Mulch and deep thoughts

Okay, they’re not deep thoughts, just an “aha” moment for me.

The mulch:

Yesterday was supposed to be gardening day, but it stormed.  I was hoping to share some flower bed progress with you, but there hasn’t been any yet.  Tonight though, The Hubs and I are going to fill up the pick-up with mulch and more pots and plants and finish this thing already. 

The not-so-deep thoughts:

While trying to make a decorative plan for the front porch, I was thinking about how it should be a good transition from the outside to the style of our decor inside.  But, the problem is, our house doesn’t really have a cohesive style from one room to the next.  Just like the dollhouse, I always look at our homes as a certain number of rooms I get to decorate. 

What the what???  You know I love eclectic, but this really should be 6 different houses…

But as I’ve been learning from my little shop, I need more focus.  Every time I think I’ve narrowed the focus, I go back and look and it’s still not enough.  What I always tend to think is that having a narrow focus will be limiting, but really, it’s just the opposite.  The more I narrow the style and specific purpose, the more opportunities I see, and the more creative I’ve been getting with new ideas.  (None of them are finished and in the shop yet.)

As of today, I’m really glad I have not yet finished decorating any of our rooms, because I’m scrapping any plans I had and I’m making a plan for the house.  I’m going to work on really pinpointing much more precisely, our style (thankfully, The Hubs and I have the exact same taste).

Mandi, from Vintage Revivals linked to a style quiz on Home Goods website not too long ago.  I was excited to take it, and then I went to the home page and realized I wasn’t going to learn a whole lot.  Don’t get me wrong, the quiz is very well done, and I recommend it to everyone.  On the first page, it describes Deborah Needleman’s style as “Bohemian Classic.”  Of course, I knew that would be my style as well, and sure enough, right down the line, it was.  What I need to do is narrow it down much further than just a general style. 

So today, I am going to think while I’m gardening.  And I’m going to stop worrying about what color to paint that shelf that I probably won’t keep anyway and I’m going to try to make up a solid, specific style foundation for our house and then start from that foundation instead of working backwards and starting with individual pieces like I have always had a tendency to do.  

(I know: lots of words + only one picture = not cool.  Please forgive me, I’ll make up for it next time.)

So go take that quiz! 
Did you already know what the answer would be?
Do you need to refine it even more?
Does your house really reflect your personal style?