The Traditional Look.

  Conventional by nature,the traditional look in rooms is
  elegant and comfortable. 
  The choice of those who like to live graciously and entertain
  in formal fashion.

 The colors are usually soft but lively , with elegant smooth
 fabrics. Golden Yellow was a great Colonial favorite, and
 Williamsburg green and blue became ubiquitous background
 colors.
Classic florals and stripes in satin, damask and chintz are
excellent choices for period rooms.

In America, 18th century styles from the” golden age of
furniture” are great favorites for traditional rooms.
Queen Anne, Georgian and Colonial styles are very popular,
with designs copied from the great English cabinet-maker–
Chippendale, Heppelwhite and Sheraton, vying with such home-
grown successes as the Philadelphia highboy and the Norfolk
block-front chest.

 Quite elegance is combined with comfort in a small traditional
 living room.
 There could be twin loveseats, cherry butler’s- tray table, and
 this would complete a very cozy grouping around a roaring
 fire.

The Contemporary Look.

Innovative materials  and an anything- goes attitude
towards design earmark the 1960′s and 70′s.

Interior design has become a great adventure, now as
much as the province of the architect, as of the decorator.
The elimination of all conventional furniture in favor of
built-ins is one avant- garde theory.

The introduction of steel tubing for furniture construction
in the 1920′s started a rush to find other materials which
would be feasible for furniture.
Steel, glass and all kinds of plastics won the race, and now
anything shiny, silvery or transparent is very much in fashion
if the Contemporary look is to be followed.

lets decorate!
 

The Country Look.

 The country look is difficult to define but
 easy to recognize.

 If you walk into a room that is informal, with simple,
 straightforward furniture- a room that makes you feel
 instantly at home- it probably has the country look.

Comfort and a total lack of pretentiousness are the
keys to this relaxed style, that is sometimes referred
to as “rustic,’ “provincial,” or ” farmhouse.”

Closely associated with the Early American period, it
strikes a familiar chord with most Americans, giving
them a welcome feeling of security and stability.

The colors of the country look,are usually clear
primary colors and warm earth tones. Undiluted
red, true blue and sunny yellow and oranges, rusts
and tawny browns look right with the warm wood
tones of honest country furniture, as do linens, cottons
chintzes and calicos.

Country look furniture may be Early American,
French Provincial or country  furniture from
anywhere around the world.  Some Colonial
styles, although more formal, also fit into the
country look.

lets decorate!

You And Your Home.

 You are about to embark on a great adventure- decorating a room,
  in your home , or possibly a whole house. Or perhaps, at the moment,
 you are interested in improving one particular area, in your home, to
 make it more attractive and liveable

.
No matter.  Any project that involves the wonderful world of color,
the fabulous furnishings and accessories
that are now available, the marvelous materials for floors and walls
devised by modern technology, is an exciting undertaking.

It is so exciting, in fact, that many homemakers are dazzled by all
the possibilities.

The biggest question is” Where do I begin?”  Do I just plunge in with
samples and color charts, buy pieces of furniture  and hope they work
out?  NO! Such considerations come second when you begin
decorating.

YOU come first.     The way you live, the way you relax, the way you
entertain.  Your likes and dislikes ; your physical needs and aesthetic
requirements. You, the homemaker, probably spend more time in
your home than any other member of your family.

It’s your background and should reflect your personality. So
analyze yourself, your family, and what you want your home
to be, and then begin.

Join me on this blog and I will delve into the world of
decorating from wall to wall.

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