White~

Ah, you girls came back even though i am a rabmbling un-wed mother shaking up with the pool boy!

Glad to see i haven't detoured you...and you still maybe like me!

After this post I am sure you will be wondering why you still read this silly ole blog...

 Away we go!

I have recently discovered that my decorating style holds a bit of  traditional, along with cottage and a wee bit of an eclectic mix or mess if you will...

But, I just can't for some reason jump on board with the all white decor I see in the magazines and quite frequently throughout blogland....

 

Now, wait before you skip through and leave me a nasty comment, I truly do love all white, the slip covered couches, the amazing white panels that line huge french doors, and the white rugs placed lovingly on the dark hard wood floors...I love it...

a lot...

in my dreams.

You see I have too much of an obsessive compulsive disorder going on to have an all white house, plus my traditional style comes out and I need pops of color here and there, I just do, it keeps me sane...and you don't want to see me when I am insane!

For example, you should have seen (or probably not) the two year old fit I threw when I came home one day and noticed a wee little dent in my new refrigerator...I flipped out...

I had to take a walk to cool off...it was embarrassing and the only thing i could do was call my dad to whom shares my OCD and vent...

He totally understood and told me I care to much about my belongings...

huh?

What?

Me?

NEVER....

and well it hit me....

I do...they are after all just possessions, right?

But still....my new fridge has a dent....

I felt sorry for her...

Moving on, or I might have another break down.

This here I could do...the white wood walls, the lived in feel...the rays of light splashing through the windows...

But, I would add a rug in there for some more cozy pops of color...

See it's the old traditional side tacking over!

I would love to have a kids room like this one below...

I am loving yellow right now and have a wee little project in the works at my cottage...

That might include some yellow...I am only saying maybe...

 

And, it might also include an element from this picture below...

But i am not going to tell you which element...that will be my surprise!

I am super excited to have a new color in my home!

And of course, this little project comes with a fun little story...but you will have to wait 'til next week to find out...

Back to color...

As many of you are starting to take color out of your homes..

I am adding...

I suppose I will always swim in a different direction in the pond so to speak...

I can't help myself...

I also can't help myself to a whole bag of skittles, but you already knew about that weakness.

Back on topic, sorry...

I will continue to dream of white, and having less of an OCD problem...

And bigger boobs, but alas we don't get everything we ask for now do we?

 Now that I have taken you on a little journey and really made no sense at all, I have accomplished my goals and also demonstrated how my brain works day in and day out...

It is a wonder i get anything done!

So with all of that nonsense, I suppose I will go grab my yellow paint can and add a wee bit more color to my eclectic mess, I mean mix!

Cheers big ears!

 

All photos from coastal living

P.S. if anyone knows where I can find a pale yellow pair of rain boots, please let me know...

I need them bad...living in California and all...!

 

 

Comments

[Kaydence]

Thank you for your encouragement!

Can I please have a house one day that has every single one of these rooms? That would mean multiple kitchens but I'm OK with that.

[cozy kitchen by the sea]

Dear Tara,
I think we were seperated at birth.
I couldn't agree more.
I love white. I'm afraid of 'color'. But I can't have everything white. My hubby hates that I don't like 'color' on the walls so I have to settle for 'creams/tans/blues'... I would have all white walls if I could... BUT I DO ADORE the pops of color here and there...and those images you posted are EXACTLY what I'm all about !! LOVE IT.
HAVE TONS OF INSPIRATION NOW.
Thanks.
Wave to the pier for me :)
P.s.
Is Sonny's still in business ?
I ate lots of noodles at the place !

[pearl maple]

I used to have yellow rain boots and they were the best fun on a damp day.

As for your choice of yellow in your decor, that sunny happy tone is going to look fabulous.

[MiaNostalgia]

I discovered your blog today and I love it already! I have read some of your posts and look forward to sit down and read more.
The post of love and marriage was great (I am happily married myself but do not think that is the "goal" for everyone and respect and understand that people choose different)...

About your last post: I also love white, AND colours! The pictures are SO beautiful, and inspiring! Thank you for sharing! Look forward to follow you - from the other side of the ocean; Norway (that`s the reason for my not so good written English) :-) Have a great day!

[traci]

i love white but it doesn't work in my house or maybe i mean with my messy family. there, i said it. maybe if i had a little cottage by the sea that only i lived in. actually i love color too much. love the first picture with that blue table. too cute. and the white kitchen with the blue and green accents. i could do that in my house. hhmmmmm. now you've got me thinking.

[Tricia Whisler]

I couldn't agree with you more! I gotta have me some color!

[Suzann from The Olive Cottage]

Well I am removing color and adding color in my home and from the sounds of it, you and I could be bestest friends.
I am taking away the dark everything, but bringing in happier lighter whiter brighter. Make sense? Yellow! LOVE Yellow, but it scares me in paint. I'm after the perfect butter yellow. Pale, perky, smooth, filled with light and beads of happiness.
Rainboots? Haven't seen any pale yellow, but I'll keep my eyes peeled.
OCD? Have it. We could talk. LOL

[jamie]

Ditto! Although the White is Beautiful in my house at this time, Would Never work. I Love Yellow, can't wear the color, although so many can wear it Beautifully, in Decor it is so Pretty. I used lots of Yellow in our first house. As for those rain boots, I don't think you will be needing those in Southern Cali for quite a while, maybe to wade in the ocean or perhaps helping your pool man out with some pools! We can dream though right? xoxoxoxo, Jamie

[LuLu]

We are swimming in the same pond! :) I'm a color girl... it's all over my home. for me it makes me happy. here's a secret.... every room but my son's has yellow in it! either on the walls or in pops of furniture!remember a long time ago I told you I want to paint my kitchen island? my cabinets are maple and I want my island to be different.... I would lOVE to know what color you would paint it!!
xo,
LuLu

[Alison Gibbs]

Great post - who wants to be like everyone else - not me! Swim your own race I say!!
Love the splashes of colour you can put into a home with a white backdrop
Alison

[koralee]

Oh my these images are lovely...I adore that number 2 kitchen...I am a white girl but I always have black with it or another punch of colour. But I have seen all white rooms which I adore as well. xoxoxo

[lissa]

okay tara, 1st of all... cheers big ears? I don't get it? Is that a saying I don't know or an inside joke?

2nd. I wish I loved pops of color. I do! My hubby always says "there is nothing wrong with color" Especially these dreamy, beachy colors that you've shown here!

Like Tracy's new yellow desk! So amazing huh?

[Becky @ Farmgirl Paints]

You know I love color. I could no more live in a white box than in a giant shoe!! I really don't know how people can keep color out. It baffles me really. I admire them and wonder in amazement at how they do it, I just know I couldn't. Beautiful pics. The yellow bedspreads in that room took my breath away. Loved the slip covered chairs and dog painting in that funky kitchen. Great post Tara...makes me love you even more;)

[Andrea - Faded Plains]

I like it all...white, black, and all the colors in between.

[Kimberly]

while summer is my "white" season, I enjoy adding color in the autumn and winter - usually pops of red and a slate blue. It tends to warm it up a bit~
Can't wait to see what you have up your little sleeve with the yellow!
xx

[m]

Uh, yah, me too! Rain boots that is! We should have them tho...to wear when we are hosing down are homes...we're on fire again up here (
further north, but it still sets me om edge!)
LOVE those light & airy room...low ceilings...they are heavenly!

m ^..^

[Michelle]

Oh I appreciate the white too... but I have to have color... at least on the walls. Plus I like black furniture too much! The photos are lovely.

SMiles!
Michelle
ps I need some rainboots... it has rained all week in TN

[kasey]

you know me...love a good white.
maybe i can do a little bitty color...
xo

[Julie]

Yeah! I was starting think maybe I was weird. I love color too. I need at least a pop of color if not the whole kit and kaboodle. ;)

Have a wonderful day!
xo

[Lisa]

Excellent post on decorating styles. I think all of these photos are gorgeous...white or not white. ;)

[Laura Phelps]

I grew up in a completely all WHITE very modern home. It was STRESSFUL. We couldnt touch anything!!!! My mom was always cleaning. It looked like the one hour photo shop.

I do love white though...but have you seen the bottoms of my childrens feet?? Just cant go there...not yet, at least....

but then again, I am decorating challenged...

[Diana Thompson]

I am with you!!! I, too, love white, but i need to have color. I would be an abusive mom with white couches, even though i know they can be cleaned, but who wants to clean their couches every time their kid eats an Oreo?? However, when I look at all white rooms, it is so calming and beautiful. But color does make me happy!!!

[Coreen]

I adore that picture of the kid's bedroom, the window portal is so clever!

Wellington rain boots: http://www.wellieart.co.uk/wellington-boots.html and Land's End: www.landsend.com - both carry cute rain boots but how about these adorable wedge rain shoes by Tretorn?
http://www.dllrainwear.com/servlet/the-1045/Tretorn--dsh--Women%27s-Karin/Detail

Rain in SoCal? Would be nice! :)

[Rebecca]

Were we seperated at birth? I love white but need color too. Love the photos and colors. can't wait to see what you have been up to with your current project.

Hope you dont mind but i tagged you in a fun little post i did.

cheers!

[Kacey]

I love both. I just don't think the pretty all-white color scheme could exist happily in my house! Two boys, two cats and a dog and all...

Color always wins with me - I need it to make me happy!

I can't wait to see your yellow project!