Global influences on my home design reflect my chldhood creative side and moving multiple times across the globe to today!
Interior designer
My mom kept it. I don’t know why it survived and other work did not. It is a 6th grade essay titled
“What Do You Want to be When You Grow Up? ”
My kids discovered it and said “Go for it Mom”. Little did they realize I had been going for it for years!
Later in high school my dream was…
Writer
Looking back, I have done that and still am doing all of that and more!
As a wife and mom of a military family and later working in East Asia, I designed and decorated all of our many homes! I wrote long informative descriptive letters home. The discovery of blogging was yet another creative outlet for writing!
Life in Germany, Hong Kong and 6 states was fun as we learned new cultures. When we lived in Germany, we went traveled regularly. Our country visit total there was 9. In Hong Kong, there was an international and British influence along with traditional Chinese culture. We traveled to Beijing and Guangzhou. Jim and I went to South Korea and Japan. I soaked up so much beauty in the textiles, furnishings and architecture.
For me, I had new creative inspirations. Ater Jim retired, we had one last major overseas move. We moved to China. During those years we traveled across China, lived in 2 very different cities with different cultures and traveled to 7 countries.
european influence
The hotel room our family stayed at while visiting Paris years ago is an experience that has stayed with me. We had breakfast with warm croissants served on heavy hotel silver in our rooms. The furniture was shabby French before it was a thing! Every where we visited was immersed in old French world charm and elegance. I love using our china and silver regularly!
The lovely traditional Bavarian hotel was more than charming; it was enchanting. The small village we lived in exuded storybook charm. We lactually lived near a castle. Often the kids and I would go after school to take a tour of the castle or to grab an ice cream treat in the courtyard. The resturant in the wall was a special place Jim and I went for dinner. One set of quarters we lived in was built before World War 2.
Asia influence
China’s rich materials and colors in the architecture were a feast for the senses. Ceramics for beauty. Rustic country cabinets and benches. Thailand elegance and serenity breathed in the wooden pillars and furniture. The colors set in deserts and lush greenery would at times be too much to behold.
american influences
Yet, my heart has been rooted in traditional American influenced decor. American farms and porches in the south where I grew up, loving early American history drew me to Williamsburg elegance and the farmhouse solidness of my extended family.
home with beauty, function, and welcome
My style is tempered with the absolute of function and comfort for living.
I learned that from Mom and Dad. I doubt if they ever heard William Morris’s famous quote to have only beautiful and functional but it was most certainly lived out in our home.
Jim and I also added the element of welcome. My parents welcomed family and friends into our home without hesitation. Our home became that way too.
One of the sweetest compliments I ever got was from a single woman who worked on a dreary university campus in China. She said coming to our home was like coming to a bed and breakfast for a treat. A little pampering, beautiful, plenty of good coffee and good food.
Our art, furniture and many accessories have been collected as we traveled and lived across the globe. There is definitely a global influence in my style today.
Yes, my style has changed and evolved over the years but it has always been comfortable and functional with creative beauty.
How has your style evolved or evolving? What were your main influences?
I love to hear about all of the places you’ve lived and visited! Incorporating the styles you encountered along the way is so special. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you Marie. It is a bonus of our travels.
I love that your design is influenced by your travels. Everything is beautiful and it is you.
It’s not always the style but it is always in style, at least for us. Thanks for commenting Michelle.
This is such a great story!!! And I love how you decorate for function and comfort:) It doesn’t get any better than that!!!!!
Thanks Maria. My hope is also all feel welcome and at ease in our home.
So many interesting styles, I love the Asian style. They add so many interesting shapes and details to their decor.
I find it interesting that the style came with expanding shipping hundreds of years ago and is still influencing us today! Thanks for the visit Anita.
What an interesting life you have led. I know for me, living overseas was a great experience, for me and my children. Enjoyed reading this post.
Thank you Carol. It has been an interesting life for sure! Great experience and great adventure too!
You’ve been to so many interesting places, Linda. While I’ve been to the East, I’ve been lucky enough to visit Thailand. It’s been on my bucket list for such a long time too. Maybe one day when this silly virus goes away 😉
Hopeful for international travel does happen soon! Thailand is a fascinting country.
Your travels sound wonderful! While styles come and go, I love that the highest compliment paid is when someone tells you your house is like a home away from home!
Ahhh, that is so true! Have a good weeknd Sara.
You are so fortunate to have collected so many things and ideas in your travels and places to live. I remember 6th grade I said I wanted to be a missionary. Then someone said that might not work since so many places didn’t have electricity and didn’t know if I would make it. Probably true.
True once and still is in some places. Living cross culturally is always an adventure. I do like my AC!
Nice article and pictures.
wow, what travels and experiences you have had!
b
It has been an unexpected life. Thanks for the visit. Linda
Hi Linda,
Found you at Find Your Voice Friday. What an interesting life you’ve lead. I have visited England and Italy and both trips were so special and certainly gave me a new perspective on the world. As for me I just can’t seem to make up my mind on any one particular style. I do like Americana, natural elements and country cottage. Hope you are enjoying your weekend.
Patti
Sounds like you have a home you love wnich is the best “style” of all. Thanks for the visit. Happy Monday! Linda
What a beautiful blog you have! Oh, the stories you could tell with all your travels! Thanks for sharing with all of us!
Thanks for dropping by! Hope to see you again.
My style was heavily influenced by Thai styles when living in Thailand. I’ve scaled back on that in America, but I really loved those years shaped by SE Asian culture. Thanks for linking up with Little Things Thursday!
THanks for hosting! Enjoyed some of the new blogs. I know what you mean about being more heavily influenced when living in differnet cultures and countries. It’s like when in Rome… We love the blend that reflects our lives and great memories. Have a great weekend!
When the kids were younger, we traveled a lot, Africa, China, Japan, Scotland, Germany, etc. We lived in many places like England, Switzerland, and Saudi Arabia. We don’t travel as much these days but my home is very eclectic with many items that I collected along the way. It was a wonderful opportunity to be able to visit so many wonderful places.
I hope you continue to enjoy your travels,
Bev
Hi Bev, I do like having a home that reflects our lives that has taken us many places. A blessing but I am enjoying being settled in a way we have never been before. Thaks for dropping by!
How so very fortunate you were to have traveled and lived in so many countries and gathered the influences from all of them to create a beautiful home for your family and friends…
Sometimes, I can’t beleive that person is me! Have a good day Shirley.
Having traveled now to the UK and Italy, the bug has bitten! I think it is a great idea to let your travels influence your interiors. My souvenir shopping has become much more focused, resulting in lasting treasures that the whole family loves. Great post!
Thanks Kim. Having a focus of items to buy has helped me incorporate them into our home.UK and Italy are so different but both so beautiful! Hope you get more visits to more places.