“Your home should tell the story of who you are, and be a collection of what you love brought together under one roof.” Nate Berkus
Rooms That Tell a Story:
I have always been captivated by design books. Just like going on home tours, or glancing in an open window while driving by, reading books like Decorate lets me peer, if only briefly, into the world, and stories, of others. Pick up this amazing new book and find yourself transported into some of the most visually interesting and inspiring rooms you have seen in a long while. Decorate is a visual feast of the kinds of rooms we want to live-in today. The author, Holly Becker, is the creator of the enormously popular design website Decor8. Gone are the matchy-match furniture groupings from the local furniture store. Gone are the impersonal, super-modern, sterile rooms that represent “status”. This book brings to our attention the inspirational designs of those who recognize our need to tell a story with our homes.
Here are my “Take-Away’s” from the book:
Take-Away #1: First of all, I love that the rooms look specifically “undecorated” and more amassed over time with meaningful objects. I am in awe of the current trend toward purposeful mixing of patterns and layering textures. In one room, a pastel floral watercolor painting hangs next to a mount of deer antlers; which is flanked by a geometrically patterned, Victorian-inspired sofa; all of which is accompanied by a modern, clean-lined coffee table. The message is: There really are no rules! A quote from the book that communicates this idea: “Enjoy the hunt—it’s worth waiting for something special… and you’re bound to find other bits along the way.” – Emily Chalmers (inside cover)
Take Away #2: How liberating it is that you can mix all of the following in a very beautiful and visually interesting room: architectural salvage, flea-market finds, family heirlooms, your daughter’s crayola drawing, high-end pieces mixed with thrift store finds…All of which embrace the patina of objects that have had a story. “Decorating is an extension of your personal style. Finding your decorating style depends on knowing what you love at a gut level.” –Carrie McCarthy, author
Take Away #3: From reading this book, I have determined that my style leans toward “Flea Market Style” I absolutely swoon for things like clocks taken from warehouses, industrial metal shelving units, collections of vases and old advertising signs. Love, love, love this section of the book! I also identify with the section: “Eclectic Style.” It is amazing to me that modern decorating will let you pair your parents’ cast-off lounge chairs (recovered, of course) from 1970 with a funky bohemian wall hanging and your grandmother’s needlepoint pillows. Toss in some bright shiny metallic vases and anything else you have collected over the years and suddenly you have a room that sparks conversation! This kind of decorating lets you tell a story and honor your past as well as your present. Thank you, Holly Becker, for showing us that we can fill our rooms with affordable, sentimental items and that we don’t have to go to an expensive furniture store and buy an entire room at once!
Take Away #4: If you’re reading this, perhaps you know I’m a huge fan of books. For reading, for decorating, for crafts…. for everything. Decorate is filled with pictures of rooms in many different styles, but something I notice is that most of the rooms contain BOOKS. On tables, piled high, stuffed on shelves… The message is clear, books are the staple that completes a room’s story! On page 97, I am inspired by the picture of books…. the combination of colors and the mood it inspires. It says, “Vintage books with distinctive dust jackets are delightful objects in their own right, whether used for reading, displaying, or as sosurces of inspiration for decorating.” I couldn’t agree more!
Without a doubt, I have been coveting this book since I got to hear Holly’s keynote at The Creative Connection Event in St. Paul. Her presentation was my favorite of the weekend, and when I returned from Minnesota, I blogged about my favorite quotes of the weekend; one of which was from Holly (You can check out this post here.) All of her books were sold-out, so I was very disappointed that I couldn’t get a signed copy. However, at the end of the weekend, I had the opportunity to meet Holly, and she couldn’t have been more lovely and down-to-earth… just like her book!
Confession time….. I’m obsessed! With pottery. Specifically white pottery. Several years ago, I picked up my first piece at a thrift store for a couple of bucks. I brought it home and looked up the name on the bottom, McCoy. I was then very, very happy at my good find, as it turns out, McCoy is a very collectible brand! Well, since then, I have been unable to resist these creamy vases of beauty, and I have amassed quite a collection. 
I absolutely adore the way they look together, and don’t mind filling-in with a piece that bears absolutely no name, but looks as if it may have been lovingly painted by someone’s great-aunt and fired at the local ceramic shop. I also love little surprises, like my latest find at the thrift store labeled: Frank Moreno. I’ve looked it up, and it appears he is someone of note, and his pieces are sold in galleries. I don’t really care about making money on my finds, I just enjoy the serendipity of finding something unique for a good price and adding to my happy little (okay, large) collection. That first piece, however, is still my favorite, and I look at it as the beginning of a beautiful relationship…. with pottery.
