Houzz Logo Print
tinam61

Do you have one "style" throughout your house . . .

12 years ago

Or do you change room to room? I was thinking about this earlier. I was recently in a home where many of the rooms were in different styles. Reading the french country threads today made me think of this home. In the house I was in, the kitchen was the only room decorated in french country. The dining room was different although I couldn't really make out the look she was going for and her living room was very traditional, with a bit of victorian and a little rustic thrown in. Not to criticize the home, because if it works for those who live there - that's all that matters. But I like flow to my home. Our home is decorated all the same style and I've worked to get it that way. I also like the colors to flow from room to room.

I'm not saying that the house I visited was not pretty - it was, but I found the differences between the rooms a bit distracting.

tina

Comments (37)

  • 12 years ago

    Mine all blends more or less, mostly more.

  • 12 years ago

    I just repainted my first floor. It all blends - but I gave my living room a pop of color - a deep, but vibrant blue.

    It was an "outside of the box" decision for me - but I love it. While I consider my home "relaxed - traditional", this room makes a statement and also cheers me up whenever I walk past it.

    Somehow or another, it works.

  • 12 years ago

    The main floor and second floor are traditional, however, the basement and basement bath are modern. My teen sons requested this when we finished it, and as it is a teen hang out area with one son's bedroom and bath I agreed. The color scheme is similar to the rest of the house though. It was kind of fun to pick contemporary tile, fixtures, etc.

  • 12 years ago

    Yes, everywhere, including the pool and the kid's rooms, too. I think someone on here once called it "... a farmhouse, after the farmer had a particularly good year." (Hope they didn't mean the Clampetts)

    In our first home we lived in, I also tried to decorate it all at once, to give it a unified look. I think I was scarred by my parents home, which had toile and wood beams in the living room, and flocked psychidelic wallpaper with a conversation pit and purple shag in what was then called a rec room (these forums are anonymous, right?)

    The downside is, ideally you should take more time to find things that are really special. The other downside that occurs to me is, when I want to change it, I will have a very big project ahead of me. The third downside is that if you are GW obsessed, like me, you never quite shake the decorating bug and keep looking for more new projects even when your work is done.

  • 12 years ago

    Definitely blends at my house.

  • 12 years ago

    Mountain - I agree about the collected look and that's what we strive for. I don't think I'll ever change "styles" though because it's "us". So no major decorating project. LOL

    Yes, Allison your home definitely blends and reflects those who live there. Exactly what I was explaining above. LOL

    tina

  • 12 years ago

    Eclectic throughout with divergent styles mixed in each room.

    There is a historic precendent for different styles in different rooms,though, especially in large houses, and particularly in the bedrooms. So you could be shown to the "French Bedroom", or the "Chinoiserie Bedroom" or smoke in the Art-Deco outfitted lounge.

    But in smaller, mostly-open plan houses like most people live in now, I think this can get a bit schizophrenic, or at least theme-ish. However, I think there are some exceptions. I think a guest powder room, bedrooms, or perhaps a separate formal dining room can be decorated in a particular, well-defined style that varies from the rest of the house. This is because they are separate, closed-off, not as often used, and can be furnished tastefully in matching sets or suites of furniture, while most other rooms don't carry matched sets of furniture all that well, according to modern tastes.

  • 12 years ago

    The thing about having rooms done in various styles, is that for me it is too self-conscious.

    I like my makeup to look like I didn't put any on, and my house to look like I just happened to have some interesting, nice things. I'm from the "oh, this old thing" school of decor.

  • 12 years ago

    I find this very interesting. I've been trying to change our neutral style to something more romantic. Does anyone else crave more color and pattern in their home? I'd like to add some floral accents and more garden colors.

  • 12 years ago

    There is a style thread that runs throughout our house. There is a color palette and common materials that link all the rooms as does a fairly subtle water theme (it's a waterfront house). That said, each room has its own character. According to our many guests it is a peaceful home but unexpected enough certainly not to be boring.

  • 12 years ago

    I wouldn't say that I have one identifiable style that runs throughout my house. It's not like I decorate exclusively in "French Country" or "MCM". I'd say my style is more traditional (broad definition of that one!) with some eclectic (another broad one!) elements thrown in. I like to think my house looks pretty cohesive - probably because I'm generally drawn to the same sorts of things. Most of my furniture and accessories would work in any of my rooms.

  • 12 years ago

    I crave color and pattern but more in a boho way, not exactly a romantic way, or what I think of as romantic which is a bit more muted in color then boho. Not sure if that makes sense!

    I have gone with green and blue on both floors and then red upstair and orange downstairs. mostly things can move around that way. For example I just took the curtains out of my masterbedroom and put them in the playroom of all places. I think they look great there. :) But now I need to find something non-floraly for our bedroom.

    I think to answer the original question that yes, I have one style throughout. Not sure what style you would call it, but except for the older boys rooms, I think it is pretty consistent.

  • 12 years ago

    If an eclectic mix of traditional furniture can be considered a style, then yes, I have a consistent style throughout my home. However, while the wall colors are coordinated shades of beige and taupe, the dominant decorative color does vary from room to room.

  • 12 years ago

    Combining French antiques with traditional furnishings, I like to *think* it all blends together nicely. I'm sure one of my kids would let me know differently if there was something that looked out of place, say....a very 'modern' 50ish lamp.

  • 12 years ago

    I would have to yes except my kids room are their own space. But for the rest of the house I think it's all the same style. Now what style that is I don't know... a man built it and a woman decorated it LOL

  • 12 years ago

    The style of my entire house is traditional, cottage, eclectic in every room but the 3 bedrooms that are not visible from the public areas are more informal and cottage. The 4th bedroom can be seen from the foyer and the decor is more consistent with the public areas in style and colors. The colors throughout the entire house repeat and blend.

    I'm attracted to BoHo style also and am currently thinking how I can bring that into my decor without going wild with fabrics draping all over which IMO would be higher maintenance than I want especially with my cats.

    Cottagewithroses, that is what I have done in 3 of the 4 bedrooms by using more (and lighter) colors and pattern than in the rest of the house. My bedroom definitely could be described as romantic cottage as I've used antique white painted furniture, floral fabric on the wing chairs, sometimes on the bedding and WT's, and framed floral prints on the walls which I don't use in the rest of the house. I do have pattern in other rooms but it's more restrained and foliage rather than floral.

  • 12 years ago

    I have a few styles that blends well together... Shaker, mission, arts& crafts.

  • 12 years ago

    Most of my furniture and accessories would work in any of my rooms.

    I've taught this to our three children. DH and I still have a few pieces bought when we first married. Many pieces have switched rooms throughout the years, and when we moved to our new house. I think it's important to buy versatile pieces, especially if you like to/have to move often or are young - since it's more likely you would be moving.

    DH and I lived in our last home just over 20 years, and I plan on staying in this one until they drag or carry me out. DH is talking about buying 10 acres and building a smaller main house with a guest house for DD1. DD2 can build there also, if she wants to sell her current house. Who knows if it will happen - he's talking 2-5 years from now.

    Thanks, Tina! I love our home, and so do our now grown children. I do have a mix of styles but nothing drastic. The lower level den has a few Mission style pieces, but it doesn't scream themed. I mainly like to mix accessories and artwork, mostly European with a few Asian things.

  • 12 years ago

    My house is fairly coherent, and my preferences pretty traditional, but not in an orthodox way. I like what I like, and that has stayed fairly consistent for the last 25 years or so.

    There are lots of things that I think are lovely, but they aren't what I want to live with, either because they don't express our way of living, or they are complicated to care for, or they are too big or too small or too defined to work with what we have, or because they are only really attractive in the context they belong in, or I think I would tire of them, or my DH dislikes them, or they just don't feel like home to me.

    And there are also lots of things I would dearly love to live with, but they cost more than I can spend.

  • 12 years ago

    Except for my laundry room, which is done in "Lynn's Childhood Canadian Lake House", and our teenage DD's room which is done in "Emily's Version of France" (LOL), the rest of our home is all adobe and all "New Mexican". One room flows into another. I can move furniture and art around when the mood strikes me and what works in one room will work in others.
    But, most people don't realize that we're very much a tri-cultural state and mixing elements of Spanish, Native American and Western/Cowboy together is done a lot here in New Mexico. Even one hundred years ago and more, you could find elements from each culture in a Spanish hacienda, a log cabin on a cattle ranch or in a Santo Domingo pueblo home. Cowhide rugs lived alongside Indian pots, beautifully woven blankets, turquoise & silver jewelry and alongside Spanish crosses and carved santos, as well . . . and still do, at least out here! My home is a happy mix of the three, but I realize that the "flow" might not be as apparent to the non-New Mexican eye (LOL!).
    Lynn

  • 12 years ago

    I wish mine were a bit more coherent. Unfortunately, I did not have the long term vision that many of you had. In my early 20's i loved shaker/ mission/ arts and crafts. For some reason, in my late 20's I decided to buy a bunch of traditional furniture even though I never liked traditional. I'm slowly replacing it but it was expensive and good quality so it's hard to just discard it. Now, I like modern mixed with rustic and transitional stuff. It's a bit more eclectic and easier to blend.

    We also built a house 2 1/2 years ago which doubled out square footage. I'm reluctant to buy alot at once but it's getting there. Maybe in 5 years the house will look coherent!

  • 12 years ago

    My teen girls rooms and bathroom are more trendy/modern/etsy than the rest of my house. They have cute Amy Butler fabrics and color combinations that are are a little crazy to decorate around. One has a mint green and navy room. The other bedroom is coral and turquoise.

  • 12 years ago

    I hope mine does. Somewhat.

  • 12 years ago

    I strive for a coherent look--kids' rooms excepted as they get pretty much what they want. My mom was a military wife and she used to talk about military families who had one room from each posting, ie the Soutwest room, the Asian room, etc.

  • 12 years ago

    Most everything is coordinated, I can move accessories and furniture from room to room for the most part. I dislike theme rooms and even most overly decorated/styled rooms so
    eclectic works here.

  • 12 years ago

    Most of my stuff is mild mannered enough to pass anywhere. But now I'm worried that someone will peek into the bedroom with the art deco set and have a panic attack. :)

  • 12 years ago

    i am having a single blended look in my home...

  • 12 years ago

    Lynn, I know you're not from N.M., so did it take you awhile to get used to the style there? You've done a fantastic job pulling it all together.

    Allison, this Saturday my son and his family will be moving in with us while they build their house on the acre we bought last year..for us. lol. It's going to take some getting used to since two toddlers will be here, but I know I'm going to love having them as neighbors since we're out in the country. Your DH has a good idea there!

  • 12 years ago

    Nope. The game room and one of the DS's rooms are more transitional/slightly contemporary than the rest of the house. DS had a strong preference, which we indulged; the game room also has a big screen T.V. and I saw no point in trying to conceal it. So I went with a more current look in there, too. Then there's the (in)famous laundry room: grass green cabinets and MacKenzie Childs knobs, etc. None of the these rooms is visible from any other room, so they don't pose a cohesion problem. Otherwise, our place is very traditional.

  • 12 years ago

    So many interesting comments here. I use the word style loosely LOL. Our home is traditional with some cottage thrown in. Bumble, I feel the same way about themed rooms and I would say our home/our style is a bit eclectic too.

    I also agree with letting kids rooms vary.

    Cohesive - yes! That is what I meant LOL.

  • 12 years ago

    Oakley: (LOL) I sure did have trouble making the transition! I grew up in Michigan, with a summerhouse on Lake St. Clair in Ontario. To this day my favorite, and preferred, design style is Cottage, with white appliances and cupboards, apron sinks, overstuffed, comfy furniture in faded florals, wood floors, rag rugs, and a big screened-in porch facing some lake. I'd trade this house, art and furniture for that in a heartbeat if DH would agree.
    Lynn

  • 12 years ago

    Lynn, do any of your friends have cottage style homes, or is the SW look a common theme in N.M.?

    If it makes you feel any better, I never liked SW decorating, it all just seemed so phony to me, until I saw your house. I could easily live in it!

  • 12 years ago

    Meant to say, I'm sooo glad the "S.W." decor (and I use that term loosely!) from the 80's & 90's have gone away. :)

  • 12 years ago

    Everything is pretty well blended in our home I think. I usually call it 'comfortable traditional' with a little craftsman touches thrown in here and there. I can switch around most pieces too if I want such as the odd table, art, lamps, chests. There is only one guest bedroom that has some really older and antique pieces but they too are a nod to traditional, blended with an iron headboard and old things framed. Colors are similar, mostly tan, greens, and I use a lot of red accents. I do have one guest BR where I went with yellow and a half bath that is a caramel color.

  • 12 years ago

    Lynn, I always like seeing what you've done in your New Mexico house, and couldn't agree more about the disappearance of the phony pink-and-teal, Kokopelli themed, allegedly southwestern schlock motif-heavy fad of those decades.

    I always thought Georgia O'Keefe must be spinning in her grave...

    Yours is the real thing.

    Having grown up in Virginia, and having had the privilege of exposure to fine old 18th century houses, I am particularly sensitive to similarly motivated attempts at Georgian colonial and Greek and classical revival style. I always thought I wanted be the mistress of one of the great piles myself, and would have had to marry one to get there, but some of my friends either inherited or married those houses, and boy, that's an expensive and demanding full time job.

  • 12 years ago

    Oakley: no Cottage interiors out here that I've ever seen. You will, however, see everything from Rustic, Country, Traditional, Arts & Crafts, Contemporary, Modern and the many variatios of stucco and adobe homes. They all usually contain many Southwestern elements, from our colors to the art and accent pieces, though.
    A very good friend of mine has a drop-dead gorgeous, custom Arts & Crafts style home that she's decorated with a blend of (very good, antique) Japanese, A&C and SW pieces and they all work together beautifully.

    Bronwynsmom: Thank you! As for that SW decorating fad that most of us out here absolutely hated, you've described it perfectly, "the phony pink-and-teal, Kokopelli themed, allegedly southwestern schlock motif-heavy fad" . And I would add to that howling coyotes and saguaro cacti (which are not even found in New Mexico and always irritate us to see on supposed NM things -LOL). We still occasionally see evidence of them, but mainly in the cheap tourist shops.
    Your truth-be-told about owning one of the old, beautiful Georgian Colonial, Greek and classic revival style homes in your area of the country made me smile. My DD's dream is to move to Virginia and live in a home just like that. They are gorgeous but I like and appreciate your practical take on them . . . and will definitely pass it along to DD.
    Lynn

  • 12 years ago

    My house is a blend of styles that have personal meaning to me, and it seems to all flow together better now that the rooms are all painted in the same color. I have a passion for Native American artwork and love to travel, and my home definitely reflects what (and who) I love and where I've been. I don't really consider it a "style" so much as a mirror of my life (at the risk of sounding completely schmaltzy ;-)).