What good timing. The second photo was just the inspiration I needed to decide between green/goldish tan LR wall color. I have that sofa color on the walls now. I like it much better on the upholstery! (The green will go in the home office that I'm making in DD's BR). Thank you so very much.

I saved lots of these, & found plenty of common denominators, this is extremely helpful when trying to nail down a particular look or style. I found I like symmetry, zebra/leopard patterns, quirky art. Nothing earth shattering, just a confirmation, and a push to find my own vision.

I did find myself distracted by the people or dogs in a couple of them, but rooms are so much more interesting when they are used.

I really appreciate the time you took to post these.

oceanna do you ever sleep? Saving things from various websites is one thing but I know at least SOME of what you post is scanned and that takes forever!!! I'm saving specific pictures that speak to me for my own inspiration file and direct links to your various gallery posts in my favorites (because I never know when my taste will change, you know?!), as well. Thanks for all your efforts!
Deb

Prairiegirlz5 -- I love the way you are using the photos. You're getting to know yourself and your own visions better through them. I like that you can like a color scheme and imagine how to apply the colors in different ways. I agree that having people in them was distracting to me too. I tried to avoid those but sometimes they were too pretty not to post.

Deb -- I wouldn't sleep if I could get away with it! lol I didn't scan anything; I found it all on the web. It takes me a couple of hours to get a file in shape, as I size all the pics, sharpen up those that need it, then rename them to help me keep them straight. Big long numerical names make me lose my place and keeping my place is a big challenge with this exercise. Then it takes me about 2+ hours per 100 to post them, depending on if my computer and ImageShack are behaving and if I make mistakes and have to go back and figure out what I did wrong and fix it. So I've got at least 6 hours in the living room thread so far, and that doesn't count the time it took to find and store the pics originally. I'm getting my technique pretty streamlined and that's helping.

You're all smart to save the ones you like the best, and that's a good point that our tastes do change over time. I think that's some of the problem I'm having with my own house... if I did it all over today I'd do it differently, but I still love my furniture pieces in the LR so I'm trying to figure out what to do. They are dark and formal and my tastes have lightened up to more cottagey. Today everything outside is blanketed in snow, though, and I'm wondering how cold I'd feel in a house that's heavy in white and summery decor. Does anyone else struggle with that?

Thanks for the wonder photo library! What a treasure for all of us!!

You are so thoughtful! (and talented too!)

Thanks, Teacats! I just want to do something back for all the nice people here.

You don't know how helpful all of your photos have been! Thanks!

Oh, that's great news, Sammie. Maybe one of these days you can show us a before and after? Which pictues did you like?

Thanks very much for providing such a great resource, Oceanna. When it comes to defining one's style, I think you might have put me in touch with a former life in #62, but this time at least it's more 70 and 77.

Thank you SO much, Oceanna!!! Exactly what I need!

You're all welcome! I'm glad you're seeing some things you like. I'm a bit intrigued with the unexpected use of color in some of the rooms. Anele -- very cool!

Rosie, interesting. #70 and #77 are quite different styles.

Oh, yes; my fancies range wide. Those two rooms are both casual and airy, though. Like the title of a book out now, at this stage of my life I want a barefoot house.

Barefoot house -- lol! I like the sound of that. But you wouldn't know it from my LR/DR. They're turning out to be quite formal, dictated by my furniture. sigh

Oceanna those photos are beautiful. Thanks so much. can you please tell me how to get to the good photo galleries by myself? When I first came to the site it was through the galleries and I found the forums by accident. Now I can not find my way back to the forums.

THANKS!!

Duhhh I meant to say:
When I first came to the site it was through the galleries and I found the forums by accident. Now I can find the forums fine but can't find my way back to the photo galleries.