Find your inner designer
What's your style? Your answers may surprise you
By Carol Stocker, Globe Staff, 3/25/2004

Though modern design seems to offer a bewildering array of options, there are really only four fundamental decorating styles: Country, Traditional, Eclectic, and Contemporary. Within these categories, of course, there are many variations. Someone drawn to the Country style, for instance, could express it with French provincial wallpaper or with antlers hung over a stone fireplace. But in every case, your preference for one of the four basic categories is based on your innate personality, according to Judy George, chairman and CEO of Domain, the Boston-based home furnishings chain, and author of ''The Domain Book of Intuitive Home Design.'' You shouldn't force yourself to embrace a decor just because someone else likes it, even if you think they have good taste. The decorating style you are most comfortable with is the one that resonates with who you are. The following quiz can help you discover which of these basic four styles fits your personality best. Collaborators included George, and interior designers Jackie Davis of RoomScape Interiors in Wilmington, Eleanor Samuels of Abbott Interiors in Newton, and Michal Twine of Elements of Style in Portsmouth, N.H. Select an answer to each question and write down the letter of each answer. Go with your gut feelings and have fun. At the end of the quiz, add up how many a's, b's, c's, and d's you've collected to find out how you scored.

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YOUR DREAM KITCHEN WOULD:

(a) Feature handmade craft items and plenty of windows with a lovely view

(b) Have gorgeous cabinetry disguising the appliances

(c) Also serve as a party room strung with chili peppers and colored lights

(d) Be efficiently designed with professional, quality equipment

FOR WINDOW TREATMENTS YOU PREFER:

(a) Airy curtains of cotton and lace

(b) Layer draperies

(c) Bright Indian sari silk tied back with beads

(d) Blinds instead of drapes

YOUR IDEAL HOME OFFICE WOULD:

(a) Sit in a converted greenhouse with pencils jammed into the terra cotta pots

(b) Double as a private library with built-in bookcases and old-fashioned table lamps

(c) Feature open shelves, bulletin boards, and a table you could work at standing up

(d) Include a state-of-the-art high-tech work station

THE TEXTURES YOU MOST RESPOND TO INCLUDE:

(a) Exposed beams hung with dried herbs gathered from your garden

(b) Polished mahogany furniture accented with gleaming silver pieces

(c) Fake fur and beading

(d) Smooth glass and metal, cool to the touch

A GREAT BATHROOM HAS:

(a) Ferms growing under a skylight

(b) A pedestal sink

(c) A collection of framed toilet paper wrappers from around the world

(d) A jacuzzi, a television, and an automatic soap dispenser

WHICH LAMP DO YOU PREFER? (a)
from Domain
(b)
from Domain

(c)
from The Natural Light (d)
from Crate and Barrel
WHICH PILLOWS WOULD YOU HAVE ON YOUR COUCH? (a)
from Domain
(b)
from Domain

(c)
from Domain (d)
from West Elm
YOU LIKE TO SHOP FOR HOME ACCENTS AT:

(a) Brimfield

(b) Domain

(c) Foreign bazaars

(d) Adesso

WHEN PEOPLE VISIT YOUR HOME FOR THE FIRST TIME YOU WANT THEM TO FEEL:

(a) Comfortable

(b) Charmed

(c) Amused

(d) Impressed

YOUR FAVORITE DECORATING COLORS INCLUDE:

(a) Soft earth tones

(b) Cream, gold and crimson

(c) Provocative contrasts such as ultramarine and tangerine

(d) Black and white

YOUR FAVORITE ANTIQUES ARE:

(a) Those that belonged to your grandmother

(b) Museum quality

(c) Ethnic treasures from your travels

(d) What antiques?

WHICH CHAIR DO YOU PREFER? (a)
from Domain
(b)
from Drexel Heritage

(c)
by Todd Oldham for La-Z-Boy (d)
LAX chair by American Leather
YOUR FAVORITE CLOTHES INCLUDE:

(a) Separates purchased at different stores

(b) Tailored looks, usually in one or two colors per outfit

(c) T-shirts with funny logos

(d) Basic black

YOUR DREAM VACATION WOULD BE TO:

(a) Montana to enjoy the outdoors

(b) London or Paris

(c) San Francisco. So many different things to do there

(d) A great spa in the desert

FABRICS YOU CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT INCLUDE:

(a) Cotton floral mini-prints

(b) Brocade, velvet and muted plaids

(c) A mix of damask, chenille and leather

(d) Solids or abstract designs in wool, cotton or silk

AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU'D RATHER COME HOME TO A:

(a) Black lab

(b) Westie

(c) Mixed-breed (mutt)

(d) Siamese cat

YOU LIKE GARDENS WITH:

(a) Wildflowers

(b) Manicured lawns

(c) Whimsical sculptures such as pink flamingos

(d) Paving accented with planters of tropical foliage

(Globe Staff Photos / Barry Chin; Globe Staff Graphic / Emily Reid Kehe)

If you scored more "a" answers than any other, your style is Country. A majority of , "b" answers means your style is Traditional. If "c" was your most common choice, you're Eclectic. Mostly "d" means you're Contemporary. If you answers are tied, you are attracted to a combination of those styles you most frequently selected. Here are some tips on realizing your personal style.


(a) Country
You want to build a cozy nest that nurtures feelings of warmth, love, nostalgia and comfort. Visitors find your home welcoming and relaxed. You probably garden and let the dog sleep on your bed. The Country look is popular with both sexes and can be a good compromise if you and your partner disagree on other styles.

- Keep it casual and comfortable.

- You thrive on nature and fragrance so incorporate houseplants and scented candles into your home.

- Collect handmade quilts, throws and hooked or braided rugs. Or try making them yourself.

- When choosing fabrics, check out checks as well as plaids and small floral prints.

- Light is important to you. Use full spectrum bulbs in your lamps, light airy curtains on your windows, and make sure you have bright light for reading.

- You like rough natural textures so liberate wood floors from carpeting. If your ceiling has been lowered, consider tearing it out to expose the beams. Break through the sheet rock if it's covering up brick walls.


(b) Traditional
This is the most common decorating style in New England. It is conservative and formal, and prizes good taste with touches of opulence and rich colors. Prestige, privacy and order are important to you.

- You like balance and symmetry, so when you find a good end table or lamp, buy two.

- Looks count. Don't get talked into an upright piano if you really want a baby grand.

- If you own an old house, do some research and have a plaque made for yours with the original owner's name and date. If your house is not antique, give it a name yourself.

- You need quiet so indulge in layered curtains and Oriental rugs.

- Putting dimmers on your lights will help your home feel like your sanctuary.

- Consider collecting good antiques and art.

- You need your privacy - and your own bathroom.

- If you like modern conveniences but not how they look, disguise them behind cabinetry. Consider marble or granite counter tops and tile floors for kitchens and baths.


(c) Eclectic
You want a home where you don't have to follow rules and are free to be yourself. You have a great sense of humor and want visitors to feel entertained and surprised in your home. You may display an ever changing exhibit of objects that caught your fancy. To keep creativity from teetering into chaos, you like everything out where you can see it - and find it.

- You like open space, so consider knocking down a wall if your rooms seem too small.

- Experiment with trendy and flamboyant colors.

- Keep the refrigerator and bar stocked for spontaneous entertaining.

- Even though they may seem random, your accessories are carefully chosen. But you also like to change things up and throw things out, so look for cheap chic items.

- Never be afraid of unusual items that show off your sense of humor.


(d) Contemporary
Your motto is "form follows function." Everything must earn its place in your home, or out it goes, because you can't stand clutter. You love modern conveniences and integrated systems, including computers, security systems and home theaters.

- Use clean lines and avoid fussy details when decorating. Keep it simple.

- Consult experts and do consumer research on the internet to find the best performing appliances systems.

- You like to plan but hate to shop, so be efficient about it. When decorating, decide what purpose each room will serve. For instance, calculate living room or dining room seating by estimating how many visitors you will have to accommodate at once. Sketch out a floor plan and take measurements before you shop. Bring photos of what you like from shelter magazines to show sales people.

- Consider recessed lighting. No cords!

- Look for area rugs with geometric patterns.

- Hire a good housekeeper.

[此贴子已经被作者于2004-4-6 17:30:07编辑过]