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This is a topic I’ve always struggled with: Defining our style.
Which inevitably, is putting a ‘label’ of sort on what we do. Our home. Our design approach. At least that’s what it felt like.
I’ve realized lately, that this is just a dramatic personality trait of mine. I don’t like being pigeon-holed into things, and I don’t like labels. The inability to capture it with words hasn’t really held me back, but it has bothered me.
It’s a question we’re asked often, from amazing brands to, the gracious people who occasionally do interviews, and even the incredible awesome people like you who are so kind to who stop by here. I think the prospect has always stressed me out a little.
No, I’m being for real. It’s almost like a job requirement for us, to be able to put our style into words.
This is not one of those situations, but this still makes me laugh so hard. Because so self-important.
You’re all rolling your eyes over there like, yeah Ash. No one cares about your style.
For me, this entire thing was neatly packaged into one silly metaphor when I ran across a similar situation last week. We were at the flea market when I spied some vintage reproduction posters that I just had to have. They were fabulous and they were only five dollars and the color wheel was screaming my name. So I scooped up two of them, one print I chose and the other one our youngest chose, and went on my merry way.
I was super proud of my purchase. And myself. Wheee. I need to get out more.
Until about an hour later, we happened upon another booth with some of the exact same prints.
I felt this small nagging sense of insecurity that those prints weren’t what we thought they were. They were somehow now, less special. I know. I am such a weirdo. {Learning more about myself, this is a classic 4 w 5 move. Yes, I do hate labels but hurray for self improvement and understanding.}
Let me be clear: I’m not some insufferable wanna be hipster who’s obsessed with myself.
Do what you love no matter what and all the things I’ve always believed.
But for some reason these posters of all things, bothered me.
So then I started thinking, and I realized {if you’re still following my bizzaro story} I do this with defining our style.
I was fixated on those posters, doubting my choice. And they were a good choice.
At some point, we fixate on something.
People do this. I think it’s human nature when it comes to our dwelling places. Our clients all do this. Everyone does this on some level to some degree with their house. {We find that it’s usually the lights, of all things, btw.}
It may sound silly, but I’m a words person. So while I don’t like labels, I do like being able to describe something accurately. What if I finally nail it, and then {DUM DUM DUUUUMMMMM} it goes out of style? I think because our styles are always evolving, I wasn’t interested in ‘pigeon holing’ myself into one category.
Are you rolling your eyes yet? So stupid, I know. Yet also, kind of important to me to be able to put it into words when the question is asked.
Once, in search for an answer, I even had a good friend of mine to describe our style for us.
I thought a second person’s perspective would help shine the light on my current word paralysis. I’ve never laughed so hard when her solution was ‘mid-century modern goes to the carnival’.
That one was by far one of my favorites. It stuck with me. I mean how could you not like it, even if it’s to make you laugh?
But it still wasn’t us.
Then recently, I was on the plane a-la our first vacay in quite some time, and I decided to pick up an issue of Traditional Home and pay one million dollars for it in the airport. No, really. I could have like three lifetime subscriptions for the price of one inflated mag in the middle of the Nashville airport.
I thought Jamin may stroke out on the floor.
When I peruse a magazine, there are two options for me on what the outcome will be: sometimes I put it down in frustration because the style doesn’t speak to me at all… it’s completely un-relatable. {No I don’t find your gilded cheetah print walls applicable or appealing} And then sometimes, the images really speak to me. I’m inspired and excited and I want to tear them out and put them on an inspiration board and love them for life and pull elements from them into our own home.
This was one of those moments.
I felt that most of the images in the mag spoke to me, and I realized I would just put a few twists on some of the designs to call them my own. Thus the word Eclectic, added, later, to our little style label.
Side tangent: But it’s also funny to me how over and over again, the same images will strike my fancy.
I’m drawn to them like moths to a flame. I found a photo I took of an idea in a magazine, in 2015. So I wouldn’t forget. I only recently re-pinned the same image on Pinterest. And then stumbled upon the photograph from my original photograph, saved in my phone last week. I think we know ourselves and what we like and we keep coming back to it time and time again. It almost helps to be reminded of those things occasionally.
So in a way, finding the words for a style are important, because they help us figure out what we like. And if we want to change said label, we can. It’s not like they’re etched in our forehead for life. We don’t have to be married to them. {Good thing we don’t have to commit, because that jazz could totally change tomorrow.}
So I told you a really long story to tell you our word. And to maybe encourage you to find your own.
Because I do find it fun in setting goals and helping to clarify our vision a little.
Our word: Eclectic Traditional {goes to the carnival?}.
At least that’s what it is, for now.
Ask me again in three years, and it will have probably changed. All I know, is that we’re having fun. And if this is what fun looks like for us, it’s great to let that shine through in our designs.
So here are my questions:
1. What word{s} do you use to describe your style? And why?
2. What word{s} would you use to describe us? – I guess I’m curious what you see.
3. Does it help guide you in your decision making processes for your home? Is it helpful to have light guidelines to push you in a direction? Have you been hesitant to place a label on things or am I the only one who over thinks? {Shocker}
We’d love to hear!
Let us know what you’re thinking below!
Have an inspired day!
Chelsea says
This is such a timely post as I too have been thinking lately about what to call my style! And just two days ago, it came to me- eclectic cottage. So imagine my surprise when I read your style name today! Love it! It really helps me to have a style name to help me “edit” my purchases for my home.
ashley @ the handmade home says
I’m so glad I’m not the only one who thinks this way! I love Eclectic Cottage! SO MUCH FUN! Now I want to tour your house ;}
Anne C says
HAHA! Your descriptions and ways of telling stories always make me smile. I felt like I was listening to my own process the whole way through. And yes it does help to have a name for what you’re doing. It helps me, anyway? I appreciated listening to everything that you have to say. LOVE it.
Renee says
I would say Eclectic with color.
I want to get more color in my style. My house has gotten too traditional looking and not enough Transitional. I’m so sick of the Farmhouse style everywhere.
ashley @ the handmade home says
Yeah – I hate that it’s been so saturated in the farmhouse department {side eye emoji here} and I do like to keep it fresh! I think that’s why I’m so scared to even title it – HA! Yay for bringing more color into your home!
Erin says
I call my style “magpie chic”. I kind of grab colorful and shiny things I like because I like them, and throw everything together whether it “goes” or not. 😅 (Also 4w5 here.)
Many years ago a friend described your style to me with the word “ice cream cone.” I think she was referring to colors. I have always loved that and it stuck in my head. 😂 So Ice Cream Eclectic perhaps?
I do not follow guidelines. It’s a character flaw.