I too, think it is a very nice comfortable home. I would like to see a bit more color, maybe in pillows etc, but, so many homes I see on here are so non personal, and so colorless, even though, they are perfectly done, and almost look like they should be in a magazine. Most of them, I would walk through one door and out the other. I could enjoy sitting in your house for a while. Just enjoy what you have and decorate with what you love, so your house tells the story of you and your life. Most are just a house, yours is actually a home.

Not a pro, but I like the neutral look when looking into the living room from the dining. A few tweaks and you'll be good to go.

I love your home, it has style. A very neutral, a bit eclectic style. With justterrilyn on the great elements in the house. Just do you and ignore the naysayers and their rude comments.

Some sheer white or off white curtains would help w/ the windows in the living area too, I'm thinking...

Thanks everyone for your inputs!
I really wanted to figure out my decorating style. I myself have often thought somewhere between transitional and eclectic. Now with your input I’m leaning more towards understanding my style is more eclectic. The reason I wanted to know is because I feel if I read about what makes this style work and what doesn’t it will help me improve.
To answer some questions yes my house is a mid century ranch with a vaulted tongue and groove ceiling, exposed brick, broken tile floor, original cabinets and bathrooms in a wonderful southern neighborhood.
I have collected my furniture over 30 years of living in different towns, countries, apartments etc. and can’t afford to throw everything out. I have to make it work on a tight budget.
I love keeping everything neutral, I find it calming.
Thanks again

By the way I thought about going modern at one time justerrilyn because of the elements you mentioned... sliders,,, a Pasadena front door,,, clean lines,,, but I can’t afford to and I just work with what I already have. Love your input though!

I get where you are coming from Hazar! Much of my furnishings are off CL lol. I could do more stuff to my house but it would dip into the travel funds. Once a year I would rather travel. There's ways to get a bit of all you want without spending big bucks. There's CL, thrifts, garage sales, Habitat re-homing stores, moving sales, remodel/demolition sales, going out of business sales, auctions ...there is always a way. Mostly there is no such thing as impossible.Its just a matter of waiting and watching.

You have a beautiful home!

Thank you!!

I just clean it up paint it change knobs etc... most of my furnishing are sales and thrifting :)

I like your room. You have so much interest in it with texture and iron-design patterns, and the various woods that you don;t need splashes of colour. And don;t forget that your brick wall is both a texture and pattern element as is the floor. Your style has a hint of rustic in it as well.

The only thing is that I would try to bring some order to the brick mantel. But that's just me liking a little order to my accessories.

Hazard, are the French doors the permanent muntins type or are those little square bits removable grilles? I ask because I just love black or very dark bronze painted doors with your light wall color.

Or you could paint them as is. Lots of work though and, it might be too much if you also keep the iron pieces above fireplace.

Love your style. Another auction, Habitat, thrift store girl here and definitely eclectic. If I was to identify with any style, I would pick English Country.

I don't select metal wall decor for our home, but I think it works for you because of the railing. We have sayings on our walls which works for us because they make us smile, but is frowned upon by many here.

Justerrilynn I believe they can be removed and I’m going to ask someone who will be renovating my laundry room if he can do it. They are really not attractive to me and make the doors hard to clean.

The first word that came to my mind was "calm", and so I was not really surprised to see that you describe yourself that way.

The one area I have an issue with is the ledge in the first photo - it looks like a "catch-all" and does not seem to have been organized very effectively. I would consider taking everything off that ledge and starting over - and maybe not put everything back. Your mantel is much better organized, and I especially like the black & white chairs flanking the fireplace.

Thanks Lars. I acutely did that this evening. It’s a 50’s planter meant to set live plants in. However, there is not enough natural light for even a pothos to grow. I took everything out except the ceramic Bonnie planter ... and just put clear glass lights among the pebbles ,.. it’s going to take some thought as to what to do with it,,,,

I have very much enjoyed this thread. I am not well versed in the various categories of style so I am useless for you. You certainly have wonderful STYLE, whatever others want to call it. Stay confident and go with what you love. I would love to be your guest, that guest room is just lovely :-)

Love this thread, thank you for sharing your room. I have similiar elements in my mid century home. Lower level family room with iron railing between the levels, white French door style sliders and a brick fireplace, although my brick has been painted. You have done a very nice job with your decor. I am getting ready to redo my room and even though I am heading in a somewhat different direction with my decor is nice to see what other’s with a similiar room have done.

Jill302 I would love to see your room when it’s done. Actually the art I posted is from a different area in the house it’s at the end of the hall right between my kitchen and dining room.

I like hanging things that are personal to me... photos from my home in it... from Europe... watercolors of the town I live in .. like the middle one.. but I’m still gathering ... I loved some suggestions I got here!

Do you think you will embrace mid mod?

Personal artwork can so make the space. Just lovely!

Hazardgirl - Love the art, especially top photo above. Your downtown?

Not planning on an MCM family room. While I truely appreciate MCM it does not really fit the style of my house. The house style is what I think is called a contemporary ranch, it was built in 1964. We are planning on a relaxed traditional asthetic with lots of color, unless I chicken out on the lots of color.

We have been in this house 3 years and I really have done nothing. While it has been liveable it has not felt like my home so I am finally getting started with planning my family room and kitchen. They are open to each other so they need to be done at or at about the same time. I may be asking for help here once I get further a little into the process. Had help from this group on my last house and then again when staging that house to sell. Received wonderful ideas that helped make my home unique, comfortable, attractive and when needed sellable.

Thank you Louise! Jill302 yes I am in the city limits and I live in walking distance to downtown. Love it so much. I’ll post a picture of my street. What you have planned sounds fun. The people on here seem so warm, nice and wonderful. There was only one tactless person and they left after getting called out! Lol

oh the more I scroll, the more I like. LOVE the wood beam ceilings...Not sure what your style is but I LIKE it!!

What a gorgeous street!!

Really pretty home you have, hazardgirl! I am smitten with those gorgeous beams in your living room. I agree that your style is eclectic, but I see a traditional and somewhat rustic twist in the mix as well.

You wouldn't happen to be in Hazard, Kentucky would you?

About the planter ledge - what about trying some tall fake grasses in an interesting rustic vase/planter. Those would be very organic and I think would suit your place. You can buy those at Home Sense or Pier One in their sales area. Michaels can be ok. Or some squat battery operated white candles of varying heights - Costco and other places sell those.

Idaclaire yes I am from hazard ky... that’s what the horse wall is about... with the photographs of my childhood home... my mama on pet ( our horse) in front of the barn.. but I retired to SC.

Blfenton I really like your idea for the brick planter....right now I have glass tea lights strewn in it and a few pumpkins for fall... what do you think about the rabbit planter?

As far as rustic .. I do like vintage pieces mixed with newer traditional or contemporary.. and my house itself is kind of worn and rustic

Ah, nice! I have an old flame who hails from Hazard. ;-)

Small world idaclaire! That’s a remote area in Appalachia. Have you been there?

I like the white pumpkins, and although I'm a big fan of symmetry, I'm wondering how grouping the pumpkins in the center and moving the planter closer to the window would look?

Seems to me symmetry on the wall is sufficient.

P.S. I just realized that's not a live plant, is it?

No, I never visited the area, although I understand it is quite pastoral and beautiful. I actually met the old flame when he was stationed elsewhere in the military, waaaaaay back in the 80s. (Sorry for highjacking your thread with this bit of useless trivia.)

I dont mind the planter, but if it isnt real, please with a real plant. I like the pumpkins, they look good.

Beautiful house! I was thinking starting a collection of something to put on the planter. Like white birdhouses in different sizes which can be bought online. Just an idea. I would put something bright there because greenery blends in.

Here's a picture to give you an idea.

FWIW, I believe those are lanterns pictured above, not birdhouses.

Lanterns would be kind of cool, because you could put candles in them.

Carol, I don't know where my head was at! lol I think it was because I set an old wire birdhouse on a table in the LR yesterday in the same shape.

The candles would definitely look cool, especially in the winter.

I happen to think that the rabbit is cute and a little whimsical. The pumpkins look nice and coordinate well with your table arrangement.

That is something you can reserve your planter for and that is seasonal arrangements. You can do the four seasons but also change it up for Christmas, Easter and what ever else you may celebrate. Valentines Day?

Such great ideas. The ivy in the rabbit planter is faux.. not enough light for real :( I’m not crazy about Faux either so what I could do is dry some of my limelight’s and add those!

I’ve thought about lanterns as well .. maybe 2 large ones on either side? You can but them on sale at hobby lobby

There are a number of houseplants that grow with low or little light. If you wanted trailing you could go the philodendron, pothos or creeping fig route. For something bushier either a peacock or prayer plant would work or one of the ferns or spider plant. Dried hydrangea or a seasonal arrangement might work as well.

I was thinking a large fern near the window might look nice. It appears in the photo that there is some sunlight reaching that area.

Hazard, I like those lanterns. I'd do a grouping of different sizes like in the picture. Also, I wouldn't put anything brown on the ledge because it will blend in with the brick.

That's a hard area to decorate. Just decorating my mantel was and still is a huge PITA! lol

I haven't read all the replies but I would cover that planter with a thick-ish wood top stained the beam color. Add what you want, books, a few mid/small leaning paintings, pottery, candle holders, statues...the list is endless. You don't have to accessorize every inch of the cover though.

If it's not really conducive as a planter it makes no sense keeping it as such.

Plus, with a top you could get so much use of that space. It could act as a small buffet or drink station if you are entertaining.

I love Terrilynn’s suggestion of a stained wooden top! That opens up the possibilities for so many decorative items. You could do lamps, lanterns, pottery, etc. Just think of the Christmas decorations you could put there!

Tuesday

A Kentucky gal not too far from Hazard

P.S. I can’t see your pictures very clearly, but I can imagine some pretty black and white coal mining pictures in your lovely home paying homage to Hazard - would look great with your black wrought iron/black metal pieces. I have seen some beautiful ones displayed in various places when visiting your hometown.

Terrilynn-that might be brilliant!

Justerrilyn would you use tongue and groove? And would you make it overhang a little like a regular countertop? I like that idea

Tuesday-2008 I like your suggestion of black and white art of hazard! And you are from the same area?? I can’t believe I met another hillbilly on this site! Small world!