We've only been in our new home a few weeks, and I'm still in that "getting to know you" phase of our relationship. (If you love to work on your house, you know what I'm talking about. You invest alot of time and energy--it's kind of like being married.) While everything doesn't have to be different, I do feel like each house has it's own personality, and the same exact decor just doesn't work from one place to the next. So, I'm just trying to soak it all in, while I decide exactly who this house is and what it wants to say.
While our last house was pretty casual and full of bold color throughout, I'm leaning more and more toward layers of neutrals for our new space. To be honest, I always looked at our last house as a fun project, knowing we weren't settled there for good. So, I guess it was easier for me to be braver with color choices and to try new things.
This space, however, feels different to me. Even without all of our furniture, it's warmer, cozier--more like "home." It just has good bones, I guess you could say. When I think about decorating it, I want it to feel more relaxed, comfortable, easy.
We're also surrounded by trees here, with a lake nearby. I feel like your interior should somewhat reflect your exterior, and I love the idea of bringing in the soft colors of nature.
To be honest, I think neutrals can be a little trickier to pull off than bold colors. So much of getting it right has to do with textures and layering--and choosing great accessories. If done right, you see a really beautiful room as a whole instead of one big "wow" factor.
So, will I stray from this neutral idea once I start pulling our family room together? Maybe so. But, these are my thoughts as of today. Hope you enjoy my ramblings of what I might/could/would do. . . It's going to take me forever to decorate this house. :)
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Emily, what an exciting time for you and your family. I can't wait to see how you will make your house a home :) FYI- if you purchase a $75 gift card from Sherwin Williams a paint consultant will come to your home for 90 minutes. I took advantage of this service and I'm thrilled with my paint choice I went neutral, checkout my blog:) There is no place like home!
ReplyDeleteI'm so excited for you and I can't wait to see you start to put your touch on your new home.
ReplyDeleteLots of great inspiration for neutral spaces {love seeing Joan's living room there!!}. Have fun with it!
ReplyDeleteHeidi @ Show Some Decor
I have no doubt your new home will be gorgeous. I'm sure it's both exciting and daunting. Enjoy! Looking forward to seeing it evolve...
ReplyDeleteOh Emily have fun...this sounds like the chance of a lifetime. I would love to be able to "start from scratch" so to speak. I have so much color in my house that to go neutral would be a huge departure. I'm trying to do it a little at a time. Good luck and enjoy!
ReplyDeleteSuch an exciting time. I love the opportunity to make a space "mine". More and more I have grown towards neutrals (even though I love bold colors) and bringing the outside in.
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to see what you put together. It will no doubt be gorgeous!
I'm crazy about color, but the neutral pics you posted have me rethinking my decor. The pics are absolutely gorgeous...I especially love the first one. I'm excited to see how your new home comes together! I'm sure it will be beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI love neutral spaces and find them so relaxing. Really looking forward to seeing your new home. It sounds like you're going to be really happy in your new home.
ReplyDeleteI'm so excited for your new adventure with this move and decorating, making this new house your home! Can't wait to watch you on this journey! Janell
ReplyDeleteWe just moved into a new to us house a few weeks ago and I am doing the same thing except I have no idea what I"m going to do! I love the photos you posted, they are wonderful and I think you will have no problem pulling it off! I can't wait to see what you do with this house!
ReplyDeleteHello Emily! I just found your blog via Kirsten's Blog 6th street design school... I loved your old house! The colors were bold and cohesive, I am looking forward to seeing what you do in your new home! I also think that every home is different and deserves unique decor. So much fun!
ReplyDeleteTiffany {Living Savvy}
savvydesignwest {dot} com
Wait, have you posted any pictures of your new house yet? I think I missed them!
ReplyDeleteHow exciting to start from scratch!! You will be able to avoid any mistakes you made from previous decorating adventures AND try and new and exciting things you've always wanted to try! So excited for you! and cant wait to read all about it as it unfolds!
ReplyDeleteI think the rooms you showed are really serene and soothing - maybe that's what is inspiring you? Looking forward to seeing the progress!
ReplyDeleteLove those zebra print ottomans! Gorgeous;)
ReplyDeleteHi Emily!
ReplyDeleteMy friend Sue @ dhousemommy.com just told me about your blog. I love it! We are pretty much gutting our house this fall and I want to do all neutrals with lots of textures and tone on tone layering. I think I will be visiting your blog often for inspiration! On a side note - I am a born and bred Illinois girl who did get to live for two wonderful years in Charlotte a while back. Our house was up off exit 36 on the lake. Boy do I miss it! You will love love love living on the lake!
I love getting the chance to see how your mind is thinking on your new home, not to mention those wonderful images. I just can’t wait to see the finished project!
ReplyDeleteEmily...you couldn't have picked images I love more. So funny how your taste changes over time. I am so anticipating what you come up with :)
ReplyDeletegreat post - i can't wait to see what you do in this new home.
ReplyDeleteI too just moved, and am in 'getting to know you' mode. I just applied a few swatches of Benjamin Moore colours on the wall today. My last home was more grey/brown tones, but this one I am also leaning to brighter, more neutral, soft colour palette. I am searching for the perfect soft blue, combined with muted creams, and beautiful fabrics and textures. Have fun in your new home!
ReplyDeleteI am so excited for you and I can't wait to see what you come up with in your new home! We have already seen the bold, bright and beautiful from you and we are ready to see the neutrals as well.
ReplyDeleteJessie
www.mixandchic.com
I am really excited to see how you decorate your new spaces!! I LOVE your inspiration pictures...I'll be sure to follow you on Pinterest. You have such great style! We recently moved, too, and I'm still trying to get a feel for things. It seems like it's taking me FOREVER to figure out what feels good where. Thanks for the great inspirational post.
ReplyDeletewww.freestylinbeth.com
oh goodness!!! I'm really excited!!! You just posyed a few of MY living room inspiration pics, so I have a feeling I'm going to love your room!
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean about taking chances--we just moved this weekend into a new rental, and I'm contemplating painting the kitchen navy blue, which is a risk I probably wouldn't take if I had bought a house...the only thing stopping me is the fact I'd have to paint it back to Linen White when we leave.
ReplyDeletecongrats on the new house! Excited to see what you come up with.
Having a brand new (to you) space to make into your home, is such an exciting adventure; though it can be pretty daunting when you first start! So much to do, so many choices! But once you settle into the direction you want to go, oh boy Howdy! Each piece you add, each successful color choice you make, each "just perfect" decision you reach leads to that final moment when you collapse into a comfy chair at the end while you just look around the space you have made your own,,,,,and grin like an idiot because you are "home"!
ReplyDeleteSuch beautiful rooms, I am partial to a mostly neutral room with hints of pale colors. I love what you have shown and look forward to seeing what you do-
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to see what you do Emily. I am still trying to organise our home 3 years in! ;-)
ReplyDeleteWow.....I need that space to be mine!!! LOL..Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI love all of those images you shared. So exciting to have a clean new canvas to work on. So fun. I love a beautiful neutral room. And I agree that they are more difficult to pull off.
ReplyDeleteknow exactly what you mean. we've lived in our rental for a year now, and i'm still 'getting to know' her. my own design style doesn't fit exactly with her 80's ranch skeleton, so we continue to struggle to find the balance between the bones, and our tastes. don't ya just love pinterest!
ReplyDeleteI know exactly what you mean. I can't wait to see the finished photos. I love your pins. I'm now following all your boards :) Look for mine too.
ReplyDeleteOh, I can't wait to see what direction(s) you go. I absolutely agree about neutrals being harder. But they're also easier to "tweak," I think, because you're not committed to a strong color scheme. Congratulations on your new home!
ReplyDeleteEmily, I missed you original announcement (I was on vacay). I am soooo happy for you guys. I can't wait to see how you decorate your new home. I'd love to hear more about it! We should get together sometime soon :)
ReplyDeleteI love Joan's home (the third picture you showed). She has a blog (fortheloveofahouse.blogspot.com). I think her home is calm, comfortable and has a quiet elegance.
ReplyDeleteGood luck!!
tina
Your right! I've moved 7 times in my 16 years of marriage and I have picked up on this from house to house. Each house has a personality that needs decorating to go with its calling. I do get frustrated with the curtain part. Each home needs a different curtain style, so when I move I always leave my curtains behind its like they belong to that house.
ReplyDeleteLove all of those images! My husband and I are in the market to buy a new home and I cannot wait for a space that I can decorate :)
ReplyDeleteKristy
www.idesignlove.com
Love these inspiration rooms, can't wait to see what your new home looks like!
ReplyDeleteHi Emily!
ReplyDeleteI love creamy beige neautral rooms too.
Maybe in my next house...?
This one is full of kids, and dogs, and cats,and DOGS!
Will have to wait for the neutrals in our next smaller home!
Can't wait to see what you'll do.
A
Emily, I think this is awfully exciting and will very much look forward to seeing what you decide to do as a lover of neutral interiors myself. These pictures are all very lovely.
ReplyDeleteCamille
Hooray! You ARE on Pinterest! It's so funny, as I was Pinning as I was reading...you had so many fantastic and inspirational photos in this post (when don't you, though!). I can't wait to see what you do with your new space!
ReplyDeleteWhat does it take to join pinterest? It seems you have to allow them to take info from your facebook page?
ReplyDeletehi Emily!
ReplyDeleteI am honored to be the third photo (the living room) on your list. I totally agree that neutrals are trickier, as my last home was more bold. I have loved the "quiet" that has come from the neutrals. The richness is subtle, but definitely there.
Wishing you happy as you get to know you new home!
best,
joan
Does anyone know where to find a rug like the one pictured that is orange/brown, green striped? I'd love one of those for my living room. Thanks
ReplyDeleteDefinitely agree with what you stated. Your explanation was certainly the easiest to understand. I tell you, I usually get irked when folks discuss issues that they plainly do not know about. You managed to hit the nail right on the head and explained out everything without complication. Maybe, people can take a signal. Will likely be back to get more.furniture manufacturers
ReplyDelete