Most people know what they like and definitely know what they don't like but it's hard for them to put it into words. A lot of the time when you ask someone to describe their style, they'll say "Well.. I love the way blue looks with black but then I also really love how blue looks with white, it's so calming. But I could totally see myself in a room full of pink. I don't know, I like so many things...." You're standing there asking yourself if you're still having this conversation. Didn't they know it was more of a rhetorical question, like when you ask someone how they're doing or if they need help.
So I decided to put together a survey for you to answer that will help narrow down your style and make it a lot easier to stay clear of bad decisions while shopping for the perfect something for your home. Try to remember your answers so you know who you are at the end.
Your dream destination vacation would be:
a. anywhere with a gorgeous beach
b. penthouse in the big city
c. museum-filled trip to paris
d. boutique hotel in the mountains
e. motorcycling in london
Your favorite color palette is:
a. all neutrals with hints of color
b. black, white and patterns
c. burgundy, plum and navy
d. white, beige and a lot of wood
e. blue, green and gray
Your favorite home accessories are:
a. pillows, lots of pillows
b. art/fashion books and mirrors
c. one of a kind finds from vintage stores or flea markets
d. souvenirs from travels and family pictures
e. less is more with accessories
You're hosting a dinner party, it would be:
a. intimate with candles and wine
b. in a restaurant with close friends
c. a bbq on the beach with guitar playing
d. time to bring out the china
e. take out food with tequilla shots
If you could be friends with one celebrity it would be:
a. Jennifer Aniston
b. Blake Lively
c. Zooey Deschanel
d. Julia Roberts
e. Cameron Diaz
Your walls are covered with:
a. black and white photographs
b. large art works
c. nature prints in vintage frames
d. beveled mirrors and portraits
e. windows and sunlight
Flowers found in your vase:
a. tulips
b. hydrangeas
c. babys breath
d. white roses
e. orchids
If you could only wear one color what would it be:
a. white
b. black
c. yellow
d. blue
e. grey
Mostly A's:
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You're effortless chic. You are laid back and unpretentious. Your home is warm, inviting and feels lived in. You like using mainly neutrals and adding interest with different textures. The less you try the better. Think of yourself as a toned down, sober, healthy version of Kate Moss.
Mostly B's:
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You're Edgy Glam. Your home is more severe with less frills and flowers and more chrome finishes. You like things to be clean lined with high impact. You're the person who should be wearing spikes. (If you fall in another category and are wearing spikes, slowly remove them.)
Mostly C's:
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You're Vintage Feminine. You like things to be low maintenance and feel free spirited. Your home is a collection of unique finds and soft touches. Anything vintage or retro is a friend to you. You like the girlie side of vintage rather than the quirky side.
Mostly D's:
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You're Simple Elegance. Your home is full of souvenirs from around the world and memories of all your experiences. Your style is timeless and has a global feel. If you have a fear of new things, move along. You are not in this category.
Mostly E's:
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You're Sporty Minimal. Your home is light, spacious and uncluttered. You like the furniture to shine rather than the accessories. You're adventurous, spontaneous and your home tells that story.
I hope you can all use this new knowledge wisely.
Let me know 'who you are.'
Balance in a home is everything. I believe balance is the foundation and everything comes after that. Every object or furniture piece needs to have it's moment. For example hanging a picture on the wall. If you hang a picture too high the wall will feel "top heavy." You don't want to hang it too low because it will start to resemble a pear shape. You want it right in the middle, at eye level so you can comfortably experience the picture. Balance is a lot about symmetry but it's also about knowing the sweet spot for things to shine.
I would say the fastest and most effective way to achieve balance would be to place an Olsen twin on either side of an object.
I really think I'm on to something here.
This is a pretty classic and traditional use of symmetry. It's simple- place a lamp on either side of the console table. It's the color combination of the black&white with the yellow that makes it interesting. Plus the fact that there's a giant cockatoo leaning on the wall, whatever.
By placing every picture above the chair, it's using repetition to create a sense of balance. The table on a slant adds a more casual feel.
An easy way for balance is placing two chairs facing each other. In this space, the chairs are a tan against all that gorgeous violet-blue. It wouldn't work if there was only one chair, the balance comes from there being two.
What? You said more olsen twins? Sure I have more olsen for you.
"What do the Olsen twins have to do with balance in a room?" I'm still trying to push my idea of placing them in homes for balance. I know they have a lot on their plate, so I'm going to need some support to make this happen.
A chair on each side of the table anchors this vignette. The chandelier is in a good spot, if it were hanging from the middle it would feel typical. This feels unexpected and works with the flowers in middle of the table.
Perfection. This feels so balanced because of all the symmetry. The mix of simple and 70's really works and the harmony of the two make it feel so calming.
This is a beautiful, daring room. This is proof that mixing patterns work SO well when done to the right scale. (I didn't mean for the word 'so' to be that big, I just wanted a little emphasis. There was no shouting involved when writing this.) It also proves that balance is a must for a peaceful space. The pair of leopard stools with that drapery and photo hanging right in the middle is executed just right.
I hope you all have a well deserved well balanced weekend. I'm actually hoping to go out this weekend. I'm a little nervous because it's been a while. Things have probably changed, like is it acceptable to do the robot on the dance floor?
Am I allowed to look excited to be out?
If I wear sunglasses inside the club and trip, will people still think I'm cool because I'm wearing sunglasses?
How much skin do I need to show, is a three quarter sleeve enough?
If I cover my mouth while I yawn will people still notice I'm yawning?
When people say 'Geek chic,' are they referring to sexy reading glasses or a sweatshirt with a unicorn? Because i have both...
Any thoughts or feedback would be great..
So we all know Emily Henderson. She's the host of the show 'Secrets from a Stylist.' She's blonde, funny and rocks the flair bottom jeans like no other. She first came into our lives while competing on HGTV's 'Design Star' (there hasn't been a better season yet.) I love her designs and style and I just want to shout it from the front of a boat with my arms spread- Leonardo DiCaprio style. So I came up with my five top reasons for being in love with Emily.
REASON ONE: She is so talented.
She really stood out for me in her seasons' finale of the glass house challenge. The challenge was to create a space from, you guessed it, a glass box. Really intimidating. I get overwhelmed thinking about how to design a small studio apartment with actual walls- this was glass. Do you know how hard it is to make four glass walls and a roof look warm? Neither do I but Emily does:
At first glance you dont even realise its a glass box, you just see all this amazing-ness.
REASON TWO: She has the best style.
Everything she touches has a certain signature look, trademark Em. (Sometimes I shorten her name to Em so its easier for me to pretend we're good friends.) She has the perfect balance of old and new, she does vintage like no one else. She's like this mix of thrifty, boho, modern, 70s glam.
This is a picture of her home office:
Beautiful blue- which has also sort of become a signature color for her. I love this office. I would get a job just for this office.
Emily's guest room.
This lamp. I still don't know how she even got this lamp into her house being married. My husband would of stopped it at the door like customs. 'Do you have anything you want to declare? What's in the bag? No no no no no..' So not only do I love the lamp I love that its in her living room for her and her husband to see.
REASON THREE: She is really pretty.
See, I told you she's really pretty.
REASON FOUR: She has the best tv show.
The best part about her show, Secrets from a Stylist, is the process Emily uses. She brings all her clients into her design studio where she then gives them a design diagnostic. (Emily knows how to make the word diagnostic sound cool.)
She has door knobs, belts, platters, scarves in all different styles and has the client choose which one speaks to them. They are then given three words to sum up their style. The spaces she designs on her show always turn out perfect, always dead on with meeting the needs of the client. If you're not already watching the show shame on you it's brilliant. Watch it. No I'm not getting paid for this endorsement it's just that good.
Here are some pictures from her show:
A dining room she did, 'Mantique Minimalism.'
'Exotic Contemporary Comfort.' This was one of my favorites. I tried doing my own version of that abstract blue painting behind the couch, but it looked more like the aftermath of bad stomach problems.
'Untamed Modern Funk.' This one felt close to home. My mother loves tribal and funky things but my house did not look like this growing up. I'm pretty sure my mother took more of a literal approach to it, we just had elephants and giraffes actually move in with us.
'Mad Men Bohemian.' Another one of my favorites.
REASON FIVE: She's really funny.
The truth is I can't know this for sure because I've never actually met Emily. From what I watch, read and follow about her (I promise I'm not this weird stalker who walks around with binoculars) she is really funny. She's laid back, really easy going on her show and always ends off with something funny. Her blog is so good. She has a great style of writing, the best tips and gorgeous pictures. All the pictures from this post are from her blog. Click here.
Im starting to regret this post a little. I may have lost my one and only follower to Emily Henderson. Times are tough.
