Hey, friends! I’ve been thinking of starting a new series that’s more conversational like that post I wrote about white paint recently. So I wanted to open it up to questions! Do you have any decor, design or renovation questions for me?? What are your favorite and least favorite things about moving and settling into a new home? What are the biggest challenges?
Can’t wait to read your comments!! xx -Elsie
*Photo of my bedroom by Alyssa Rosenheck for domino magazine.
Hello! I am a teen girl who’s bedroom has pretty light blue walls but a massive built in desk that is dark brown. Is there any way to paint over the stained wood? Thank you!
I get really stuck on a style. So I fall in love with something, then I go for it guns blazing, and then a year later I’m tired of it. My living room was all botanical prints and art and indoor plants and beautiful greens, and a year later I’m not feeling it so much anymore. Now I’m doing another room, very mid-century and introducing lots of geometrics and golds. I’m afraid I’ll feel the same about this next year! I’m not so sure how to make design choices that won’t date. Not for the smaller things that can be replaced easily, but for things that are more expensive and time consuming to replace if that makes sense?
I have the same struggle as well. What I find useful though is focusing more on how vibrant it is and have different shades of same color or similar color. For example, with white linen I will throw in some textured pillows that has light grey, pink and blues, I would put a soft ivory rug down. I realized you can have all white but make them look different by picking different texture.
I tend to stick with one type of frames for example I will either choose bamboo or a walnut+white color for my furniture or a copper tone, I will keep one signature colorful peace in the room such as a pouf, also you could put artwork that plays with different color. This is just my style.
Hi where is the chair from in your bedroom
love this bedroom! Where is the pink throw and pillow from?
Love the bedding!! What brand/designer is it?
My boyfriend and I moved from a quite large rental house that was a lot of $$ monthly to a quite small rental house that is a lot cheaper, in an effort to save some money while we search for a house to buy.
Downsizing has been a huge challenge! I don’t have many LARGE furniture items but my boyfriend is quite attached to his outdated items, and just wants us to decorate them in a new way. Any help in regards to decorating small spaces to make them seem larger… OR revamping outdated furniture…
Personally, my problem is clothes. I have too many! And I don’t know how to downsize my closet as well. What would you consider essential? Do you store your summer clothes/shoes in the winter?
I really love A BEAUTIFUL MESS. Thanks for brightening my days even when they’re gray!
Hi Guys,
This is a lovely idea. I know one thing that myself and friends have struggled with and that’s finding a stylish, affordable living room rug (a big one!). We sadly had a disaster with a Persian vintage one that got water logged and haven’t invested in another yet. I’d love a giant patterned DIY rug tutorial. Something like the little weaved one you did 🙂 Thanks Jess xxx
Hi Elsie! I have several questions haha!
-I live in a house (with 3 other girls) that we rent, so it’s been hard for us to make the house look like we own it when we can’t paint/the style of the kitchen is completely not our style, but we are stuck with it!
-Plants!! I LOVE them and have been trying to have more of a green thumb! I want to get BIG plants but I can’t justify getting them/spending the money when I kill the small ones haha. So which ones are the best for a budget, which ones are hard to kill, do you have a schedule? Etc. I know you’ve posted plant posts before, but more would be great!
-Also my biggest question is what to invest in v.s. DIYing/thrifting. I love thrifting/DIYing things I find on the side of the road, craigslist, flea markets, etc. But I don’t want my entire space to look thrifted! Would love for it to look more cohesive, but also eclectic!
-Living with people who bring in different pieces of furniture/decor/styles is hard. How can you make multiple different styles look good together?
-Tips for outdoor/backyard storage! We have a big backyard with lots of different areas/furniture. But we don’t use the backyard everyday! So things get dirty, tired, worn, etc. But we don’t have any place/way to store things outside that’s easy!
-What decor trends/fads do you cave and give into, but then make them work when your style changes?
Yes! I have a question! I’m looking for a new way to decorate my almost 2-story tall stair-landing wall. It’s a little too narrow for any type of table. In the past, I’ve decorated it with a gallery wall of family photos, but since there’s a large window cati-corner (sp???) the light has started to eat away at my photos. So I definitely have to move all the photos and re-think the decor in that area. I’m definitely planning on repainting it…but I’m not sure what else I should do…please help!!!!
Hi Elsie!
My boyfriend and I just moved into a cute little home over in The Nations. While we get along in most areas, decorating has been a bit tough. He has a very masculine style (think cigar bar), mine is a bit more clean, sleek, and modern. What are your tips for creating a gender neutral space?
Thanks!
How to decorate a HUGE living room wall space.
I second this! You’ve talked about how important color schemes are to your decorating, and I’m basically like – how do I even figure out which colors I like (together) and whether they will help make the room feel like I want it to? And then you end up with only white because you’re too scared to do anything with color! haha. So I’d love some insights on how to go about bringing colors into a room. Looking forward to this series!
So, I’m renting a gorgeous converted church; however, decorating or finding a cohesive style is a NIGHTMARE!
There are lots of unusable spaces & it’s dark. As it’s rented we can’t really paint or change capets. The furniture is a combination of mine, my partner’s and what the flat came with. I’d love to see simple, cost-effective ways of creating a style & changing the feel of a room 🙂
We are moving into a 1969 home that has not been updated. We decided to keep the wood paneling in the living room and not paint it. The flooring is carpet which we want to pull up. I love vintage modern and was wondering if we should install really light wood flooring or tile. I feel we need to keep flooring light so the room won’t feel like a dark cave. I love terrazzo but too expensive. Thanks!
What door knob/lever finish is trending now? I want to replace my shiny brass door handles but I read that chrome is out of style and oil rubbed bronze might be going out also.
Hey Elsie!
What a great idea!
Well, I’m going to paint all my bedroom furniture white and… I really don’t know where to start! How do you figure out what paints/primers/etc are good for the material you’re working with?? I want to make something that’s durable and pretty; not cheap or worse ruined!
Thanks!!
Seri
Hello Elsie,
I love the idea of this series! My favorite part of the blog is seeing how you all decorate spaces but a series like this I think would definitely help me implement good decor into my own home.
My question is how do you choose between so many different styles? I like many different decorating styles: Moroccan, Midwestern, Hollywood Regency, and sooo many more. I have trouble choosing and sticking to one style but also don’t know how to create a cohesive space that balances and incorporates elements of varying styles.
Another thing I would like to read more about is decor on a budget. As a college student it amazes me how easily decor adds up when you consider all that it takes to even decorate a simple bedroom.
Yes! I just moved into a new house and all windows need curtains/blinds. What kinds of blinds are good for certain rooms / certain windows?Particularly a bay window in our living room. Thanks!
LOVE that you opened this up! Maybe home decor or small reno projects that are renter-friendly? Also, I’m currently struggling with how to decorate the wall behind our bed if the bed isn’t center in the middle. How do you create visual balance? No other windows or anything on that side either. Thanks!!