[lewis4498]

Thanks, that's a great idea! Maybe that's really where I need to start. If I just buy a few of the pictures & get them hung, than I can start pulling things together.....add a window treatment. Thanks!

[auntzeus]

Victorian is so formal what excatly is drawing you to the victorian look the colrs, lace. beading? What colors are you working w/?
Sue

[breharb25]

You should try checking out www.bhg.com . They have a lot of great decorating ideas and you can even get them emailed to you. Also, check out your local garage sales, sometimes you can find some amazing pieces for dirt cheap. Or try the antique malls, you never know what you'll find there. Hope this helps!

[MrsBrown810]

Is this the style you're thinking of?


Target has a whole line.

[lolo]

I am a retired professional interior designer. What I always suggested to my clients to help them really define what they like I would have them cut out pages from magazines. We would then dissect the pages and often discovered it was not the whole look rather just the color pallette or even just a piece of furniture that drew them to the picture. Try that first. As far as Victorian/Shabby Chic it is my experience that Country Victorian is what is desired. The use of sheers, wicker, florals, quaint antique dolls, toys, baskets. The use of rich colors with a soft background is more common in this look than the heavy fabrics, wallpapers, dark/ornate furniture commonly seen in Victorian homes. I used this look in my house with my collection of antique Victorian and Colonial furniture. Family and friends say it is cozy and welcoming. Have fun and go with what you love and it will work.

[simplechic]

Actually, famlies.com has just invited myself and one other person to write a blog on Frugal Living. One thing I would like to focus on is decorating on a budget. Keep your eyes out. I will try to cater to specific questions or needs any readers might have.

[another_mother]

Hello,

I am new here and I have recently been invited to co-host the Home and Garden blog. My name is Sherry, and I can hardly wait to get started.

Lewis4498, you have already been given some great advice, but I thought I'd throw in my two cents...

I too love picking up inexpensive prints. Then, I look for great frames at garage sales, thrift stores, etc. You can usually find them for reasonable prices, and then you can paint, distress, or whatever you want to make them fit in.

What Lolo suggested sounds like what you have in mind. A warm, inviting look rather than the more formal feel. I also agree with her statement about using what you love. That is my prescription for great decor. Use things you really love and find a way to make them work together.

Finding or creating a common element is the best way to make things work in any space. As Becky mentioned scale is very important. Pieces with similar scale will help keep the space more uniform, helping the eye to easily move around the room. Including too many different sizes and shapes breaks up the room too much and causes things to seem out of place. Even if you use mismatched pieces, you don't want the space to look mix-n-match.

Another great way to make things work is to paint them all the same color, or use coordinating fabrics. For example, if you find a great little chair at a thrift store, you could recover the seat and then make a couple of throw pillows for the sofa, bed, or another chair across the room. Repeating colors and fabrics helps tie everything together even when things don't necessarily match or would not ordinarily fit a particular style.

I hope this helps. Let us know how it's going.

~Sherry

[EmbellishIt]

I found some inspiration on this site's pages:
www.cottageflourishings.com

[Kate101]

Add some pieces of wrought iron to your walls. Some pieces are expensive, but there are others that are really reasonable.
Check here:
www.HomeDecor123.com

[ShutterGuy]

Originally Posted by wittybabies

You may also want to try adding some old distressed shutters on the inside of windows. I get things like that from salvage yards for less than 2 bucks a piece. You can also make a headboard out of the shutters.

I really like the idea to use shutters as a headboard. You may also want to use shutters as a room divider or fireplace screen.