When in ....

So.... though HGD doesn't really smile upon theme decor, we do think you should embrace your environment.

Live in the Midwest?  You probably shouldn't paint your victorian shocking pink, though if you were in San Francisco we would definitely greenlight you.  However, don't feel hampered by your geography.  Victorians loved color.  If your house is crying for it, embrace it.  Just try try to remember your atmosphere... a little less vogue than the West Coast.  Maybe use Mauve in lieu of pink.  Taupes instead of greens.  A little more conservative but still colorful.

South?  Well, here is our forte.  Chintz?  You bet.  Oriental rugs?  Of course.  White slipcovers for summer?  Yup.  Photos of the ancestors?  Of course.  Candelabras?  Sure!

Northern?  Think simplicity.  Pine.  Kilims.  Buttermilk paints.  Quilts?  Why not?  Hook rugs?  Sure.

West Coast?  Linen.  Raw silk draperies.  Exotic flora.  Terra cotta tiles.  Windows.  Environmentally friendly products... like bamboo floors.

EC?  Historical colors.  Wood floors.  Matelasse.  Wing chairs.  Pottery.

Do you need to be completely defined by these styles?  Of course not.  Think about it.  Do you live where you were born?  I was born in Mississippi.  I live in the DC area now.  It's important to me to incorporate both the Southern and the East Coast style in my decorating.  Use where you are from and where you are now to define your own style.