I’ve been in the design field since “Macrame” hanging plant holders were hot. ( I even made a few myself). I’ve seen trends come and go. Most of the “stuff” we find so Chic at the time usually ends up in a garage sale. We’re all too happy to start fresh again. Thats OK as long as we didn’t spend too much on the trend. My clients ask me. ” How can I pull together a room on a budget. Have it look fresh and current and not be stuck with things I’ve spent too much on to get rid of if I change my decorating style in a few years.” I tell them. Purchase good quality, neutral, classic “anchor” pieces of furniture…sofas, chairs, tables, case pieces. Then fill-in with accent pieces, the colors and styles of today…area rugs, sofa pillows, lamps, artwork, accessories. They all can be changed when you need to update without changing your anchor pieces or spending a lot of money. Finding good quality, stylish and affordable accent pieces can be a challenge. I always look for sales or find many things I need at stores like HomeGoods, T.J. Maxx or Marshalls. If you have some other ideas on how you like to decorate, I’d love to hear form you.
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1. I love victorian decorating style, not 100% but touches in every room of the house. I have trouble finding victorian things that won’t destroy my budget. I recycle everything. But I am having trouble finding victorian that is not heavy looking. I like light and airy rooms, but I love victorian. HELP
by charlotte — 1/3/08 at 12:04 pm #
2. Just a quick question about color. Painting a small guest room a medium green. Shoul I paint the ceiling the same color or leave it neutral?
The color of the furniture is a honey color with the bedding a chocolate brown with green accents
Tks
Janet
by Janet […] — 1/22/08 at 3:59 pm #
3. Hi Charlotte,
Are the Victorian pieces you’re talking about furnishings or accessories or both? To get the style you want but not distroy your budget, you may have to look at reproduction pieces. Look online, Google… Victorian Reproduction furnishings, or e-bay, or Craigs list. Frequent flea markets, garage sales, thrift stores. You also can find some great pieces in the Victorian style in the stores I listed above. Put the word out to friends and family to tell you if they run across anything.
Good Luck, Sometimes the Hunt is more fun than the Find.
by Cathy — 1/22/08 at 6:03 pm #
4. Hi Janet,
Great question. Since your room is small and the wall color is not too light. You could paint it a neutral beigh…or you could lighten up the green wall color 2 or 3 shades and paint it a lighter color of you walls. ( this could look great). That’s with an 8 or 9 ft. ceiling height. If its a really high ceiling, you can paint a darker color. This would bring the ceiling down a little.
Thanks for writing.
by Cathy — 1/22/08 at 6:13 pm #
5. My familyroom is very large and feels cold. I have gold in just about every room in my house. I want to keep a good flow and need a color that will work with a dark olive silk solid drapery and lots of tan and brown pieces. Right now I have a manchester tan that is too light for my taste. Also, the ceiling is too high and is a bright white which I donot care for. Secondly. how dark do you go with a ceiling paint ? I’m afraid the room will become too dark if I paint the ceiling with the wrong shade. I could really use some good advice. Thank you.
by barbara […] — 2/28/08 at 8:40 pm #
6. Hello Barbara,
You have a big beautiful family room to work with, how nice. You have a high ceiling in a large room. This is the best type of room to bring in a darker color on the ceiling. First, it will add the warmth and drama you’re looking for. Secondly, a darker color visually “advances”, meaning the ceiling will feel a little lower, more intimate, less cavernous. I think a dark color will look spectacular in your room.
As for color…
idea 1- paint the ceiling the color ,or a shade lighter than your olive draperies. Look at Benjamin Moore paint colors…sussex green, wethersfield moss, tate olive. Your manchester tan wall color might look good to keep as the wall color, or go a shade darker. They work together well ,( looking at them in my palette)
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idea 2- Paint the ceiling a much darker beigh color than the walls. If you keep your manchester tan, look at greenbrier beigh, northhampton putty, jamesboro gold (its not gold).
I assume you get some natuiral light and you light the room well at night.
I am going to send you a picture in “Customer Finds” in the sidebar of this page. Look for the picture in the 5 small pictures. It shows a room with a dark ceiling, it might help you visulize the concept better. (It may take a day or two to process the picture).
Let me know what you think. It could look great.
by Cathy — 2/29/08 at 2:11 pm #
7. Hi Again Barbara,
I’m going to try to upload the photo again in this comment. If it doesn’t work it will be in the “Customer Finds” to the right.
by Cathy — 2/29/08 at 2:35 pm #
8. I love to decorate with THRIFTED items that are so inexpensive. Taking something someone else is tired of, revamping it to say ME is so much fun for me. One reason I like thrift buys is that, many times, no one else has one just quite like yours and I adore that!!
by bj — 9/27/08 at 5:52 pm #