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?
Erin says
Where did y’all get the coffee table in the living room? I’m looking for something like it, but can’t seem to locate one with straight, simple legs like that.
Thanks!
Erin
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Erin,
We actually got it at a thrift store for $30, but Pottery Barn sells something similar. Maybe try there?
xo,
s
Brenda says
Have you posted a “how to” on painting fireplace doors? I have a wood burning fireplace in my living room with brass doors SCREAMING, “PAINT ME”. If not, do you have any suggestions?
YoungHouseLove says
Remove firebox doors, lay them on large plastic drop cloth from Home Depot, spray with high heat spray paint or just regular old metal-safe spray paint (thin and even coats are key, ideally you’ll do three or four thing ones as opposed to one thick and drippy one). Use a razor to scrape the paint off the glass doors (or tape them off beforehand). Put them back in place when dry. Easy!
xo,
s
Susie says
Became a home owner two years ago, a wife one year ago and a mom two months ago! So I feel like I’m constantly trying to catch up with how my style is evolving. I get so many ideas all flooding in at once and its hard to know which instinct or idea to go with. Thanks for all of your inspiration! And for sharing your lives, I’m sure it’s not always easy but there are so many of us who obviously appreciate it beyond words!
katy says
This post is SPOT-ON for what we’ve done with our house. We’re in the beige phase (because I’m still recovering from the Benjamin Moore Jalapeno Green that was our living room). But I love BIG pops of color and I’m so excited to see what you guys are going to bring in your new house! Thanks for taking us along.
Lindsay says
Hi Youngsters,
Ive been faithfully reading your blog for about a year and a half I’d say and I’ve definitely noticed you guys breaking out of your neutral box! I love it!
My hubby and I’s house is going through the same evolution!
You guys are great!
Keep up the adventures,
Lindsay
Katie says
I’m most shocked by the first picture of your den! I thought you painted it all immediately before moving anything in. How long did you leave the brick unpainted?
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Katie,
We can’t remember exactly when we painted the den, but it was sometime around 2 – 4 months after moving in. We had just moved from New York where exposed brick was coveted so we thought it was awesome. But then we realized it just made our house look unfinished and really highlighted the fact that the room was an addition.
-John
Anne says
Absolutely. It’s funny, when I was younger I had a much older style. Lots of antiques, vintage, etc. but the older I get the younger my decorating style. One thing that is really hard, though, is when your style changes completely but you can’t afford to just start from scratch. Maybe some time you could do a post on how to transition from one style to another when you have to incorporate a lot of pieces from your “old” style, while trying to transition to your new style?
That would be a big help to those of us with decorating ADD!
Yami says
Phewww I was actually getting worried that I wasn’t growing up like you guys….. I love color and I absolutely love your style and every time I went furniture or accessory shopping I’d be drawn to color and pattern but resisted the urge since I wanted my home to be as calming and sophisticated as yours so I ended up buying a whole lot of white! So I’m kinda glad you’re Benjamin Button-izing!!!
Shannon says
Oh my gosh – if you guys are “Benjamin Buttoning” it, then we are “Mork from Ork’ing” it. We just sold our first set of “real” furniture in our bedroom and are replacing it with the Pax wardrobes from Ikea. After five long years of it not fitting (literally) in the 1940’s house we bought later we decided it just had to go. Man that was hard!
I think you have built such a great, neutral foundation throughout your house. Adding pops of color in accessories & whimsical seasonal decor is another perk of that. You can have a silver & lime green tree without needing to repaint the whole living room! It’s also a frugal way of having fun with your house without constantly redoing a “theme”. Keep up the good work!
Shantay Gattis says
Yes please! I am in the midst of de-neurtalizing my house as well… moved into my ‘surburban sweetie’ in 2004 when neutral “tuscan” was all the rage. I didn’t buy into the trend completely, but recently looked around and thought: dull, dull, dull. I started out feeling grown-up, but now feel more like Susan Sarandon’s character in “The Banger Sister’s closet scene: too much beige. As I try to uncover true my design style, and appreciate your inspiration honestly.
Holla!
Carolyn says
I’ve noticed that your style is becoming “younger”. I like it!
Lately I’ve been appreciating my white rental walls even more. It may be basic and a bit boring, but there is so much you can do with white walls. I like that pattern and colour can be used in artwork and soft furnishings, and when you feel like a change, it’s easy to swap things around without too much effort.
Erin says
I THINK I’ve gotten my wacky decor sense out of my system with our current apartment, and I’m excited to have a house so I can start from scratch with all of the things I learned from my experience here (mainly what NOT to do).
My problem is, I love SO many different color combinations that I could never, ever pick a palette like you did that runs through the whole house (even though I think your house is beautiful!). I just know that I’d want to change the colors constantly because I am, and always have been, unable to even identify my favorite color. I want the “flow” feel, though, so I’m a little stuck. I’m currently thinking that my foundation through the whole house would be grays, whites, and teensy bits of black, and then with different vivid pops of color in each room. Would it be too much to have the grays/whites be the constant and then different colors as the accessories?
YoungHouseLove says
No way- that sounds like a good time to us!
xo,
s
Kimberly says
Oh yes. I remember our first house and the day I woke up and realized that my entire home was a shade of brown, taupe or beige. The floor to ceiling old lady curtains came down that night (they came with the house, and yes, we even had a spare set in the attic). The woodwork of our bungalow was exposed, the walls were painted with color. Slowly color was brought into the home, and now that we are in our second home it’s all about jewel tones. My favorite room of the house is The Green Room, which is law library green. It’s our office/den/Playstation 3 room. It became The Green Room when we were moving in and had to let the movers know which room to place a box: kitchen, family room, bedroom, green room, etc… The name stuck. :)
Nicole Marie says
I love how your style is changing! I think I really noticed it in your post about the yellow candelabra! I thought ‘Wow, the Youngsters are really poppin’ the color!’ I think it’s great! My own style is changing as well, especially after reading so many design blogs – becoming a little more eclectic and a little less Pottery Barn. Just painted the walls Sherwin Williams Amazing Gray and bought a zebra print ottoman! Gray, cream and black with pops of red is the new color scheme now.
Pamela says
I know you get a lot of inquiries about the Moorish Tile Pottery Barn Rug in your living room. If it is a flat weave rather than a pile rug, there are several more or less affordable alternatives. I just ordred the Argonne rug from Home Decorators. It comes in seven standard sizes in brown, sage, terra, and yellow. Burke Decor has many colorways of the Fallon area rug, but sizes are limited. Garnet Hill has a Bogart flat-weave rug in 5 standard sizes in HD’s colors plus two blues. For a similar rug with a pile, Sawgrass Mills makes the Watermark outdoor rug in several colorways in two sizes, available from different vendors (I bought two from Grandinroad.com).
YoungHouseLove says
Great suggestions Pamela! Thanks for sharing!
xo,
s
Jaclyn says
Just found your blog! I love what you have done to the place! You have great style! :)
Stephanie says
Great post! We definitely went through the “OMG, we can paint!” phase when we bought our condo. Now I’m trying to tone done some of the brighter rooms by doing things like painting the fireplace in the living room, and getting more neutral bedding in the master.
Do you happen to know what color you originally painted the living room? Because man, it looks just like ours! Ours is a very small corner living room with just three walls, so it is still working for us.
YoungHouseLove says
We can’t remember the name of that green for the life of us. Leaf something or sage something maybe?
xo,
s
Cordia says
Thanks Pam for all the links!! I am dying to get one of those rugs and have been eyeing the one from Garnet Hill for a couple of weeks. I think it is the cheapest in the color I want (light blue), but I still cant buy it right now. :( The Argonne is by far the cheapest but it doesnt come in blue! Have you seen it anywhere else??
kelly says
I love the shelving on the wall by the dining room table…can you tell me where it came from? I have all BOLD colors in my house and do not want to add “bookshelves” in my living room and these shelves in white will work perfectly…LOVE the color you’ve added
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Kelly,
Those are the Lack shelves in white in the 72″ length from Ikea. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Alicia (Atypical Type A) says
I am one of those who grew up in an off-white house and went nuts with colour when we bought our first home. I still love the colour, but I’m now working on trying to tie it all together to make it all flow together.
Fascinating discussion!
michele says
i call it the “omg-i’m-nearing-40-and-i’ve-been-a-grown-up-all-my-life-!!” arrested development disease. our house was inspired by martha stewart for 12 years. now? inspired by etsy. with some martha thrown in. ;o) you’re only as old as you feel, and i refuse to feel my age. keeping it young and fresh is NOT a bad thing!
Monique says
Decorating does constantly evolve. Not sure if using brighter colors is a sign of age regression. Perhaps you’re feeling more comfortable exploring new colors and new patterns. It’s going to be exciting to see your next decorating stage.
Jessica says
So this may come across borderline creepy. Or way creepy.
But I had a dream last night that you painted the bottom cabinets in your kitchen hot pink.
No more ice cream before bed for me! ;)
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, that might hurt resale value. Just a little.
xo,
s
Stephanie says
Ours is Lemongrass Sage, so maybe it is the same green. :) Too funny.
YoungHouseLove says
That’s so funny! Could be!
xo,
s
Lana says
Just a random question….I need to paint a toddler bed white for my little girls room. Do you have any suggestions on what to use? I want it to be safe for a toddler, but something that will wear well and look nice. Thanks! (I have some Zinsser oil based primer that I used on some other furniture I painted white, but don’t know if that is safe for a little one.)
YoungHouseLove says
Any oil-based primer is safe as long as it’s followed by low or no-VOC paint and then sealed with something like Safecoat (learn more about that process here where we explained how we painted the top of Clara’s changing table). Good luck!
xo,
s
Holly says
I was noticing just this past weekend that my house is getting brighter colors splashed around – I just recently painted neutral over my blue living room walls and added lots of (green & turquoise-y blue) color in the drapes, pillows, throw blankets, accessories, and art. I even asked my sister if she thought it looked “little kiddish” because it was such a change!! But I’m loving it – plus you can always tone it down by changing out accessories and such.
Robin @ Chris and Robin's Nest says
Moonbounce bedroom would be awesome!
I love following your ever-changing style and especially admire your “go for it” attitude. Way to not take yourselves too seriously!
misa says
i love this post! a few months ago i realized that i was “allowed” to have silly art in my house. it was like, for years, i had been feeling like i should establish a collection of “grown-up” art, so i had some pretty serious landscapes and antique photogravures. but i fell in love with this kitchen on apartment therapy that was red and turquoise and it had this great poster of a carton of milk and a cookie holding hands (cookie loves milk; sadly, no longer available). i kept thinking about it, and wishing i had more art in my house that was just about being happy and not about being an adult. so i started ordering silly things on etsy, or buying vintage portraits of dogs at thrift stores. it sounds sort of ridiculous to write this. but my house feels much happier now.
Cara says
I used to think my style was uber-traditional – dark reds and hunter greens, dark furniture with oriental rugs. But that’s just what I thought an adult’s house was supposed to look like and that I could do whatever I (and my husband) want. It’s been both freeing and freezing since I now have a serious case of decorating ADD.
Jenny says
We’re about to buy our first house, and there’s a lot of work to be done…we’re hiring painters to coat the whole thing before we move in, since doing extensive prep on some pretty beaten-up walls, plus painting is more than we can handle right now. My question is how you’d suggest approaching color — I’m thinking of having it painted in basic, neutral off-white with white trim, with the idea that as we live in the space and figure out what we want it to look like, repainting those beautiful, clean walls with other colors can happen over time (and will be less work than the initial whole-house coat). We’ll only be able to get into the house 3-4 times before settlement, so I’m thinking another challenge with painting more varied colors right away would be not having the luxury of looking at paint swatches in different lighting, time of day, etc.
What do you think of that idea? Any other suggestions?
And also, an unrelated question — our inspector said the painters should caulk everywhere — window sills, by moldings, etc., to cut out drafts and make the place energy efficient. I’ve done a lot of painting over the years at my parents’ houses, and never done that. Do you guys? Why or why not?
Thank you!
YoungHouseLove says
We caulk when there are obvious gaps but never do it if things are already sealed (just seems like a waste of time if it’s not necessary). As for the painting of your house we would pick a palette we think we’d like just because you might get a few colors wrong and end up repainting (but you were planning to repaint everything later anyway) and you might love some of your choices and learn more by giving actual hues and tones a try instead of builder basic colors from the get-go. That’s just our opinion though- do what works for you!
xo,
s
Jenny says
That’s a great call — thanks! Seeing some colors big might also understand how paint chips translate to whole walls. Thanks for the advice!
Holly says
Hahahaha. SO funny, I was just thinking this the other day. We purchased my grandmothers house a few years ago and I too have realized that there are other colors other than white and beige!
Enlighten me please, where did you get your white slipcover on your couch in the tv room pic?
Keep up the good work!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Holly,
Both of our sofas cam with their slipcovers (we prefer to buy slipcovered sofas since they’re fitted and custom as opposed to off the shelf). The one in the den is a Pottery Barn sofa, and the one in the living room is a Rowe sofa (which we much prefer). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Jacci says
Thanks for linking to this for me, guys.
My answer is totally, yes! I’ve definitely noticed stages. When we first got married I had a very traditional, almost formal, style. When our first baby came along, it didn’t seem to fit with little ones. The first 1-3 years of parenthood had me a little jumbled up aesthetic wise, and I was all over the map. It took a while to get to where my natural aesthetic (and Sam’s – which are both neutral and sort of sophisticated) started to evolve to where it gelled with kiddos and family life. I think the transitions are all part of learning – you’re learning how “you” are still “you” as parents, for instance, and the learning shows up in lots of different ways. Once you start to find your comfort zone, I think the before aesthetic and the funny, loosened up, aesthetic will happily balance out.
So happy for you on your new home, and of course, Clara!
p.s. Number 5 is coming to our home in September, by the way :)
YoungHouseLove says
No way!!!!! Congrats!!!! That’s amazing. Can’t wait to virtually “meet” him or her!
xoxo,
s
Jacci says
Thanks, guys :) xo