A Challenge: Can You Tell Me What Year This Home Was Decorated?

Have you had a chance to check out all the tablescapes posted for Tablescape Thursday? If so, I'm jealous! I haven't had a chance to visit around very much, yet. Working full-time is such a bummer. It puts a real crimp in my blog reading, if you know what I mean. ;-)

Some of you already know I work investigating abuse, neglect and exploitation of those who are elderly or disabled. It is demanding and often stressful work...some weeks more so than others. Blogging each evening is a wonderful respite and about as opposite from my day job as can be...and I love it! :-)

I'm so hoping to do some tablescaping viewing tomorrow (Saturday). :-) Please forgive me if I don't visit as often as I wish I could. Just know, I would love nothing more than to visit every single person who participates, every single week. That would make me beyond happy!
For those of you who leave a comment here faithfully each week, thank you for being the caring, generous souls that you are. I know your names and I smile when I see your faces...you are the best and very much appreciated!


A Fun Challenge for You:

Back in April, I attended The Georgia Trust's Spring Ramble, and this year it was held in Rome, Georgia. The Trust hosts these amazing, historic home tours/rambles every spring and fall...and they are always awesome!



Of course, 99.99 percent of the homes we toured the day of the ramble were fully furnished. That's because they are private homes, open to the public for this brief time frame, just for the tour. However, there was one home that wasn't furnished because it was on the market for sale, so I was able to take pics inside to share with you. And it's only taken me since April to do it. ;)

This home just sort of grabbed me. I think it's because it was a little bit of a time capsule...not the kind that transports you wayyyy back to horse and buggy days...but the kind that takes you back to another era of your own life time. It had me feeling a bit nostalgic, thinking back to a time when I was newly married.

We were still living in an apartment and my husband and I had to stop by the home of a friend or associates of his to pick something up. When we walked into the home, I noticed almost every single room in the home was wallpapered. I remember thinking I wanted my home, some day, to have the "feel" of that home...cozy, family oriented and like "home" in every sense of the word. I'm not sure why, but wallpaper has a way of making me feel warm, safe and in some way, comforted. Weird, huh? :-) Much of the decorating I do is "emotional" decorating...it's all about the way I want my home to feel...not the way I want it to look.

So, hop into the time machine with me and let's check out this house. When we're all done, tell me what year(s) you think this home was decorated. You don't have to be specific...just go for a five year range...like 1980-1985...or something like that.

Actually, I love this kind of decor. If I moved into this home or a home like it, I just might leave some of these wallpapers in place...probably even keep the draperies.

Let's start with this wonderful sun room: I totally love the blue and white tiled floor...although, it needs a repair here and there. Now, notice anything in this room that might give a hint to the era in which it was decorated...like the fabric on the wicker settee...ummm, little clues, little clues.




I'm sorry I didn't get a great shot of the wallpaper in this room. I took this tour right about the time I was getting a chandelier hung in my bedroom, so I was slightly chandelier obsessed. (LOL) And this house had wonderful chandeliers!!! I love the draperies...I really do!




Another room: Forgotten what room this was...maybe a dining room. Doesn't this wallpaper feel like a Thibaut paper? Who else makes paper like this? Before you guys knew me, and long before BNOTP existed, I had wall paper with a very similar design in my dining room, but the colors were different. Do you like this paper? Are you getting a feel for when this home was decorated, yet? Based on what I've seen at the online Thibaut site, this could be in the homes of today.




A little close-up...




Another chandelier...




Now, I totally LOVE this wallpaper. That brass ceiling fan is another BIG clue...wouldn't you say?




Here's a close-up of the paper. I bet these were some fairly expensive papers in their day. I've been hearing wallpaper is making a big return...what do you think?




Another amazing chandelier. Really, I could title this post..."The Chandelier Tour." There were so many great light fixtures in this home. I see, yet another wallpaper in the background...do you see it? A lovely damask design, I believe. I would LOVE a paper like this neutral damask in my front hallway and up the front stairway...behind all those old photos and mirrors I have there.




Another room...I think this was a bedroom...




Close-up of the paper, definitely feels like bedroom paper to me.




Another wallpaper in a bathroom of the home. This has a masculine feel, doesn't it? I don't remember which room this bathroom was off of now.




This was the fabric of the draperies in one of the rooms. Remember when this fabric was sooo popular? I still love it. It wasn't as faded as the pic makes it feel...it's just the windows were huge and the sun was pouring in. It was a gorgeous day. The draperies were heavy and beautifully made.




One of my favorite light fixtures in this house...



A slightly different view...I love the color. This room confused me a bit because the light fixture felt perfect for a nursery...but the wallpaper looks like fishing lures. ??? Ummm, what do you think?




Another great light fixture...I love this one!




Here's a close-up. I love the color and the warmth of this fixture...it was a deep red. I've never seen a light fixture like this one before. I would love it in a study...one lined with bookshelves. As I recall, it was in the HUGE landing at the top of the stairs. The landing was big enough to be a study or library...but I don't think it had bookshelves. I think there were two of these chandeliers in this room, due to it's size. Wish I had taken more pics so I could remember. I see more paper in the background.



The stairs going up: I've been wanting to do this to my stairway for years...add a runner right up the center. But it's a tad expensive to do. I'm not sure if I'd go with something oriental or something less busy. The great thing about wool oriental rugs is they wear like iron and they hide dirt well. Of course, natural fiber rugs are very popular right now as runners down staircases.



Ok, what do you think? Did you notice virtually every room was wallpapered? I think that's a big clue to the time frame during which this home was decorated. Personally, I do not know what year it was decorated, but I have an idea.

So, tell me...what year range, within 5 years, do you think this home was decorated?

Would you leave any of the of the decor if you bought this house, or would everything have to go? How do you feel about wallpaper? Would you keep any of these wallpapers are would you strip everything and paint? What about the drapes? The light fixtures? Can't wait to hear your thoughts!

You may see more of this tour of historic homes in Rome, Georgia, HERE and HERE.


Winner of a beautiful ShadowCase Give-a-Way:

Janna, with ShadowCase, via a random number generator, has selected the winner of a ShadowCase Kit valued at $60. :-) The winner is: Lee Ann . Lee Ann, please contact Janna at, customerserviceatshadowcase.com to confirm your giveaway.

Also, Janna is giving out a coupon to all those who entered the giveaway! It will get you 30% off a ShadowCase.com purchase until July 23rd! Awesome! Just enter the coupon code BNOTP30 at checkout to get your discount. Thanks again, Janna for such a wonderful giveaway!

POLL:
Oh, after you leave a comment with your year range for the house in this post, please take a second to vote in the poll that's running on the sidebar. It's your chance to tell me if you like or dislike large pics in blog posts. Remember, polls are always anonymous...I can't see how you vote, so vote your heart. :)