Christmas decorations, for years i use to give my stuff away after the holidays, and buy new things for different themes the next year, i dont do that anymore. The victirian tree decorations ive had for 6 years now, this will be the 6th tree with those decorations, i say i am doing gooooooood! The only decorations i bought last year are a second tree, with white/silver decorations, because the lounge area was so big, and needed to fill it up to make it look like something.

Tink, Santa's workshop sounds beautiful, one day when you do have it built, dont forget to show us pics.