What's Your (decorating) Style?

Anyone ever wonder what your "true" decorating style is? Or what style you would like your current decor to resemble? For me, I like so many different deco-styles, it's hard to boil down what "Katie-style" is!

Well, I came across this quick little quiz that helps pin-point your true style, and as it turns out, it was quite accurate for me. It just happens to be on Ethan Allen's website, (Anyone else swoon over E.A.'s furniture? Anyone? Anyone?) and it is great for us visual learners.

There are just 2 Rules:
1. Go with your instincts.
2. Choose fast.

And think about this:
What do you like?
How does it make you feel?
Think about the vibe. Shape. Mood. Inspiration. The overall look.

Click here to check it out and see what you think!

As for my quiz results, the true Katie-style is....

LOFT...
Energetic. Fashion-driven. Practical. Materials borrowed from industry, architecture, and nature. Clean shapes. Punches of color. Spontaneous and fresh. Kids and pets? Bring them on.

The site then goes on to further break down the different varieties of LOFT style, and includes some pictures to help visualize what it's describing. LOFT-style-decorating includes the following options (the majority of which I love)...

1. Marzipan: A bright confection with a fashion edge. Defined by graphic shapes and a playful yet well-edited use of apple green, watermelon pink, and liberal helpings of black. Modern. Feminine. Refreshing.

2. Dusk: Enter serenity. A brilliant mix of modern and soft creates balanced tranquility – a look of elegance energized by nurturing textures, crisp linens, bold patterns, and cool art. In sum, sophisticated simplicity.

3. Serape: Where every seat in the house is the best one. Life is collected. Inspired by nature. Never cluttered – rather perfectly placed.

4. Earth: Warm honey-toned woods set the tone for a life worth living organically. Where nature and nurture coexist in unexpected ways. Modern. Reflective. Earth easy.

5. Hayloft: Modern country. Down-to-earth. But smart and stylish. Practical yet chic. Black and white. Balanced by earth tones. For a rustic space or a city apartment. Fabulous without pretense.

6. West Side: A hip urban style that’s livable, relaxed, and remarkably affordable.

7. Meadow: The modern cottage: a beachside garden vibe that goes with casual living.

So, this break-down definition was actually full of good things that I (would) like to incorporate into my decor. I like that it keeps it eclectic - you can do a lot of different things throughout the home, but still give the same "vibe" everywhere.

What do you think of the quiz? Good description of your style? Or not so helpful? Do tell!

Porch Project: Part 4

Well, after a couple weeks of hard work, the porch renovation is completed! FINALLY! And while this took a little more elbow grease than we originally anticipated, the payoff was well worth all the effort. We now have a space that can enjoy 3/4 of the year (and maybe in the winter if we get a space heater), and this enclosed porch adds additional "living space" to our home...letting us enjoy the outdoors without the bugs.

So, without further adieu, let me introduce you to our new back porch (minus the "decor").

But first, let's go waaaay back to the beginning to see the before pictures. Note the following: original brick, unfinished beadboard on the ceiling and walls, green paint, old fashioned light fixtures, stained berber carpet, bamboo blinds that were falling apart, and junk everywhere...

Joey's thinking, "hmmm... this space has a ton of potential!"

And here is the dramatic transformation! We started by ripping out the carpeting and painting the brick gray. We also painted the shelf that is attached to the brick the same gray - I wanted the shelf to blend in with the brick rather then stand out. The built-in bench was painted gray also. The interior door (leading into the Kitchen) and interior window (where you can see into the 1st floor bedroom/office) were painted white.

The ceiling then got painted a bright white as well. The walls were painted a blue-gray. White 2X4 boards were added as crown molding around the ceiling and baseboards. 2 new light fixtures were added. And lastly, the tile floor was installed. This picture below shows the area that will be used for sitting (hence, the free couch from my Aunt and Uncle) and eating (we're moving a dinette set in here as well).

The opposite side of the porch is the entrance area and is going to be used as a mudroom. This will be the main entrance into the house, and so I want it to be an area for hanging coats, storing gloves/scarves/hats and other outdoor items (inside the bench), dumping shoes etc...
The 2 light fixtures we bought for the room were very inexpensive. The ceiling fan/light for over the sitting and eating area cost $60 but came with a $15 rebate - making it only $45! And the flush-mount light to illuminate the entrance from the porch to the kitchen was $25. Both were bought at Mendards, and while they don't match perfectly, they coordinate well. Both have a brushed nickle finish on the metal parts and are roughly the same shape.


The tile on the floor was also bought from Menards. It was actually very inexpensive as well. The color is a fabulous shade of blue and gray combined. In some lighting it looks more blue and in other lighting it looks more gray. It grounds the space so well. Joey installed it in a staggered pattern, which not only adds interest, but also mimics the pattern of the brick.

Here is close-up of the 2X4 boards that Joey bought for only $3 per 8 feet of board. He painted it white and it adds a great finishing touch to the room around both the ceiling and the floor.

The primary color scheme for the room: Lowe's Eddie Bauer Collection - Vintage Gray for the brick, Shale for the walls, and white for ceiling/trim. This picture shows the color swatches against the tile.

Pretty sweet transformation, no?

Now that the work is over, we can usher in the fun part! DECORATING! We'll be setting up the furniture this weekend, and then I can add hooks and baskets and all kinds of accessories. But more on that later!

Almost Done (with 1 room)

Warning: The following information is known to cause extreme laziness and many yawns.

Over the past week, we've been giving you some updates on our porch renovation project. And it's exciting to say that this project is about to come to a close (although there's still plenty to be done in the decorating dept. - for that never truly ends, right?).

As of tonight, the painting is 90% complete, save for a few touch-up spots and another coat of white paint on the kitchen door and window trim. The tile floor has been laid and should be grouted tomorrow. Light fixtures have been hung. It's almost ready to be used! FINALLY!

There will be many more pictures to come when the room is a bit more put-together and polished, but I wanted to show you 2 or 3 quick highlights of what the last few days have brought... and share the perspective of our 3rd family member.

Here's a peak of the new wall color next to the gray brick that was shown to you in the last post. The color is "shale", and it's a beautiful blue-gray color. The blue is so nice and soothing - reminding me of the sky, and the gray undertone of this particular blue complements the gray brick so nicely. This exact blue-gray color is also going to be used inside the house (but you'll have to wait to find out where - suspense?!).
Here is a not-so-great picture of the ceiling fan that Joey hung today. It has a brushed nickle finish to coordinate with the gray brick. The fan blades are white, which helps the fixture to blend into the white ceiling and not seem too "heavy" in the room. This light/fan combo is hung on the far side of the room where most of the sitting and eating will take place. There is another light fixture that still needs to be hung on the opposite side of the room to light up the area leading into the kitchen.

And finally, the view from the rocking chair... where a mischievous family member watches (and sleeps) as we do all the work...


I hope to lay around like Spike someday!