What state do they live in? I'm not too familiar with the western states. :)

Can you show a picture of their home?

I can honestly say I decorate for the life I live. You can tell it as soon as you walk into the foyer where we have a bench and a big black plastic boot tray under it full of garden shoes, and an extra pair of house shoes, with jackets/coats hanging on the coat rack in the winter instead of going to the closet to hang them up.

Sure I have decorative knick knacks, but it's because *I* like them and so does my dh.

Guests automatically (mostly men) put their feet on my coffee table and it doesn't bother me one whit. Because I do the same. And it's a pretty table too, but the wood top makes it inviting.

I don't think I could eat at a table where animal legs holds the table up. lol.

Good topic because one of things I don't like is going to a home where it feels like a museum.

The only thing I ask of guests is to use a coaster. That's it!

I try to decorate for the life we live. I have a messy husband and a herd of cats. No white slipcovers or foofy silk whatevers around here.

The room where we spend the most time has washable slipcovers and darker flooring. The laundry room is where the cat boxes are, so I've incorporated all of their "accessories" into the decor. Our guest room has good lighting, blackout curtains, and (empty) placees for storage.

I try to be thoughtful about how we use each space, what we need, what we don't, how much maintenence each thing needs, how color effects all of those things, etc. Do I have nonfunctional things "just for pretty"? Of course I do, but I try not to buy things just to fill a space, and rather, either use something we already own, or buy something that I love.

I think there is a fine line between living the life you have vs. living the life you want. If you are financially stable, then you can afford to live the life you have. If you are struggling, then you aspire to live the life you want. And, isn't that what it's all about? Trying to elevate yourself to the next level? And, if you're already there, you can then reap your rewards.
I am friends with people in all socio-economic positions. Sure, the people who have money may tend to live with excess. But I don't hold that against them. In fact, life is short, enjoy yourself. If that means collecting art, animal heads and a museum-like surroundings, so be it. On the other hand, if you grow your own vegetables, compost and go jogging then plop your feet on the coffee table, that's great, too.
I once had a client who was wealthy beyond belief. She had priceless art work, traveled the world and had a hutch in her dining room that cost more than my car. But she lost her son to cancer at 16. Did that money help her? No. So if she wants to surround herself with *stuff* then so be it.
I also have friends who are designers. I would be so disappointed if I went to their homes and they didn't design to impress. I pick up a lot of decorating tips from them -- for free!
Then again, if somebody dropped by my house unexpectedly on a work day, I'd be mortified. With 2 home businesses, this house always look like it exploded and we haven't gotten around to putting everything back. But then, I would apologize for the paint cans, paper, cabinet doors, drill, whatever else was on the island, dining room table or floors and explain what project I was working on and then try to say something witty like "did you know Lillian Vernon started her company from her dining room"? I try to get it all cleaned up by the time my kids get off the bus, so I can get their snacks ready and clear off the island where we do homework together.
We definately live the life we have!!
However, if Augie Busch the third was my neighbor, I wouldn't care what anybody thought of my decorating. And, my husband would be in heaven!

Absolutely, we all have some things that we love, things that inspire us, or just for pretty. I have more stuff from traveling "must haves" than I care to disclose.

Oakley - BIL/SIL recently moved to Idaho. They were formerly over the pass (Tetons) in Jackson, Wyoming approx. 30 minute commute over the pass, so they are still close to all of the action, but far away enough to see the stars - which BTW, are unbelievable. You're house sounds perfect. We too have the boot trays with seating overtop, hooks for jackets, etc. Same deal with my own coffee table! Too funny!

Franksmom - "Do I have nonfunctional things "just for pretty"? Of course I do, but I try not to buy things just to fill a space, and rather, either use something we already own, or buy something that I love." - That's how I am as well.

paintergirl - Yes, it is a very fine line. I am trying to keep the socio-economic out of it. Just mentioned that everyone is on equal footing in that regard. It is the approach that I am most interested in. BIL/SIL could care less what the neighbors do. They're just living large on life itself!

Hope to hear more!

I enjoy the eloquence of Magnaverde's posts, but I'm not sure I'm familiar with "the rule." Is it as above - "completely ignore decor over function"? If so...

I'm not sure I can think of the two as mutually exclusive.

Let's say that I have a large, empty wall. The wall's function is to keep out the elements, which it does... to support the roof, which it does... and to frame windows, which it does. Hanging something non-functional on that wall might violate a rule of function, but it's going to give me a sense of pleasure when I see "form thing I love" hanging in that space. And a larger function of my home is to give me pleasure, not just to keep me warm/dry. I like to look around my home and love what I see. And a lot of things I love are not functional.

I would suspect anyone who hangs family portraits (I do not, personally) or keeps mementos or has a collection of whatevers in a curio cabinet might feel the same. Those things don't functionally do something "tangible" - you don't sit on them, you don't use them to accomplish a job, etc. But that doesn't mean they don't fulfill a function.

The rule is design for the life you have, not the life you wish you had. I think.

Funny you should bring up this topic. I was thinking just this week, I wonder what DH would say if I told him I wanted to move all the dining room furniture to the basement and set a play room/storage(think pantry, laundry, toys, etc)/room in the DR instead.

We never use it, and could use more space upstairs.

Keeping up with the Jones must be exhausting, I would think. What a way to live, kind of sad isn't it?

Shockingly enough, people do have different ideas of what constitutes a good time. I don't see why we should infer that people with big houses and wine cellars are keeping up with anyone or want to impress anyone. Maybe they just like different things?

I completely agree about decorating for the life you actually have. Having Rose Tarlow do the work doesn't invalidate your authentic life.

To me "designing for the life you wish you had" means designing to the point that it makes my real life more difficult. If I spend more than I can afford to decorate my house nicely, then I'm really making my life more difficult.

It could also mean decorating and living a lifestyle that requires a lot of upkeep for which you don't have enough hired help. I have a friend who has a lovely home and yard, but she practically kills herself taking care of it all. She has a maid once a week, and a yardman once a week, but it's not nearly enough. Then, when the holidays roll around, she wants to celebrate like royalty, but again, she absolutely exhausts herself "doing it all."

Makes no sense to me, really. LOL

I know. I know. To each her own. Just don't kill yourself trying to do it all and have it all.

WIP said "BIL/SIL don't care what the neighbors do"

To me THAT is the quintessential definition of "designing for the life you have not for the life you wish you had"

Oh forgot to ask - does Mr Budweiser have a garage frig filled with beer for when the neighborhood guys drop by? Now that would be cool. LOL

There were a lot of dress for success books out there when I was in my 20's. I read them with great interest. I guess I never mastered their advice, as I never became a success; at least not in the sense of how the word was used in these books.

Anyhoo, the major premise of most of the books could be stated in one sentence: "Dress for the job you WANT to have, not the job you DO have." I guess the style gurus were saying that the power of persuasion is at work with the clothes we wear. If you always present yourself as the novice/waif/underling/low-person-on-totem-pole, no one will be able to envision you anywhere else!

Today, I think of the real-estate agents I've observed who insist that they must have a Lexus or Mercedes suv for driving clients around in. They don't think they'll have credibility & look competent to clients if they don't have the iconic symbols of success.

Magnaverde seems to be saying the opposite. Design your decor around the life you really live, not the life you fantasize about. I think he's trying to prevent people from wasting money creating a fantasy land that has nothing to do with the real inhabitants.

I don't know. Maybe for some people the power of intention & positive thinking can work on their behalf. A guy could create an artistic loft & become a great artist in those surroundings, even if he started out pumping gas when he moved into the place. In this instance, the guy decorated for the life he wanted & it worked out for him.

On the other hand, if a girl designs a room in an effort to look hip, chic & trendy, but she is really a homebody who is totally out of it, who is she kidding? She may WANT to be hip, but she is anything but. She should accept that fact, & create an environment that is fuddy-duddy! (classic, timeless?...lol!)