Right now, I'm looking to find out what folks' knowledge is about how to hang art plates :) (look right below your post) Got any experience in that area? :)

(smart aleck answer -- I'll come up with a serious one later :))

I guess for the same reason, Misty, feedback. I find it helpful when I can bounce an idea off others and get an objective opinion. We may not like the opinions we're given, but when you post a question, you better be prepared to take the negative as well as the positive. The best feeling is posting a question and getting the answer you were hoping to get~great minds think alike.

I also like being on the other side of the fence and giving my opinion on different threads that interest me. I try to keep my posts positive, even though I may not be in complete agreement with what others have posted. Honesty *is* the best policy, but you don't want to be derogatory to the point where you are insulting to the person starting the thread or anyone participating. Sometimes it's best to say nothing if it can't be positive. ;o)

Good Question;

First I will say inspiration. For example, I am notorious for picking bad paint colors (hehe my husband says I am color blind! LOL but it always looks amazing on the swatch) :) So I love to see what colors ppl chose and how they look. Whether it is colors, furniture pieces, holiday decorating etc etc.

I love my home, care about it and work hard (well as hard as I can with 4 kids) to make it beautiful and I like to be in the company of this form as I can tell everyone else here are proud home owners who can understand some of my joys and pitfalls maybe a little better then someone who would not visit a forum like this.

I LOVE seeing photos of other peoples homes and their work. I think it is facinating to see how other people mould their houses into the homes they love.

Those are just some of the reasons among many.

Mostly education. Watching everyone's process and progress here is way more informative to me than looking at a picture of finished perfection in a glossy magazine.

I've only joined recently but have already derived so much enjoyment because I love every aspect of decorating and love being in the company of like-minded people. And, my living room has improved because of the advice I've been given here. I've been exposed to many different wall colors that I really like, and in general there is nothing better than to see ideas brought to life in someone's actual home. Also, the people here are really nice!

I was just thinking this morning that I need to post a few almost finished rooms and get people to pick them apart from the nitpickiest detail to the big stuff (this was after noticing how badly the ivory switch plates stand out on my yellow walls).

That sounds silly, but really, if you ask for advice, or for that picky help :) You get it, sometimes in spades LOL but that's ok if you have a thick skin. I have a great deal of confidence in my decorating style, as do many here, but everyone can benefit from the free advice of 500 other decorating freaks :o) And sometimes you just get stuck and need ideas (ie in my dining room) or that second and third and fiftiest vote for x fabric to make the decision LOL

And yes, the people are lovely in general. We'd annoy our neighbors if we tried to knock them down and talk about wall textures LOL here...we just fit in with all the other freaks :oP

What I hope to get here is what I hope to get through most things I spend time doing. That is, I hope to grow, improve, learn & make a contribution.

Communicating with people here is enriching. It is through being in community that we become our best, even if there are growing pains or difficulties to deal with in the process. I can become more by relating with others than I can by just keeping to myself. Hopefully, sometimes, I have something to bring to the party as well.

I've been here for a few years now, and at this point I would say that I hope to continue to derive the enjoyment, friendship and camaraderie that comes from being a part of a forum where there are so many like-minded people. Not only do I find my fellow home decorating afficionados here, but I am struck by how many funny, eloquent, kind, warm women (and a few men!) congregate here.

awwww stinky-gardener - your post brought tears to my eyes. Really.

And I agree 100% with everything you said.

Auntjen, ditto! The *most* important of all. ;o)

I like the extra sets of eyes, too.

The people are great. If I feel like laughing, I can read some of the cute stories on the conversation side. That side also helps lots of people with their problems of other kinds.

It's funny but maybe that's another reason that not as much of us watch HGTV (another post). We don't need it as much with all we have here.

I'm new to this forum (after spending a lot of time on the Kitchens forum while planning our house build). In moving from a 2 BR townhome to a 5br house 3 times in size, I pretty much have every common room in my house to furnish (in something other than DH 's old bachelor furniture and hand-me downs). It is an expensive proposition. So I really appreciate the help I've gotten here so far, so I don't make any costly mistakes. DH and I also don't always agree on things, and it's nice when you get support(and ammunition!) for your ideas.

Thanks, moonkat, that's very nice of you to say!

I agree, auntjen, there are so "many funny, eloquent, kind, warm women (and a few men!)" here!

I have a number of goals for being here, the first of which has become camaraderie. This place is where I sit with a cuppa coffee in the morning, tea in the afternoon or a glass of wine in the evening. You guys are my day-to-day friends...always there, no matter what.

On a more practical level, I appreciate the extra eyes, the opportunity to see things differently, even if it's just looking at my own photographs. I am always amazed at how much I learn by just taking pics of my room and posting them...even before anyone replies. You guys jolt me out of thinking it is a choice between A or B, helping me to consider C through G!

I aspire to contribute in ways that help others benefit from what I have learned through struggling with the process -- making my own mistakes, buying the wrong thing, painting the wrong color or overcoming decorating inertia.

I also feel like it's important to pass along the wisdom other posters have shared with me, even when they might not be around all the time. Funcolors comes to mind. I've learned more from her than I can tell you and when I can pass some of those tidbits along, I hope I am honoring her contributions.

As I participate here, I learn a tremendous amount. Someday down the road, I hope to make a business out of some of this and the board feels like on-the-job training. I don't so as well in one-dimension as I do in three, but it is good practice to look and see and try to find a solution. Or, when I can, to pick apart the details offered up by someone like Les, who can always nail it!

Amy: I have to agree with you there--this is such a wonderful forum to sit down and relax with a cup of tea and see what everyone is up to.

In the beginning I wanted to get help with decorating my newly remodeled home. I've always appreciated the honest advice and variety of opinions here. They've steered me away from bad choices a number of times as well as shown me other solutions to my decorating delimnas and when I do receive compliments here when something looks good, I know people are sincere. When friends see my house now they are just amazed at the difference. I think my highest compliment was from my good friend's teenaged daughter. That was when I knew my home was a place where everyone could feel welcome--adults and children alike. Surprisingly, she loved my formal living room and all the antiques and I was thrilled to see she could appreciate things from another era.

Along the way, I've found a wonderful set of warm, caring, witty and intelligent friends who also value making their homes not only function great, but look great. And that is what keeps me coming back.

When I first stumbled along in to this forum, I thought I would just look at wonderful photos and read the critiques and I did that for about two weeks and then I noticed that I was starting to relate to people and getting to think of them in a different way. I'd find myself checking my email and then popping over here to see how all my buds are doing. Now I'm a self confessed addict. I laugh, sniffle, care, worry and all the other emotions that go with being with friends. I marvel at the creativity of some and the humanity of others, this is a hodgepodge of all types of people sharing the same goal. Friendship and mutual interest, doesn't get better than that!!!

Right on, stinkygarden, auntjen, and yayagal -- me too! (and I still like the wonderful photos...) Won't even try to add anything to these eloquent responses.

Hi Linda,
Oh, I wish you weren't hesitant about posting! I find most people are kind.

I love going on this site for the inspiration and the education.

I started on the Kitchen forum; what a wonderfully helpful group that congregates over there! I really believe we have a better kitchen because of the knowledge I gained from many great people on that site.

On to the Applicances and Bathroom sections....

Finally, I am at the decorating stage! Voila, I'm lurking here for inspiration...

I come and go, but always come on to ask a question about something or several somethings, then feel like I should contribute something in return, so try to do so by giving my oh-so-valuable opinion on other peoples' situations, LOL.

However, I have found lurking around to be rather addictive.

I'm here to learn. Hubby and I have very, very different tastes so I'm just trying to figure out how to come up with things that will make us both happy. A lot of it is learning the "lingo" so I can talk to Hubby in ways that convince him that I don't have bad taste.

Ditto a lot of what has already been said so poignantly. This forum is my distraction, my crutch in getting through some troubles. My spirits are always lifted after reading the forum and it's fun to hang out with y'all. I have learned a lot about decorating.
AND who else would get so excited about a CL find! Normal folks eyes start to glaze over if you go on and on about a CL find!

I like the purdy pictures.

-Lena

I found the laundry forum about 4 years ago when I needed a washer and dryer. I never realized it was part of a huge forum called the Gardenweb.com. Then about 3 years ago, I needed help with paint colors and again did a search on Yahoo and found the Decorating Forum and Paint Forum. I got a lot of help and learned a lot about paint colors. Then I needed help with choosing a refrigerator and someone on the decorating site told me about the kitchen and appliance forum that were very helpful also.

I then needed help with choosing bedroom furniture, a headboard, lamps, blinds and curtains.

These forums have been wonderful for me in learning to trust myself and also seeing so many wonderful rooms and getting such caring and talented advice.

I try to post and help as many posters out as I can when I have time and I try to post when I see a post is not getting any replies and sometimes it jump starts the post and other times I let the poster know a different forum will get more replies and I am usually right.

I enjoy the friendships I have made being a member of this forum and the knowledge I have from all those willing to share so we can all benefit. I feel so blessed to not be alone and be a part of such a talented and caring group of members.

Thank you everyone and have a happy holiday.

Originally, for information, inspiration and resources. As years pass, I've added, coming here for friendship, understanding others lives & styles better and have found great humor. I sincerely enjoy seeing what makes others love their homes and how delightfully many diverse personalities can exchange ideas!

Oh yes, as Lena said, and for the fabulous Pictures!

I originally found GW when researching a gardening problem I had. I don't even remember what the problem was, but I do remember being surprised at all the information available.

Then when we were building our home, I participated in the Building a Home and the Kitchen forums. And when we moved into our new home, I needed to (and still do) pull it all together, so I was looking for inspiration. I'm not as into decorating/interior design as most on this forum, so I'm not very vocal and hesitate to post, but I do really appreciate all the talent and help that is offered here. I have learned so much, and (very) slowly, our house is becoming a home, thanks in part to the inspiration from this forum. Someday, I hope to be able to post photos again with much more put-together rooms and maybe they would even be helpful to someone else.

And, YES, the pictures are the *best*!

Oh wow, Amy, what a nice thing to say. Stick a bow on that post and call it the best present ever! :D Have no doubt you'll make a business out of your passion and will be very successful -- no doubt at all.

I don't know why I hang out on forums to be quite honest. It is peaceful. It is a safe, benign way to check out of the real world for a while and focus on something else. And the variety! Gosh, so many different points of view, ideas, and perceptions... that does fascinate me. The things some people come up with, ferret out, find, and create are amazing. Projects and issues often do have common threads, but each one seems to be unique because of the individuals involved.

It's rare that there is not something interesting to read here on this forum. Can't even begin to assess how much I have learned -- about stuff I never, ever imagined I'd take an interest in.

So I guess if I had to put it in a sentence I pop in here hoping to broaden my horizons, have a giggle or two, and add a few more wrinkles to my brain.

Because I'm a man and a minority in these forums I find that I like to ask questions about decorating and product choice selection because I have very little good sense about decorating.

I have learned a great deal from the posters on the Home Decorating and Kitchens sites and I assume that most of the posters are women. I don't do well with color selection and don't have "an eye" for how something is going to look after it is in place.

Often I rely on the advice of others because color scares the begeebers out of me. I'd probably paint everything white or beige if I were left to my own devices.

I'm eternally thankful for the advice from those more in the know who contribute to the various threads. I appreciate the time that people take to answer questions and make suggestions. Everyone seems to have such a positive, helpful attitude.

I found this forum several years ago by accident. I was looking for information on furniture and quickly joined and paid my fee because it seemed like a good place to be.

I remember pouring over the threads and just being amazed at the talent here. I was absolutely terrorified to post and it took me quite awhile before I did. When I finally got up the courage to post, I'll never forget that there was one poster, Boopadoo who was so incredibly kind and encouraging and it helped me alot. Boop and a few others honestly gave me faith in myself that at a minimum I have raw talent that needs to mature and get better. I am eternally grateful to this board for that. I am a much more confident decorator now than when I joined the board. By the way, I wonder what ever happened to Boopadoo?

I am now addicted to this forum and this is the first thing I read in the morning while having my coffee and the last thing I read before I go to bed at night.

I sometimes post and many times do not for one of two reasons, either someone makes the same comment that I wanted to and therefore I don't want to clutter the thread or I don't know so I wait for the experts to chime in.

I also come for the inspiration as the majority of you do an amazing job. I also hope every now and then to inspire others when I can. I have learned much in the few years that I have been here and now consider it home.

I have been lurking for years and have learned so much. I have finally signed up for an account, and may be brave enough to post some pics one of these days.

The inspiration "real-life" pictures here are wonderful and this forum is mostly helping to me to determine my true (timeless) style. I don't waste nearly as much money now on items that don't really fit my home! (^:

Thank you for the inspiration that those of you who post pictures provides.

For information, feedback, and most of all, PICTURES! If I bought as many shelter magazines as I wanted we'd be bankrupt. Gardenweb feeds my need for beautiful home pictures, and the best part is that they are REAL, not the work of stylists that is taken down and put in a truck when the cameras are gone.

Pictures, did I mention that I love the pictures?? :)

I really like seeing what other people do and how it may inspire me to take a look at something in a way that I'd never considered before. I find that this forum opens up my thought process and gives me more views.

I found this forum to be a genuine dose of 'Real Life' decorating from all walks of life and financial backgrounds when I was making myself insane trying to live up to all of the home magazines I'd always buy.

You all are my dose of reality!

I originally became a member in 2002 or so on the antique rose forum and then found my way over here.

I'm trying my best to transition from building a house to decorating a house. I feel (mostly) confident in my decorating abilities but I know I have weaknesses that I need to overcome. For instance, I don't think I know much about layering and texture. I need feedback, confirmation and lots of inspiration. I think this is the place!

Since I don't work outside my home, this place is sort of like the water cooler or break room at an office. A place to hear about what other people are doing, to see their projects, to get ideas, and to sometimes be shocked by what I see/hear/read.
And just like a real office there are people here I'd love to meet for a drink "after work", some I enjoy when our paths cross and some I wouldn't willingly associate with, in or outside the office.
I get from this forum what I came for: entertainment, ideas, and even knowledge.
But the real question to me is when's the office Christmas party?

I suppose "sick grins" isn't a thoughtful answer. This is one of the few sites not dominated by people in their first apartment who want to tart up milk crates.

I enjoy interior design and architecture, and love to see what different kinds people do with their homes. It doesn't matter if we have tastes in common, or even taste at all -- it's all interesting to me.

I discovered the "building a home" forum while we were building our house in 2003. The information about appliances, granite, etc. really helped make our choices easier. Then I visited some more of the forums and this one fit! I finally know how to post pictures, thanks to celticmoon, sue_ct, and chemocurl. I also like "borrowing" creative ideas from all the talented folks on here.

ideefixe, LOL! I know EXACTLY what you mean :)

I never saw my parents do any home-improvement jobs--from painting a wall, to bothering to puffing up the carpet dents with ice cubes when you move furniture, to figuring out what really cleans glass best, to finding the studs in the wall when you want to hang something heavy. (Not to say that they were slobs--they had wallpaper installed by someone else, they just didn't notice carpet dents, they just used Windex, and I think they just stuck a nail or two in the wall, hung the picture and hoped for the best!)

So now that I'm a homeowner, I don't have role models for that sorta stuff. I've looked in books and on the Internet to learn some of the basics, but I think it's much better to dip into the vast experience all of you have. So the next time someone asks how to paint an outlet cover so the paint will last and you don't have noticeable brush marks, I can help.

It also opens my mind to different decorating styles. I don't care for "country," but sometimes someone will post a photo with an awesome farmhouse sink and I think, "I could really like that!"

Or Amysrq's new bathroom: Cherry-finished cabinets? Always seemed too traditional for me. But the way she did it, yup, "I could really like that!"

I'm here mostly for inspiration. I love all the shelter magazines and their glossy pictures but here you get real photos of how people actually LIVE, not the designer version of their lives. You see kids' toys, pet hair, unfashionable knickknacks, warts and all and it can be beautiful, comfortable, home-y and stylish too.

I'm another refugee from the kitchen forums, as our home decoration has taken precedence over the kitchen remodel for a year or so, and I like the friendly vibe here. I'm working up the courage to start posting pics and asking questions.

I come because I'm nosey! LOL! I want to see the pictures of all your homes!

Honestly, I do what I want in my home, I don't ask for anyone's opinion ... if I like it I do it. I'm very much into color, teal family room, cobalt blue kitchen ... that's my expression of myself. There are many artists in my family background, I think that explains a lot.

But I look thru the posts here to see what everyone else is doing. There's a very interesting group of people who always post here and I like to read what they have to say.

I started on GardenWeb since I'm a daylily addict, and then migrated over. Re-did my kitchen and bath over a year ago and spent way too much time on the Kitchen and Bath forums inhaling information.

Now I just wander thru the forums that interest me.

Ditto Pamghatten!

Pamghatten, I'm fascinated you have a cobalt kitchen, bet I'd love it. My bedroom is Midnight Blue, everywhere, wish I could learn how to photograph it, lighting to show kills the dark navy blue that creates the infinate look. What fun to find someone else into major blue!

I like the purdy pictures. -Lena

I came for the decorating; I keep coming back for the witty repartee.

I joined gardenweb several years ago because of the patio garden forum. Started reading the decorating, kitchen, and real estate forums, and now this is the forum that I frequent the most.

What do I get from it? Watching other people tweak or transform their rooms is fun; I've always been a sucker for a 'before' and 'after.' Some threads are educational. Most of you inspire me. Lately, you've been inspiring me to get off my butt and make progress. Sometimes the inspiration is more specific, like a solution to a problem in my own house. One day I may even post a thread seeking advice.

That said, I could probably get inspiration, education, and entertainment from any # of websites and books. And when ivillage took over I considered going elsewhere, and temporarily took a break from this forum. But the community is what brought me back. There is a lot of kindness, creativity, helpfulness, and even tough love on this board, and I think the board as a whole has a personality whose pull is hard to resist!

Although I've been on a number of decorating forums over the last 7 years or so, I've really enjoyed this one. While I can get a little caught up in the problems of new neighbors, housebreaking a dog, or other more conversational posts, My main enjoyment is in seeing how other people work out their decorating issues, what shade of paint works best with oak cabinets, how to choose between granite and tile, and what the craigslist dresser looks like when it gets into YOUR house and gets properly accessorized. I love that. I love the average house renovated and made more perfect for it's owner. I like being able to make a suggestion that helps someone else work out a problem. It's very fulfilling to suggest a paint shade and have that shade put on someone's wall, and seeing the end result--a beautiful room. It's a kick to see my own Kohler Vinnata faucet (that I myself found through the Kitchen's forum) in other settings, perhaps with Emerald Pearl granite and white cabinets, or maybe with Venetian Gold granite and dark cherry cabinets. I love seeing how someone covered their club chairs with cheap matelasse coverlets and they look amazing. I love seeing a porch with drapes made of painter's dropcloths. It's nice to have ideas for more expensive homes with custom details, as well as more modest homes and budgets that need clever thinking to make things beautiful. I love the ideas and the people. I like being able to ask a question about whether to keep the Jacobean dining set I found on Ebay or sell it and get something else. My friends are predjudiced and think all my stuff looks cute. Or........they cannot believe I did red in my entry and say so. You guys are different. Some of you don't care for my style, but are really too kind to say so. Some of you are way too complimentary but it still makes me feel good even when I know you are gushing. And as many have commented before me, it's a real comfortable feeling to be able to worry about moldings or paint shades or furniture fabrics, with a group of people who don't think it's making too much ado about nothing.

Red

I get so much from this place. Lots of great conversation about all things decor as well as life. Laughter, and learning, and sometimes tears. I have gained SO much knowledge ( and encouragement and support) from everyone here that has made me realize the direction I would like to go in the future. It may be called "Home Decorating", but it really just feels like home.

I have to say first and foremost that I love the people and then the pictures. It is great to look at magazines but looking at rooms furnished by designers travelling all over Europe does not do much to help me address life in my house with kids and no maid. So, for decorating, I come here for ideas. Seeing other people work through their rooms helps me to work through my rooms.

Whenever I take the time to set up a photobucket account, I will also be looking for a critical eye. I love my friends dearly but many think that transitioning paint is not a big deal, just have it stop where you want it. I need the people who understand that iti s a big deal to help me figure out what to do with it. Not to mention, it is nice to be in the company of people who understand the allure of schumacher, scalamandre, robert allen, and terms like toile, lampas, etc.

I come here because it's where I am receiving the best possible education and inspiration for decorating and remodeling our home. Better than all the shelter mags I've read over the years, and no longer subscribe to, and way better than HGTV.

I feel as though I know many posters here, and I can come and just relax and catch up on "the news" and look at wonderful pictures. What I like most is that this place is real life, with toys and towels and big lumbering dogs, and, best of all, women (and a few men) who have the same passionate love of home as I do.

I'm fairly new on this forum - have been learning a lot in kitchen and bath forums during our remodel. Now that it's (barely) finished, I have some new rooms to decorate, plus old ones that could use some improvement, too. I am definitely not one that has a good eye and am not confident in my decorating sense, so I'm hopeful of getting some good help here when I get a room ready to post for ideas.

Mainly, too, I've enjoyed getting to know more people on the other forums and see some of the some ones here. I love seeing the pictures, especially before and after of a room after someone's gotten great advice and just made it look great!