Visual imagination

I consider myself to be artistic, in that I’m pretty good at painting and drawing, but when it comes to interior decoration I’m timid. I know what I like but haven’t the courage to make it work on walls! I think this comes from living in service accommodation for the better part of our married life where you can have any colour as long as it’s magnolia! You develop a magnolia mentality. However, when it came to a new kitchen and bathrooms, I knew exactly what I wanted and it worked. As for clothes, I’m a dead loss, because I have really never cared enough about them.

I’m not the best, but usually have a fair idea of what I want. With clothes, it’s sometimes taken someone else to point out what’d really suit me.
Younger sister has pointed out the odd thing I probably wouldn’t have noticed.

Biggest ‘hit’ by someone else was after I’d made my (reg office) wedding dress - all hand-sewn! - and my mother put me right off it by saying said that although very pretty, it looked like an old-fashioned nightie. (To be entirely fair, she was right.)

It was then a close friend (she still is) who pointed out a dress I would almost certainly have passed by - when we weren’t even looking for a wedding-y dress anyway.
It was perfect.

I cannot make a decision on decor.I hate how suppliers determine what is available to buy and everyone ends up with the same colour schemes.We are having same problem now with new furniture, wanting to replace our oversized lounge furniture(downsized small bungalow).From what we have seen everywhere, its side,coffee,console tables with small sideboards all same in rustic,scandi or industrial look.Reluctantly purchased storage cabinet from IKEA, ideal for amount it holds(DGCs playarea) the total cost for veneered chipboard was ridiculous and for lounge would like something a little more substantial.

I'm with you Fannycornforth no faffing about here either. In fact if I'm faced with too much choice it would confuse me.

As for clothes I decide on the look and buy multiples in my colours

Elderlyperson love the word Serendipity

With clothes I just have a fair range of colours of everything then mix and match until I feel/look right for the occasion ahead. Sometimes gentle, sometimes stunning but always coordinated. As for the domestic scene, I simply build up from a blank canvas with any structural work first. Have the ceiling plaster skimmed if necessary before painting. Woodwork is always white and done by me. Next come the walls with paper selection my greatest challenge. Have to say I've always been eventually delighted with my selections thus far but would be embarrassed to admit how much foot trudging and length of time taken from blank canvas to decision. Dearie me! Flooring is always carpet (yes, I'm that old!) and is colour coordinated to fit in with adjoining rooms and the new one I'm creating. Furnishing is usually already around but gets the odd injection of any piece that needs replacing. Took me a couple of years to redo this house from skin out and I'm very happy with the end result. Don't have one iota of artistic flair unfortunately but I do recognise what looks and feels good for me and I happily settle for that.

Have to say I've always been eventually delighted with my selections thus far but would be embarrassed to admit how much foot trudging and length of time taken from blank canvas to decision.

This is me too, Kim and I'malso particular to make each room look part of the whole as you stand in the hallway.

Clothes-wise for the last few years I wear the same thing every day to avoid having to think. I'm busy so can't be bothered with faffing about.
The same outfits all year but layers in the winter and replace the summer sandals with shoes. Simple.

A friend of mine who did various training courses said there were two kinds of people. Those who say ‘I hear what you’re saying’ and those who say ‘I see what you mean’ and, in business dealings you need to work out which is which. It’s something that always stuck in my mind. I think I’d fall into the ‘I hear what you’re saying’ category as I don’t imagine things very well and I’m in awe of creative people.

I have no visual imagination whatsoever and yet I have a child who is an interior designer and a husband who works in a job where he has to envision what his designs will look like in 20, 60, 100 years time! They try to help me to ‘see’ their visions and sometimes I just can’t.

With practice I am now more able than I was when I got married 35 years ago, so although I can’t ‘create’ a vision myself I can now understand my husband’s illustrations; (light bulb moment just occurred) actually I think my inability to ‘see’ things has been helpful to his work because he knows that if I can ‘see’ what he’s planning then others like me will too.

I’m artistic, draw and paint, but come day go day about my surroundings. Very shabby chic. I was a window dresser for a time (or Display Artist, our official title?) and can put eclectic things together which work.
I’d really like to paint Italian style murals on my walls but cant get round to it.
Dress wise I have too much as I love fashion. I sometimes plan an outfit before dropping off to sleep.