My best decorating decision was: not to just walk into a store and spend money, like I did last time I redecorated(18 years ago)! I found things on CL. It was more fun to scout out things & refurbish & reupholster, mix old & new.
No more matchy match....it makes the eye wander, explore and really find interest. It's NOT boring!
{{!gwi}}

I'm glad I decided to take a chance and paint my Mbedroom Olive Branch rather than one of the beige/tans I had been looking at. It turned out even better than I had hoped. It's actually the first time in 20 years that I have really liked my bedroom.

Totally Confused

To repaint my office. I didn't go with my heart the first time around and chose a neutral, peachy/cream to balance the peanut butter color in the room. I hated it the second I put it up, and never felt comfy in there. Lived with it for a few months, then I finally bit the bullet and chose a cheery Caribbean blue and LOVE it.

Mine is when we added the new room. We wanted built in bookshelves but wasn't sure where to put them because of taking up wall space we may need.

I came up with the brilliant idea of extending one side of the room next to the front door, that juts out onto the front porch, (are you following me here? lol) and use the extra square footage for a book nook, which is like it's own room.

Here's an old picture of the porch where you can see where one side comes out more, leaving a deep sitting area on the other side of the door. The side on the left is still roomy and I keep a plant stand under the window.

Here's the book nook. This picture shows only one side of it, but there's another wall of shelves opposite the one in the picture. I've since added a small area rug for the nook.

Painting my entry hall ceiling black w/ pale tan walls. I get the wonderful feeling of 'openess and freeness that white walls give me but makes me feel 'vulnerable and cold' and the ceiling makes me feel protected and enveloped. It's the best of both worlds. Can't say I would have ever done that in a room though where I spend a ton of time.

My other best decision is 'cllecting over time' when I'm working w/ a meager budget. Pick up a bit here and a bit there - pack it away and in a few yrs. or less I can pull off an entire look room to room. Takes a lot of focus though!

I spent 2 yrs. buying a little here and a little there for DS's room and it's perfect in my eyes (and their's to).

I also find that those types of pieces are also always my 'go to' pieces always, always, always when everything else fails.

Generally, allowing the individual pieces of furniture be themselves. In the first place I owned, the color palette was very tight, everything was coordinated, the furniture was fairly closely related in style and period. It all looked nice, but it was inflexible in terms of adding or subtracting anything, and I felt the whole thing looked too pat and boring.

In this place, I upholstered each piece of furniture in response to its style and period, and chose pieces of furniture that I liked just because I liked them, not because they coordinated with anything. So, my Milo Baughman chairs that were produced with orange fake fur, ended up with something orangey red and fuzzy, (just not fur)...the McCobb stools that were aqua fabric got blue/grey metallic leather, the wing chair got black and white damask--none of it is coordinated, its not as discordant as it sounds, and pieces can come and go without the feeling that something is missing. It was collected, it *looks accumulated, and I think that it looks "natural".

My best decorating decision, by far, was to insist we change the footprint in our kitchen when we had it redone a few years ago.
Before, the view from our family room into our kitchen was of the refrigerator. We tried going to a SS one, but it still looked ugly to me. Our family room, with it's dark brown leather and cherry wood furniture, was not a casual as it needed to be to flow well with the kitchen. But, with thick real adobe brick walls, brick floors with under-the-floor radiant heat, and wood and beamed ceilings, DH and our first kitchen designer insisted it would be too cost prohibitive to move the water and gas lines. But, I did a lot of research and asked a lot of questions and I persisted. I found a better KD and a great, innovative GC and we did it my way . . . and for a reasonable price!
Now everyone, including by DH, thinks the new view is 100% better and the new layout works wonderfully, too!

This is my Before kitchen:
{{!gwi}}

And this is my After kitchen. I thought of ~and designed~ the new Old World hood over the cooktop myself and am so proud of how it turned out!
{{gwi:1404908}}
Lynn

Years ago- ripping up the old carpet downstairs and convincing my DH that we could DIY our hardwood floors. And that room size Karastan oriental rugs would be a great investment as they wouldn't wear out like carpet,were washable and could go with us if we move. Hey, if we all end up living in tents, mine will be stylin'!

Hmmm, I've made so many mistakes, this is a hard one. I guess one thing I *do* like about my house is the decision (thanks to all of you) to stain my fiberglas front door a Mahogany color. Just have to come up with right color for the interior side...

(I also like the walkway DH and I put in, though I'm not crazy about the grade of the front lawn - builder put steps in before the final grading was done, we should have only had 1 step). I think the whole porch area will look really nice once I finish the stonework (and get more wicker!).

Oh, and it's not decorating per se, but I really like my 9ft kitchen island with the angled end cabinets and the lower (bathroom vanity) cabinet in the middle, with Plugmold tucked under the overhang...

It's not really a decorating decision, but when we built this house, I insisted on a screened in porch. It's not big, but it is large enough to fit a small table to eat on, and a couch that is big enough to snooze on. And it has an overhead fan, and I found an outdoor light (made of plastic and weighted on the bottom so it doesn't blow over in a wind, with a shade of sunbrella fabric) so I can read out there on hot humid summer nights (I hate AC).

I love my porch!!!!!

To not rush into decorating my house when I moved in. I had the entire interior painted white, to cover up the awful country colors, that it had been painted by the previous owners.

Then I lived in the house for many years, did tons of remodeling, and painted in my colors as I went along.

I am not too deep into decorating yet, I guess I am a novice. I've so far done, molding & painting to our entire house and hardwood flr(all of 1st flr).

The best part is adding crown molding to almost all the rooms and it gave an amazing look to the rooms. And I'm advertizing crown molding to all my freinds now lol!!

Hardwood flooring throughout the house, except for master bath, which is tile. We had carpeting before, and with kids, dogs, cats and even careful adults, it was a constant battle and expense to keep clean. Never again!!

There are lots of small decision over the course of time that I'm happy with, but the single most impactful decision was to vow to never live with white walls again. When I see a white room (unless it was planned to be white with lots of texture, etc) it gives me a cold feeling. Color is so powerful; paint is a wonderful tool!

My best decorating decision is never to be finished...

When I built my house 1 year ago, I decided not to have the traditional white trim, and opted for a tan, about 4 shades darker than the tan walls. I first saw it in an expensive custom build in NC, and knew if I ever built a house, this would be my choice. ;o)

Similar to cooperbailey - over the years we have managed to take out all of the carpeting which I hated and replaced same with hardwood. We didn't DIY, DH would never agree to do so:(, but I still had the floors done. We have beautiful area rugs, but now I feel like when I clean the floor it's clean as opposed to vacuuming rugs that have embedded dog hair (2 labs).

I will tell you that I vacuum much more often with the hardwood, but that's a good thing most of the time. I actually could vacuum 3 times a day, and some days I have. LOL

The only carpet is in DD room and that is a newly installed berber and the dogs are gated out of her room so no dog hair there.

IDK, I'm thinking those with dogs that have hair rather than fur are onto something. I am keeping that in mind if I ever expand my family!

One of the best decisions I ever made in this house was to put this 12' sliding door in the family room.

I'm embarrassed to say that for as long as we've had these patio doors, I've never been able to make up my mind on what to do for window treatments. One of these days.......... But I don't want to rush into anything (ha ha) or I'll be posting on the other thread "I wish I wouldn't have..."

Patty, I'd love to see what your tan trim looks like - do you have pics you could post?

Adding linen curtains in my Swedish styled living room. I was so hesitant to do it because I didn't want to block the light, but I love it! They add such softness to the space!!
Here is the link - scroll down for before and afters!!

Here is a link that might be useful: Adding Linen Drapes

My kitchen backsplash. Almost everyone comments on it, and oddly enough, it was the easiest decision in the entire kitchen renovation/addition. I found it, I loved it, I went looking at other tiles, and then came back to it. It's a mosaic slate tile that just has the perfect combination of all the colors used in the space.

Oh, the other (if this counts as a decorating decision) was not putting a TV in the "family room" that is open to the kitchen. The space functions much better as a sitting room/homework room/entertaining space without the TV.

Painting the LR and DR dark burgandy. I was worried about this dark of a color, but think it gives a very wam and cozy feel. The best compliment my DH gave me was one day out of the blue he said "I really like the walls in here." Success! :)

Oh- Work in Progress we DIY refinished our original old hardwood floors we didn't install any. I posted at work at lunch and wasnt very careful! We laid the carpet when our baby started crawling( he is 27 today!) and we thought our floors were beyond refinishing at the time.Changed our minds when they were uncovered.

To ignore my husband and stick to my wish to paint my dining room a rich, deep red. It should have been done 7 years ago, but he talked me out of it.

Coming here for advice on my living room.
It went from 'nice' to 'Wow! - I LOVE this room!'

Either splurging on my formal living room windows treatments, which I still look at and LOVE every day.

OR

taking the time - three years after moving in - to make the MB more cozy...

Sounds so simple, but what a difference it made! I actually WANT to be in there now. It's just so nice to have a quiet, relaxing place to escape.

CB - your post is funny. Shortly after we made settlement I realized I was pregnant with DD. So, we felt we had to keep the carpet until she was walking. Go figure, she was a late walker (13 mos). She will be 20 soon! LOL As soon as she was sure on her feet and our budget in a better position, we yanked all of the carpets. Unfortunately, PO hadn't put in hardwood, just plywood. We had to install all new hardwood.

It was SOOOO worth the wait! I've never regretted disposing of the carpets. They were new to the home when we bought it, but I am not a carpet person with the exception of area rugs. I was literally doing the happy dance when DD was able to walk on her own!

As you posted, if we end up living in a box, at least we'll have some great area rugs!

Painting my kitchen island aqua. A designer I worked with very briefly, looked a me with a disgusted smirk. I explained it is a favorite color of mine and used a lot in Italy. She told me to buy a shirt! Bye-bye! The cabinetmaker's wife had her doubts as well (but kept them to herself)and ended up really liking it. Moral of the story: it's your house, do what makes you happy.

Like others, my best decision was to rip out the carpet and finish the wood floors. (Though this was not so much a decision as a primal urge :-)

The other thing that worked well was replacing the tiny square window at the gable end of our attic with a large arched window. It looks great inside and out and cools the whole space beautifully. (The attic is a semi-finished playroom now, but I have plans....)

Heck, I don't have a single decorated room in my house. I've painted, papered, moved a few things around, made repairs when I had to, but it's a far cry from decorated. No granite, no agonizing over the exact shade of a certain paint, no matching the window treatments so they looked matched from the outside.

You folks amaze me with your attention to detail and your ability to change things on a whim. I do like lurking here. Though I'll never have a home like any of yours, I do like my home. It's very comfortable.

One thing though - I have a beautiful tiffany style lamp on a lovely marble top table we inherited from Hub's grandparents 35 years ago. Strictly serendipity that they go so well together.

Sherry

Duh! work in progress- it didnt take him 27 years of crawling. Shouldn't have posted quickly at lunch and posted before my evening aperitif!(s)
Our carpet lasted about from 1984 to 2000. The kid learned to walk much faster than my post indicated! Yesterday was his 27th birthday.
and yeah we will be like bedoins with carpets in our tent! or box if you prefer:)

willow, where did you end up purchasing your drapery? They look lovely.

Thanks!

I'd have to say that most recently choosing SW Pavillion Beige for my public spaces has been a great decision. I'm absolutely enthralled with *greige* colors at present.

Catkin - Drapes were custom made with linen from Belgium. Rods were handmade in New Orleans

bac717, my French doors are done exactly like yours are, and they're perfect.

Two of the best decisions we've made lately have been to remodel our kitchen after just six years into our house. We did an upgrade to granite, tumbled marble backsplash, ss appliances,paint etc.

Also,we did a remodel in our living room to redo a wall and add a fireplace. Things we should have done when we first built the house, but we were worn out with spending so much money.

In hindsight, it would have been so much cheaper to have done it six years ago.

The remodels have totally changed the look of both rooms and we absolutely love it.

My best decorating decision was and still is to put a little bit of money away each month, and go to the Mt. Dora Florida Antique Extravaganza each February! I always find something fabulous for the house! Last year it was an old farm table that is now my kitchen island. I love the look of a house that is put together over time and not one stop decorating. My DH calls it my "junking" weekend- I call it heaven!

1. Keeping my kitchen cabinets; ripping out the formica and adding red granite and ORB faucet. Still makes me go "YUMMM."
2. Silk drapes and wooden blinds in my dining room
3. A Target wool rug in my family room (from the World Bazaar line they use to do). Inexpensive, but little shedding and has the perfect color combo for the room.
4. Painting my 2 story foyer a shade of yellow (Behr's Calm Air or something like that). I was going for a light gold and when it went on the wall, my heart sank. In the morning light, it is the most beautiful color. Love love love it.

Danielle- LOOOOVe your MB-- where o where did u get that big comfy chair - i want that for our guest room-- what fabric is that?? I LOOOVE IT!

Not worrying about dog hair or dogs being in the house. Nothing is that fragile and as I've loosened up over the years with this, I realize how fun it is to snuggle with the dogs on the sofa- but I still put a sheet down first.

...flipping the dining room with the living room. We have a 1960 two-level ranch with a central fireplace between the LR and DR. The DR is a small space, so we turned that into a comfortable sitting room and put the DR in the LR space. Now, we have the fireplace, room for the inherited corner cupboard made by my great-great=grandfather around 1850, an old highboy chest, drop leaf table as sideboard, table that will seat 8-12, and two wing chairs-all without looking crowded.

Also, turning the downstairs family room into a library with cherry bookshelves covering two walls, fireplace, and chintz upholstery on the couch. It is very cozy down there.

Elsewhere, every upholstered piece is covered with sheets-lol, bumlebeez-glad we aren't the only ones! No worries any more-it's just stuff.