A Welcoming Home

When I have my own house, I'm going to paint the front door green or blue or something else fun and welcoming. I love when doors have personality. It gives the house a more charming and comforting feel. I think this is very important. Wouldn't you rather walk through a blue polka dotted doorway than a boring white one?

My friend's mom painted her house her favorite colors: brown and teal. She said she wanted her house to be hers. It's very fitting. {She even has pajamas to match. It's really cute when she sits outside with a cup of coffee wearing them.} That's the charming feel I want my house to have.

Design Style in One Picture

Alek from the blog From the Right Bank to the Left Coast created a 'What's Your Style in One Picture' challenge. I love imagining what my house will eventually look like so I thought I'd try it. However, finding one photo to describe my interior design style was much more difficult than I thought it would be.

I know, it looks pretty boring but I love the cozy, welcoming feeling. Plus, I hear blues and browns are very calming, which is definitely what I want in my living room.

My favorite details:

Lots of natural light.

Huge couch- perfect for reading all afternoon.

Mostly solid colors, not distracting patterns.

And the colors- all neutral.

Very casual.

And I love using books as decoration.

I like to think that I can always add a little more flair to other rooms in the house.

{photo via potterybarn}

Vintage Knick Knacks

My sister always tells me about the great finds she makes at vintage shops and thrift stores. Every time I see her, I swear she's wearing something "new" she found there.

I'm more interested in little knick knacks than clothes. (Though if I could dress like Nora Charles or Annie Hall, I totally would.) This is definitely one of my favorites. I found it at a flea market in Washington DC's Eastern Market.

Not sure what I'm going to do with it, probably just set it in front of some window so I can glance at it as I walk past.

Cluttered with Memories

I really wish I could have a very simply decorated home.

But I know it will never happen. I have way too many keepsakes and decorations that will forever clutter my home.

I have a strong relationship with most of my belongings. They all have stories attached to them and reasons why they will never be discarded. I still have my first three dolls my mom gave me when I was a toddler, Annie, Amy and Old Amy, (I wasn't very clever.) and I don't think I could ever get rid of them.

{photo via potterybarn.com}

Decorating my Dream House

My new Crate & Barrel catalog came in the mail this week. I could have gotten a pony and I wouldn't have been happier.

While I rarely buy anything from it (except for presents and small kitchen gadgets), I LOVE flipping through every page. I imagine what my future home will look like and what I would buy for it. I even circle everything I want. (This decoration game assumes that I have an endless amount of money and my dream home, of course. What kind of a game would it be otherwise?)

I do this endlessly. When I'm done with the catalog, I put it away and forget about it for a while. Then, a couple weeks or months later, I take it back out and do it all over again. My taste in decor rearely changes, but it's fun nonetheless.

The White House is Not My House

I was recently surfing the Web and found an article on the Domino Magazine Web site about decorating in the White House and inspiration for the Obama family. I found some pictures of interesting rooms that Kennedy and Reagan decorated but still, they didn't have that home-y feel to them.

I don't think I could ever live in the White House even if I could redecorate each room. (Good thing I'll never have to worry about it.) I just really don't like old furniture and decorations, they don't seem warm and inviting. For an office, I probably wouldn't mind some of the decor, but a home should be more cozy. I don't want to come home after a long day of work (or school) and feel like I can't relax. So, that's it, I could never live in the White House.