Neotoma's Profile

As beautiful as that house now looks (and it looks much better in many ways), I would prefer a old rocking chair to a stationary bench any day. You know the old saying: "Rocking chairs are the most soothing form of self-administered therapy ever."

(Lesley Blume, Let's Bring Back: http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/book-review-lets-bring-back-by-135913)

Whoa (ha ha) that first pictures is pretty stunning. If those horse heads are fake, that is beyond amazing. If they are real, it is kind of creepy and disturbing, but somewhat impressive. I really want that so bad in my house, if they are synthetic (and not made from some poor, passed-away horses). I think they are a ingenious concept (life-sized realistic looking unicorns) and 2 facing each other making a sort of archway is just far out. Really, they completely succeeded at creating the ambiance and mood of something straight from a fairy tale or fantasy book.

Emily Henderson on HGTV's "Secrets From A Stylist" didn't get a degree. She worked as a waitress (or a barista) and talked to the clientele, found out about styling, and finally got a job as a assistant to a photo stylist. Interior design is a bit of a misnomer, it is more accurate to say "interior architect" (believe me, I am in interior design school now), so when everyone is saying you have to go to school for it, they are sort of correct. But it seems to me that maybe you don't want to mess with the technical aspects that interior designers have to deal with (codes, drafting, HVAC systems, etc.). It seems like you (and many others) just want a creative outlet that also pays the bills. Write down what appeals to you the most, what you want out of the job, what you want to do. If it is creativity, travel, working against the clock, and composing a look, maybe you want to be a stylist of some sort (school not required!) or a decorator. Maybe you really love furniture or jewelry or trendy objects. Then maybe you want to be a designer. Make/build a few of your ideas and sell them on a site like etsy or artfire, and/or try to get hired at a industrial design company or work for a indie designer. Again, no school required. Art communes/studios are a good meet-up place. Talk to as many in the field as you can. Network (if you are interested, it won't feel like work, it will feel like play). Collaborations or apprenticeships are your friend. Don't go back to college and get into mounds of debt.
I recommend the book "Steal Like A Artist" by Austin Kleon. It changed my life.

I love the first photo. I really can't get enough of mid-century modern (especially anything Adrian Pearsall). Please though, more walls of bright colors or some tile, stone, brick, wood, or a mix. I am getting tired personally of predominance of grey, beige, and white painted walls. The 5th picture has wonderfully done walls.

First off, high-waisted pants are ELEGANT and the way pants should be, instead of these second-skin skinny jeans that are all anyone wears. I LOVE wood paneling (not knotty pine, but the rest) and wooden furniture. I would love to surround myself with it, the darker the better. I am fair sick of hearing how ugly it is when it is NOT. I'm so sorry that everyone who was under 12 in the 1970s hated their childhoods and has nothing but hate and loathing for the beautiful things that surrounded them and came to be associated with all the crap in their lives. I am also sick of seeing people paint over beautiful, solid wood furniture on these design sites and then be hailed as some sort of geniuses. Barf! Hello, they just ruined something lovely with something all of us could do. Not brilliant. I have always loved Mid-Century Modern and the Astro-Funk and earthy styles of the 1970s, even back in the 1990's (the 1980s still lingered, ugly, tasteless, awful, with T.V. programs that were preachy (every one had to have some over-emphasized moral) and for the most part, not funny) when it was ridiculed and unpopular (bizarre, considering the inherent coolness there). Just because the media says something is good or bad doesn't make it so, it is what it is. All the people saying wood paneling is awful: yeah, because institutional, glaring, bland white, beige, or grey are SOOOO much better. No, not even.

Very interesting and cool article. Darn it, I love Apartmenttherapy.
Little electric fan, it makes the perfect sound plus a nice breeze. Can't ask for more. Sometimes a radio works well too.

I love the first and last pictures so much. Great article.

Please, if you know, please, please post the answer: What is the style of the fourth (bottom right) picture? It's from the 1960s-70s so it isn't mid-century, right? What is this genre/style officially called?
Thanks in advance

I think this is one of my favorites in the contest. I really like the tray with a spot for the flower. Seamless and futuristic, and cheerful.

I don't like the trend of stark white on everything, sorry. I liked the wood and earth tones of the original. I personally love the style of the 1970s. I think we really lost something when the decade ended, style-wise.