A post I did a little while back (you can read it here) got me thinking about “my style”.
What it is.
What I want it to be.
Where I see it going.
It’s all been hanging out at the front of my mind ever since writing that post.
I feel like now more than ever, I have a clear vision of how I want my home to feel and the kinds of things I want to bring in to accurately portray that feeling.
It has taken me years to be confident in this vision.
Years.
And if you want me to be honest, I still have brief moments of doubt here and there – it’s hard not to when we’re flooded with gorgeous, amazing design day after day from the likes of Instagram and Pinterest.
By the way – I say this all the time – but there is no right or wrong way to decorate your home. It’s all about what feels true to you. Try to use Pinterest, Instagram, and blogs as a tool for inspiration – NOT comparison. It’s a rule I have to remind myself of daily. 😉
When asked what my style is, I have never been able to quickly and efficiently identify it, because it’s a combination of so many things.
Old.
New.
Rustic.
Clean.
Cozy.
Warm.
Neutral.
Earthy.
Farmhouse.
Cottage.
I could go on and on with the adjectives, but I’ll spare you. 🙂
But it dawned on me as I was writing that post, that my style kind of does have a name: Rustic & Woven.
Now, I certainly didn’t name this blog on that basis.
Let me tell you, naming this blog was a task.
I tried every combination of words like vintage, simple, white, cozy, home, and cottage you can think of.
All spoken for.
I tried throwing in our last name, Smith.
Taken.
What could I come up with that would accurately describe what I am about, be easy to remember, and stand out a bit from the crowd?
My eyes roamed around the room and kept landing on two things – rustic, weathered wood and woven baskets.
Rustic & Woven.
At the time, I thought that was a great summary of two of my most favorite textures and design elements, but now I realize it’s a reflection of so much more.
I love to incorporate primitive finds, rustic, weathered wood, rusty metal, sometimes even gritty elements – anything that is perfectly imperfect – and then soften and refine them by combining the warmth of textural throws and pillows, woven baskets, soft linens, natural fiber rugs, and warm white and neutral colors.
It’s raw, yet refined.
Masculine, yet feminine.
It’s old, yet new.
So while I thought I was just picking two words that described two of my favorite elements, I really ended up picking two words that describe me and describe the style of our home.
So what about you? If you had to pick two words to describe your style, what would they be?
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Love your blog, your style, and the name of your blog. I was worried you were thinking about changing the name when I first started reading. Glad you aren’t. Really fits perfectly.
That’s so sweet of you to say, thank you so much Tanja!
Love your style! The white and wood, the vintage pieces paired clean lines – perfect!
Thank you Elise!
This post! And the way your home has evolved… oh my goodness… aren’t you proud of how you’ve pulled it all together? Because you should be. It’s a home… a beautiful home. And more importantly, hasn’t the journey been fun???
I’ll have to take some time and think about my own style… the list begins with casual and collected as we started with practically nothing and now, 43 years later, I see around me little pieces of our life together, from furniture, to driftwood, to books, to dishes, to flea market finds and hand me downs, to feathers found in the yard…. I’ve always loved homes where I could immediately get a sense of the people who lived there. It’s a gift to yourself and to your friends and family to make your home comfortable and welcoming. You have absolutely done that and I suspect will continue doing that with your home…. it’s lovely, Tonya.
Aww Cindy – you have made my whole week. Thank you! I am proud of the home we’ve made – and can’t wait to watch it evolve as we do. We’re just getting started! And I am totally with you on the collected home. I love looking around and being surround by memories and reflections of our journey rather than just random “stuff” to fill a space – not that I don’t have a little of that laying around too. 😀
The name you picked does reflect you to a tee!! I love reading your blog and I thank you for sharing such great inspiration. I am going to have to think about the question for a bit that describes me and my style, great question to get me thinking!
Thank you so much Mary! I love hearing that you enjoy your time here. Can’t wait to hear what you come up with!
Loved this post. I always find it interesting to learn how people picked their blog names. I have a hard time describing my style too, I think I’d probably call it eclectic bohemian but it is still evolving so that may change!
Tania
Eclectic Bohemian sounds so fun! I think once we find our style it always evolves as we do – but at its core stays the same. The journey is half the fun! 🙂
Functionally elegant I guess would be my style! I love your style, but it’s not quite mine, but you inspire me! I love the neutrals, the woven baskets, the contrast of the white/creams/tans with dark wood. Our styles are similar but just enough difference to make us unique! Love reading your blog and seeing your changes. I’m old enough to be your mother, and you will find that you will change a little here and a little there, but the overall style is you! I have gone through phases, and loved something for years, and then one day, seemingly out of the blue I’m over it and go in a different direction! Keep up the wonderful work! I enjoy seeing your “little” changes and creativity!! I enjoy it very much!!
Thank you so much Anna! I’m so glad you enjoy the blog. And I love the sound of Functionally Elegant – sounds both simple and gorgeous with a purpose. Right up my alley! 😀