Loving Different Decorating Styles (And Finding My Own.) Part One

Hi guys!

Hope everyone is enjoying their Halloween Eve. We woke up to a dark morning with lots of rain and fog and without ANY plans (finally) so I treated myself to some hot coffee and a magazine on the couch while the boys watched Daniel Tiger and ate french toast sticks on the living room floor. Sweet and pure goodness, I tell you.

I am one of those decorating fanatics that can't ever seem to settle on a specific style. I mean, I suppose I've settled on a blend of styles but I can't ever just go in one solid direction like so many other talented designers and blogger seem to be able to do.

The truth is, there are SO many decorating styles that I think are truly beautiful and that I really, really admire, even though I don't necessarily mimic them exactly in my own home. I thought I would share a few of my (completely opposite) favorites and talk about the things that draw my eyes and mind to them. I originally started writing this as one big post, but then it got too big, so I am cutting it into parts---two styles/bloggers/designers at a time.

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I must start off with one of my all-time favorite designers--Lauren Liess. I love Lauren. I started reading her blog about five years ago and have watched her grow to superstar status with her earthy, organic, vintage/modern yet still traditional style.

I remember when her first home was in the Christmas issue of BHG a few years ago, I looked through it feeling so proud of her...but then I realized that I don't actually know her in real life so that was actually super creepy. Had to tone that down. ;) I still LOVED that spread though.

I love, love, love her use or natural textures, calm colors, and relaxed fabrics in homes. She mixes things like wooden dough bowls and Lucite tables to an ART and also has a knack for botanic prints and gallery walls. Always good in my book. 

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Let's counter this with probably the most traditional and rustic blog I follow--Dear Lillie. I love Jennifer's upscale vintage farmhouse style and her seasonal decor is always on point. (Seriously...fall and Christmas decor....a tonnnnnn of eye candy.) She tends to use the same tones in most of her rooms (which isn't a bad thing at all) and is very talented at layering vignettes and using fresh greenery and flowers.

I'm fairly sure Jennifer had a paint brush attached to her hand the first year they lived in their current home (we moved into our homes at the same time....she is a much more motivated worker than I am). She is also quite the DIY-er and seems really confident in her style. 

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I'd like to think that my home right now is somewhat a blend of these two styles (except I don't have as much in way of budget so on a lower scale and with a lot less experience ;). I don't even know if they work together but I think it's so interesting to watch my personal style go from one to the other depending on my mood or what inspires me at any given time. I sometimes think it would be much easier to hone in on one style because I get analysis paralysis ALL the time when making decisions for my own home but I can't seem to do it.

Do you pull decor inspiration from completely opposite sources or do you stick with one style when taking in eye candy? My blog feed is basically a huge mis-mash so I'm interested to know if it's just me or not.  Do tell!

Have a Happy Halloween!