[Photo of living room by Frank Roop Design + Interiors via Decor8]
[the last 5 is a series of posts about tackling unfinished decorating projects and adding your own personal touches to a room. Find out how it all started here.]
Today I want to talk about one of my decorating dilemmas. I have been hesitant to write about this, because I’m not even sure that anyone else experiences this problem. Budget issues? Negotiating furniture decisions with the husband? Well, I think you can relate to me on those. But I have another problem I haven’t really mentioned here: the attack of the cute.
When I think about the way I want my rooms to look, I try to find images that inspire me. For example, this room (above) designed by Frank Roop. I saw this image years ago, and I really love the clean lines, the way everything feels very organized and balanced. I try to take note of the colors and textures, how much white space to leave around things so it feels open and airy. I measure the furniture and think about scale. And then I go to the store to purchase some accessories and I get distracted by this:
[Image via Japanese web-shop acorn style.]
Ok, I’m not literally distracted by this exact image since this is something I think you can only buy in Japan, but it’s just an example. If there is something quirky or cute in the store, I will find it. I will forget my pretty Frank Roop inspiration image and head directly for the gingerbread man pillow, the tiny stuffed squirrel, the bright pink doo-dad I do not need.
Or let’s take this example… have you seen the 2011 Dream Home from HGTV? I love this picture here of one of the modern bedrooms (looking into the bathroom). Love the contrast between dark walls in the bedroom and the bright white of the bathroom.
[Image from HGTV]
So I put this photo into my folder to “save for later” and what’s next to it? This! This bunny:
I need help. I need an intervention. I think I have decorating schizophrenia. Anyone else out there who wants to confess? I fear I am the only one… Is this why people have children? So they have a place to put the bunnies?
9 Responses
Care to comment? Go for it. Be bold. Do it! But niceness counts, right?
This is a topic I have been thinking about too! I LIKE TOO MUCH STUFF, ALL DIFFERENT.
I feel you. I am also under the attack of the cute. My “solution” (if you can call it that since it’s really not solved at all) is to mainly buy white furniture/shelving/accessories and just stick the occasional (ha!) cute thing in where I think it won’t stick out too much. Like, I have this lovely white shelf that I use as a mantle, and on it I have elegant glass vessels. And in those vessels are a clay bunny & some wooden shoes. I’m 99% I’m not fooling anyone but me, though.
This is one of the most entertaining blog posts I’ve read in days! Well done you. I laughed and laughed. I get it. My big distraction is too many fabrics. I don’t do a great job pulling it all together, but more often end up with lots of cool things that don’t always get pulled together. Making room feel pulled together and complete is one of the most challenging creative processes. I admire the heck out of people who’ve mastered it!
Guilty, so suffer from this.
Having kids DOES NOT cure it. Only give you an excuse.
oh me too … :D for a moment i thought you were describing me :D
I suffer from this affliction all the time. I’m trying very hard to tame my style. Ok, not to tame it, but more to nail it down. I love those spaces where you see someone has totally random and quirky taste, but manages to pull it all together in a classy way.
Ugh, I totally understand! My solution is to simply say the cute stuff belongs in my office and not in the rest of the house. That helps to contain it. I think the trick for me is to know what is “cute” and what is “a touch of whimsy”. I have cute stuff in my froo-froo (to me) office and ‘whimsical’ things everywhere else (mini buntings in colors that complement the room, or right now I have a small red felt snowflake sitting on one of my white picture frames in the LR). I want fun stuff in my home because I don’t want to be stuffy, but I also have a husband, ha!
While reading this I found myself wondering if all this cute stuff we love is somehow ingrained in us. After all, my mom still loves cute stuff, too – only hers has gone from ‘country’ gingham stuffed bears with lace collars to more modern looking vases and throw pillows! It still makes my dad mental! heh, I guess we’re stuck with the struggle! =P
Heh. I say, put the cute on your living room shelves, make sure it is placed well with space around it to keep the open and airy feel, and call it “art.”
I also love Heidi Kenney’s home and the way she’s included cute in her decor. (http://www.mypapercrane.com/)
Hahaha, this was hilarious. :) I honestly don’t know how to deal with it, but I think little splashes of CUTENESS can be just fine. Did you see the post I made about the kimmi dolls my Mum sent me for my girls? Well I have those out in the open and they are ultimate cuteness. ;)