How much should the style of your decor match the age and style of your house?

[MissRead]

We live in a modern (approx 15 years old) house as it's what we can afford in this area (nice village, lots of older properties) but my taste in decor is not very modern. Most of my friends seem to go for the 'feature wall in big floral print/laminate flooring/co-ordinated accessories' look which is not really my thing - I prefer a bit more mix and match, some old stuff, some new, and like quite a shabby chic style. But I'm worried that that this look really doesn't suit a modern home. Is it that important to match the style and age of the house or should I just go ahead with what I like?

Totally agree that anything 'fake' is a no-no but other than that I think I'll be safe :)

Agree why do people think a multitude of beiges and brown looks good.Bland and dated awful(esp in bathrooms).I love 60s and 70s houses the big windows and square rooms are an interior dream.I am sick of period houses although they are lovely the maintenance is endless and unless you spend a lot and re jig them they can look samey.

twosoups - I think your new house sounds really nice - I like the sound of hobgoblin's doorframes too...

lala, you wouldn't be saying that if you saw the inside of it.....

The polystyrene tiles on the ceiling in the utility room, the flowery toilet, avocado sink, faux brick display shelves......

two soups my ds spent his summer hols scraping polystyrene tiles off our ceilings ready for the plasterers I will send him to you for teh easter hold !

twosoups snap!

My 1930s house was so lovely and tasteful.

My new 1960 house has only wall lights - no ceiling lights, cladding a-go-go. Peach everything, built-in everything else.

Huge windows are curtainless because I saw the price of huge curtains.

I do feel a bit like a small girl excited about moving my bedroom around - but my god, where to start?

Twosoups I'll see your avocado sink and raise you a blue toilet and handbasin!

But you know what? I had a very pretty Victorian semi but pretty didn't count for anything when the room layout didn't work and there were draughts coming through the windows.

Everything about this 70s retrofest house is so much better for us - it was like we had different children the minute we arrived!

What has everyone done with the big square living room though? Furniture round the outside or dividing it up? Big central coffee table or not?

Binbag only wall lights? How weird is that?

We have a blue hand basin matched with a white toilet. Then a cream toilet and next door a green bath and a white sink...colour me crazy - that's our house ..it almost enough to have me reaching for the dreaded beige.

Loving what Hobbgoblin is doing - sounds very interesting.

I'm going for slick modern mixed with some mid century furniture. My must have piece of furniture is a velvet Chesterfield.... they are so lovely, I think I might be stroking it lovingly for years.

Oooh, sofa envy. What colour?

Have been thinking of a rich dark purple and a dark grey with brushed steel studs....will have to see what other furniture I can acquire before I decide - it's the softness that appeals - something sumptuous sitting along side the stark.

Have also fallen in love with the new Harry sofa by Ligne Roset in turquiose blue...so now I'm considering a turquiose velvet Chesterfield.

The Harry sofa itself is not an option though, looking at the cost, I think would harm any small child who went near it.

Yes! I just bought a velvet chesterfield - mine is silver/grey and beautiful. There is nothing else of value in the house though.
I know what you mean about different children KingThistle, we moved in and there was instant peace - and I have 3 small dc. The house just works so much better than the 1930s layout.

Big square living room has an open fire; have put two sofas (lovely one and knackered, biscuit smeared one) in an L shape around that, 'reading' area with armchairs & lamp at the other end. But it is such a versatile space you could move everything around & it would still look fine.

Not a single ceiling light in the place apart from the flouresent tube in the kitchen - a lovely frosty glow. Wall lights are plastic sprayed to look brass - and there are at least 2 in every room.

blimey, mine's beginning to sound appealing

Oh yes, the faux Roman look - does 'fauxman' work for that?? Maybe that'll come back in at some point!

I am NEVER going to convince DH to get a velvet chesterfield.