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Home Decorating

I've been 'decatur buffed'....our living room photos....

14 years ago

Many thanks to 'peytonroad', eagertopaint', 'dawn t', and 'newhomebuilder' for the suggestions and inspirational photos in answer to my quest for a rich golden color for our living/dining/foyer areas. I'm confident in my individual decorating style, but cannot pick a paint color to save my life, probably why I usually opt out for wallpaper.

We live in a 1989 California cookie-cutter tract house in a fabulous ocean-close location between LA and San Diego, and, after being here for ten years, have done some deferred maintenance, updating, and remodeling. We're thrilled with every aspect of the finished product and credit GW for our paint success.

Since I can't decide which photos to post, I'll include them all. My only hesitation is that the color looks a bit green in the photos and so much better in person. It's warm, rich, golden, traditional, and sets off our decor perfectly.

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Comments (20)

patty_cakes
14 years ago
Begoniagirl, you have a gorgeous home, and have done a fantastic job of decorating it! A professional decorator could not have done any better. The color enhances your beautiful furnishings quite well, giving off a golder glow. Absolutely lovely. ;o)
deeinohio
14 years ago
Beautiful! And, a fellow Roseville lover. I especially like that you actually use yours.
Dee
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Thanks to all of you who posted the great suggestions! 1. The walls actually have more color than it appears in the photo. They are painted in Glidden/ICI Seed Pearl, a light cream without too much yellow. I do, however, agree with the recommendation that the area should be repainted in a warmer color. 2. Oh, yes, the light fixture - now it all comes back to me! Originally, it was installed at the typical 40 inches above the table. Later, another decorator said it should be moved up to 50 inches. She did not like the way it hung down in front of the hutch or the way it looked hanging below the arch in the opening. She thought that raising and framing it with the wall accent that reflected the arch transom design on the adjacent window wall would serve to balance the effect of the 12-foot ceiling soaring above the furniture. Obviously, it was not a good solution. If I lower the light fixture, then adding accents on top of the hutch should help to balance it. 3. Yes. I should install a window treatment. It does look barren with just the plantation shutters. 4. I not fond of the furniture. My DH of 23 years purchased it prior to "us." Nostalgia for his family's summer house in CT influenced his choice. Oh, I would love to replace it, but that's not happening. 5. Due to some of the comments about rearranging the furniture, I realized that I need to post some new photos to better represent the room layout. There are only two full walls. The space is open (except for wall arches) to the foyer and to the living room. 6. I like the idea of finding upholstered chairs to place at the table ends. The existing armchairs will fit on the angled walls of the arch columns and I agree that it will add some needed weight over there. 7. I will definitely remove one of the palms... or both, and start looking for art. I don't think that a serving cart or accent table would work by the hutch. I would be reluctant to add any more furniture to that wall. 8. About the rug - we are probably going to move in a couple of years, so I would prefer to minimize investment. On the other hand, I'm sure that it would warm it up and anchor the furnishings. I take some new photos to post. I appreciate your help.
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redbazel
14 years ago
Gorgeous! That's how gold should look. Pretty, pretty, home!

Red
User
14 years ago
So, so pretty. I saw pic #2 you posted the other week and was drooling then thinking 'beautiful home'!

I really love the color.
anele_gw
14 years ago
Oh, I LOVE it! You have somehow managed to make your home completely elegant while also making it a welcoming sanctuary. I think this is probably one of the hardest things to do in decorating!

I am going to study your pictures to see how you were able to use your multitude of wall decor without it having a "too busy" feeling. Absolutely charming. You have such an amazing style.
anele_gw
14 years ago
I want to add, I don't usually like the popular "open floor" concept because I haven't understood how to make it have that vintage/cozy feeling, but looking at your home, you've managed a sort of English manor look that completely works.
loribee
14 years ago
Wow...truly lovely!
jjam
14 years ago
What a beautiful home you have. The color is perfect. Thanks for sharing your photos. They are inspiration pics for me and many others, I'm sure.
msrose
14 years ago
I just love Decatur Buff! It always looks goldish yellow in the pictures I see, but I remember someone saying it didn't actually look that color when they painted their walls. Are the picture above pretty true to color? It just looks so warm and welcoming.

Laurie
DLM2000-GW
14 years ago
I should be so 'buffed' ;-)

Beautiful home, wonderful pieces.
mzdee
14 years ago
I LOVE LOVE LOVE that staircase! And you have some absolutely drool worthy pieces of furniture. Your home is beautiful.
Oakley
14 years ago
First, I need you to get over to the African Violet topic to answer my question. :)

Can I move in with you? lol. Your walls are stunning and I'm in love with the "pumpkin" color in your MB.

I'm not sure if you answered this before, but what style would you call your decorating? Is it Traditional? It looks like you have a lot of old pieces along with new. Whaver it is, you have tremendous taste!
Kathleen McGuire
14 years ago
Beautiful in every aspect! It looks like a victorian bed and breakfast. Southern CA near the ocean? I'd love to make a reservation!
sherwoodva
14 years ago
Begoniagirl, I love it. The color, your furniture, your style. Your house is amazing. I agree with anele, you have managed to make the open floor plan look very traditional and cozy. I'm glad you hung so many pictures. Our house is like that (but not as pretty as yours) and I was starting to wonder about all the homes that have nothing on the walls. I am drooling over the furniture, too. Are the wooden pieces antiques?

Thank you for posting. You should be a professional decorator; you have great taste.
mahatmacat1
14 years ago
Completely fabulous. So much to love in it, including that there is so much of you in it! The color works perfectly, I agree. Anele's comments are mine, pretty much. LOVE how the firebox line echoes the frame line of pieces above it...I'd pay for a house tour just to be able to look at your artwork. This is an *instructional* decor. Thank you so much for posting it.
patty_cakes
14 years ago
I forgot to mention that I love your obvious 'more is more' thinking. I sometimes feel i'm over accessorized or over-the-top, but that's *my* comfort zone. Too much of a good thing *is* a good thing. ;o)
tracey_b
14 years ago
The color looks great! I'm wanting a similar color for the main rooms in our new house, and Decatur Buff is on my list to check out.

What is the lovely color of your master bath? I'm wanting a "pumpkin-ish" color in my kitchen. Do you think that color goes well with D. Buff?

Thanks.
tracey_b
14 years ago
:-) Never mind. I found the post about the color: BM Greenfield Pumpkin.
haley_comet
14 years ago
Very very beautiful! I too 'decatur buffed' my LR and it is a great easy to coordinate color.

Super beautiful home.

Haley
livvyandbella
14 years ago
WOW!! Your home is beautiful. You have done an amazing job with it.

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