Let’s talk about the Benjamin Button-ization of our style. Maybe it was a comment one of you made recently or just a quiet moment of looking around our house, but lately we’ve been noticing that our style is getting younger. Perhaps it’s a mid-life design crisis? We’ll just call it the latest stage in our constantly evolving sensibility (read: indecisiveness), but we couldn’t help but share this observation to see if anyone else has noticed it in our house – or in your own.
STAGE 1: “Wait, you mean I can paint these walls whatever color I want???”
In all likelihood, Sherry or I actually said something like this when we made that giant leap from renters to homeowners. After years of white walls and temporary furnishings, that pent up frustration unleashed itself within hours of closing on this house back in 2006. The result was a kaleidoscope color scheme throughout the house and lots of meager apartment decor trying desperately to fill up an entire house. Case in point:
STAGE 2: “Okay, let’s be serious now. We’re homeowners. That means we’re, like, adults.”
Our transition into this stage happened right after we started blogging (and if you’ve read our archives, you can spot it occurring in posts like this, this and more recently this). Somewhere along the line we decided that our house needed to “grow up” and look like a real home that real adult people lived in. In reality, this blog is mostly a documentation of that growing up process. You know, an attempt to bring some sophistication to our design choices, acquire real furniture, and renovate rooms so they function better for the way we live. And that’s how we got to the room designs that you guys are probably most familiar with.
STAGE 3: “Wait a second – why are we in a rush to turn into stodgy neutral-loving ‘grown ups’?”
Here’s where the aging backwards a la Benjamin Button comes into play (aka: design regression). Thanks to the addition of Clara, Sherry and I realized – only subconsciously at first – that we could have more fun with our style. Our house could cheerfully boast more color, take itself less seriously, and even delve into the playful category. The catalyst for this being Clara’s nursery, of course (although last year’s citrus themed Christmas decor – instead of our usual silver scheme – was an even earlier tip off that this phase was coming).
We always intended for her nursery to be a fun kids room, but we never expected that whimsy would trickle into other spaces as well. I guess in realizing that we want Clara to enjoy her surroundings as much as we do and that we no longer need to prove our adulthood (we have a baby for pete’s sake) we became open to letting some more fun and color find its way around our home. Like the pig hooks hanging in our office…
…and this banner we made for a BabyCenter post that ended up cheering up our living room fireplace.
Even the bold pattern of the Clara rug in our den is a big step for us.
It doesn’t mean we’ll be converting the master bedroom into a moonbounce or painting the kitchen ceiling hot pink, but we’re kind of excited by the freedom to loosen up and pepper some more fun, color, and pattern into our next house. Heck, it’s not like we’re getting any younger…
Anyone else noticing that they’re moving into a new “phase” of decorating? Has your style flipped or flopped due to getting your own place, getting married, having a baby, getting hired (or fired) or any other stage-of-life occurrence?
heather s. says
When I first bought my house I went crazy painting as well since as a renter I couldn’t paint the white walls. Every room was a different color (hello, bright yellow kitchen!) but I’ve gone back to neutral walls in the main living spaces and fun shades of blue in the bedrooms.
Lorrie says
Well, take it from someone who just turned 40 last year and is getting ready to buy a new house….it just keeps getting more Benjamin Buttonish the older you get.
I have always had more traditional decorating tastes, you know the dark furniture, the ornate frames, dark colors, gold stuff….but then I found your blog and decided I wanted to light things up.
I sold all my heavily ornate and very traditional decor in a rummage sale and started buying up everything white or made out of glass. My husband thinks I am insane….or having a midlife crisis perhaps. I have just assured him that I want a more modern, simplier lifestyle! I have a long ways to go, but eventually I hope it looks 20 something verses one-foot-in-the-grave!
Thanks for your continued inspiration!
Megan says
Being originally from rural Missouri I swore that I would never live in a home that was decorated “country”. No aged- painted furniture for me, no plaids or ribbons or “craft” looking decorations for this girl! After many moves, I have finally settled in Pennsylvania, right in the heart of Amish country. We bought a house with a wall border here in PA, a border that was far too hard to get down and covered far too much square footage to be a quick fix. So it stayed, oh did I mention it was COUNTRY, burgundy and cream, vines and berries, hearts and stars. BUT, as I have found booths, stores, street-side vendors all selling Amish crafts and decorations, it has grown on me. My great room (kitchen, living & dining rooms) and main hallway (all one large space) is now decorated in a cozy, country, crafty feel that makes you wanna kick off your shoes and snuggle down on my squishy couch under an awesome Amish quilt. It may not be the look for everyone, but it has become our homey “grown – up” look! It grew on us as we grew up!
Rob O. says
I think we’ve maintained our sense of whimsy but our home reflects a bit more mature set of design influences, to be sure. We’ve really only just settled into the new house and just wrapped up the last of the big room painting projects, so we don’t even have pictures or artwork hung yet.
I love, love, love that Clara rug!! I wanted something like that but MLW insisted on something more neutral. Sigh.
monica says
i think it’s actually good you guys have mastered “grown up” style because now you can jazz it up with hints of color without it looking like a disaster. I’m new at decorating and I tend to like super eclectic spaces, lots of vintage and bold colors… yikes! Eclectic is a much more difficult style to master than the stream-lined contemporary style. It sure is fun to try though! ;)
Mandy says
I love your before colors, but also like the muted colors you have now (even though I could never pull them off). I have an aversion to white walls, therefore we have different shades of blue, green or tan in every room of our house. I really can’t say that it will change any time soon, I love it so much, and there is so much personality! I can’t wait til you guys get into another house to see how you change things up :)
Kerry says
My parents were always the grown up blah boring houses, so when me and my beau purchased our first home, I went nutso with the colors.
Some are a little bright, but i feel like with the right accessories it still feels grown up and like an “adults” home.
For example, our master bathroom was painted with a $5.00 Oops paint I can only call “marigold” for lack of an exact color. Its insanely bright, exactly like the flower. But, we accented it with grey towels and black and white diy artwork, so instead of it looking like a childrens bathroom, it looks artsy and modern… and sadly, the most complimented room in our house to date.
Elizabeth says
Just an FYI to Liv (and Sherry) that there is a similar yellow rug on one of the sponsor websites…not exact, but close.
http://www.shadesoflight.com/soho-dhurri-rug-moroccan-tile-design-4-color-available.html
I know a lot of people have asked about it.
YoungHouseLove says
Oh yeah that’s similar for sure. Thanks for sharing that link with Liv!
xo,
s
Andrea says
I know Julia M already said this but I completely agree and have to second it: The sunroom is also a great example of stage three.
I love love love the blue ceiling and it is definitely fits the cheerful and playful descriptors you used.
katie says
When my husband and I first bought our (over 100 year old) house back in 2005 I could not wait to paint it. I wanted color so the living room was blue, dinning room was chocolate and the kitchen stayed the olive green. Then I hated the blue so it went to a gold color…too bold for the house, so we painted it wheat. It looked like it was out of pottery barn. A year ago I started to read design blogs and then I realized that my style did not have to match any one magazine or store. It could be a combination. I fell in love with these prints and I could never hang them down stairs because it didn’t go with the “theme” that I had started with. Two weeks ago we painted our whole down stairs grey. I am so in love with the color. I am also enjoying picking out my favorite artwork from my daughter to proudly display on my walls. I love color and even though the walls are not “colorful” the important things like photos/artwork/quote prints are very much full of life and color!!!!
LizzieBeth says
Holy guacamole, I was just thinking of how guilty I am of going nuts in our first apartment.
When we moved in here, we knew we were going to be here a while and got the OK to paint. I attacked the kitchen with lime green, the living room with a dark khaki and the bedroom a bright blue (very similar to your original dining room color).
Nearly two years later- and on the verge of purchasing our first home- I vow to contain myself a little more the next time around.
LB
Amanda @ Our Humble A{Bowe}d says
We have been adding more whimsical touches, too since we’ve had kids. It seems like the bright colors aren’t so scary because they surround you. I especially love pops of bright yellow right now. We’ve added it to our boys’ room and basement.
http://ourhumbleabowed.wordpress.com/2010/09/17/i-see-a-red-bed-and-i-want-it-painted-yellow/
http://ourhumbleabowed.wordpress.com/2010/10/05/pillow-talk/
Nik says
To Elle- just a recommendation. Lyndhurst Gallery Beige by Valspar is a really good sandy neutral color. We painted a large area in our house in that color and our friends liked it so much, they used it in their new house. You should check it out.
Jennifer says
This post came at just the right time. I LOVE decorating. Have always loved to look at houses, look at house plans, decorate, paint, rearrange, you name it, I LOVE it.
We moved in 5 years ago and have painted and repainted (after ALL the wallpaper came down…when I say all, I mean ALL, every room, foyer, kitchen bathroom etc!) I LOVE color. But I try to keep a good balance of neutrals. My DR is a traditional williamsburg blue and our playroom is actually grey (with B&W and lime green!) However, after reading all the other decorating blogs, I have been wondering if I should go through with a white paint gun?? Which is why the half bath that I so badly want to paint a nice deep grape/purple color is waiting to be painted…but I can’t decide between white or deep purple?? There’s a contrast!
I would love to see you guys go color, but understand if you wait until the next house!!
Best of luck!!
Jordan says
Yes…you YOUNGsters are keepin it real!!! a few other additions i would add are the bright yellow spray painted good will finds, the sun room stencil….maybe the next home will be sporting more bold colors! fun! fun!
Nicone says
Haha, nice flashback! I think we’ve all been there… (us “grown’ups”). Nice to see you’re letting loose enjoying some more adventurous color schemes. Although the earthy looking palette IS a classic for a reason. No reason we can’t have some fun though? :-)
Kjirsti says
Funny, that you posted this. I’ve definitely noticed your change/ or exploration in style over the last couple of months and when you announced you were planning on moving I wondered what style choices you would choose for your next place. I had a similar realization recently- “Ahhh! My house is getting to calm and serene- where’s the energy?” I bought some orange paint yesterday that will add accents to our little boys- to be’s bedroom, and probably even a wall in the basement. I’ll look forward to further examples of how to mix artistic color and organic neutrals.
Kelly says
Yes! I just got married and am suddenly trying to make our apartment much, much more sophisticated, even though I’m only 22…
Miriam says
Very nice post!
Maybe growing tired of brightly painted walls has to do with making wrong choices, not beeing entirely happy with the result. White walls become more and more desirable after a few years of colouritis! That’s what happened in my house anyway.
Choosing colours is rather difficult, but nice surprises happen! I for one bring home fabrics and paint in colours that I think I might hate but I keep my mouth shut and let them speak for themselves inside the house. (beware: that’s what you do when you are 40) In this way, some very unlikely choices have become favourites!
On the whole I would say that good traffic flow, room to breathe (unclutter à la homestaging) and good proportions are moving past the paint to the top of my list.
Lani @ Diapers and Divas says
I totally and going through a transitional phase right now. I used to love all things super modern and everything had to be new. Lately, especially after two kids and with the current state of our economy, i find myself gravitating towards more classic furniture, mainly second hand, that I paint to make more modern and jazz up a little. It also helps to have your blog for inspiration! I love youre most recent project with those candle holders. That’s excatly the kind of thing that i’m into right now! Thanks for all the inspiration!
Jason says
Love the banner in the front room – is that your old bathroom mirror behind those candles in the FP?
I have some candles in mine too, BUT
Do you ever use that fireplace? If so how do you make out? I know your den is gas. I use to use mine all the time, but I hadn’t moved in yet and my nice new furniture wasn’t there or if it was was wrapped – now I’m worried about sooty dusty living room if I make a nice fire in my finished room?
YoungHouseLove says
Yes that is the old bathroom mirror! Wow Jason, you have a good eye. As for the fireplace, we never use it. It’s wood burning but we’re just too lazy so sometimes we light candles in there (especially around the holidays) but that’s the extent of its use!
xo,
s
Ana says
At any given time, I struggle to balance different styles that I like. I’ll see some big piece (like a cool patterned rug) that’s a great deal and I’ll think, “Wouldn’t it be great if I changed the whole guest room to go with that rug?” Even though I have a palette I like and that goes with a lot of what I’m doing/planning in the rest of the house, I seriously contemplate radical changes at least once a month.
In general, I lean toward a similar design aesthetic to what you guys have — soft blues and greens, white accents, layered neutrals — but at the same time I really like the vintage industrial look with accents of brighter colors. It makes me wish I had multiple houses to do up different ways I really like and feel equally at home in all of them. If I ever win the lottery, that’s what you’ll find me doing.
Christen says
Great post! I LOVE how playful you all have been with color lately.
I had a quick question. I noticed in the first picture that your fireplace had brass doors. Did you paint the brass so that it was white or did you buy a new set of fireplace doors? We have a brass fireplace doors and I’m dying to paint them, but am not sure how to do it (or even if it is okay to paint them since they are brass plated steel. I’ve read that it can be hard to paint metal if a magnet can stick to it since that means it is plating over steel).
YoungHouseLove says
We just painted that old brass monstrosity with white spray paint (they sell high heat spray paint for anyone who uses their fireplace a lot). Metal’s actually a dream to paint in our experience (it takes really well to paint and doesn’t necessitate primer). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
dana says
It’s crazy how much that room opened up when you painted that brick white!
Carmel @ our fifth house says
Little ones definitely make you want to play the whimsical card for sure. I have always loved bold deeply saturated neutrals. I’ve always had one red room in everyone of my 5 houses. This time it’s the family room. I can’t wait for you all to sell your house and start on the next one! I just know it’s going to be gorgeous!
Vonda says
and the funny thing is, it will just keep changing. I love bold colors and that is quite obvious – in my downstairs anyway. But since following your blog for a couple of years now, I am really seeing how much fun more natural muted tones can be too. I guess I’m going the opposite way as my tastes change.
Lonely Wife Project says
When we first closed on our house, I got a little crazy with the paint colors. A few years and tons of regrets later, we’re putting the finishing touches on our new, more grown up colors. No more crayola box house for me. I need to grow up!
Nichole@40daysof says
I’ve certainly started using more color on the walls in my second house. I find that I am actually having trouble “growing up” in my decor. I tend towards cottagy stuff, but I have a very big, very grown up, very traditional house (that I love:). And I’m having some growing pains while trying to grow in to this house’s style. I want to be sure what I do fits with the house, but also that my husband and I like it and feel comfortable here.
Katrina says
Our colors from our apt to our home did a 180 – In our apt the colors were sages and purples – every very matched basically boring.
In our house, we taken our time and painted wall colors over time, I enjoy muted colors with bright pops of color – out living room is very colorful but it all works
Holly says
It’s funny you mentioned this because I have been doing the same thing. When my husband and I got married and got our first place together I went for the “grown up” style, but it just wasn’t me. Now our place is more fun and colorful. I think part of it is me finding my style.
Rachel says
Well, I guess we never grew up! Our north-facing kitchen is butter yellow, our dining room is canteloupe orange, and our living room is a minty green – citrus colors.
What keeps it cohesive is the same hardwood floors, gorge woodwork, and white crown molding and celings throughout. I also tend to decorate somehwat monochromatically in each room (oranges and reds in the dining room, for example). And our entryways, hallway and stairwell and “classic taupe” as neutral as it gets. We have’t gotten sick of our palette yet!
kyla says
Noticed your fireplace doors were originally brass? Did you do a post on that transformation? About to tackle some brass doors of my own, thanks!
kyla says
I scrolled up, never mind. :) Thanks for the info.
Ashley says
Man, you guys really hit home with this one. My husband and I just bought our first home and we’re definitely trying to move into the more “grown-up” sense of decorating. We were allowed to paint the first apartment we rented so we painted crazy colors all over the place. Now we feel like we should stick with neutrals because I mean, we’re grown-ups because we bought our own house!
Beth @ bethcooks says
You totally forgot about your sprucing up in the sunroom! That was playful too!
Caroline @ The Feminist Housewife says
I loved this post! I can so relate…I painted our first apartment almost identical greens and blues as your living room & dining room in the first photos. I’ve toned things down a little…although, I’m still hesitant to “grow up”. I suppose with baby # 2 on the way, it’s about time. Haha!
Gradgirl says
Can totally relate. Our first painting project in our brand-new house was our bedroom – an extremely saturated turquoise, much brighter and more pool-like than your original dining room. Needless to say, it has not aged well, so we’re scrapping it and our hand-me-down traditional furniture to make our home work for the way we live (now that we actually know how we live). No doubt the evolution will continue as our lives change. Keep up the inspiration!
Jen @ The Decor Scene says
Since first finding your blog 2 years ago, you guys changed the way I decorated or even thought to decorate our home. Right now I want to change things in our LR and I just started by changing the lamps in the LR. I found gorgeous crystal bases at Target and paired it with a white textured drum shade. Similar to this one, but the crystal has that crackel effect to it and the balls are larger. It’s really pretty and I wish they had it online so I can show you. http://www.target.com/Crystal-Table-Lamp-Brushed-Steel/dp/B000U6BPJO/ref=br_1_20?ie=UTF8&id=Crystal%20Table%20Lamp%20Brushed%20Steel&node=15392601&searchSize=30&searchView=list&searchPage=1&sr=1-20&qid=1287176457&rh=&searchBinNameList=style_name%2Ctarget_com_primary_color-bin%2Cmaterial_type%2Cprice%2Ctarget_com_brand-bin%2Cnumber_of_pieces&searchRank=salesrank&frombrowse=1
But I have completely changed my thoughts on how our house looks. I have taken some color chances that I wouldn’t have years ago. I love how it continues to evolve and change, but just a little bit. Little touches, nothing expensive. ;)
Sara says
I’m in my very first house (and therefore very first time with control over paint!) but I’m definitely not trying to make it look grown-up. Reflective of my husband and I, yes, but not necessarily “adult.” We both have a very industrial/modern style. If I even think of the words “neutral toned” my brain kind of stops – but I think just because I much prefer colors with a gray undertone to a cream undertone.
Is anyone else out there a fan of well lit, white painted interiors with really brave pops of color?
…And I just noticed I’m sitting at my desk at work with a big glob of gray paint from the master bedroom at the end of my ponytail. Classy Sara. Classy.
Josie says
Thank you for this post (and others in the past weeks that look back on your transformations). Maybe you didn’t realize you’d be offering a 26-year old with a 12-year old interior designer inside some therapy today, but as a single-dwelling renter, it brought to light that everyone’s decorating probably has had those awkward “teenage” years, and it gets better bit-by-bit. Sometimes I get too ambitious and forget that and sit in the middle of my hodgepodge apartment in anguish. I think I probably have a few years before I “grow backwards,” into a place of my own, but this gives me hope that it’ll develop someday. :) Hehe, thanks for helping with my growing pains.
Kate says
Thank you for this great post. I bought my first home while I was in college and promptly furnished it with anything and everything cheap and clutter-y. 5 years later, I’m finally painting, buying curtains and exploring my design taste as a grownup, i.e. saying goodbye to hideous hand-me-down furniture and investing in a decor for a home that celebrates my sucess as a grownup. Your blog is amazing and offers inspiration every day. Thanks again for being who you are and doing what you do!
Meghan R says
What a great post! I have been toying with the idea of possibly being more neutral and beige in the next house – be more “grown-up”. I spend so much time looking online and in magazines and all the features seem to be on more neutral houses, and ours is FULL of color, so sometimes I feel like we’re being childish with our bold wall colors. Which, really, we love it – the house looks great and I should stop waffling. It’s so much fun to imagine what you would do in the next house, we’re selling also, and the whole new beginning of it all is the best part of this process. Good luck to you – and I hope that WHEN you get to the negotiation part that it is uneventful and painless!
Alana says
I was just wondering if you know the paint color of your bedroom from stage 1??? I absolutely love that color!
Thank You
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Alana,
That’s actually the only room that didn’t get repainted, so it’s the same Gentle Tide by Glidden that’s still in there (and is now in the kitchen too).
-John
heyruthie says
yes–and i’m excited for y’all! i think children bring a LOT of “color” to our lives, both literally and figuratively. i have small 4 children and although i’ve love your neutral stuff (got into your blog more than a year ago) I’ve been excited about your additions of color, becuase it fits my colorful, kid-filled lifestyle better. when you are surrounded by kids, their stuff, their artwork, their smiles, you realize you are LIVING LIFE IN FULL COLOR!!! and your house “meshes” with that reality better when it reflects that :-) now….to try to make it less hodge-podgy!
heyruthie says
p.s. i mean that *I* need to make MY house less hodge-podgy! your house looks TOTALLY put together! sorry for any confusion!
p.s. do I see more SUPER kid-friendly mood boards coming our way???
Emily @ NewlyWife says
I have noticed the change. I definitely like it. I think when you feel like you have to be a certain way, that’s when it loses its fun. Plus, as they say, you learn the rules so you know how best to bend them. Keep having fun and hope the house hunt is going well!
Jen says
I think you all have done a great job with balancing neutrals with some more colorful touches. I know I hate it when I’m looking at the interiors of houses for sale and every room is a different deep, bold color. I know it’s just paint, but I can’t see myself in the house if it’s not neutral. All of your rooms look like they go together well.
Cordia says
I find my style is definitely changing, mainly after discovering your blog. I have always been a big fan of Pottery Barn and some of their classic looks, but you all have turned me on to some crisp, modern looks as well that I am trying to incorporate somehow into my home. My 1920’s home has a very homey look to it with it’s dark wood trim and built in leaded glass cabinets, leaded glass windows, etc, but I want to add some other elements to it. I have the perfect rug that is on my wishlist, kind of similar to your living room “moorish” rug that I think would add that little touch of modern to the room.
Breeanna says
I recently started a new job and surprisingly I come home after work wanting to fix the house up. This is our first house and trying to find the right light brown/tan color for our bedroom has been frustrating. I have 5 different colors painted on the wall. None of the chips match the paint’s true color!
Mary @ stylefyles says
I have one thing to say about that pale blue paint color: “eewwwwwww”.
Nothing against you.
It might be tied to memories I have of my parent’s study, which was painted that way for the longest.
Every other color you’ve used since then I am a huge fan of!!!!!
And it’s really cool to see how your wall paint palette has evolved….and I’m sure, will continue to.
(I’m sorry I said I don’t like your blue paint. Everything else you do I LOVE. And leave comments to say so! Don’t hate me)
=)
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, no worries! We know all about how paint colors can be totally polarizing!
xo,
s