I know I have old pictures of decorating mistakes (hideous outdated ones) but of course, since our move…I have no idea where they are. I even looked, no luck. If she has the party again – I’ll find them in time!
So, I have to give in and show you a current shot and describe what used to be and what is presently my family room. In the 90s – I considered hunter green to be my neutral. It looked beautiful with mauve and burgundy and all of my framed magnolias or Thomas Kincaide in brass frames. Big poofy drapery. Lots of silk flower arrangements. You know what I mean, right? And Christmas always coordinated with my color scheme too! I guess maybe then it didn’t feel like a mistake, except that I spent what was a chunk of change at the time on this La-z-boy striped sofa. My daughters and I love that it’s so comfortable. The quality is excellent…however, I’ve since learned to keep my big purchases neutral and classic. My first attempt at sewing a slip cover is going to happen before the year is up!
In the meantime, this is our family room with “old” mismatched things and of course, it’s a project on my DIY list and a decorating mistake. It’s just thrown together. (That fish tank that my husband insists on maintaining – with 1 lonely goldfish is a decorating disaster…but he doesn’t ask for much, so it’s something I’d rather just ignore).
See the hunter green area rug? You can barely tell – but the coffee table is hunter green too. And matching end tables. And that huge oak tv armoire? Yea…it’s getting a makeover one of these days as well. I think I have more photos but of course Kodakgallery is having issues and that’s where my old pics are. 🙁
Hey, girl, thanks so much for linking up and being brave! It's okay, we're all here to support you and we know the "after" will be beautiful! I just hope the decorating we're doing now doesn't turn into a "mistake" 10 years from now!
Heehee, yeah… What WAS it with all that hunter green?! We had it too…. In a leather couch! (SO natural…) I was thinking- what are we going to be embarrassed about in 10 years? *gasp* Neutrals??
I had to laugh my butt off at the one lonely fish comment! 🙂 My Mom let my brother get a plethera of fish and then had to go out and buy ANOTHER small tank for one of the fish because he was being picked on. Bully fish.
🙂 It's the worst when you get all emerald green clothes when your little because it's your birth stone color so it MUST mean you love it! 😉 Those were the worst.
<3
Rachelle
Hey!!! Hunter green was the trend and we were on top of it. LOL! I have a checked hunter green wallpapered wall in the kitchen. We just knocked a huge archway in it to expand the area. My goal is to rid the house of all hunter green before summer of 2010. 🙂
Living it up at Lakewood,
Cindy
I envy your bravery! I, however, am on the other end of the spectrum. I have always gone with neutral and decorated neutral so my decor just washed out. I am just, in the last few years, getting more brave with colors. Blogging has really given me alot of push. Thanks for sharing. I bet you feel better! 🙂 I see a great project with the armoire! I cannot wait to see the process.
Ah yes, the 90's. . . I have that time period to thank for the all-over floral wallpaper I put in my powder room {which is now gone, by the way}.
OK….so we were on the same decorating path in the 90's….hunter green, puffy curtains….I've posted my lovely kitchen from 1994 for the party….sounds like it would have blended nicely with your living room 🙂
Jane
I had a hunter green sofa in the '90's too! I thought it was the height of chic-it really was at the time. I'm with you about the neutral pieces for large items though.
I love that you shared this with us.
Don't worry, I've had my share of hunter green in the past. I agree with Embellished Bayou, I hope ten years from now I'm not making a post saying my current decor was a mistake.
Thank you so much Roeshel for all of your sweet comments over at my blog. YOu are too cute! Thanks for being such a good blog friend! Way to be brave!
Thank you for sharing, it's so encouraging for those of who feel like most of our homes are (metaphorically speaking) hunter-green-striped 🙂
I had the hunter green/burgundy thing going on in the 90's too. Balloon curtains that I made myself, hunter green paint, sponge painting, lots of brass and even lots of gold spray paint. Had it all. Whew. I learned about the neutral thing too.
Oh well, I guess it all looked good then. At least at the time I was proud of my little house. We even had mauve carpet in the house we rented.
You don't even know, I have seen 5,000 rooms that look just like that! Hunter Green was HUGE! I think it still has a place in this world…and so does your fishy! 🙂 Blair
Hey you! I had to lol about the fish too. Jason and I had the "painful for him" conversation a few days ago that the 75 gal. fish tank monstrosity in the basement NEEDS to go. It hasn't been set up in years. It WON'T be set up again. Poor guy. He was so sad. 😉
Let's call this giving credit for choosing a color palette and sticking to it. You were true to your vision. Right?! 😉
XO*T
I used to have that EXACT same couch. I finally smartened (??) up and bought a new one… my sister-in-law was very glad to get that one, lol.