Unify your Home...Decor Integration Tips, Developing the "Ours" brand - Part 2

Alright so presumably at this point you have taken my advice in Part 1 of this series and have a notebook started with descriptions from your explorations of memories from your favorite destinations together.

 

This week we are going to add to that list by taking cues from the items we already own. Even if you have won the lottery and plan to design your “McMansion” from scratch the furniture, kitsch, knick-knacks, art, antiques and even our wardrobes provide a bevy of insights that are critical to developing a sustainable décor foundation.

 

So let’s get those notebooks back out and start first with our current inventory. Write down what you currently own. A leather couch, an antique sewing machine, heirloom china, jewelry, etc. If you have already prepared this list (for your insurance company) then you are already ahead. If you haven’t already done this, do it now. If a fire or flood ruins all your possessions, you will be thankful you don’t have to rely upon your memory during an emotionally devastating time.

 

While you are creating or reviewing this practical list, I want you to create a separate list that is more cued to design. What I want both of you to do is write down a summary description. It doesn’t have to be long, it just needs to describe the colors, textures, and the emotional investment you have in the items you both already own. Here is an example to get you started:

 

• From my furnishings list: Leather, suede, dark wood, substantial bulky pieces that hold up well to kid traffic, David Moon’s ironic cat lithographs, iconic religious works, few antiques, Visual centric components – large TVs and video games, platinum and white gold, jewel tones of reds and blues. Vibrantly artistic, hectic, family oriented and busy.
• From my husband's furnishings list: Subdued tweeds with pastel stripes, highly polished pieces with clean lines, black, white, navy blue, and gold predominate, tech heavy and tooling Frankenstein computers, Audio centric components and musician related pieces – guitars, stereos. Nautical, crisp clean, blue jean practical, orderly and serene.

Again, don’t worry if these lists appear to be diametrically opposed, we are still discovering and exploring the components that will become the foundation of the “Our” brand at this stage. Next week we will explore one more facet of ourselves and create one more list. Then the nuts and bolts planning spaces will follow.

Last week, Ajira @ Ajira Darch Photography supplied her decorating tip.  She recommended that we sit down with our partners and describe what your ideal dream home would look like.  Then collect pictures of rooms that are appealing to both of you.
I thought this was a great idea to explore what core design styles each of you gravitate toward (e.g. Midcentury Modern, Victorian, Arts and Crafts, Shabby Chic) and use as inspiration to inject your personalized sense of style.

I know there are a lot of interior decorating blogs out there that provide that type of visual inspiration, if you have a favorite, take a minute, share the wealth and put a link in the comments.  In the meantime, I am curious to know what you think will be the next and last subject for the “Our” brand components list?