I've always had a strong sense of what I like and don't like as far as design and decor goes. When we moved to a new house when I was in fifth grade, my parents let me pick the paint colors for my room and also gave me a lot of say in choosing the rug and curtains and bedding. With their help, I chose a soft, sage green for the walls, a rich ivory for the trim, and a fluffy down comforter in a beautiful dusty salmon shade. The rug was a TJ Maxx find, I remember, and it has the same muted greens and salmons and creams in its design (this is one of the things that will be in our home someday when we move). The curtains were ivory and sheer and flowy and romantic. I was never a pink gal, and preferred (and still prefer) a mix of neutrals and earthy tones--sometimes muted, sometimes rich.
When one of my best college friends saw my childhood bedroom for the first time during my bridal shower a few years ago, she walked in and said, "Oh, this makes so much sense. This room is you." When she said that, I felt a sense of pride that my fifth-grade choices had proven to be rather timeless.
When I envision our future home and how it will look, I realize that, of course, my style has changed slightly with time. Especially over the last year, as a result of living in my first home with my husband and becoming addicted to blogs (which are filled with different, fun new ideas!) I think I've refined my tastes and become open to certain new looks and perhaps gravitated away from some things I used to like. Although perhaps a better way to look at it is that my sense of style has simply been expanded.
For example, I'm planning to share one of my favorite new hardware materials later in the week. Only a year ago, this look wasn't on my radar at all, but now I'm envisioning using it for all of the pulls and knobs in our one-day kitchen (hint: you can see this material in the shot above). I get really excited about discovering a new decorating idea and stashing it away for future use.
I'm really thankful to have a clear sense of my own taste and style, but I'm also thankful that it can evolve and become refined. I think it's fun to mix and match styles and explore new ideas with an open mind.
What about you? Do you know what you like? Has your taste changed over time, or simply become refined, or expanded to include more variety?
