Posted by Leslie Judson, Decorating Editor, HGTV.com – October 3, 2008 11:26 AM
Tags: decorating, design
This summer, my boyfriend, Justin, and I bought our first home — a 1950s rancher with great bones and plenty of potential. Thirty-seven days later, we got married in the backyard.
Our timeline was so tight that by the time furniture was in place, we had t-minus 13 days to unpack, decorate and walk down the aisle.
We had to agree on how to decorate our new space quickly. The process continues, and it has been — for the most part — a lot of fun. It helps that Justin has a great design aesthetic. (You should see his collection of ties!) It also helps that both of us have an appreciation for art, especially pieces made by the people we love.
Accessories in the kitchen are a mix of our favorite things including the vintage red chair I inherited from my great Aunt Mildred and a set of metal canisters discovered in an online auction. Justin's Viansa print reminds both of us of one of our favorite places. Our home (much like our marriage) is a work in progress. We find comfort knowing that even if you can't plan every detail...Design Happens.
If you’re going through an interiors merger and could use some design direction, sit down with your housemate and take this design compatibility quiz: Design Taste Test: Have You Found Your Style Mate?
If you've joined households and therefore merged design aesthetics with someone else, did you compromise on a special piece of artwork, furniture or trinket that your significant other or roommate couldn’t bear to live without? Any tips for others who are in the same situation?
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As a visual designer who has very particular tastes in his living environment (and experience with other designers who don't see things the same way), I've wondered if those tastes might clash with my future wife. It's good to know that two artistic people can work together in harmony. :) Thanks for the encouragement.
Posted by Whit – October 6, 2008 7:18 PM
When my husband and I built our home 5 years ago we had many design choices to make. We both enjoy more traditional finishes, so most decisions came easily. However, color was a different story. I wanted a mix of colors in every room and he was quite comfortable with a single, neutral color throughout the house. I was very worried that we would be saddled with what my mom refers to as a perfectly beautiful color - Antique White, for years. After many, many quarts of paint and patchwork swatches of color on our new walls, we compromised with a warm yellow throughout the common areas of our home. Then, we layered in colors in our dining room, guest room and children's room. We settled on a more neutral brown taupe in our bedroom, bath, media room and playroom. Who knew there were so many shades of taupe? There are still nights when I lay down and think it looks more like melted chocolate ice cream than "Brown Tepee", but it works! My husband compromised by not requiring that the media room be painted "UT Orange". I have found that "Brown Tepee" also looks great with hints of orange accessories and his team memorabilia. I have yet to persuade him that our study would look great in a nice shade of green, but after the fiasco in our playroom with what he likes to refer to as "Barbie body beige"...I think I need to lay off of the color push for awhile. After 16 years of marriage, compromise still is a good thing!
Posted by laura – October 6, 2008 9:46 PM
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