My one best friend is an artist and would rather spend that time painting than shopping. My other best friend is a teacher and works when I want to shop. I have sisters and SIL's that would be great fun to shop with, but they all live in other states. Like the rest of you, it seems, that's why I love this forum so much.

Jan, I can't imagine how anyone could criticize your beautiful home . . . I love it!
Lynn

I think we all come on here because we love interior design and not everyone gets that.

I'm with you Lynn on Jan's house, it's pretty.

I can't remember what you said Lynn about coming on here one time, it was beautiful and I'm not even going to try and quote you. But it said something like we were like artists that loved to get together and talk about art, I wish I could remember, it was so fitting.

Now I am off to pick up a table from craigslist. I need it like another hole in the head, but it's the right one.

.....Jane

No, I too live in a rural area.... and my family thinks it is ridiculous that I work on my house so much. If anyone lives in the KC area I would love a deco buddy!!!!!
~Des

One of my best friends is into decor too, so we do enjoy shopping together. My husband is also good to shop with me for some things for the house, not so much decor, but more in line with a project, etc. and he really enjoys antiquing and finding things for the house, so he and I do that alot together.

But really, I usually know what I want, and am happy shopping by myself too.

tina

My Mom and then my daughter used to be my decor shopping buddies, but Mom has been gone for over fifteen years now and our daughter lives in Northern Cali, we live in eastern Nebraska, so I'm with those of you that don't have anyone to home decor shop with.
I'm with Lynn about Jan's home. Makes you wonder what their tastes are, huh?

No one here either. My beautiful sister Robin likes to go antiquing when she visits, but that is it. And Jan, I WOULD believe what unkind people say/think about your house because we have heard it too. We love the personality of our house and that's what matters.
Diane

I guess I should feel fortunate since I have 2! One is my very best friend of 40+ years who lives in Il~most of our decorating is done on the phone. LOL Still, I feel fortunate to have someone to bounce ideas off, and call when I get something new, change things around, or paint. The other person is my DD's MIL. Short story~~when DD/DH moved to Austin, 'the Moms' moved too. We all live a few house from one another. We both have an interest in decorating and have shared many a 'shopping experience'. Neither one of us like to shop for clothes, so there's never 'that' waste of time. LOL Antique stores are big on our list, as are thrift, consignment, and discount stores. We also live alone, so never have to hurry home. It's a good thing! ;o)

Well I am glad I am not alone.All your experiences sound familiar. I Live in Maine and am looking for a buddy if there is anybody out there. thanks Jenny

You guys are my decorating buddies!
A friend and I love to go spend a day at the Crumpton Auction on the Eastern Shore and poke around for vintage bargains, we are perfect pickers together- but we have been crazy busy at work yes we work together- it is only open on Wednesdays and havent had a chance to go this summer- we fill my van- and I do mean fill,stack,shove,cram, and wrestle stuff up to the head liner-.We barely have room for us!
I am happy to go goodwill hunting and yard saling by myself- I kinda get in the groove.

Jan- I can't believe someone would say that about your home! sheesh. some people are just rude and have no taste. One of my friends told me I had enough furniture and I should stop looking! wth? She has had the same exact furniture and wall color in the 20+ years I have known her- so she gets a pass- she just doesnt understand..

Jan in WI I'm not sure where you are but I am in MN close to the Hudson WI area. I'd love a buddy if we are close enough. I lurk constantly but can't figure out how to post pictures - so I only comment occasionally. I have no decorating talent and i seem to love very different things that don't always work together. I've learned so much from watching this forum and am amazed at the homes.

This is kind of sad, yet heartwarming. Interesting that so few of us have decorating buddies -- myself included :-( But beautiful that so many people said this community is where their buddies are. Even though I tend to be more of a lurker around here, I always know where to go when I want a true opinion, idea or advice. And to have it be a place where you generally aren't judged poorly for "weird ideas"....priceless!

I don't know anyone interested in decorating the way I am.
Not a soul who feels the pull of a Homegoods in every city....who loves the new fall Pottery Barn Catalog, decorating magazines...
That's why I come here too!

I feel so lucky to have so many decorating buddies at work. There are a bunch of us that love to talk about decorating and then there are a bunch that think we are crazy for being so obsessed about it.

I have one friend who was on Sweat Equity tonight (she was so fabulous) and when I sent out an email telling our other coworkers to watch it you wouldn't believe how many people said they didn't have cable. My response was "How do you watch home improvement shows?" A few said, "I am have never seen one." !? I can't even imagine how much extra time I would have if I didn't have watch decorating shows, talk about decorating or read decorating books or magazines.

No, no, sniff, sniff, no! And I'm in DFW; you'd think I could find a buddy out there in the millions of people who live here! Occasionally I'll meet someone who's interested but not to the extent I am. If I had the time: I could watch decorating shows all day, spend days on the internet looking at pictures or reading blogs, visit every home shop in the metroplex, etc..... I guess that's why I enjoy reading posts here!

Kiko, you need to take a road trip down to Austin! Great antique/consignment/thrift/home stores as well as fancy-smancy decorating boutiques. Don't have a husband or significant other to hold me back, either. LOL Prices *could* be lower than Dallas, also. ;o)

No, another 'Billy No (Decorating) Mates' here! Oops sorry, that is an English expression! All my friends have other interests. Although he really tries my DH's eyes glaze over when I talk room planning or color, and I see the fear in his eyes if he thinks I am heading towards asking his opinion!

One of my many sisters is my decorating buddy. She has a great eye; one of those people whose home is filled with unique items that she picks up wherever and whenever, and which looks smashing put together.

She gives me good ideas and we occasionally (not often enough) go decor shopping together. I love it, she's really the only person in my Real Life who shares my interest in and passion for home decorating.

Ann

Another rural poster with no decorating buddy. DH is excellent to help and an awesome carpenter, but not really a decorating buddy. That is why I am so glad I found this place where real people solve decorating challenges and enjoy it as much as I do.

My friend at work is my decorating buddy. She's got a great eye for what works and is very candid with me. It's great to hear honest opinions instead of "Oh, that sounds nice" or the glazed over look. We visit Homegoods on a weekly basis and go fabric/furniture/antique shopping all the time. It's wonderful. However, she's planning on retiring soon and moving out of the country. And there's no one else who understands or is interested in home decorating. :-( I need a replacement buddy in central NJ.

Maybe we should start another thread where people can post their location and make connections here to hook up with a "decorating buddy".

Jan

I also have a bunch of neighbor decorating buddies because my neighborhood's houses were all built in the eighties and need updating. You have the original owners that want to make changes; new young families that are making changes because they got such a great deal on their house because it was so out of date; and owners that want to update so they can sell quickly. It is fun to work with your neighbors because many of the house styles are pretty similar. I found my contractor by six different references on my block and accross the street.

Good idea, Jan. I am in MN. Let's go shopping this afternoon.

I did, when I lived in MA I had a great friend who had very similar taste and we loved to go shopping and sharing decorating ideas and recipes and everything.

She was killed a few weeks ago. I miss her so much.

Even though we lived 6 hours apart now, it never changed. When I moved away I asked her if I could get the name of the paint in her bathroom, and if she'd mind if I got the same shower curtain...she said sure...it's not like we were in the same state.... so I never got around to it, as my room is last of all to be worked on....i only just painted my bedroom after 5 years, so haven't gotten to the bathroom yet! So i was thinking I really wanted to get to this bathroom now, after the tragedy, and a week after her funeral was in Goodwill, just browsing, and don't you EVEN know it? The shower curtain was there...perfect condition! Is that unbelievable? I just started crying right there. Obviously...she is still my decorating buddy.

Ohhh laurenk88, i'm so (((sorry))). She's still helping you out 'from a distance'. Don't ever forget the times you shared together and the fun you had saying, 'look at this'!!?? ;o)

Lauren,
I am soo sorry to hear of your loss. I think it would be a great idea Jan to start a new thread. And by the way we are having a barbacue next week and your WHOLE family is invited. Jenny

laurenk88- Thank you- I like to thrift shop, too, and that's a sweet story I won't forget. I'm sorry you lost your dear friend.

I don't have friends much into interiors either- not even the artsy ones...I don't get that. When friends have a home project, I get to weigh-in...and I'm always more excited about their project than they are. So starved am I.

Here....it's interesting and fun to read and see what's going on in "real" unstaged homes, and fun to consider options for homes often much different from mine.

Recently, because of this forum, I've noticed a budding idea to paint one of my rooms a "rosy clay pot" color...and I did NOT see that coming. : )

I'm so sorry, Laurenk88

No but I wish that I did! My good friend and I have very different taste when it comes to decorating, plus my kids are in school so I can shop, shop, shop but her's are still little.

So sorry Laurenk88, I know what it's like to lose a good friend.

Oh (((Lauren)))..I just opened this thread...I'm so sorry to hear about your friend; it sounds horrific. Maybe the shower curtain is her way of letting you know that it's o.k. for her now and you can focus on the happiness you all shared. I'm crying just thinking of you in g'will...

I definitely get jealous of the ladies who walk around g'will together and shop; wish I had someone to do that with. DD has a great eye but she zips through, deposits stuff in my cart, and then heads off to read on a sofa. Someone in this area who would be my decorating buddy would have to be able to tolerate g'will on a regular basis. I did meet someone a couple of weeks ago who sold me a vase by a really well-regarded local potter that she'd found at GW. Her house is exactly like mine, *oddly* exactly...she's the only other person who has as much modern, odd art on every single vertical and horizontal surface possible as I do. And we both walk very seriously, miles and miles. Turns out we freqent the same GWs but if we went I know we'd be racing each other to all the same pieces...so we're *too* alike to be shopping buddies, I fear. My buddy would have to be someone who would respect and understand my style (as I would respect and understand hers) but not beat me to all the great mid-century pottery and glass!

I have my mother now and we have great fun goodwill shopping :) I have lived far away for so long it's fun to finally get to do things like this with her.

Mind you, when I tell her what I'm going to do she normally gives me a blank look that hovers between "are you freaking nuts" or "I don't have a clue what you mean" but she goes along anyhoo for the ride and always likes it at the end :)

Lauren gives a great example of holding tight to those we love. You never know when you're going to lose them sadly. My mother will probably outlive me, but still, it's wonderful to have the time with her I didn't have earlier in life. Lauren I'm glad you were blessed with your friendship and sorry you lost it so tragically!

Thanks Guys! This has really been an awful month!!!

Flyleft, I wish I had someone here to got to goodwill with too! My mom loves the idea of thrift shopping, but the smell bothers her too much. If I find things for her, she's always like 'it's lovely, how pretty, she'll sit it out...THEN if I mention it came from Goodwill or Salvation Army, she so subtly will go over and sniff it. And if she sees me catching her, she always says "that's funny, it doesn't smell"!

Jenny - Thanks! We'd love to come to your BBQ! :o) I am so envious of the Maine lobster you have up there! There's only fresh water here in Wisconsin.

Jane,,,we are not THAT far away....I would love to go with you ...and I NEVER talk politics...have no TV either...and I think you have AMAZING taste.

lauren I am so sorry and saddened to read of your friend ,,,I had to smile at the shower curtain story...what a friend you were to her...you are so lucky to have such great memories.

Jan and Lynne I LOVE LOVE your homes.
Sue I wish I lived closer to you too . No buddies at all. Although DH has decided he wants to shop for chairs...who knew ??? See my other thread and help me ! c

All my friends are into decorating, but I usually do not shop with them, unless we are on vacation together. However, I do have two decorating buddies in my daughters! I never thought I would enjoy my children growing up, but they are lots of fun, and we enjoy bargain hunting. Heck, even my son is into decorating his college apartment.

Decorating buddy is DM. She's enabler tho, I gotta tell ya. Actually, the enabling runs in both directions:).

DH does the eye roll when we head out to "browse". Never come home empty handed, hence the eye roll!

I have really only one decorating buddy around here, a colleague of mine who is lots of fun. Unfortunately, she's a single mom and is not paid what she really should be paid, so she doesn't have much money. I fear she tends to overextend herself, so I try not to instigate too many opportunities for overspending out of fear for her health insurance payments and mortgage! But she is great fun and I absolutely love hanging around her, and she is someone who is ALWAYS ready to go to the Salvation Army, Target, TJMaxx, HomeGoods, other antique.vintage stores (in fact she just called yesterday wanting to go)!

My mom is my other decorating buddy, but there's a similar situation there. She just plain and simple spends more money than she should, and she tends to want to buy me stuff, so I just go along and have fun but don't buy anything (to try to keep her under control) and try not to act too interested in something I think she might want to buy me. We are an amazing painting and redecorating duo, though, as long as I can keep her under control--we have been known to move mountains over the course of a weekend, tiling a fireplace, painting four rooms, spray painting a bunch of ceiling fans and chandeliers, and replacing some plumbing fixtures. yep, all in a weekend. we were totally dead by the time it was over.

wanted to add--my mom lives ten hours away, so very rarely do we get to go gung ho like we did on the weekend I described above!

also lauren, very, very sad to read of your friend's passing. :( :( :(

Anyone in Maine?????? I would Love to go to Homegoods,GW,TJ's This week- Jenny

Thank you Caroline, sure lets hook up sometime and shop and maybe have some lunch. Maybe you could inspire me to start walking. (lol)

You are redoing your entire house, how fun. Let's wait till it cools down a little this heat and humidity is killing me.

....Jane

I know some great antique shops in Birmingham.

I no longer have the email address that is shown on here I need to change that ASAP.

Caroline have you ever been to Scotts Antique Mall in Atlanta? It is to die for, I know you have heard of it. It's one of the largest or maybe the largest in the US. They have it every second weekend of every month. You and your DH may want to go since your redoing your house. Hope you have a truck. I would wait till the temperature goes down they are dying in Atlanta too.

None of my friends love decorating as much as I do. I do have a couple of friends that like to collect and decorate their homes with (Southern Living @ Home...now called Willow House) so that is a lot of fun for me.

Probably my best shopping partner is my Mom. She is 91 years old and still loves to shop and really enjoys thrift stores and places like Home Goods. She doesn't have good decorating style of her own, but totally supports my decorating obsession. She doesn't like my Tiki Lounge though...she thinks all that stuff is ugly...LOL. She says she much prefers my Egyptian bedroom as far as decor goes. She is very benevolent and gave me a new W/D and fridge when I moved into my new home about 4 years ago. I wish we lived closer together as we would shop a lot I'm sure. She is in San Diego and I am in the Sacramento area. We text each other almost every day and she always lets me know if she has been shopping and what she bought...too cute!!!

Hey Jane I will hold you to it. Not really redoing the whole house just looking for different chairs. I wish really that I could find another Morris chair like the last one for $100 and I would be really happy. Have looked at every single web site for "real" and "fake" eames loungers and can't decide what to do so am going to wait.

You know I have listened to everyone talk about Scott's and have never gone. I really didn't need anything enough to go there. But my DD lives in Atl so we could go and stay with her. You are right about the weather she is sick of it too.

I am going to do some serious sitting in chairs in Seattle with DH and we are going to make notes and see what we like and look at prices.

When Oct hits we will be home and I will contact you...looking forward to a Bham trip. c

I did when I lived in Ohio. My friend, Lynne, never liked to stay home unless she had to. Every day, had to go somewhere, do something. She got me out of the house a lot, went places I never would have gone on my own. One day she was convinced that there was a Lumber Liquidators nearby -- we never did find it. I really think it was in Indiana. :-) But we ended up at Bravo for lunch so it wasn't a total loss.

Then I moved. And now I rely on my long distance color friends and forum friends as a source for color and design info, shares, adventures. Can always get a fix, 'cuz someone is always up to something around here or on blogs, etc.

I'm a solo shopper for everything - clothes, house stuff, whatever. I'll go along with others if they're looking to buy but the joke is no one has ever seen me make a purchase.

What I need is a buddy who will help me actually implement all the ideas that I learn about here. I need someone to push me to act and show me how to do things.

i wish i did! i'm in burlington vermont, maybe i'll start loitering in front of home goods with a personal ad sign for a decorating buddy!

I don't have anyone who doesn't roll their eyes at me!
Jan, your friends must be whacky!! Your home is lovely!
Hugs to you Lauren....after my Mom passed away, I had a couple of incidents like you describe. She and my Dad were my runing buddies always.

lkplatow is very close to me and I was fortunate enough to get to meet her this Spring! We both commented how none of our friends 'get it'. Unfortunately time and $$$ prevents me from going oout and about to the places I desire to go so much. We talked about a trip to Stoudts in Lancaster and all of those great flea-markets/ antique malls but it would torture me too muchn to not be able to buy and to get so many ideas that I can't do anything about at this time. Like dream about my own small shop (I would also sell cupcakes - inside joke!).

DH is much better w/ it since he started working in the furniture biz and that's good Since I'm constantly repurposing what we have.

My mom is great to go out w/ and she does work at an antiques mall very PT but she's 4 hours away from me and only gets 1 wknd off.

My sister would be great but she's more of a 'Can you do something w/ my house while you're here?' kind of call. Not exactly a visionary.

Everybody elses eyes just glaze over so I don't talk about it anymore. My boss just says 'Come over - can you do something w/ this? Whatever you want to do.'

I confess to showing my magazines to my 6 and 4yr old boys and asking them their opinions.

DD (2) is bound to be the next Kelly Wearstler the way she crayons all over our walls. Either that or she has a future as a grafitti artist. For now her art lives on our walls. Oh well maybe someday we can be decorating buddies.

Or someday I'll catch a breath and lkplatow and I can really get together.

My husband is my decorating buddy. However, he has a hard time envisioning what things are going to look like in a room, so a lot of times, he just goes along saying "I like it" because he likes the piece... but he doesn't see how it will look with everything else.

None of my girl friends are really into decorating. Anyone interested in a shopping/decorating buddy? I'm in the Capital Region of NY.

ttodd,

I know you're somewhere in my neck of the woods...I'm in Chester County.

If you guys head out to Lancaster let me know! I'd love to shop with acutal shoppers (not with "outlet" shoppers!)

Hello Everyone,
Thought I would give you all a update. I think I found a decorating buddy. I met her at church, she is redoing a old house and we got talking. Last week we went to Home goods, tj's, and goodwill. wish me luck. If anyone moves to Maine give me a ring

fallingwaters-

I'm from BTV, but now live in NNY, so can't be your buddy, but several Vermonters hang out on Cooking, or try the specialized garden forums on the gardening side of the house, you might find a buddy there. And ahh, the Dorset Street HG, I scored many a bargain there.

sandyponder