That's so not me...

When it comes to interiors, I've always had a tendency to make definitive decisions about what I like and what I don't like.

Like:




Don't like:

I'm sorry - but no matter how many times I see it in good company, I still hate that chair.

It pains me when I see things that make my eyes bleed touted as the embodiment of taste and style. Not because I don't like my own taste being called into question - but because it makes me wonder who is driving the bus here... Are taste makers doing their job? Or have they gotten lazy and said, "okay sure - orange shag pillows on powder blue sofas...whatever."

But at least I'm smart enough to recognize how short sighted that is, and I really have tried to expand my decorating tunnel vision. Step one is knowing that you have a problem right?

And the immediate next step is to start appreciating the value in that which doesn't appeal to us personally. To see beyond the particular style and recognize well made furniture, quality materials and interesting ideas.

So this is where I am now. Since I started working on this project with Style Key West, I've done a lot of thinking about how style is influenced by surroundings. And I've realized that there is something to be said for putting aside biases and considering new things. In light of this, I now allow myself be inspired by the unexpected.

A perfect example would be the color purple. I hate purple. Maybe it's the result of growing up in the '80s - but for me, there is something about purple that brings to mind lowercase i's dotted with hearts, unicorns and Dynasty.

In my mind, purple has always been loud and overly dramatic. It tries too hard and its skirt it too short. It snaps its gum. It makes me wince.

But.

One of the great things about reading design blogs is that you are inundated by other points of view on a daily basis. You see things that may not be your usual style and you get a different perspective. And after a while, you make room for new ideas. You add new dimensions to your preferences, and you find middle ground.

While I would never want to have these rooms in my house...



...I would make myself quite comfortable in any of these:









Seems like a small thing really - to embrace a subdued version of a hated color. But, you know what they say: one small step for man...one giant leap for closed minded traditionalists...

Tune in next week when I slander orange. (Kidding!)




Images via: Brabourne Farm, Decor Pad, Lonny Magazine, Apartment Therapy, House Beautiful, Amanda Nisbet Design, Jim Thompson Fabrics

With Liberty and Floral Home Accessories for All (as Long as You Get There By 9:00 a.m.)

I don't know about you, but I've been pretty excited to see the new Liberty of London for Target line. The first thing I did when I woke up yesterday morning was get on the computer - and I must say, the floral home decor items were just adorable:

Tableware...








Frames...




Storage...




Lamps...



Chairs...


(Can you get over that chair? The design isn't really my style - but I have to admit, it's pretty darn cute! I could see it at a teenage girl's desk.)

Bedding...


(I was actually a little disappointed here. Everything looked so cheap. But then again, it is Target...)

And I would absolutely be remiss if I didn't mention the bikes on a Key West website! I wonder if any of these lovelies will be spotted rolling down Duval Street soon...

But...

Apparently, everyone else stayed up until MIDNIGHT to view the goodies online because many of the accessories were already sold out.

So I looked at the clock. It was 8:30 a.m. and Target had been open for about 30 minutes... If I could get the kids dressed quickly enough, we could be there early and see everything in person. So 30 minutes later (sigh - there is no "quickly" with small children) we were out the door. Luckily, Target is very close, so we were there in five minutes.

I was astounded to see Target employees just starting to set up the displays. I mean - after all of that hype, you'd think they'd expect some early customers... But ultimately it worked out for the best since there were some serious shoppers snapping up all the merchandise, and if it was all neatly stocked on shelves when the store opened, we may have missed seeing most of it.

So with kids in cart - this is (literally) how we roll in Target...

...I beelined for the floral signs.

Here are some photos I took of the racks of clothes waiting to be set up:




And here are some of the picked over displays:

Of course I had to do a little shopping (more of that on Wishing True tomorrow), but my absolute favorite items were for little girls. Seriously - the CUTEST dresses ever! But my daughter is now three and entering the "pink is God and the sparklier the better" phase. Don't tell me that you're still in that phase because it's not the same thing. I often think of how the Project Runway judges worry over "taste level." This is what I'm talking about.

Want to read more about that? Visit me at The Big Piece of Cake for some pictures of my picks versus Eleanor's.