This will be the first time (since I started decorating for a living 10 years ago) that I will be decorating my living room from scratch.
Image from Cote de Texas
Being in the [decorating] business is so hard because next week I might see something better-cheaper-nicer-more-perfect-than-what-I-already-ordered which would make me cranky. A designer I met once said she had brown paper on her townhouse windows for an entire year before she committed to a plan to cover them! I’m thinking a sunny yellow velvet sofa (not the shape in the above photo but the colour).
I’ll be posting about the process that’s for sure, starting with which sofa to buy! So if you are doing the same thing, make sure you follow along!
If you would like your home to fill you with happiness every time you walk in, contact us! We would love to help you choose colours, select the right combination of hard finishes or create a plan to pull your room together. You can find our fabulous e-design consultation packages here.
Related posts:
Do you Dream about Decorating your House?
Should you Surrender to the Temptation of a Trend?
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I so know what you mean! I do web design for a living, but my own professional website has been waiting for remodeling for six months already. Too many options to choose from 🙂
My interior evolves. I decorate on impuls, instinct… When it is your profession being your own client is the hardest! Have a great week Maria.
I love the idea of velvet in yellow, so rich and warm not to mention happy. Do you do rolled arm without a skirt or square with? You don't have to answer that, I just think about these things. Can't wait to see the progress.
Cannot wait to see your sofa choices! We painted all weekend, and the yosemite sand is so great. Warm and inviting, not your usual "beige." The woodlawn blue is so beautiful too! I'll take pictures soon!
How exciting, Maria! I have been guilty of that myself ~ I always wind up putting my own stuff off and not just because of time, but because I want to be sure I want it and not what may be around the corner.
Lucky You! I would love to start from scratch with my home. I totally understand though how it will be difficult. I have a hard enough time working with what I already have and at least that gives me something to start with. It is so hard when you are in this business and know all that is out there. Good luck, I know it will look fabulous.
I think we all suffer from our very own – what I like to call "mistake-a-phobia" – fear of making mistakes, in the pursuit of perfection, so we do nothing. I am guilty – but when one finally "commits" then you know it is right, at least for a while.
Pretty yellow sofa. I bet in reality, that sofa is not quite as bright, light is color!
Happy Birthday, hope you will hop over and see my post for you!
pve
I'm so envious, Maria!! Even though I completely understand how challenging it can be when – as a designer – you decorate your own home, I'm so totally jealous because you're buying new things!! I want new things, too!! LUV the idea of a yellow velvet sofa… what a phenominal jumping off point a bold yet fresh and fun sofa like that will be!!
Victoria
i cannot wait to see what you do!!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!
xoxoxoox
Be brave Maria! I bought a new sofa last year after a year's worth of angst. I chickened out and ended up with camel-colored ultra suede. How I wish I would have gone bolder, with perhaps a print of some kind.
Happy Birthday!
Sofas are so hard I think. There are so many different styles. I can't wait to see what you select. I had a yellow sofa for about 12 years and I loved it. However I really like the off white I have now. I can change the pillows so often to totally change the look. Great fun. I look forward to your transformation. Hugs, Marty
Go for the yellow! You know how I love bold color, and it will be a great centerpiece to launch your living room design.
Oh my! Decorating from scratch is always SO hard for me. I am looking forward to following along and watching your progress!! Good luck!
Loving the yellow idea. Can't wait to see what you do!
Hope you had a great birthday! Lucky you decorating from scratch and like everyone else will be waiting to see the happy results!
Yellow! a happy color….smiles.
P.S.
Happy Birthday!!! After reading your blog for some time now, I knew we had a lot in common! (My birthday is tomorrow 😉 Cheers!
Happy Birthday!
Maria, I am with you in that I am in a phase of brighter stronger color. I know everything cycles..so a slipcover could be in your future someday, but that's fine! I would hate to be living with brown paper on my windows for a year..give me a break. Make a decision and live with it–happily! Its not life or death!
Amy
Of course I will be following- I am excited to see what you come up with.
Maria,
1. Just listen to your inner designer she really knows best.
2. Don't be afraid of color…you know it well.
3. Change designs up with the seasons…just like a woman.
4. Never is passion freely given to others that is surely deserved on oneself.
5. Blog about it happily.
Bette
I think sometimes that the more you know, the harder it is when it comes time to decorate your own place. I suffer from major information overload trying to get my house done. I may have to call in a designer friend just to help me get back on track!
You know the adage about how the "Cobbler's child has no shoes"? There is no profession for which this is more true than interior design. I don't know why it seems so easy and gratifying to guide clients through the decision making process and soooo inexplicably difficult to make a decision for my own home–maybe I need my own designer–except that I would be the biggest pain in the you-know-what client that no one would have me!
Well, enjoy the opportunity to start from scratch–from someone who, half of the time, wants to torch the place and start over myself! = ) Suzanne
I ditto everything that's been said so far. When I was doing my studio, I must have changed the complete fabric selection at least 5 times, and if I hadn't been on a deadline, I would have changed it again! I'm feeling the same angst with my home right now. I'm not doing anything because I'm waiting for a more inspired plan! auuuuggg I feel your pain!!
Yes, I totally understand that it is harder to decorate for yourself!! I have this problem in my home, which is why I have had an empty dining room for three years and only finally got a table a couple of weeks ago! No chairs yet though, it takes me a long long time to commit! I think it was way easier to commit to my husband than to a piece of furniture, lol!
Nancy
I am a new devoted follower of your wonderful blog! I am in the process of trying to figure out how to finally make my open plan home come together. I am repainting and hopefully getting some new furniture. I'll be following along so I can be inspired:)
I just blogged about the current stage of my design dilemma, if you'd like to take a peek.
sounds like fun, just moved into a new house and looked at master bedroom suites today, decisions, decisions, ugh.
I despise being my own client. I think you're on the right track with the yellow velvet sofa though. Sounds beautiful! Good luck.
This should be fun.
I had a designer friend who had the hardest time doing her own home as she just liked so many styles and wanted so much to create something everyone thought special.
I am afraid I suffer from wanting to see all the options. It can take me forever to make up my mind. I finally got my new sofa. It is a blue color that I love. Now to find the perfect fabric for the perfect chairs for the ends of the dining table. I think that I want a pillow or two out of this fabric for the sofa.
Lucky you to be decorating from scratch! I'm pulling together a look from two households with very different tastes – it's a challenge sometimes.
Happy Birthday! 🙂
Maria, a yellow sofa?!? I can't wait!! I'm jealous already! After blogging about my own LR odyssey, I've decided the room is far from finished. I can't wait to see what you come up with – I know it will be beautiful!
Well you know I will be looking forward to you updates.
I am guilty of paper window coverings and empty hallways, I am so particular.
That photo is from Mary Douglas Drysdale, it was a Veranda cover. I think she is the Queen of yellow, and until I saw her portfolio, i ddin't think I could live in yellow.
I hope you do something yellow, I would love to see your take on it!
have a great day Maria
Vie
Can you eat pizza on a yellow velvet sofa?
Dear Maria, I love your curtains!!! I love the whole room but the curtains are my favorite. I bet you'll have an easier time of it than I have. I can't wait to see all that you do with your new home.
Thank you for than I can ever say for listing me on your list of blogs to visit for the weekend. I was so honored! I about fell over! You are the best!
Can't wait to see your sofa choices – I've always had the hardest time with that because we have dogs…so we have to be practical yet I want it to look good!
Fun!! I'll be reading and following along! Janell
The yellow room is by Mary Douglas Drysdale! She is a Washington DC designer. Love her designs! Shiree Segerstrom
I am having my antique sofa recovered in a quilted yellow fabric for my French style great room. My husband thought I was nuts to pick yellow. I can't wait til it's finished.