but that's not you

Julie Hillman
The other day I was reading my friend Mimosa Lane and her post on the uber talented Julie Hillman and this dining room stopped me in my (snow) tracks. I love every inch of it. The outstanding chandy, the artwork, that table sent from the marble gods, those amazing chairs, the fur draped over the seats, the rug, everything.

I pinned it, of course, and then later when I was going thru my dining room board with a client I noticed I had pinned this sucker not once, or twice but thrice. (you didn't think I was gonna say thrice, did you? me neither). I showed it to a friend that night, I told you I loved it, and she said "Huh. I never would have thought you would like that room. It doesn't seem very 'you'."

Maybe not. But I think design is all about stretching yourself - appreciating and having a true interest in all sorts of styles. If you only stuck to a certain look or handful of items and used them over and over I am sure that you would loose your mind. And truly, if something is beautiful the era or 'style' doesn't matter. Beautiful is as beautiful does as Forrest Gump would say. In order to grow, change is vital. So step outside your comfort zone once in a while and see where it gets you. You might just end up with a room as amazing as this. That is, if you step out of your comfort zone and step into a huge pile of $$.

What do you think? Do you stay safely in your design corner of the world? Do you have an item or era that you love and you don't know why? Anyone know if those people are tired of that marble table? I'm happy to take it off their hands.