Alas. I am busy as a bee, and I simply had to take this week off. BUT, since I pretty much ADORE my friends here at FHD, I can’t leave you without some fun design inspiration for a whole week, sooo, each day this week you will get an oldy but goodie post.

Today’s oldie-but-goodie gives you the scoop on:

why Ditto -ing a room is so valuable!

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Vision :: Define the Details with a Ditto

{The post below is a repost, from my earlier days of FHD bloggin’! But the interior design advice rings true! Enjoy… and chime in!}

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This week, I am doing a series on how to create vision for your home by defining your personal style.
You can check out the previous posts by clicking on the links below:
Monday: “vision :: what do you love?”
Tuesday: “vision :: pretty as a picture”
Wednesday: “vision :: words of reason”
{I would still love to know what style-words you picked for your home… leave them in a comment on Wednesday’s post!}

On Tuesday, we talked about taking an interiors image from online or a magazine, and using it to start defining your personal style. Our goal was to compare the pictures in groups, looking for commonality, and then getting a big-picture idea of what you love; of what the general theme of your personal style is.

Today, I want to talk about looking for details, as opposed to commonality. That brings me to one of my favorite pastimes:
“Ditto-ing” a picture.

If you have been reading Fieldstone Hill for even a tiny little while, you know that my feature posts are called “dittos.” I analyze a space, pouring over the tiniest detail, and then I determine what it is that I specifically love about it. This is where I always discover that it is in “the details in a room” that good design is born.

Today, I want to encourage you to do the same thing. Take one of your absolute favorite images, and dive into every detail, every color, ever furniture shape, every choice, every accessory, every practical touch… and make a list of what you would steal from that space. Need inspiration? Click here to read my ditto posts.
Interestingly enough, I find that this process does not lead me to copy a design. In fact, it is rare that I even use more than two ideas from any one image in the same space. For example, if I were working on a dining room… I would likely end up with a combination of my own ideas, a smattering of what is actually available to purchase, and I would use a few “ditto” ideas from several different images {from pictures of a variety of spaces.. from kitchens to patios}.

So, go ahead. Analyze the details of a space to your heart’s content. Decide what it is you love about another person’s design.

And take confidence in the fact that even famous artists{like Matisse, for example} did exactly the same thing. It is an expected part of an artists’ training to “copy” from the Masters!

{Henri Matisse. Woman with a Hat}

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Get your inner-artist-in-training ready, and be here, at Fieldstone Hill, every Monday for your regular dose of designer Ditto -ing!

And veteran FHD readers, can you remember a favorite ditto of yours? Or how about this: share something you ditto -ed in your own home!

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Starting today, One Kings Lane is launching multiple sales on the most adorable must haves for your kids and your travelling needs! If you’re new to One Kings Lane, sign up today and get a $15 credit for purchases of $30 or more.

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 Don’t miss a single post from Fieldstone Hill Design! You can have every post delivered directly to your inbox. It is free, and your email is never used for another purpose.

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{This post contains affiliate links. When you make a purchase via FHD’s links, you are helping to support this site! Thank you!}

Vision ::  Style Words

{Long time readers of FHD will recognize this post. But the question is, Have you picked YOUR style words yet??}

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In defining what we love, and creating a vision of personal style, vocabulary is so important.

If we can find the words to describe what it is we love,

1. we can communicate that to others, and

2. we can remind ourselves of our goals as our spaces evolve.

In my first post on this topic, I encouraged you to try to NOT use design words to define your style {words such as: “eclectic” or “country” or “traditional” or “minimalist” or “coastal” or “modern”}.

Instead, today, I am going to encourage you to try to find your style words by using regular adjectives or descriptive words that appeal to you on these levels:

These words should describe:

1. How you want your home to feel
2. How you want your home to look, and
3. The purpose you want your home to serve.

{Sound familiar? It is the same basic list to the one that I shared in this post on how one begins refining your personal style.}

Sooooo, Homework time!:

One.

take out your design style notebook and jot down the first words that come to mind in reference to the above list of 3 criteria.

Two.

After you have written down all of the words that you first think of, refer to the list below, and see if any of these additional words help you to refine your vision.

Three.

Final step?  Think on it, and then, narrow it down to five or so words that best describe what you want from your home.

More Descriptive Words:  {this list is certainly not exhaustive. In addition, why not take a thesaurus and try to nail down the perfect words for your own personal style?}

playful,  vibrant, classic, comfortable,  lush,  fresh,  flowing,  rich,  bold,  energetic,  peaceful,  serene,  elegant,  simple,  conservative, interesting, adventurous, unpretentious, unexpected,  order,  neutral,  textured,  showy,  artsy, funky, flashy,  glamourous,  regal, effortless, timeworn, spacious, formal, informal, bare, unique, creative, musical, sophisticated, wild,  daring,  fun, artistic, hospitable, welcoming, charming, uncluttered,  warm, hip, crisp, airy, breathable, bare, edgy, industrial, breathes,  minimal,  reserved,  homey, sentimental, inviting, ordered, natural, modern, unexpected, soothing, earthy,  cool,  cozy,  earthy, quality, sparse, storied, refined, lux, purposeful, kid-friendly,  rustic, vintage, relaxing, light, firey,  exciting,  calm,  open,  colorful,  free,  comforting, sumptuous, light-hearted, organized, colorful, gutsy,  posh,  plush,  proper, imperfect, beautiful, etc.

Here is my own personal list. I use it whenever I make a design decision for my own home.  This keeps me in check for my overall vision for our home, and it is especially helpful when trying to make purchase decisions:

{darlene}’s words of personal style:

The starred choices above are the three that I have memorized, and “take with me” in my mind – especially when I am purchasing for my home. I also try to keep the whole list in mind. This way, when making decisions or purchases, I can ask myself: “Is it elegant? simple? will it add a touch of glamour or a touch of simplicity? will it help my space to breathe? will it help me unclutter?”

What is on your personal style word list??

Don’t worry if you think that your home does not currently fit into the description that these words offer. In time, as you keep these words of design reason in mind, you will slowly be able to turn your home into a place that you love, where everything serves the purpose of your home and family.



I would love to know your word list. Whenever you come up with it, come back to this post, and share it here in the comments!

{pic. via Jones Design Company }

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SO. I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to hear your design words. If you have never shared them with me before, I hope you will in the comments below.

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Have you signed up to One Kings Lane yet? I LOVE the prices they have on gorgeous decor.

Click below to check out today’s great find!

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Also, shop at some of my favorite stores for interior design!!:

 Don’t miss a single post from Fieldstone Hill Design! You can have every post delivered directly to your inbox. It is free, and your email is never used for another purpose.

If the subscribe box does not work click here to go to the Fieldstone Hill Design page and submit in the right sidebar.

{This post contains affiliate links. When you make a purchase via FHD’s links, you are helping to support this site! Thank you!}

glossy red lipstick.

shiny red cars.

The color of gutsi-ness.

In the name of all things gutsy, let’s feast on some glossy red, shall we?

Are you seeing Red?

Any plans on incorporating gutsy red into your decor? Do tell!!

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Layla Grace, one of my favorite places to recommend furnishings to clients, is offering an amazing site-wide 15% off through the end of October. Don’t miss out!!!! Enter the code below at checkout.

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 Don’t miss a single post from Fieldstone Hill Design! You can have every post delivered directly to your inbox. It is free, and your email is never used for another purpose.

If the subscribe box does not work click here to go to the Fieldstone Hill Design page and submit in the right sidebar.

{This post contains affiliate links. Thanks for reading and supporting FHD!}

. . .

Your inner gutsy decorator.

{image via Decorating Myself}

Have you ever looked at a woman wearing a bold, fantastic necklace and said/thought, “That necklace is SO fantastic, but I could NEVER get away with it. But it looks great on you!!”

I am here to tell you that that is absolutely, positively NOT true.

The only reason why your friend looks so stunning in that gorgeous necklace is that she had the guts to wear it and believe in its beauty.  She has no secret formula to looking good in bold necklaces, but she simply has the guts to put it on and be fabulous in it.

The SAME concept is true for decorating. Look at the room below.

{image via Fieldstone Hill Design}

This amazing client of mine has no secret formula for her fabulous spaces, other than the fact that she has the guts to take chances and use things that she simply LOVES in her space. She had the guts. And then she went for it!!

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So, how do YOU get these “guts?”

Oh, they are available to everyone!…..

Read the rest of this post over at Candace Cameron Bure’s Roomag today.

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Layla Grace, one of my favorite places to recommend furnishings to clients, is offering an amazing site-wide 15% off through the end of October. Don’t miss out!!!! Enter the code below at checkout.

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 Don’t miss a single post from Fieldstone Hill Design! You can have every post delivered directly to your inbox. It is free, and your email is never used for another purpose.

If the subscribe box does not work click here to go to the Fieldstone Hill Design page and submit in the right sidebar.

{This post contains affiliate links. Thanks for reading and supporting FHD!}