I am so stuck on the red, gold and black color combo that is taken from the plates and picture I have on my wall. Maybe I should scrap everything and find some new accessories and just start over. I am at this point. I think DH would kill me. You'd think that starting with a neutral pallete (white, tans, etc. ) would make it easier but I am having such a hard time with this. Oh gosh, sorry you're having a hard time. It is funny how sometimes it's easier than others. I have a theory about that. Promise to keep it short. The pulling colors from inspiration pieces is overrated. It's been about a zillion years now since I've been saying that. :D Mood boards and all that other typical design stuff is overrated too. But, when people pay good money for a design or decorating certificate of some sort, they need to be able to produce something tangible. I think that's why the staid beliefs about color continue on and on and on. The most important and relevant things about color can't be glue-gunned to a piece of foamcore or even held in a hand. So few people understand what that means. So few are willing to let go of the conventional, open their eyes and SEE what it means. I have little hope for most of them. Glue gun firmly in hand, they're gonna die on that design hill built up of old color philosophies and methods. Who can blame them, really. On many levels those old methodologies are easy and they work -- and they work for a whole lotta people. It gets interesting, really interesting, when those old methods are tried and fail miserably or are simply outgrown. When what is wanted from color, what is needed from color, what is dreamed of in color is bigger than an inspiration piece, what are you suppose to do? Where do you look? For corn's sake everything out there says that you need a rug, a plate, a fabric or something to help guide you to a well-coordinated room! I mean, look at all the famous designers! Oh please, as if. As if what they do matters to personal color expectations and tolerances. People believe that stuff and take it all the way to the paint store with 'em. It's hilarious and deeply saddening all at the same time. Authentic color resides in a place that can't be merchandised. It's within reach to all of us. Be in the space you want to color and think about what it is you really want and intend for that space. Putting down the plate, setting aside the picture could very well be a good restarting point for you.

Here's the toile. I think I'm figuring out what I've done wrong and why I'm feeling uncomfortable at this stage in chosing colors. Some of you will remember, the first room I started decorating in my mind months ago was my guest bath. I wanted it to have the old New Orleans feel as the house is old style Acadian. I also started decorating the master bath. The fixtures are very glitz/brushed silver and crystal. Being inexperienced in decorating entire houses at one time was overwhelming, to say the least. I know I have good taste (at least that's what people tell me) LOL My problem is I love different styles and want certain rooms to "feel" a certain way. Hope I'm making sense and you are not nodding off. HA! For those of you following my saga, you'll remember I began investigating silver blue for my master as I had a picture in my head from a show I saw on TV years ago. So this is where I think things went wrong. I wanted 2 different feels for the master BR and bath and the guest bath. I chose to follow the silver blue paint to complete the rest of the rooms (with the exception of the hall/guest bath). Then when I came to the last color, this hall bath, I make this realization that my house is going to be old New Orleans in the guest bath, french country/traditonal in the great room, kind of glitz traditonal in the master (I wanted to decorate around the silver blue with glass and silver with black and another color in the accents.) Oh Lord I know I've lost you now, I'll stop rambling. Anyway, I think I see that my problem is; I decorate my rooms around how I want them to make me feel and that means different styles for different rooms. When I first bought the house I jokingly said to my SIL I think I'll decorate each room differently to satisfy all my likes. I never realized I'd unconciously end up doing it. LOL To give you a better idea of where my scattered decorating brain is, the guest BR is Silver Sage with 5ft. white wainscoting and I picture it being a shabby chic. The office directly across the hall is Silver Marlin and really can't name what "style" I want it. Altough I'm leaning toward the same style as the master bedroom. So if you can make sense of my ranting, please tell me I'm OK and my house will be also!! Here's a clincher, we haven't made our decision on the foyer color yet either. We will be papering the top portion of the wall and picture molding wainscoting the bottom, but haven't decided on a color. Again, I wanted this room to have a old New Orleans, yet modern feel. In my head I'm picturing some tan or gold/tan. Hhhmmm, I wonder if doing this will tie the bathroom in with the rest of the house. Good golly miss molly, who let me loose to decorate an entire house. LOL I wish I drank, I'd get drunk just about now.

parma42: Thanks, I just wasn't sure and needed some re-assurance about the wainscoting. I too liked that small blue sample to the right of the other two. I wish I knew what color that was and why we nixed it. That was 15 samples ago (no kidding) and back when I thought, "this will be fun". I'll find it and put a larger sample on the wall and post for your opinion. Do you think it's too much blue with blue on top and white below chair rail for DS's room? I can't change his bedding since it's only 8 months old. Any chocolate color suggestions? allison704: That makes 2 votes for the small blue to the right of the other two. I'm definitely digging through my samples tomorrow. You're so right, about letting them be individual. Do you have a lighter blue in mind? miles661: I know it's really hard to give advice about colors from a computer screen, it's right up there with picking your color off a paint chip. Thanks for looking anyways. My youngest has the strongest opinions and wants to keep her pink walls. The two teenagers, they're another story. DS since turning 13 speaks in grunts and really could care less about what color is on his wall, just so long as it's not airplanes and fish. He really only picked the lighter blue for his bathroom because I promised him he could sleep in for another hour if he made a decision. That's about as good as it gets from my teenagers. les917: Youre back to help me YEAH!!! #1: We had to switch to a blue with more of a greenish undertone. The gray undertones looked beyond awful with the carpeting. #2: Do you pretty please have a creamy white or soft green color suggestion? #3: Same as above. Any taupe or beige colors in mind? I'm taking your advice about painting DDs BR white and running with it. Granted, I'm running in circles (haha) but DDs loved your idea. bluekitobessed: Just based on your screen name you must know your blues. HELP ME!! Grayer blue looks hideous with the carpeting. I'm nixing chair rail in DD(16)'s room based on opinions received tonight. Huge sigh of relief!! I tend to be more traditional and I too like white below the chair rail for DS's room. Did you not like either of the blues? No hurt feelings, any blue in mind? brutuses: You my dear new GW friend are the reason I'm keeping the pretty pink faux in DD(10)'s room. Your comment on a previous post made me take a really good look at her room. Her room makes her so happy and I always smile when I'm in there either waking her up for school or tucking her in. I only plan on painting over the faux from chair rail down. There are too many dings and scratches and it give the room a kind of grungy feel. Another nail on the head is the blue/gray for DD(16)'s room. What type of computer screen do you have? You saw the gray in the blues clashing with the brown?! Do know of any blues with a green undertone? Thanks for your input. kswl: I love the exterior of your home!! Have you decided on your iron railing? The large left sample is my DH's & DD's first choice. I really like it myself. Do you think that it would be overwhelming to have an entire BR that color?

Nadine -- I think the cabinets will look great. What about cabinets with doors below to hide the toys/games and open shelving above for books? I thought I would throw out a couple of other storage ideas from one cluttered toy mom to another BTW -- THANK YOU for posting the honest pictures of your room; it's so helpful to see that other peoples' houses also look like a toy factory exploded in the living room. :) Storage furniture that we have in our living room: coffee table with baskets that we use to sort and store various toys, including Mr. Potato Head + accessories, furniture and dollies from the Loving Family (Or something like that -- the dollhouse thing with the twins and multi-racial families) series; ABC blocks, small cars; Soft bowling set. Ikea pine coffee table Baskets that hide the toys so it looks like a nice pine coffee table instead: Ikea baskets This table is chipper chicken but it's a work horse. Looks nice and nothing kids try to do to it hurts it, and it holds a TON of toys. We only bought six baskets to fit in the table, but it could easily hold 12 (I always wanted to go back for more, but DH never got around to it). Cleans up easy peasy with dish soap or even soft scrub (for those bigger oops moments). We also went with a TV unit that includes two side units with storage doors and bookcases above, plus we had a separate console built for underneath the TV that holds more baskets of toys (it fits the same size baskets as fit in our ikea coffee table). Here's a picture for inspiration: I know entertainment centers are generally pretty $$$, but the reason I was showing mine is that it was actually an entertainment center for our old projection screen TV, which they don't make anymore -- plus a console we had a custom cabinet maker build for us to match. A lot of people are getting rid of their old 3 piece entertainment centers that were made for projection TVs -- you might be able to find something on Craigslist, ebay or a second hand store that is good condition for a low price, which you could then modify by adding a console (also fairly inexpensive through local custom cabinet shops). :) Notice in the picture the giant laundry basket full of balls and the smaller lined baskets with books and other toys. Baskets are KEY. I keep them sorted by type of toy so that it's easier for the kids to find what they're looking for. Those baskets came from Michael's and I only buy them when they're 50% off + the coupon. :-) I like these baskets because they're sturdy, but look really nice and the liner is totally washable. Here are the baskets from Michaels: So I don't have much to add for your fireplace, but there is a lot you can accomplish with some minor furniture redos.