I usually start with something I love....a heavily knotted grass cloth in a warm color....then I find a piece of furniture that fits the function of the room and use that as my anchor.....build around that. Or if the room has a fireplace....that will be your focal point. Then what one chair do you love....buy 2...or benches with scrolls....to place next to the fireplace....

It's all building blocks...

Oh wow, I just read through the "Decorating Treadmill" thread and I don't feel so alone now!!!!! Lots of great pointers in that thread!!! I find myself envious of my 12 year old daughter who lives in a bedroom painted w/ fuschia, chartreuse and bright blue stripes on the walls and has a purple satin bedspread and loves it all!!!! The room totally represents her personality and she didn't care about trends or what colors went together...she just chose colors and things that she loved. Of course, I wouldn't want to live in a space that looks like it was decorated by a tween who loved every bright neon color in the crayon box....but..oh, to be so free again!

Nicole, I wish I had fireplaces in these rooms!! We have "holes" from where the flues ran, this house had woodstoves at one time providing heat to all the rooms. Currently the flue holes are covered over with what look like painted paper plates (but in reality are painted tin). I have a loveseat, but would like to slipcover it. The dresser is inherited from my grandmother and it's a bit modern for my taste..I'd like to paint it, and perhaps change the style a little bit with moldings and bun feet. I have a black steamer trunk that is about the only thing that I don't want to change. I'd have to say the focal point in the sitting room is the 46 inch flatscreen tv, and my husband would give ME up before giving that up! lol!

Any pics of the room your starting with????? and a sense of what your style is...

If you can't find a color scheme you like, maybe it's time to give your eye a rest. Paint the walls white or cream and let your eye absorb the shape of the room with your existing pieces for a while. The white/cream can act as a primer for whatever color you choose in the future. Maybe the mint green is giving you decorating nausea...LOL!

An excellent point above -- perhaps painting the rooms in a simple neutral color -- for example Benjamin Moore "Linen White" might be the answer for now.

Since you love your black-painted trunk -- consider painting the dresser in black with distressed edges -- and yes -- changing the hardware and feet can make a huge change! :) Then add some more black accents around the rooms ...

Let us know which decor schemes or colors you HAVE tried ... and let us know why those ones don't work here ...

Keep checking out home decor books, magazines -- and around the blogosphere.

Yes indeed -- PLEASE post lots of photos -- always helpful! :) And I'd love to see photos of your home -- sounds fascinating! :)

Here is a link to my photo album..it's a facebook album, but it is completely open for public viewing. It actually pretty much photodocuments the entire process so far, from first viewing the house, in all it's Brady Bunch style decor to transitioning to a place that we are able to start feeling at home in. Please keep in mind, we've got a long way to go!!!

And, just for a quick reference..here's a picture of the sitting room... In this picture, the carpeting had just been ripped up and the floor hadn't been sanded yet. Now it's sanded, but awaiting it's finishing. (another decision that I can't quite seem to make! Hubby and I are at odds..he's a "poly" kind of guy and I'm a "no freaking way am I putting poly on antique hardwood floor" kind of gal!)

I actually did buy paint today..I figured what the heck, it's just paint, and I was desperate to get rid of the mint green as well as cover up the lead paint. The paint that I bought is a med-dark sage green... I figure while I work things out in my head at least it will go with the fabric on the couch.

I'd forget my head if it weren't attached to my body! Here's the link to my photo album.

Here is a link that might be useful: my home, it's a work in progress!

When I look at people's photobucket images, they are TINY. I don't see anywhere to click to enlarge, etc. - is there? I can zoom in with my monitor, but not ideal, as when I return to text, the text is huge.

Oh geeze..that was the wrong photo album!!!!!!

That's my hodgepodge photobucket album.

Here is a link that might be useful: THIS IS THE RIGHT ALBUM!

gwbr54....What happens when you just click on the pic in the photobucket ?

Can't see your album, it says it is currently unavailable

hmmm...let me check my facebook settings..sorry!

Ok..fixed it, somehow my settings got changed...

Here is a link that might be useful: my house

(OT) Thanks, forboystoo -- when I click, it does enlarge, but only to about 2-in. x 3-in. Is that as good as it gets?

On this thread, moot now, as I do see good size photos from OP's facebook page.

Wow - looked at your photos -- what an achievement! You have made some amazing transformations to that house! There's always Sarah's House for inspiration. I love the multi-color, multi-pattern look of the master bedroom, and also the red and pale blue floral look of a guest bedroom.

Since you mention birdwatching, maybe a fabric with birds, or artwork of birds on telephone wire. For a complete color change, maybe periwinkle blue and white -- I don't see much of that in your home's color palette.

Here is a link that might be useful: sarah's farm house

Thanks gwbr54! It's been a labor of love...and we only moved in at the end of August, so I think we're moving along pretty rapidly. We got lucky in that the house is structurally sound and other than the decorating done in the 70's...it had pretty much been untouched, other than maintenance. The people who lived here before us were here for over 60 years, and then the house sat vacant for 2 years (but the son came EVERY SINGLE DAY) to do maintenance (yard and house). That family loved this house so much and I feel lucky that they allowed us to purchase it. (seriously, I had to write a letter with our offer to purchase..stating why I wanted to buy the house and that we would be "good stewards" of the land!!) They had turned down numerous offers, but accepted our offer (even though our offer was lower than other offers!).

I have watched Sarah's farm house (I really enjoyed the show) and hadn't even thought of going to the website, thank you for the link!

And, I love the idea of incorporating my love of birds into the decor. My long term plan for the sunporch off my bedroom is to turn it into my birdwatching porch!

My son had the majority of his home painted Taupe w/white trim and it was beautiful! Any color can be used as an accent, but I prefer a shade of blue. However, since you have a historic home, black trim might look spectacular, if you're up for it, or a few black accents, such as lamp shades.

Here's a site that might offer some inspiration. Paint can be a difficult decision, good luck. ;o)

Here is a link that might be useful: taupe room

Patty_cakes, I debated doing the trim in black, but instead went with a nice clean glossy white. I do love black though, so I painted my staircase and foyer in the black and I absolutely love it! I'm leaning towards the idea of painting the bedroom and sitting room furniture black (with crystal knobs..for a little "bling") I adore taupe, and I could easily have painted my whole house in taupe but I am trying to break out of my "taupe shell". I'm halfway through painting the sitting room right now (dark sagey green) and at first I thought it was too dark, but now I'm feeling all cozy in here..and the white trim makes the green pop. I need to find a fabric or drapes for the windows...and definitely need new accessories.

My kitchen looks like the Cracker Barrel decorator threw up in there, but it's appropriate for a farm house kitchen and everyone that comes in loves it. I really do want a warm cozy feel for the sitting room and bedroom..but I also want it fresh..maybe not so down-home country (definitely no roosters! lol!) I want to break out of my rut a little...but still stay in my comfort zone also so as not to have the rooms look like they belong in someone else's house! Oh the decisions to make..LOL!

If anyone has any suggestions for fabric or drapes for dark sage green walls, that will also maybe bring in blues, reds and golds please share with me, it also needs to go well with bright white trim and black furniture, please share with me!

I don't have any suggestions, but am really impressed with what you have done in such a short time. Can't wait to see the summer kitchen transformation--love your inspiration picture.

Can you tell me the color/brand paint you used in the blue bathroom--really like the bathroom re-do and the color. TIA

Liz

lizbeth-gardener, the blue bathroom is actually done in a textured wallpaper... The paint was peeling, so I scraped all of the loose paint off and chose to use a thick textured paper. (and the wallpaper is also paintable if I decide to change the color in the future) I love how it turned out, and I love the texture on the wall....it's something different than the plaster texture and beadboard that is so prevalent in this house. I purchased it at Lowe's (on clearance, 13.00 a roll for a double roll, the bathroom was done with a total of 4 rolls..wow, what a deal!) I also took a piece of the wallpaper back up to Lowe's to get it color matched for the areas that couldn't be papered (like the exposed plumbing pipe).

Jiggreen,

Wow! I would not have guessed it was paper. Sounds like a great solution for uneven walls and paintable too--that would be a real plus!

If you happen to have the formula on the can from the color match, I would love to have it, but understand if you don't. Some places put it on and some don't.

Liz

Here's a thought. Since you like country decorating, what about getting a braided rug for the sitting room in several colors and chose colors from it to paint the walls and accessorize?

Love your house!

Thanks oakleyok, we love it too (although I do admit to having MAJOR buyer's remorse the first few weeks, LOL! I've since fallen in love with it, thank goodness!) I think a braided rug is a great idea, and I have a local store that has a wonderful selection and great prices(the little rugs on the stair treads only cost me 4.99 per tread!) I might pop on up there later on today to see what they currently have.

lizbeth-gardener, I was thinking along the same lines as you! I looked around last night for the little jar of paint to see if they put the "recipe" code on the top, but I must have put it somewhere REALLY, REALLY safe (LOL!)... I think it might be in the garage though, I'll check when I go out later. If I can't find the jar of paint, I'd be more than happy to send you a scrap of the wallpaper.