Long before we picked out our new house, I knew I wanted to incorporate blues in the color scheme. It’s always been my favorite color and yet it was completely absent in the log cabin.
What I wasn’t sure of was the exact style I wanted to bring to the new place. Like with so many things, it is so much easier to pinpoint what I don’t want…no dark, ornate furniture, no matchy matchy, and no themed decor.
I find I’m typically drawn to soft colors, curved lines and lots of texture, so it comes as no surprise I love French Country style, but I also appreciate subtle coastal design (emphasis on ‘subtle’), particularly since we are now on the coast and blues lend themselves so well to that design style.
While I knew it would be fun to decorate our new place from scratch, I don’t think I realized how overwhelming and confusing it would be. There’s an unbelievable amount of choices online, and we are fortunate to live in an area that has an amazing array of fabulous shops at our fingertips. All that’s great, but it requires lots of discipline and focus, or else it’s way too easy to fall down the ‘I made a big mistake’ decorating rabbit hole.
Enter mood boards. They’re a great way to get a feel for how items you like work with each other. Yes, it requires lots of time, but it’s worth it.
First up is a nod to my love of texture and relaxed, unassuming spaces: Coastal Casual
For this look, I layered a striped Ralph Lauren rug over a simple jute rug, bamboo shades and simple striped curtains. Some distressed wood furniture pieces, rope tied lamps and coastal art round out the decor.
I thought I would include an additional moodboard for each of the three styles showcasing some of the other items I liked that complemented each style, including counter stools and pendants since they will be visible from the living room.
For a slightly more sophisticated look, I’m considering what I call Coastal Luxe. Here, the colors are bolder, and while it doesn’t have as many textural elements as the above look, it more than makes up for it with the ‘wow’ factor that mirrored consoles, graphic art and a luxurious upholstered ottoman bring.
And just in case you want more color, how about these hand painted pendant lights? Gorgeous! Seriously, these alone may dictate the direction I go toward.
And no, your eyes are not deceiving you. I actually found a lamp shade that coordinates with a rug. How cool is that?
Lastly, here’s my take on French Country. Nothing too ornate or gilded here folks. Just a soft, serene look that could be at home in almost any setting.
For this look I choose floral patterned drapes, a pretty architectural piece for over the fireplace, curved cocktail and console tables and an antique, marble side table, which helps to bring a sense of history and a ‘collected over time’ vibe.
Delicate antique white pendants for the kitchen island, weathered counter stools and some heavily distressed tables are some other possible design choices that would pull this look together.
One thing that became increasingly apparent to me is that many of these styles can be interchanged. The cute little round side table above can be used in several decor styles successfully, including shabby chic and coastal casual. Ditto for the console. The ornate mirror could easily feel at home on my Coastal Luxe board, and the bistro counter stool would look great on the French Country board as well.
Now that I’ve done this exercise, you may be wondering if it’s brought me closer to deciding on a particular style.
Nope. 🙄
Keep in mind many of these pieces won’t be available by the time we’re ready, while others are not super practical. For example, I love the look of ottomans but not necessarily as cocktail tables. Another thing…our floors are going to be dark. That one factor will have a huge impact on how certain pieces will actually look in the space.
When I look at the idea boards I’ve created on decorating sites such as Wayfair and Houzz, I often end up deleting items I liked just a few months ago, but am no longer interested in. That may very well happen with these mood boards, and that’s a good thing. Deciding what I don’t want is a step in the right direction.
In other news…
The house is drywalled and the cabinets will be installed this week. With that said, the builder seems to be having difficulty getting and keeping subs, most likely a direct result of all the building occurring here and perhaps the stricter immigration laws. So…we are not sure when we will be moving in. We are taking a ride on Tuesday to check things out and I’ll share on IG and my next post, which, btw, will have some mood boards for the master.
Things are warming up slowly but surely, and I hope where you are the snow has left!
Emily says
Dear Doreen, You have busy with mood boards and you’ve pulled wonderful pieces for your ideas. If you chose any of the three you couldn’t go wrong. The only problem with building you have so much time to think about what you like you’ll probably be going back and forth until you have to make a decision. I know, been there. I can say there are so many styles I love if I had to build again I wouldn’t know what I wanted. I think you’ve made beautiful choices here so anything you do I’m positive will be gorgeous. I really love your style…….Can’t wait to see it all come together.
Dewena says
Now we’re getting to the fun part! I adore mood boards and loved looking at yours.
Okay, Coastal Casual just does not seem like you, Doreen, not the new Doreen. Or maybe it’s just that I don’t like it for you so if you love it I’m sure I will too when I see you in it. But I’m betting this look is not your favorite.
Casual Luxe seems better and that blue pendant light would be pretty amazing.
However, the French Country just seems like what I’ve envisioned as your new look. Those white pendants for the kitchen island, YES! The collected over time look of accessories, the perfect blues. That rug or one just as scrumptious. And as I’ve seen Penelope Bianchi and other designers plead for people not to call them drapes–“there’s no such word”–I love the blue paisley curtains, or others of its lovely type.
The white sofa that works with all the looks, and two of them for your living room, how amazing they will be with everything else you choose.
And I get you about changing your mind but it is actually refining your taste and that is exciting. I will look forward to all the different choices you show us on this fun journey.
Keep ’em coming,
Dewena
Poppy says
Oh, mon Dieu! That beautiful bistro kitchen pendent in your French Country collection is to die for! That, alone, would be my inspiration for the entire house! Personally, I would steal a few ‘must have’ pieces/colours/textures/patterns from each board to make up an entire new one and call it ‘a la Doreen’! I know that whatever you choose, in the end, will be the right choice, since you have put so much thought into this project from the get-go.
Pics please when you see the new progress on the palace!
xxx
Poppy
Judy says
Oh, Doreen. I envy you having a new scheme to figure out, but I don’t envy the doing of it. I am always so afraid that I would make the wrong decisions. I love something from each collection you showed and it would be hard to pick. I agree that they all can be mixed and the blues are beautiful in the Coastal Luxe and the French Country. So rich yet soft and subtle..I am just so excited for you and am anxious to see how it comes along..Happy Spring..xxoJudy
Stacey says
This is so much fun! I’ve never learned how to do these mood boards but they seem to be so helpful. The colors you are considering are gorgeous.
AnnMarie says
With each scroll down this post, I fell in love again and again! Wow, what pretty choices you have. I too love blue as a decorating color and I only have touches of cobalt in my kitchen. I know how overwhelming it can be and I am only trying to layout two colors in my tiny bathroom. I actually went out and bought black poster board to tape to the walls to see if a black feature wall would work. I am so afraid of making a huge mistake! I guess doing it slowly, one item at a time, might be the answer.
Rita C at Panoply says
Oooh, Doreen! I love, love, love your mood boards. Believe me, I know it took loads of work to get yourself to this point! It brings back [bad] memories of the angst of selecting bath decor from scratch, and kitchen appliances after 30 yrs of the same ones. I think I’d be like you if I were starting again, adding blue to my no-blue decor. I am in love with your Coastal Luxe, and I also like the darker blue upholstered bench (as well as that bar cart) in the 2nd board. I also like even more casual looks, depending on how many rooms you have (esp for a sunroom). I agree that many of these pieces could be interchanged. Hard work, but fun, what you’re doing. Your progress sounds good, and even though it’s lagging, didn’t you pretty much expect that? Contractors’ promises are a universal topic, it seems.
Well, guess what we woke up to? SN*W. Yep, Saturday and again today, scant covering on the ground, but ridiculous nonetheless.
Have a great week.
Cecilia says
That’s a fun way to visualize different looks! All three are great looks but I like the Coastal Causal the best. I can’t wait to see what you end up doing. What fun to start off fresh! Hope things will start coming together and the house will get done.
We are in full Spring mode…flowers everywhere and lots of pollen (achoo)! Have a great week!
Cindy says
Doreen, I love your mood boards. I have to agree, there is so much available it gets overwhelming. I have made the oops moment in decorating here a bit but not with anything to costly
Me personally, the French Country seems more you to me with a bit of coastal thrown in the mix. This is exciting. Bummer that they can’t give you an idea of a move in date. You seem to be dealing with it well.
Have fun on your ride. By the way, you know I adore you, but stop letting us know about all the great shops you have and we don’t up here. It really does bug me t hat NJ doesn’t get the point that us girls want some fantastic home décor and shops up here..
Hugs,
Cindy
Penny at Enjoying The Simple Things says
I love all of your choices. I know what you mean about contractors and their subs…we were dealing with this last year! I hope things move along a little faster for you!
Susan lawton says
I thought coastal luxe all the way until it came to adding dark floors. I pictured light floors with these choices, so now I’m with everyone else, a little bit of each because they are all gorgeous! Sorry to hear the construction is going slowly, however once it is done this waiting will be a distant memory. You have inspired me to try a mood board. I’d like to redecorate my bedroom. When I moved in I threw it together and said this will do until I get to it, and 5 years later it’s the same. Slow and steady is a better path, thank you for the lesson. Enjoy the warm weather, we had 8 inches of snow this past weekend in VT. Great skiing, but I’d rather be at the beach!
Susan Lawton
Pat M. says
I know it must be confusing and hard to decide, but how lucky are you to be able to start from scratch and find exactly what suits you at this point in your life. I’m so envious. I love most of what you’ve done on the mood boards, but I think my favorite(s) are the very first one and the last one with the French touches. I’m sure whatever you choose, it will look amazing.
Sue says
I like the last 3 boards the most. Love your coastal idea boards. We are having snow today with the snow sticking to the trees. I am sure this is the last of it. I’ve missed coming over to see you and will try to get here more often. We are busy helping to care for our grandson who lives with us now and life is different, in a good way. I’m seeing the light to get back to blogging.
tammy j says
okay. here’s the deal!
you’re asking MOI? a gemini that changes her mind 3 times within an hour and loves every change?
until the next change!
I’m like Poppy. anything you do is going to be “‘a la Doreen’!” and beautiful.
BUT. since you did ask all of us for our oPINEyun… I say that because many are pining away with your choices problem!
LOLOL. oh to have that problem to pine over. but I digress.
I would vote for the Coastal Luxe. did I spell that right?
when I first met you Sarissa had just married. well a little while back. but you had designed and CREATED a one of a kind crystal bouqet of vintage brooches for her to carry. I’d never seen anything like it.
no. not my style. but YOURS! and seeing pictures of the wedding I saw that it was PERFECT!
now. you have the CL (c’mon now… Carol Lombard. think My Man Godfrey) exquisite sofa.
and now your mood board with the fantastic hand painted pendant lighting (another one of a kind) and oh my…
my favorite colors of sand and sea. the blues just like the ocean… deep and vibrant and sparkly aqua in the sun…
and sand wet and dry… the shades evoking a full day in the beauty that is yours living there.
you to me are everthing that ‘style’ (actually didn’t think of it as a style) but the one that seems most you is that one. Coastal Luxe. it has your humor. your elegance. your down to earth. your sense of fun and adventure.
now. Fisherman has to live in it too. I always wondered how they would feel with too much estrogen around to sit on.
wow. that sounds bad. but you know what I mean. and it’s not like you were in a log cabin (beautiful!!! but still…)
for many years in a climate that is well. cold.
I say… GO FOR IT GIRL! be the new CL with dark hair on the block. make them wonder where Gable is stashed!!!
sorry Fisherman. you know I love you too.
XOXO
Kris @ Junk Chic Cottage says
Doreen,
I love love all your choices. I am drawn towards the blues just gorgeous what you have picked out. You cannot go wrong with any of these choices. I know it will be beautiful. I always believe if we surround ourselves with things we love then we will be happy with our choices. Have a great week. Glad they are getting more things done on the new house.
xoxo
Kris
Mary says
Doreen the snow is gone, at least for this week. I too am like you. Many times I know what I don’t like but if you were to ask me what I like or to choose among favorites then it is a whole different ballgame. I really love the soft colors you have chosen and I have also come to accept after many years of denial that blue is my favorite color too. Take your time and I know that whatever you come up with it will have your stamp on it.
Julie says
Hi Doreen, what a great idea to make a moodboard. I love your color scheme for the house and it must be fun but overwhelming with choosing everything! I do hope you enjoy and have fun with decorating your new home. :0)
Kim says
Ok. Now I want to redecorate everything in blue and white. Especially that big red wall in the kitchen. You know, the one that will take 2 coats of primer and 5 coats of paint to cover. My husband thanks you. 😉 And I think you have the most divine taste…
carrie@northwoods scrapbook says
Hey Lady!! 😉
So much fun! I know whatever you decide to sway towards it will be superb. I love following your journey on IG too. I’m drawn to the french country with some coastal luxe thrown in for where you live personally. And those hand painted pendants – OMG I’m in love!!! They are perfection. They definitely get my vote.
Hope you’re having lots of sun and fun among all the work too. 😉 Send Spring our way please. ::sigh::
Have a great rest of the week Babes. xoxo
jemma says
Well Doreen! Hello fabulous decorator and mood board expert! I am loving all of your choices and I personally think you can go in any direction and pull off exactly the look that appeals to you. Isn’t it amazing and sort of a blessing that also causes frustration that what we thought was over the moon wonderful a few months ago we don’t know- it all changes so quickly. As your friend, I must tell you that I’d like to change up things in our home and we have only lived here 2 1/2 years and I will tell you why. The lighting. We get indirect lighting and on cloudy days the dark floors and a few stained built-ins soak up that indirect lighting and it seems darker in our home than it really is. I am actually considering painting some of the built ins blue or white. So if my opinion matters, keep it light and keep it happy!
XO
Jemma
jemma says
“We don’t ” NOW”-not know! oops!
Debbie - MountainMama says
I love all those mood boards, Doreen!! Can’t wait to see the house – hope you’ll share photos after your visit!!
Shirley @Housepitality Designs says
Loving your inspiration boards and welcome to beautiful North Carolina!!!
Karen says
Oh, what fun, Doreen! I truly think you should go into interior design – you have a real eye for decorating. I can’t even imagine having to make a decision, though…..they are all so gorgeous! I am especially in love with the French Country board, myself, but then when I look at the others, I am in love with those, too. I just love all the touches of blue. I hope things go smoothly for the rest of the finish work, but I know how these things can take time. I hope you have a lovely drive this weekend to see your dreams coming true. xx Karen
handmade by amalia says
Making these mood boards must have been so much fun. There are so many pretty things out there to choose from.
Amalia
xo
Marilyn McLeod says
Doreen… I truly thought I DID comment on this but I must have “meant” to and then forgot. April has been full of company and birthdays, gift making, etc.!!! Your mood boards are so fun. I have some decorating boards on Pinterest but love how your items are all grouped together for the different themes. As you and others have said, many of the items will go with items from the other boards. I LOVE the coastal/beach theme though I live nowhere near the ocean! I’ve been partial to blue and white ever since my family went to the Oregon coast when I was a little girl, and stayed in a beach house with the blue and white theme. The kitchen was ALL blues and crisp white… a darker navy blue, with blue gingham curtains and chair cushions, white table and chairs, white kitchen cabinets. I absolutely LOVED it…. and years ago I had a blue and white themed kitchen too, but the blue we used was a lighter sky blue. My faves are the counter stools with the blue and white stripes.. and of course LOVE the blue toile curtains, and the French Country floral drapes, architectural piece and side table with the faded blue drawers are just wonderful! My house is darker as only two windows in our living area, and we have alot of darker furniture which I want to “someday” paint white or cream to lighten things up. As one gal said, knowing how much light you will have in your rooms helps to decide what types and colors of furniture to have. I think your home looks like it will be very light and bright. I’m so excited to see it all put together!
It would be a very hard decision for me to decorate an entire house! I’m not good at all with making decisions on anything.. so deciding on what pieces I like (when I have have hundreds to choose from!) would be near impossible. I think with the mood boards, I’d have to look at one board, and whatever my eye first jumped to, that would be what I would choose. It definitely IS a great way to put everything in one place.. but oh the decisions to make. Woe would be me!
Hugs to you… Marilyn
Magali@TheLittleWhiteHouse says
Those inspiration boards were really interesting to see. Even you didn’t make any decision yet, it helps you finding a direction.
Karen (Back Road Journal) says
It is so much fun putting boards together like this…so many beautiful things are available to us now. I won’t be surprised if I see a little of each look when you make your final decision. Can’t wait!
Amy @ Ms. Toody Goo Shoes says
I don’t know how you’ll choose, Doreen! They are all great looks! I know how I am – I think I know exactly what I want until I have to make a decision, and then, suddenly, I’m not so sure. But at least you have this time to really sort things out, and not feel pressured to make any decisions. One thing I do know – when you finally figure it out, it will look fabulous!