I think that I'm like that, too. I love to look at other people's places that "pop" but then realize that I can't live in the space and feel relaxed.

For instance, I have a friend who loves flamingo pink with black and white. She also loves Mid-Century Modern. When I'm at her house, I love the looks that she's created, but I know that I can't live in it.

I find myself drawn to monotonal room design also. I like whites on creams with browns for accent. But, if I'm looking at wall art, I'm drawn to strong sunsets and vibrant colors.

You are not alone on this one. Although my house is filled with color, they are mostly the same throughout. If I had my druthers, I would have cream, beige and white every where!

dawn,

sounds like you and I think alike!

I had several monochromatic (for the most part) rooms in our last home (DD1's bedroom, powder room). I'm also drawn to creams, browns, deep jewel tones and stained wood. And bronze finishes. Pal told me I decorate monochromatical but with colors which (he said) is harder. I don't do anything on purpose, I just decorate what I like and where it looks good to me. ;D

Here is a link with newer photos our my mantel and the table next to FP. The items are all brown, but have varying textures (leather books, antlers, carved bone, wood carvings, etc).

I wouldn't want only cream, beige and brown everywhere - I do need color. But I also like to let the inside of our home blend in with woods and lake outside. So I don't try to make the interior too fussy, so that your eyes are still lead out to the views.

That said, I have had fun helping DD2 with her home. Two room redos are also in the link (Informal Picture Wall and My Daughter's Dining Room Redo). She's expecting mid-August and the nursery will be added soon. Lots of color there, but she kept it modern eclectic like the rest of her home.

Here is a link that might be useful: great room

Another one here with tonal decor -- that has been called very masculine or even club decor!

My two leather sofas are dark plum against crisp white walls. There is a dark green wingchair and a dark worn gold club chair by the bookcases. Dark tables and ORB lamps. Touches of brass and cream and black. An old portrait above the fireplaces with a gal dressed in cool green.

Especially in the hot weather -- I crave quiet and cool rooms. I do have an old RL comforter on the bed with its worn peachy orange tones and an old orange satin comforter folded at the bottom of the bed. A bit of easily changed seasonal color!

But I love looking at all of the bright colors in the magazines and in other folks' homes!

Just not here .... and yes ... I do shudder at the amount of money I have wasted on bright colors for this house!

Same thing: Jewel/deep colors, repeating throughout the room. The next room may be a completely different color, but same tone on tone rule. I have never been one for primary, secondary, and accent color decorating. That addition of the third color jars somehow.

I too made a conscious decision to keep our decor and furnishings less arresting in order not to compete with the water views. In considering the other current thread about paint and contents based rooms I am wondering if designers would find rooms like mine disappointing/frustrating to work on.

I hear you! I like tonal decorating but I also love pops of color. My problem is that I can't decide between the two and I have a hard time committing one way or the other. I think it's easier to go tonal. With pops of color, it's a little harder to balance. You have to make that visual triangle and even then, if the color is wrong it still won't work.

I'm glad I'm not the only one. I've been thinking and reading more posts, and I realized the colors I love are everywhere in my life--cars, art, clothing. My favorite color is green, thus the olive green walls and two green vehicles. My favorite artist, Waterhouse, paints in deep rich tones.

Kees Lover - your friend's decor is the type I would also admire but would drive me nuts in my home. My failed turquoise experiment was enough to tell me I can't live with that kind of contrast or bright color.

ellendi - I hear you! Substitute green for white and brown for beige and you've got my house. LOL

gracie01 - Thank you! It's good to know I'm not alone :-).

Allison - What a beautiful room, and I love what you've done with your daughter's house! I've discovered if I try to decorate on purpose, I fail. If I go with what I love, it works. I always had a style visitors commented favorably on, and then last year I started trying too hard and ended up with a bunch of stuff that wasn't right. It was a costly mistake and I won't do it again, at least not on that scale.

teacats - I'm drooling at the thought of dark plum leather. You're speaking my language :-D. It's hot here, pretty much most of the year, so I too crave cool decor.

dainaddele - Yes, the third color is what bothers me, too. One color in various tones (in my case, green) and then neutrals of brown and cream and black as accents.

sis3 - I wouldn't want to compete with water views, either. I think in that case I'd probably stick with very muted tones and not even go as dark as I have, though the green color on my walls tends to make them disappear next to a window. When the curtains are open, it looks like the trees and greenery outside are inside. That's probably what you're going for with the water. I know my neighbor, who is a decorator, finds my style very frustrating. I've had the same taste since I was a child. My childhood bedroom was green, cream, and white and my teen bedroom was dark green, cream and brown.

regina - I agree, it's easier to go tonal. With my decor, if I find an accessory I love and it's in the right tones of green (more yellow, less blue), I can just buy it and it will fit right in. I had a heck of a time trying to integrate turquoise and red--in fact, I failed miserably.

I haven't done it - yet - but I completely fell in love with a French apartment in a magazine, done en camaieu. In art, and in decorating as well I suppose, a work of art en camaieu is one in which two or maybe three tones of a color are used. Grisaille is camaieu with greys, but the apartment was all golds and variants -- creams, yellows and so on. Just stunning. Camaieu in those colors is en cirage I believe. Although I can't remember any more whether the "en" is correct. Quite beautiful regardless.

i like tonal schemes especially when there's lots and lots of texture....for me, the texture seems to help make up for the lack of color.