Me again. Well, I just got through taking the ” Stylescope” quiz on the home page of HomeGoods (click on “Home” above and then click on “Stylescope” on the home page). I’m “Earthy Casual”! Who knew? It sure sounds like me, and it’s nice to have a descriptive name to relate to. I always enjoy taking style quizzes. They always seem to reveal things I didn’t know I was really drawn to (does that make sense?) The questions are, kind of a round-about-way of drawing your inner desires out, that you may not know you had. All and all, it was fun, informative and makes you think, how your style relates to your whole environment and way of living. If you get a minute (and that’s about all it takes), take the quiz, it may reveal some sensational style secrets you didn’t know you had. I’ll be blogging more on my “Stylescope” style next week.
While I was on the HomeGoods home page, I took a minute to watch the rotating pictures of all your great “finds” from HomeGoods and how you incorporate them into your decor. I was so impressed at all your beautiful interior shots. What great style you all have. Aren’t you curious to find out what style or combination you might be? Take the style quiz! It’s true, that the accents and accessories make the room and yours showed great creativity with placement and display. I loved how you mixed styles as well. A room is much more interesting when there’s variety. Just like a great meal, it’s all about the different flavors that make it memorable and delicious. Keep up the good work (more fun than work). We love taking a peek into your homes and see what excites you, because that excites us. We all can learn from each other and that’s what design is all about.
Now, go take the quiz and let us know what style you are and if you think it fits you. Tell us why or why not. We’d love to hear.
Enjoy your beautiful homes, small or large, they provide peace, security and a sense of well-being that no other place on earth can match. You can always leave home, but home never leaves you…always longing to return.
(click on picture to enlarge model home photo)
1. where o where did you get the table and for how much……so unique, i love it!
by anabelle — 7/20/09 at 6:05 pm #
2. Hi Anabelle,
So glad you like the coffee table. It’s a great piece. I’m sorry I can’t give you much information on it. It was in a model home and completed before I saw it. A little more about it… it’s a natural woven material, almost a sliced and sectioned feel to it. It’s a mix of rattan, banana leaf, and other natural material. It’s a veneer, but looks to be a solid piece. Very textural, and the circles infuse a wonderful pattern in the room. It’s definately the interest piece.
Maybe check some import stores or any place that sells unique natural furnishings.
Thanks for taking time to write.
by Cathy — 7/21/09 at 3:49 pm #
3. Cathy,y I took the style quiz and I was categorized as global casual. I suppose that’s because my taste is a bit eclectic. And, all this time, I thought I was French Tropical. LOL
by Janice — 7/22/09 at 9:34 pm #
4. I am earthy casual too! And my design challenge was to “organize” - the quiz was spot on.
by Melanie — 7/23/09 at 12:16 pm #
5. I would have called you…Beachy Chic!!!!!
by Julie — 7/23/09 at 7:15 pm #
6. Hi Melanie,
Yeaaaa! another Earthy Casual out there. I’m glad there’s a few of us. I bet you enjoyed taking the quiz. Hmmm, I wonder if disorganization is a symtom of being Earthy Casual. I can relate! I guess we’re so busy being inspired by nature we don’t let organization distract us. So glad you connected with the quiz and it provided some useful information.
Thanks for taking time to “join the club”!
by Cathy — 7/23/09 at 11:18 pm #
7. Where can I read the descriptions about each style?
by Lynder — 7/24/09 at 12:51 am #
8. Hello Janice,
I’m glad you took the style quiz. Global Casual…that’s pretty cool. It means you have a great way of mixing pieces from all over…and you do. I love an eclectic room, there’s always something interesting to look at and it’s not too predictable. Your French Tropical is an great example of your wonderful style. Enjoy your beautiful home!
by Cathy — 7/24/09 at 12:05 pm #
9. Hey Julie,
Yes, I do have an affinity to coastal design, but I could be happy in many styles of rooms. If it’s designed well, I’m open to anything from traditional to contemporary. Our styles change constantly over our lives. What you liked 5 or 10 years ago may not be what you might gravitate to today. At least that’s how I am.
Thanks for your astute observation.
LYC
by Cathy — 7/24/09 at 12:19 pm #
10. Hi Lynder,
I’ll check into that and let you know.
by Cathy — 7/24/09 at 12:23 pm #
11. Need some ideas for a front house patio just built with pavers.. Looking to paint my shutters taupy beige w/ maroone red door - garage door will be taupy beige as well. Forgot to mention the house is grey brick and the pavers are grey - Need some ideas on what to put on the wall and if the colors would go.. Thanks.
by Marissa — 7/24/09 at 12:32 pm #
12. Cathy, when you said that what we liked 5 or 10 years ago may not be what we like today. That is so true. What did you like several years ago, before your affinity to coastal? Yes, I do love French things but I also like a tropical feel, so I try to combine them, sometimes in the same room and sometimes not. For instance, right now I know I’m going to bid on a “monkey” lamp at the auction tomorrow (saw it at the preview today) but will use it on my screened-in porch, if I get it. I know you’re thinking “how tacky” but it is really nice. The base of the lamp is a carved wooden monkey, in a sitting position. I think he will look fine with my dark-stained rattan porch furniture. I hate the lampshade, however. Can you suggest a way I might change it?
by Janice — 7/25/09 at 11:10 pm #
13. Hey Janice,
Yes, I do like a little change of decor after many years of the same thing. Even if it’s an accessory update or recovering or slipcovering classic pieces you already own. I never throw everything out and start over because you don’t have to if you buy classic, quality pieces to begin with. I’ve always had an eclectic style. So I’ve always mixed pieces I’ve loved and somehow it seems to work.
I think your monkey lamp sounds wonderful. What a fun piece to add some personality on your porch. The lampshade always defines the lamp. Take your monkey lamp to a lamp or shade store and try on a few shades to see what looks best and ask the professional for their opinion. It sounds great with your French Tropical style.
You always have a good-eye for unique and interesting pieces. Let me know how things turn out.
by Cathy — 7/27/09 at 1:08 pm #
14. Well, things turned out pretty well. I did get the lamp, although I did have some bidding competition. It is very unique, and I’ve never seen any lamp just like it, plus it looks great with the rattan furniture. Right now, I have the same shade that came with the lamp, but I’ll follow your advice about finding another one. Although the lamp will go with any fabric or colors I decide to use on the screened-in porch, I’m wanting to eliminate what doesn’t work on the porch, and start anew with a color scheme that would compliment the lamp. What colors come to your mind when you think about dark rattan furniture, green plants (palms & ferns), and a rattan and glass-topped bistro set? That is all I have on the porch now — the rattan love seat, matching chair, the plants and the bistro set. Oh, yeuss, a rattan stool, turned up-side down and used as a side table? The cushions on my furniture are too traditional and I want bold colors and tropical.
by Janice — 7/27/09 at 8:31 pm #
15. I just took the quiz to find my style and I’m also an Earthy Casual. I love the brown, green and beige tones. I started to redecorate my livingroom and I’m stuck for ideas for the wall decor and carpet. My sectional is dark brown leather with a brown leather coffee table. The chair is sage green in the background, with brown, beige, and off white oval, geometric designs. The room is painted in a soft white stucco finish and it’s huge (18 ft. wide and 20 ft. long) and it’s open to the dining area, however I’m not changing the table/chairs this year. The floor is all beige (speckled with lighter tones) and the ceiling is 10 ft. tall with alot of light from the porch.
I need help in adding accessories. I thought of buying sage and poppy red pillows to make the room more colourful. Also I have been shopping at HG for a carpet and only found one in brown/beige/green tones with a huge abstract flower petal design on it. The colours do match but I’m concerned that it may be too dark. Another problem is how to dress up the wall behind the sectional as it’s huge; both long and very tall. After reading Cathy’s blog on mirrors, I thought that might look the best. I”m attaching pictures so you can see my room and hopefully give me some advice on how to complete it with the artwork or mirrors, carpet and accessories. I would really appreciate your tips and suggestions.
Thanks!
by Melissa — 7/28/09 at 8:42 pm #
16. Hi Janice,
I’m glad you out-bid the bidders for the lamp. A great accent! As for updating the look of your porch, I’ll give it some more thought. But one fabric that comes to mind, that has a tropical French feel is a fabric with monkeys dressed in ,clothes ,like Asian robes and hats etc.. It’s kinda fun and whimisical and pulls your monkey feel into the fabrics. You could add some solids and geometrics with it as well. I’ll try to get a fabric name for you. As for colors with your furniture and feel, aquas, turquoise, coral, sand colors come to mind. But, find the fabric with the most color and pattern first (your inspiration piece) and then you can draw all the other color for the room from it. That’s a great way to build a room around…find the piece with the most color and pattern first.
Let me see what I can find for an idea, and I’ll let you know.
by Cathy — 7/29/09 at 1:21 pm #
17. Janice,
I found the fabric with the monkeys. There are quite a few of the same theme but different colorways. Go to housefabrics.com and click on P.Kaufmann, then click on “monkey fabrics”. There’s one called Jungle Boogie Banana that goes great with the stripe called Bazaar Stripe and also a green leopard print on the same page. Kinda fun for your porch.
What do you think?
by Cathy — 7/29/09 at 1:40 pm #
18. Thanks for researching the monkey fabric for me. I have heard of a monkey fabric called Copacabana — I think that’s the name and it does have monkeys in clothing and hats. I’m going now to check out the P. Kaufmann fabric you mentioned, and I’ll let you know what I think. I’m always confused when it comes to colors because, as you know, I want them to “go” with the exterior of my home and also the surroundings (river and woods). I’ll be back whenever I check out the site you suggested. Thanks again!
by Janice — 7/29/09 at 7:32 pm #
19. Hello Melissa and fellow “earthy casual” friend,
I’m sorry I didn’t get your pictures, but I’ll comment with your great description of your room. Your home sounds nice and love the colors, very “earthy”!
You have a great start with your furnishings. Lets build on those. With all the browns, I would use that secondary color of green in your chair fabric for more color in the room. Maybe look for an area rug with more green than brown in it. Even lighter shades of green would work well. Bring that green up onto the sofa with some pillows and maybe add an accent green wall in the room to reinforce that element. Or, draperies in that color. Then add in a little accent color. It can be in the red family you liked. Use this color sparingly. One red pillow, red flowers, red in some art, red book on table.
This will add just a little more interest to the mix.
As for your big wall behind your sofa, I have another blog for you to read…
http://openhouse.homegoods.com/index.php/2008/01/05/big-wall-try-series-art/
This might give you some other ideas on wall decor for your big wall.
As for other accessories, light the room with some great lamps, I like contemporary style lamps for any style of room. It just adds an updated feel. Bring in a tall tree to draw interest to the tall scale of the room. Hang your draperies up to the ceiling or just below the crown molding. Draws the eye up into the volume of the room.
If you’re brave, paint the ceiling a light leafy green…beautiful with the green accents in the room.
There’s afew things to think about. I hope they were helpful or directional.
Much success decorating your beautiful room and don’t be afraid to “think big”.
by Cathy — 7/30/09 at 4:49 pm #
20. Love that Jungle Boogie Banana fabric and the Bazaar Stripe. So fun and playful! My rattan love seat has two separate cushions (to sit on), and I just use two jumbo throw pillows for the back cushions, because I like for the rattan to show. Same for the matching chair. So, would I use the Bazaar Stripe for the bottom cushions and the Jungle Boogie Banana monkey print for the jumbo throw pillows. How would you suggest that I coordinate the fabrics?
by Janice — 7/30/09 at 11:28 pm #
21. I failed to mention that I have some patio pillows stashed away — a solid turquoise one, a bright orange one, and also one in aqua — colors that you mentioned that might look nice with the rattan. However, I don’t think the Jungle Boogie fabric has any of those colors –but I do like it.
by Janice — 7/30/09 at 11:32 pm #
22. Well Janice, you’ll have to decide which way works best for you. Many ways you could go. Maybe you could find a monkey fabric that has your turq., orange and aqua colors in it. Use your solid color pillows/cushions and add a little of the monkey/tropical print fabric as an accent and pattern. In other words, mix the solids and pattern, but stay in the same color scheme. If I run across the pattern, I’ll let you know.
by Cathy — 8/1/09 at 12:28 pm #
23. Hi Cathy,
Thanks so much for all your great suggestions! I’ve already started to add green accessories and will continue to expand on this idea. I’ll add a little of the poppy red and follow your suggestions as I don’t want to overdo such a powerful colour.
Your tall tree idea and contempory lamp would also add more height and colour to my room because it looks quite empty. I’m so excited to explore creative ideas through the new site that you suggested for my huge wall behind the sofa because I want that to stand out. Cathy, you have given me alot to think about and carry through. Based on the little information that I gave you and no pictures (I did attach them) you have given me such marvelous ideas.
Thanks!
Melissa
by Melissa — 8/1/09 at 9:18 pm #
24. Cathy, I’ve finally made up my mind. I found the “monkey fabric” online for a really great price, and I ordered it. The site described the fabric as having a yellow background, green leaves and touches of red. I’m hoping the yellow background is the same shade as some yellow upholstery fabric (solid color) that I already have. I think I’ll be able to do something with this and the new fabric I ordered. Don’t you think touches of red — in a few accent pillows and accessories would look nice with the fabrics? Can’t wait until my fabric purchase arrives. I think it will be so cute, with the monkey lamp and rattan furniture. Thanks for locating that fabric for me.
by Janice — 8/3/09 at 12:23 am #
25. Melissa,
Thank you for writing back and letting me know the information was helpful to you. I always like to hear if I’ve sent you in the right direction.
Your room sounds like it will come together beautifully and reveal your great style. Send (more) pictures when you complete the project. I’d love to see how it turned out. Have fun decorating, it’s very rewarding.
by Cathy — 8/3/09 at 11:56 am #
26. Hey Janice,
I’m so excited you found some monkey fabric. Yeah!! The colors sound great with what you have. Yes, I’d pull out some of that red that you have in your home as accents in the room. The yellows and greens will look great as well. What a fun room this will be! I’m excited for you. Let me know how it comes together…get busy and no “monkeying around”!!
by Cathy — 8/3/09 at 12:05 pm #