Message board for home decorating?

[Nechums]

Does anyone know if an active message board (like this) exists for home decorating/interior design? We're moving into a new house and I'm clueless when it comes to matching furniture, carpeting and paint other than the "neutral goes with everything".

[jench]

Check out That Home Site! board which is a part of GardenWeb. They have a Home Decorating Forum. There are LOTS of talented & helpful people there.

http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/

[Nechums]

Thanks. I just posted. I'm not used to that type of forum format, but hopefully I'll get some great responses. I may post here as well, but I always feel bad posting about non-baby related stuff here!

[jench]

yeah, the format seems so old-school! But it's very friendly there, some of the gals will even photoshop pictures for you if you post them. (they helped me pick a bathroom color that way!)

[karenj2]

There are some good books out there to help with home decorating from scratch... If I can think of the titles I'll post again.

I actually work at the HQ of Calico Corners, and although we don't do paint & rug selection, one of the things we train our sales associates is to guide the customer through color selection & style. (We actually had a seminar for customers recently on this very topic!) We sell furniture and window treatments, so you could coordinate your room very easily in one store!

The basics is to start from the ground up - if you have a rug that you love, you can pull colors from it to both the furniture and walls. (If you have a neutral wall to wall rug, then you've got a blank slate for the furniture, etc.) Always pick your furniture before your wall paint colors; it's easier to match paint colors to the fabric than match fabric to the paint colors.

Start thinking about what type of style you like - traditional, transitional, modern, eclectic, country etc. because that will also influence the type of colors/fabrics/furniture frames you choose. (i.e., you wouldn't pick a funky graphic print if you're traditional.)

Also, there are lots of great blogs out there with decorating ideas. You could bookmark the styles you like and take that into the stores when you do your shopping.

Good luck! Since I started working at Calico, I've learned SO much about home decorating! I can't wait to redo my house.

[TwinFoxes]

Start thinking about what type of style you like - traditional, transitional, modern, eclectic, country etc. because that will also influence the type of colors/fabrics/furniture frames you choose. (i.e., you wouldn't pick a funky graphic print if you're traditional.)

Maybe you can answer this: what is "transitional" style?" I am moving into a new house too and keep seeing that phrase. But I have no idea what it means!

[karenj2]

Transitional is a combination of traditional and contemporary. Basically, you might like a more traditional furniture piece (a camelback sofa), but you like a more modern print.

Or, you like a grommet style drapery panel, but in a traditional silk print.

Here's an example:
http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot....list-love.html

[TwinFoxes]

Transitional is a combination of traditional and contemporary. Basically, you might like a more traditional furniture piece (a camelback sofa), but you like a more modern print.

Or, you like a grommet style drapery panel, but in a traditional silk print.

Here's an example:
http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot....list-love.html

Cool! Thanks so much. I guess my tastes are transitional.

[bekkalu]

check out Makeupalley.com. There is a decor section on that board.