Throughout the years my style has changed several times. The problem comes with how do I change my style and keep what I have. I think I am influenced by my surroundings and what I see as the trends from time to time. Most of us can’t just get rid of all our furniture and accessories and start over from scratch. We have to transition into a new style gradually. That leaves us with the big question – Your Style Is Changing – Now What?
When I had my first home my style was Modern. Clean lines, low and lean. Then I switched to a very Tradition style. Dark wood furniture, heavy fabrics, velvets, and prints. Next, I went really Country with tons of antiques and cute prints and wallpaper. (This was influenced by living in the mountains in Oregon.) Finally, I was back to more of a Traditional design. This was the 90’s and at the time I loved it. All that deep red and gold and heavy drapes and decor was in at the time and I thought I was too.
Now I like to call my style Transitional. This is a combination of Classic and Contemporary with a touch of everything. I think that is the best of all worlds. I love comfy furniture, brass and silver, beautiful fabrics, texture, and really a bit of everything.
LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT HOW I TRANSITIONED MY STYLE IN MY CURRENT HOME
The next home was Traditional, just not as stuffy as the 90’s. My basic furniture pieces were classic Traditional in style and finish. Dark Mahogany on most all of my wood pieces. Even the large mirror was a holdover from the 90’s. This is really not me anymore and I can see quite a few things that should have been changed. I never knock any style, but wow, what was I thinking.
Then I slowly started to switch things out to something lighter and a little more transitional. Gone are the heavy drapes and over the top accessories. A new sofa changed things too.
Next came wood floors and things changed again. Still moving more towards the Transitional style. At this point I really wanted to move away from such a heavy influence of Traditional.
When we moved into our current home, the architecture of this house was much more contemporary than our last home. My style was already leaning to a more contemporary transitional influence. Trying to make what I currently had work in the new house, really didn’t work. Some pieces of furniture were just too big for the space or too heavy on the traditional style. All that dark wood seemed to drown the room.
I tried duplicating what I had in the last house. This is a smaller area, so both leather chairs didn’t quite fit. This wasn’t the worst look, but it really wasn’t quite me.
Next I tried a different rug. One that was more on the contemporary side. Things just still didn’t look the way I wanted them to.
I decided it was time to get rid of the huge mirror. I borrowed art from my daughter to see how that would look. I also replaced the leather chair with a white one I had in the master bedroom. Still not it, but getting better. Notice at this time all I’ve purchased is a rug.
I decided that the paintings just weren’t what I really wanted, so I bought another mirror, only this one was a totally different style. I also decided to replace the coffee table with something lighter and more contemporary. Notice how all the accessories lightened up too.
Adding a plant seemed to be the final touch to pull the room together. I finally had more of a Transitional style shaping up.
This still could use improvement, but I finally had a space that I liked, looked like me and fit this house. It was a case of trial and error and thinking outside the box with an open mind. All the while I was transitioning into the contemporary side of my Transitional Style. The only purchases I made were the rug, mirror and coffee table. That all came in under $300.
Wonder what happened to all those furniture pieces that didn’t work in this room – The tufted leather chair went to the master bedroom. It adds such a touch of elegance to this room.
The other leather chair is in my Loft/Office/Girl Cave. It makes this room. Perfect spot for it.
The coffee table went to a friend.
Your Style Is Changing – Now What? No matter what your style is now, or what you want it to become, take a look at the elements of the style you want to have and figure out what can be changed to create that style with the least expense and effort. You really don’t have to start from scratch. You can paint wood furniture, change out accessories, and even reupholster some pieces. Keep what you have and love the most and then replace the things that really aren’t you anymore. It’s worth the effort to have a room you love and enjoy.
I’m sure my style will probably change again down the road. Life is always changing and I want to keep changing too.
It’s so fun to look back over the years to see how our likes and dislikes have changed. In our first home (an upstairs apartment in a college town) the only new item was our bedroom furniture, a wedding gift from grandparents. Every other item in the apartment was hand-me-down. There was no style, only function. 😉 Thanks for sharing your style journey with us. I’ve followed your blog for a long time, and recognize most of your photos.
It is fun to look back and see what you loved and now love. I love change and try to use what I have but a lot of times I do change up my furniture. I have been lucky to find beautiful pieces on FB Market Place and Offer Up. That helps to keep my changes in budget.
I love the light that comes in your rooms. That is fabulous. Happy Sunday.
This is an interesting post “through the years”. You didn’t go out and spend megabucks on new things but moved furniture and accessories around. I can say that I don’t dislike any of your designing from the past. Your current living room is lovely and very light.
Very nice post showing how basic furniture pieces can still be used even when tastes change! This was such an educational post. Thanks.
Hi Marty,
Like your newest look, but then again I liked all our your looks, you have a flair for making just about anything look great…….
Hope this finds you doing well hon, still praying for you……..and so proud of how you keep going inspite of all you are dealing with
emotionally, and in others ways as well.
Take good care of yourself hon,
Blessings, Nellie
Thank you for an encouraging post. I have lived in my house for over 30 years. I’m embarrassed to say not much has changed in all that time. Because I overthink, I get stuck on how to and where to start. Your post gives me hope that I can do it.
I would love to make a few changes to my furniture. I have too much wood. However, I have a husband who hates to change the look of a room. If you put something somewhere, you better like where you put it because that’s where it will stay. I keep looking at posts like this and am getting ideas on what my actual style might be right now. This was a big help. Thank you.
Fun to see how you ‘evolved’ I have decided that if I ever win the lottery, I am never touching a screwdriver again (to put something together). And maybe at this age, any new furniture would need rollers. LOL
Wow…can I relate to this post! From our first homes with cast offs from family ( we were still in college) then purchasing a bedroom suite and a 1979 modern dining room. We were thrilled! Then we built a small colonial and did the whole country thing – but we kept that dining room. I wanted a new one but we just bought it and it was so nice….so then we built another home. More English Country style – it was the 90’s and like you I did the swags in the windows to match the Waverly sofa and burgundy wing chairs and a navy club chair. New living room tables with Queen Anne legs and kept shopping for a Queen Anne dining room set but never found one we loved…plus we had 8 chairs to the one we had so it was perfect for entertaining! 19 years later we moved to a country cottage…left the sofa and the drapes with the house and went for more neutral sofa and leather chairs…but still navy/burgundy drapery. Still had the dining room set…switched out the pulls on the server and hutch to more transitional brushed chrome…and thought – someday we will get a new set. Now, retired…moved to an apartment in a retirement community. VERY modern look…new sofa, new chairs, no drapery at all…just remote shades on all the big windows…and that dining room set – now that we are all open concept and no “dining room”…just an area – that dining room is perfect. So similar to what the furniture showrooms have. Had the table top refinished, recovered the chairs, and added very modern pulls that match the kitchen cabinets. It looks great…and it holds the memories of all the great dinners with family and friends around that table !
I love how you managed to transition through all the different homes and still have a space you love. Sounds beautiful to me.
Thanks, Marty – So glad I found your blog! Love your ideas and use several of your recipes. Thanks for being here. Keeping you in my prayers!
I love this post! Seeing the changes over time is cool and informative – Very nice!
I love to see all of the changes!! Sometimes when I look back at my old photos I just wonder who lived in that hodge podge….it was me.
I like seeing how you moved furniture to different rooms and changed out the accessories to suit your current style.
Thanks for sharing the evolution of your style:)
It’s really neat to see the before’s, and to see how it changed over time to what it is now, which is just gorgeous and so inspiring. In the last few years, I have been trying to declutter, and move things around, and change up just a bit here and there to make it more what I am going for (modern farmhouse). It’s been a frustrating journey to be on a budget, and not see the look you’re going for shine through, but now I see it really just takes time of more moving around, and changing here and there until it all aligns.
I also hadn’t heard of the Transitional style – I like that one. It looks great.
I love getting to see the evolution of your style through out the years, Marty! Glad to know I am not the only blogger who doesn’t commit to just one aesthetic.
I enjoyed reading about your changes over the years. I’ve done a little of that as well, went from jewel tones to white, etc. I’m getting ready to make some minor changes (mostly colors) soon. A few years ago I asked you a good source for buying rugs and you gave me a name(s), but I don’t remember now. Please give them to me again! Thank you! Katherine
I love the basket in your living room that you use as a coffee table do you remember where you got it? Also, Your rooms are so pretty
I found the basket on Wayfair a few years ago. I really like it. Sorry I can’t find one like it.