Mockingbird Hill Cottage

I have this theory.

I may be wrong; I often am. But I wonder….do our decorating styles skip a generation?

Let me try to explain; and I can only refer to my particular style, of course.

I grew up in a house full of modern furniture. It was full of Danish Modern or Modern – what is now called Mid-Century Modern. I don’t know if I had any intense reactions to it at the time, it was just there. But I knew, even then, I would never decorate that way. And when I see the Mid-Century Modern craze, though I can admire rooms decorated that way, I know I wouldn’t touch it with a ten-foot pole. Been there, done that. I have a friend, about 20 years younger than me, whose home is decorated in that style. She didn’t grow up with it, I suspect.

My mom, on the other hand, grew up with my grandmother’s style, which was not in any way, shape, or form, modern. It was closer to traditional with a wicker rocker or two, touches of cottage and lots of china displayed in china cabinets.

Do you see where I’m going here?

Do we skip a generation in our decorating tastes? Do we want something other than what we grew up with?

Mom wanted anything but her mother’s style.

So did I.

I hearken back to grandma’s style of decorating, except I am much more casual. My grandmother’s home, though cheery and welcoming, was neat as a pin, nothing out of place. Everything was arranged.

And I don’t really go for Traditional. If I had some of grandma’s dark mahogany furniture, I would paint it. (Except for the piano.) She might not like that.

My mom’s home was full of a lot of beige. I don’t do beige. I do color. And that red chair below? I bought it because it reminded me of a chair in my grandmother’s den. But mine is more colorful. I decided last year that my style is Christmas in Connecticut, a reference to the cozy, overstuffed, slipcovered style of that movie.

The only room where there is a hint of beige, well, rather more than a hint, is the den. I bought this rug many years ago:

You can see it in this photo. It was from Pottery Barn and it had the red that I love and it worked in our little rental cottage. So when it came time to find an inexpensive slip cover for our much-too-old sofa, I went with this:

Beige. Or as I prefer to call it, Deep Ecru.

Believe me, I thought long and hard before I ordered it because I hate beige. The pops of red help, don’t you think? This color would never be in the den if I couldn’t  enhance it with color.

Likewise, you won’t see me decorating with Avocado Green. Or Harvest Gold. Remember those colors?

But the den is a little homage to my mom. With my style added. I sort of like that. But only in one room.

I suspect that if I had a daughter or son, they would be decorating in Mid-Century Modern – my mom’s style. Skipping a generation. They would probably run screaming from my cottagey, cozy, vintage, recycled, colorful look. Thanks but no thanks.

I don’t have human children, so I can’t test that theory.

What are your thoughts? How does your style relate to your mom’s or your grandmother’s? What about your children? My theory might be hogwash. Who knows? I’m fascinated by this stuff, so I’d love to hear. Let’s have a discussion!

Happy Thursday.