Lovely video. At "76," I just got rid of my 45-year-old couch and bought a lovely new couch and comfortable chair. For so long I kept thinking that, since I was probably going to die soon, I should just keep all my old stuff. All my children live far away and they don't want anything. However, all any of us have is the now moment. So, lovely lady, keep on playing with various styles and ideas. Sending loving thoughts your way...and to your sweetheart, and to your lovely parents and siblings...and to everyone.
What lovely comment! I’m impressed you’re tech savvy enough to interact on RUclips. You’ve got my parents (60s) and grandmother (80s) beat! So glad you got the couch! Please don’t ever feel like you’re counting down your days. Keep on making changes here and there and keep us updated if you’re able. Wishing you the best! ❤
My mother who is 91 has in the last couple of years bought new couches, new entertainment unit, new dining setting. She likes her unit to look and feel modern, no old stuff for her lol. So l finally bought a new couch (old couch was 30+ years old!). I'm going to be more like my mother :). Enjoy your new couch x
Everything you said at the end about being in a period where you have nothing to show for it but have those little seeds planted in the ground made me feel so much better about the current state I'm in (not successful career wise, romantic wise, or decorative wise either) - so thank you
Me too. I've been in that state since 2020 and was slowly ebbing out of it over 2024. I have nothing to show for those years, I might as well have not existed. But now that I'm finally back on my feet I'm more of a person than I ever was before.
We all.deserve some rest! Our world is so fast paced, social media apps are more than ever, and life is just hard and chaotic. Seeing all bad news all the time due to the internet isn't good for us, its important to detox from all of it a bit while also staying informed. Give yourself grace. ❤ do some watercoloring or crochet or music or dance or karaoke or time with loved ones, board games, long walks, gardening!!!! Gardening is very fufilling! Plant a flower at least this summer, like a marigold. They are easy to grow. Juno into a hobby you've cared about for years but haven't dipped your toe in. Starting anything seems like the hardest part. We got this! We are capable of so much ❤❤❤❤. @Future_Rebellion
This could not have come at a more perfect time. I got admitted to the hospital today for a mass in my brain and I've been dizzy and throwing up. Finally feeling better because they gave me steroids to reduce the swelling and then the symptoms finally went away (I'm going to need brain surgery, holy hell). Anyways, this is just what I needed for a wonderful distraction, thank you so much 💗💗💗
I'm a regular old hag, too. I took at least 10-15 years to know what my style is. And I love to change things up every once in a while. You are a treasure and pleasure to watch.
It will be very emotional moment for all of us 700 000 people when you decide to leave that little wonder of an apartment to move into your new chapter of life. What a wonderful journey we had together last couple of years. ❤
Thank you for this video. You've shown how decorating your spaces is an evolution that starts with trial and 'error'. Although it's not really an error, it's learning. Thanks again. This may be my favourite video of yours.
I needed this! I decorated my room at 13yo and it was awesome. After that, I married a narcissist who whinged for decades about anything I chose but wouldn’t choose anything himself. If he tried, it was cringe worthy. Lived 1600km from real shops so always got the worst of the worst stuff in town that was mixed with 1980s brown wood laminate company furniture. Wasn’t allowed to decorate or have my own spaces for the most part. He’d take them over. Post divorce I’m in my element with DIY, colour scheme and experimenting. I can hang art, my art!!! ❤
I'm exactly like you! Just got out of an abusive relationship of over 15 years. He would belittle my tastes in literally everything, not just interiors, and would routinely throw out furniture on a whim in the name of "minimalism" (aka, we weren't allowed to have anything nice, and he could feel morally superior about it). I'm now pushing 40 and I'm throwing myself into very slowly decorating my unit with comfort, colour, and everything that will make it a true home for my two little girls to grow up in. Caroline and other youtubers have been so invaluable in helping me.
@@Kim-qt7yn May this be the best chapter of your life! I was with the so and so for 32 yrs. I call people who tell me life gets much better afterwards divorce heroes and give them a place of honour on my shoulders as shoulder angels. You are there too!
@@user-lb6nq6bn2k I’m so glad you’re out of it! I figured out while he was moving out that it’s about taking your ownership of your spaces off you so you don’t even feel like you deserve to live there. As he is a hoarder it took him 18 months to move out yet in every room and shed, he’d leave just enough around every wall so I couldn’t use any space. He told me that I wasn’t to move any of his stuff around even 4 months after he’d officially moved out. At that time he still told me he was going to buy my half of the house from me right up until he couldn’t deny moving out. Then he said we were going to sell the house. In the end I moved some of his stuff. He took some of my stuff and hid other bits like cutlery and denied it. Throughout the marriage he’d even throw my bedding on the floor if it went on his side just so I didn’t feel safe or calm in there. 18 months post divorce I’m still not feeling like I own the spaces he occupied but try to do a Wonder Woman twirl in them every time. I’m sending you and your family a big hug. It’s not easy finally recognising the boundary of abuse. I used to think that if he didn’t hit me, it wasn’t abuse, he was just grumpy all the time. May this be the best chapter of your lives and love and laughter fills your home.
I'm 43 and live by myself for the first time in life! I ABSOLUTELY encourage women to live solo for a while. You discover who you are without having to compromise with anyone else. That goes for tastes, values and general lifestyle. This is where you grow!
Funnily enough - I lived on my own for most of my life till 43! I soooo loved not having to compromise! Now I'm trying to meld styles with my BF - and he's in the "veto" phase Caroline talked about lol. Arg!! I'm gonna tell him he needs to offer alternative options!
Yes 👏🏼 To 👏🏼 This I lived and travelled alone from age 31 to 38 and it was the BEST years of my life. That’s when I lived, made mistakes with zero judgment, and totally discovered everything about who I am!
I had a painting that my grandmother had painted that I wanted to hang in my new apartment. A dear friend of mine who I had asked to help me decorate told me that “nothing could make that look good”. I went on a quest to prove her wrong. This is how my decorating journey started. I discovered a creative side to me that I didn’t even know existed. Had a huge amount of fun creating my home environment… and in the end my friend admitted that I had done the impossible and used the painting in a vignette that made it really appealing.
It is so cool how you turn a light fun conversation into a deeply relatable and vulnerable conversation. This is why I love your content. It’s truly like hanging with a good friend.
I'm 80. Creative change doesn't stop. Just like styles of clothing, hair, etc, changes, and seeing how they were in old photos and videos they look so weird, so they also will when you watch this video years from now, this never ending instant. ✨
Hi Caroline, great video as always ! It's so funny that you said that you weren't able to give advice about how to blend style with a partner, because you totally helped me in that area ! You did a video a while ago with your brother, in which you made him swipe through pinterest pictures to determin what he liked (you called it design tinder). I did this exact thing with my boyfriend (using your pinterest brainstorm board btw
Hi Caroline! Just wanna say I truly appreciate the rawness in your videos. I feel like a lot of ppl can relate to reliving those strong emotions when looking back through old photos, and the epic dramas that tend to culminate in retrospect. To hear it from you, a public voice, and then reading it back in comments makes it feel like it's just part of like, the human experience. I guess just thank you for creating the space where it makes growing up feel beautiful. :)
When I was in a very unhappy relationship I would go out every single weekend and buy things to decorate our house, I spent so much money for things I wasn't even sure I liked just trying to bring a little bit of joy around me. I relate
That was painful to read. I hope you're feeling much better now and that you do treat yourself but because you simply can and because you know that you deserve real joy and appreciation.
I really needed to see this, I thought people were born with a design instinct and I just didn’t have it. I’m deep into the vintage phase right now and I spend all my time and money at thrift stores, thank you for showing me that there’s light at the end of the tunnel.
I’ve never commented anywhere before, but I felt compelled to this time. I first discovered your patio makeover a few weeks after I was released, and I immediately connected with your positive energy and creative insight. You could say I’m one of those annoying people who like to claim, “I was here from the beginning.” I just wanted to share how much I appreciated this video-not just for the design, but for the way it reflects growth and transformation, both creatively and personally. Over the past five years, I’ve been laid off, moved back home, and eventually started over in a new city where I didn’t know anyone. Through it all, your content has been a source of comfort and inspiration. It’s been incredible to watch you evolve and discover what you love, especially as I’ve been on my own journey of figuring out the same. Your videos have helped me feel more confident in making design choices that genuinely reflect who I am. I still have some growing to do, but my home has never felt more “me” than it does now-largely thanks to your encouragement to create spaces that truly resonate with the people who live in them. Thank you for sharing your personal style journey. It’s made a difference in mine. :)
it's truly impressive seeing how far you have come in such a short amount of time. it really feels, not even like you found yourself, but like you created yourself, and still are. you're so good at what you do that sometimes i feel like you're just built different, and this video takes away a lot of mystique and makes it feel doable and also personalized for people watching. once again your content feels both comforting and inspiring, thank you caroline
I agree with labibliobecco, Caroline has come a long way in a very short time. I've been interested in interior design for 40 years but still can't quite pull it all together. I am taking an online course as I clearly need the help, but Caroline is a focussed design gem.
For living with a partner, what I've found works is - finding a passion of theirs that you can express in your own aesthetic. For ex: my husband is Egyptian so we have a Persian rug in almost every room to tie in his culture in a way that we both find stylish. He also loves history, so I focus on vintage furniture. Even for the art, he's not the type to display prints of flowers, but I am, so I made sure they were prints of his favorite flower to include him as well.
It hurts to see you hurting in those photos. I went through a breakup around the same time, and all I did was take photos of me being happy when it was the opposite of how I felt. Love and appreciate you ❤️
I looked at old photos one time as if I was looking at someone I didn't know. Suddenly the sadness in my eyes was in every photo. It hit me like a freight train how sad I was during that period. My parents were both sick and I was doing university and taking care of them. And having no energy to take care of myself. Looking at those photos and seing how much I needed a hug, helped me forgive myself for some things I thought I hadn't done enough. I did. I did as much as I was able to.
What you were saying about trying to copy and paste your relative’s home made so much sense to me. One of my aunts has a beautiful home that I always loved visiting growing up. But I realized I wanted to recreate the FEELINGS that the space evoked and not the space itself.
The phrase "all of a sudden I loved flowers" gives me the sweetest, most hopeful feeling about life. It can be so hard not knowing your tastes or all your interests yet and this video is so inspiring to keep looking and trying things that you might find joy and beauty in :)
i mean this in the best way possible but i love that your camera is sometimes your therapist and you let us in on it. you're good people, caroline winkler!
Those little hehe's are something like a retrospective growth laugh. I did those just the other day. It's so reflexive. It feels like "wow look how adorably cringe I was."
I love how you shared this of yourself, that even as we get older, creativity doesn't need to end. It just evolves in our interests and that we can create our living spaces to reflect our special tastes in life. Your past videos have given us tools and ideas and now you show that you were never "perfect" from the get-go, you show us what many content creators are missing on, being genuine & authentic. Many kudos to you
Girl I just love how you can take a video about design style and weave in some profound truths and have these vulnerable moments with us. Dang I found myself remembering the fur babies and homes and loves I left behind but I’m so thankful for where God brought me to 💜
I am also a senior at 75. And love her shows. I may not be able to do all that she does but I have learned what goes together. And I’m trying different colors. I recently purchased a red bedspread!!
I think IKEA and similar kinds of places with showrooms are a great idea for couples blending design sensibilities; you can walk through slowly and point out what each person likes to the other and, ideally, keep an eye out for wherever there’s overlap!
I was recently in Ikea. I came back with some future purchase ideas. But... a lot of the show rooms... Also on other furniture stores I visited. So big and spacious. The furniture and ideas for rooms. It was all big and spacious. My house is not that big and spacious. I need smaller furniture. Smaller solutions. I need a dining/living room with space for 8 people when I have my friends over. But that's cozy when it's the 3 of us. Ikea has an extendable table that I want. But the buffet thingy is always too long. So it has to be storage. But most storage furniture is boring. Just a rectangle. I don't want to change my sofas. Maybe upholster them? Buy a new pretty rug. Anyway, that's my beef with show rooms. The kitchens, the dining and living rooms, even the bedrooms and bathrooms are all big and spacious. Where are these houses with all this available space? And I have stuff that needs to go somewhere. That doesn't fit this minimalistic furniture for storing nothing.
@@mffmoniz2948 aww I definitely relate to this, too. IKEA often has one or two small rooms to pick a few ideas from, but of course they’re rarely able to truly replicate, say, two people with their whole lives tucked into a studio apartment under 300 square feet! That said, my comment is more to help with generating ideas on what styles you and a partner might both like when your design sensibilities seemingly have little overlap. Maybe one likes dark and moody, while the other strongly prefers bright and airy - but you both like MCM furniture in mid-tone wood? Those showrooms can sometimes display furniture in unexpected ways, which can help you (both) to imagine a potential shared space that might bring in elements you both like - and potentially build on that towards something unique to the two of you. 🙂 Even if you don’t buy a thing, just being in neutral-party spaces like that can really help alleviate the stagnancy that can settle over discussing design decisions from a home where you both might be feeling a little stuck with what you already have.
I love when you make videos like this. It can be challenging to reflect in such an honest way. I appreciate you going there. I don’t know why but this video hit hard in just the right spot. I can totally relate to that feeling of getting to know your own style and self while simultaneously not feeling my best. Growth for me always happens when it’s tough. I look forward to seeing whatever you do next. So glad I found this channel a few years ago. I feel like I’m part of a like minded community, I need this right now.
All I have to say after watching this and following your for many years now is: We all love you, are incredibly proud of you and I am sending you a virtual hug
Thank you for being so vulnerable with us. 20:52 I resonated so much with the seed analogy and just generally taking time to recover after a break up. 😢 Why do I still get surprised when I tear up at Caroline’s videos?
I'll be 73 in afew weeks and my husband and I are going antiqueing and vintage store shopping through Va. I want new " old" things for my birthday 🎉🎉🎉 i enjoy all your videos, Caroline.. ❤❤😊😊Kathy from Pennsylvania😊
Caroline, thank you for sharing your amazing personality with all of us here. It’s always a joy to see your videos, they feel like a warm hug and I really look forward to them! I’m only 19 and all of your insight about not only interior design but the difficult parts of being human I take fondly to heart. Never stop being you❤
As a person who rented for 29 years, and 4 homes......style is so transitional! I base it on time and place. Yes, my first home I bought as single person was total mosh of antiques and thrift and oh boy mixed periods .....scary, but workin with no moola , that was what it needed to be!
Caroline, you are one of the few RUclipsrs that I actually look forward to and enjoy your ads/commercials. So creative, fun and interesting! And thanks for all of your great content!
I realise that this is a super personal, post relationship video to make, but... I ❤ the Caroline context and vulnerability that shows everyone that everyone has a past, plus growth through experience, and good times and bad, plus I learned stuff, and, yes! It's okay if you don't notice or aren't perfect right out of the gate. Yes! You are allowed to just let things be what they are and sort it out later. ❤ Yes! It will get better if you open up to growing. All of this
I’m in the parent-phase following a big breakup super similar to yours (long relationship in the Midwest, also got a little domestic, also killed a lot of time in thrift stores, also had a puppy I recently found photos of and felt sad about, recently moved back to a big city to live with family). It was so comforting to see your evolution from that point till now, creatively and personally. I love that you truly made your own home that feels unique and peaceful for you. It’s a huge inspiration for me as I try to envision my future independence. Thanks! I can’t wait to see what my style becomes when I get my own space.
i recognize the look in your eyes in your old photos because it's the same look i had in my old photos. I know what that's like, and i feel for past you.
It's crazy how much I relate to this video. So comforting to see that you've gone through so much of the same confusion and inner turmoil before you arrived here!
I love this video. I guess it's the transformations and the idea of allowing self to evolve that excites me. Thank you, Caroline! It really resonated and made me think of my "stages". My first space was after I moved out from a 17-year marriage. I still ache for the apartment I put together for me and my teen daughter. Completely from scratch. I now realize that I totally overlooked both bedrooms and focused solely on the living/dining space. Life has happened since that time. My daughter and I ended up moving in with our boyfriends in a couple of years. And we both have changed countless number of places. She - for studying, I - because my new husband is a free-lancer and we've been traveling for over 12 years living in airbnbs all this time. I now can't wait to get a place of our own, so we can decorate it the way we want and of course I have no idea what it's going to be or even where, but I am excited to see what we end up in. Your channel helped me stay calm about not having a permanent home. And also helped me grow as a person even though I am much older than you are (you are closer to my daughter's age). Thank you ❤
0:23. “…but the truth is…I’m just some regular old hag who doesn’t know what she’s doing. 😂😂😂 I LOVE your random comments like this. You’re HILARIOUS, talented and fabulous. Just keep doing…you!😊
This thing you said about both parties needing to provide options when they're both vocal about design style is such a good tip. I have an annoying situation with an drop down light over the dining room table not providing enough light and im constantly coming up with suggestions that are rebutted, and then he just says we'll if it were up to me it would stay as it is! Omg so frustrating xD he definitely needs to be more involved in the process.
Love the “too leggy” comment. Eero Saarinen, the Finnish mid century designer, talked about “the slum of legs,” referring to exactly the same thing you just mentioned. He designed the tulip table and chair bases as a remedy. So, point is you must be an innate, intuitive designer who just had to trust the process.
Loved that! It's so important and so rare to see someone's actual process and to realize that the journey happens over years. That's why it's called a journey and not a day trip. Also to stick to it. Thanks for sharing. It must have been hard. ❤
I remember that first video! The patio turned out great. I think one of my faves was when you were apartment hunting. I was so happy when you chose the one that you’re in now. Loved watching the different design iterations.
Caroline I’m 69 yrs old and got married at 18. My couch that I bought had baskets of fruit on it! All the pictures were from Home Interiors! Cheap cheap pictures! But now my home is full of personality and beautiful vintage furniture and vintage frames for pictures or professional frames. It’s what we do we find our way. And yes! Still married 51 years!
I have found that our decor style evolves as we evolve as the person we are in any moment or season of life. After 43 years of living single and then marriage (42 years married), I did the hand me down furniture and what nots from family, then a matching living room suite, and country to vintage, etc. At 62, I am eclectic where I have some of the original oak dining table we bought in our 5th year of marriage, a 100 year old oak buffet from my mother-in-law, a mahogany bedroom suite from my great grandparents, a modern leather sofa, a modern upholstered love seat, 2 mid-century chairs, artwork that spans decades along with vintage maps and family photos all framed (some of the oil paintings do not have frames), lots of books of various genres and a mix of paperback and hardback- they are what we read repeatedly, not coffee table or “decorator” books, simple, natural linen curtains (same in every room), taper candles of different colors that I change out as I get tired of them, lots of brass candle holders from modern to 100 years old, off white walls and ceilings and pops of color with throw pillows, throw blankets, area rugs, lots of real green plants and faux florals (allergic to flowers and their scents). The one, unwavering thing is my foundation colors of blues and greens- the shades may change through the years, but I always decorate with blues or greens and both at any given time. Embrace change and allow your decor to reflect your evolution from child-teen- young adult to geriatric because that evolution of style reflects you as a person- stop allowing others to tell you what is in fashion- you do you!
19:37 ❤ it’s so wild to see pictures of yourself and KNOW that you were masking your pain/ depression. It’s also so interesting to be on the other side of that and realize there’s some grieving to do but that, maybe now, the grieving it’s not misplaced… ? Like… you’ve identified your truth and the emotion is connected to compassion toward our past self.. It’s a feeling. Anyways, I really appreciate your work & vulnerability. 😊
talk about character (and style) development. you're doing great Caroline. hurts to see you hurt seeing old photos but i think most of us know the feeling. be proud
people talk all this crap from their yoga mats and sage burning retreats about growth when everything you need to learn about life can be ascertained from authentic people and friends, like Caroline. thanks for sharing your journey girl, you’re a healer.
I recently came across a picture of me posing proudly in my newly decorated on a budget bathroom. I brought everyone in to admire the wallpaper and accessories and it really was nice - for the time. Now it looks laughable. So of course you have not finished developing your design style, you are young and have a lot of decades ahead to evolve, refine, whatever you want to call it. It’s just change -an ever present part of life.
Thanks for sharing! Really helped put things into perspective for me. Crazy, bc i literally just styled my dining room bc my aunt gifted me some vintage glass... it inspired me so much that i went and pulled things together to make it whole, and i am LOVING it.
My husband is a fine artist and I am blessed with many gorgeous original oil paintings, which are all over our house. Your idea to make a gallery wall in a room’s corner was so fun and turned out great! Thanks ❤
I really appreciate what you said about styling your home for where and what it actually is. I live in a condo, and have been wanting to redecorate for years, but have been stuck on what style I want. I'm the kind of person where what I want in terms of decor can change daily, sometimes hourly. But honestly, rustic farmhouse just isn't going to fit in a suburban 2 bedroom condo lol. And this idea has honestly made me feel a lot more willing to commit, because I don't want to spend the rest of my life in this condo. My ultimate dream is to live on an actual farm, and when that happens I will get my rustic farmhouse home. But until then, maybe I can lean more into the scandi modern aesthetic I've also been wanting!
There's hope for everyone! Thanks for sharing the cringey beginnings of what most of us consider a very talented interior designer. I cannot not mention this: you look way hotter right now than when you were younger, more refined, more elegant, more sure of yourself, more eyebrows (lol, love me some good eyebrows), etc.There, got it out of my chest. I really feel when you say that you went through a fucked up phase where NOTHING happens and you feel like dying. I wasted a whole decade of my life and have felt the urge to just... you know. But I'm still here and I'm glad you're also here, fighting your fight and bringing beauty into this sometimes very, very sad world. Keep it up girl. Thanks for the video
Love how this shows the development of social identity - we grow up largely reflecting the social world we live in - the copy paste phase - and as we grow older we observe how there are many other ways of being in the world and shop around, try on on different identities using fashion and interior design to reflect how we feel about ourselves and to what social group we belong or want to belong. 😊
Wow, I had the impression you were a decorating savant, laser-focussed from the start. It is so reassuring to see how much you have grown in just a few years. I feel like I can grow into style too.
I've been married and trying to make our house (this is our second) something I love for 10 years. This year we finally ripped out the ollllld carpet I LOATHED and it made me so happy, I decorated most of our house over the summer, mostly from Facebook marketplace. Even though it isn't totally finished, it makes me so happy.
Sending a big hug to that lost, sad Caroline (Angelica?) from the pictures. It was hard to see for me, so I can't even imagine how it felt for you. It's very comforting to see how far you've come. In your design style and in your confidence. Thank you for sharing 🤍
Great video! I’m decorating a home for the first time (I’m 51) and a little lost so this was a confidence/motivation boost. Also, glad you’re in a better place :)
It seems that what works about your space is something that a lot of people dont take into account when creating their home. It is the respect for the context of the architecture and surroundings in unison with your own style and preferences. It creates a beautiful cohesion. ❤
I've been enjoying your channel for several months now and finally decided to leave a comment. Thank you for sharing your design and life videos with us. ❤️
Truly… I thank you for your vulnerability. I was expecting simply a home decor video. But I deeply relate to your life phases as well. I’m moving home in 2 months and hoping to rebuild even with it being such a tumultuous time in the world. I feel hopeful especially while seeing your progress in life and in your decor! ♥️
Your style, I would say, is classy, cozy, lived in, fun, eclectic, colorful but tastefully balanced with white and empty spaces that allow the eye to rest. Anyway, you have a great style, and from watching this video, definitely lessons well learned as time moved on in your life. Well done!
Another great show! Made me think of the years of changes in my decor. Now im Looking for the classic eclectic, plant centric earthy, warm and cozy style. Oh brother. Fun times ahead.
I think the stylistic journey and metaphor of the pendulum swing is so true of every artistic journey. I think about the art phases I've gone through and the pendulum swings, omg. I've swung from gritty ink comic art, to wispy feminine watercolor art, to super crisp realistic oil paintings, to whatever it is you would call what I do now...I'm wondering what I'll think when I look back at my current work and style in 3, 5, 10 years. And how my art will have evolved by then. Love your video. I always admire the way you so effortlessly merge a conversation about a design topic with reflections on life. Thanks for sharing
You are so right about mutual contributions in any relationship. I had the food question answered with "something warm" and then got the "nos" when I made suggestions. About something I would cook. Boyfriends do it as well. Especially if your partner cooks: you either make a suggestion or you eat what you get (if you aren't allergic, sick, etc. of course).
Lovely to meet you Caroline. I think your style develops as you acquire things along the way. Here in the Uk, it is always cold, so I’ve collected a few Persian rugs, which defo keep the rooms warmer, cozy blankets, warm lighting, and lots of hot chocolate in the evening 😂 Not sure what happened to your doggo, but he’s adorable ❤
I relate so much to this. Ironically I left a relationship and moved out of DC after a relationship. I discovered my love of interior design in that period of deep unhappiness, sought meaning in the thrift store. We’ve lived weirdly parallel lives and have a similar aesthetic - always tinkering! Love your videos!
THANK YOU FOR THE ADVICE ON DECOR WITH ROOMMATES 👏 👏 in my previous NYC apartment I was the ONLY PERSON putting in effort to make the space feel comfortable. I was seeking furniture on craigslist free, FB marketplace, repainting the godforsaken renter’s beige, building lamps, hiding cords, curating the walls (they said I could do all this, as an artist with an interior decorator as a mother I have an eye for it). One of my roommates had the taste of a 16 year old in a 30 year old woman’s body (pink and Paris France everything) and the other roommate was “not a possessions person” aka she used everyone else’s appliances/furniture because she only owned her bed and her clothes. I put SO MUCH WORK into curating the apartment because I’m extremely influenced by my environment- and made sure to thoroughly check with my roommates if they were okay with said thing on the wall or color change or plant/light placement before I went through with my little projects, I made Pinterest boards etc etc etc this house was EMPTY when I moved in with no consideration for design or ease of life via well designed objects/appliances Sometimes they would have less than practical suggestions about a project I would be working on (like a dresser in a 4x6 bathroom for towels???? WHAT?) and I’d succumb and it would look tacky and they knew it when it was done too wow I was the only one who ever put effort into curating a space call me arrogant or self centered but I know what makes a space feel not like a padded cell YEESH CALL ME TRIGGERED
Caroline can you please do a “not rude review” of homes you like? Especially the Elliot homestead!! I’d love to see what you think about it. Reminds me of your “all vintage style” a couple years ago when I first started watching. I’m such a fan of everything you do!
I always struggle with being paralyzed with design choices..this video is an inspiration of "just try it". Great message. Btw, I'm a newer subscriber, and was randomly watching older videos and came across the "Alfredo" video. So funny, actually hilarious! Your personality and humor is no doubt one of the many reasons that your channel is a success!
This definitely helps me feel better about the hideous state of my apartment. I don't feel it reflects my style almost at all. There's things I imagine in my head but likewise I have a pendulum swinging around in there - I love both wabisabi Japanese imperfect natural interiors and Australian modern architecture and also cottage/old wooden farmhouses. Yet I live in a 70s brick box of a building. I don't know what to do with that. Combine it with my inexperience for decorating (something I wasn't allowed to do as a child/teenager, then as an adult I don't have the time or funds), I feel frozen. My beginning step for it though this year is decluttering and also learning how to look after my house better. I hope that once I feel I can look after it and it looks after me, I will feel more confident to indulge in interesting new design ideas. Two important first steps - a new front door, and curtains!
I think it's a lot to learn about decor when we're really not only trying to live in the moment, but at this point in history, we're all trying to make sense of our country's history, the connections to Europe, and surrounding influences in N and S America, then adding whatever feels modern in terms of design - like you can't discount technology and futurism from our lives and it's inauthentic to think otherwise. It would betray reality to have all vintage and deny the idea of something like your iPhone, Laptop or AirFryer and the lines and design influence of these items that we use every day, constantly so I love things like the modern white console you added into your living room. I think decor is always the idea of integrating so much of how we actually live while reflecting our personal tastes and preferences and making it intimate and inviting. I've learned SO much from your videos, Caroline and absolutely love the way you describe the phases you're talking about. We've all been there and I'm still going through mine. I adore the content you do about finding your personal style and picking a few themes and finding which dominate and not being rigid about rules, but also being structured enough to serve what works well in your life. Cheers. Great job.
At about 20 minutes you made me feel better. I am 43 but chronically ill since 13 and Idespite writing a couple of badlt thought out novels and a part time waitressing career I had to end I feel like I have little to show career wise etc. I'm drafting a new novel by hand and am looking at second hznf0d laptops... i feel ...not hopeful about the book or my life improving but I love my cat and am ok, but I take heart from your words, motherly words really, that good things are just around the corner. Thanks for being like a friend inbetween your design information and personal stories 🥰
you're not alone. we all go through the learning curve. the style in ALL my old apartments was so bad, they were haunted. like how was it so ugly that it called in the ghosts
a lot of things in life work like pendulum. depression and grief also work like that. we feel awful then one day we feel good, think it's over but no, then the swings are smaller and smaller until there is almost none, at that point we feel like ourselves again. it's just that pendulum often feels like everything we have done went to waste. it is never the case. pendulum is a process and if you understand yourself a little, you'll figure out easily what is going on and why, and be gentle with yourself. I appreciated your sincerity. thanks for sharing Caroline. much love!
I remember your apartment hunting video (the algorithm led me to you when I was looking for a place) and I've enjoyed your growth. I also love fresh flowers. We have the same size place but yours is way cuter!!
Thanks for this video! Its so interesting to see how you found your style. Im currently in a trying everything/DIY phase. I have a little note on my phone where Im saving lists of things I have discovered I love. My current room feels a little young for me but I know where I want to go next
Lovely video. At "76," I just got rid of my 45-year-old couch and bought a lovely new couch and comfortable chair. For so long I kept thinking that, since I was probably going to die soon, I should just keep all my old stuff. All my children live far away and they don't want anything. However, all any of us have is the now moment. So, lovely lady, keep on playing with various styles and ideas. Sending loving thoughts your way...and to your sweetheart, and to your lovely parents and siblings...and to everyone.
I want to give you a hug! So glad you got that couch. It’s worth enjoying every minute of it, just for yourself. 🔥
So glad you treated yourself. You deserve it! Remember you’re young at heart, not old.
What lovely comment! I’m impressed you’re tech savvy enough to interact on RUclips. You’ve got my parents (60s) and grandmother (80s) beat!
So glad you got the couch! Please don’t ever feel like you’re counting down your days. Keep on making changes here and there and keep us updated if you’re able. Wishing you the best! ❤
The present is a gift so live it. Enjoy your new comfy sofa & chair!
My mother who is 91 has in the last couple of years bought new couches, new entertainment unit, new dining setting. She likes her unit to look and feel modern, no old stuff for her lol. So l finally bought a new couch (old couch was 30+ years old!). I'm going to be more like my mother :). Enjoy your new couch x
To be honest, I’m here because I like YOU. You could literally be cooking, cleaning, decorating, or spilling tea and I’ll be here. 😊
Same 🙋♀️😊
Same!!
same!
Same
Yep 😅
Everything you said at the end about being in a period where you have nothing to show for it but have those little seeds planted in the ground made me feel so much better about the current state I'm in (not successful career wise, romantic wise, or decorative wise either) - so thank you
Same here. I started bawling 🥲
Me too. I've been in that state since 2020 and was slowly ebbing out of it over 2024. I have nothing to show for those years, I might as well have not existed. But now that I'm finally back on my feet I'm more of a person than I ever was before.
We all.deserve some rest! Our world is so fast paced, social media apps are more than ever, and life is just hard and chaotic. Seeing all bad news all the time due to the internet isn't good for us, its important to detox from all of it a bit while also staying informed. Give yourself grace. ❤ do some watercoloring or crochet or music or dance or karaoke or time with loved ones, board games, long walks, gardening!!!! Gardening is very fufilling! Plant a flower at least this summer, like a marigold. They are easy to grow. Juno into a hobby you've cared about for years but haven't dipped your toe in. Starting anything seems like the hardest part. We got this! We are capable of so much ❤❤❤❤. @Future_Rebellion
This could not have come at a more perfect time. I got admitted to the hospital today for a mass in my brain and I've been dizzy and throwing up. Finally feeling better because they gave me steroids to reduce the swelling and then the symptoms finally went away (I'm going to need brain surgery, holy hell). Anyways, this is just what I needed for a wonderful distraction, thank you so much 💗💗💗
😢
Sending well wishes your way.
Hope you get better soon and wishing you a speedy recovery ❤
Hoping and praying for all to go smoothly. Glad you are being cared for. Hang in there!❤
Praying for you❤ And sending you strength.
I'm a regular old hag, too. I took at least 10-15 years to know what my style is. And I love to change things up every once in a while.
You are a treasure and pleasure to watch.
we're mostly just regular hags out here. but that is our power. so much room to evolve and explore our hagness :)
It will be very emotional moment for all of us 700 000 people when you decide to leave that little wonder of an apartment to move into your new chapter of life. What a wonderful journey we had together last couple of years. ❤
I enjoyed hearing about phases as I have found myself doing some of the same things. Growth is always important.😊
Thank you for this video. You've shown how decorating your spaces is an evolution that starts with trial and 'error'. Although it's not really an error, it's learning. Thanks again. This may be my favourite video of yours.
I needed this! I decorated my room at 13yo and it was awesome. After that, I married a narcissist who whinged for decades about anything I chose but wouldn’t choose anything himself. If he tried, it was cringe worthy. Lived 1600km from real shops so always got the worst of the worst stuff in town that was mixed with 1980s brown wood laminate company furniture. Wasn’t allowed to decorate or have my own spaces for the most part. He’d take them over. Post divorce I’m in my element with DIY, colour scheme and experimenting. I can hang art, my art!!! ❤
I'm exactly like you! Just got out of an abusive relationship of over 15 years. He would belittle my tastes in literally everything, not just interiors, and would routinely throw out furniture on a whim in the name of "minimalism" (aka, we weren't allowed to have anything nice, and he could feel morally superior about it). I'm now pushing 40 and I'm throwing myself into very slowly decorating my unit with comfort, colour, and everything that will make it a true home for my two little girls to grow up in. Caroline and other youtubers have been so invaluable in helping me.
I am 2.5 years after escaping a 29 year marriage debacle. Enjoying life finally!
Yes! Freedom! Some people just like to be sour. You're not one of them!
@@Kim-qt7yn May this be the best chapter of your life! I was with the so and so for 32 yrs. I call people who tell me life gets much better afterwards divorce heroes and give them a place of honour on my shoulders as shoulder angels. You are there too!
@@user-lb6nq6bn2k I’m so glad you’re out of it! I figured out while he was moving out that it’s about taking your ownership of your spaces off you so you don’t even feel like you deserve to live there. As he is a hoarder it took him 18 months to move out yet in every room and shed, he’d leave just enough around every wall so I couldn’t use any space. He told me that I wasn’t to move any of his stuff around even 4 months after he’d officially moved out. At that time he still told me he was going to buy my half of the house from me right up until he couldn’t deny moving out. Then he said we were going to sell the house. In the end I moved some of his stuff. He took some of my stuff and hid other bits like cutlery and denied it. Throughout the marriage he’d even throw my bedding on the floor if it went on his side just so I didn’t feel safe or calm in there. 18 months post divorce I’m still not feeling like I own the spaces he occupied but try to do a Wonder Woman twirl in them every time.
I’m sending you and your family a big hug. It’s not easy finally recognising the boundary of abuse. I used to think that if he didn’t hit me, it wasn’t abuse, he was just grumpy all the time. May this be the best chapter of your lives and love and laughter fills your home.
I'm 43 and live by myself for the first time in life! I ABSOLUTELY encourage women to live solo for a while. You discover who you are without having to compromise with anyone else. That goes for tastes, values and general lifestyle. This is where you grow!
Funnily enough - I lived on my own for most of my life till 43! I soooo loved not having to compromise!
Now I'm trying to meld styles with my BF - and he's in the "veto" phase Caroline talked about lol. Arg!! I'm gonna tell him he needs to offer alternative options!
Yes 👏🏼 To 👏🏼 This
I lived and travelled alone from age 31 to 38 and it was the BEST years of my life. That’s when I lived, made mistakes with zero judgment, and totally discovered everything about who I am!
I had a painting that my grandmother had painted that I wanted to hang in my new apartment. A dear friend of mine who I had asked to help me decorate told me that “nothing could make that look good”. I went on a quest to prove her wrong. This is how my decorating journey started. I discovered a creative side to me that I didn’t even know existed. Had a huge amount of fun creating my home environment… and in the end my friend admitted that I had done the impossible and used the painting in a vignette that made it really appealing.
I love this!!!!!!! ❤❤❤❤
It is so cool how you turn a light fun conversation into a deeply relatable and vulnerable conversation. This is why I love your content. It’s truly like hanging with a good friend.
I'm 80. Creative change doesn't stop. Just like styles of clothing, hair, etc, changes, and seeing how they were in old photos and videos they look so weird, so they also will when you watch this video years from now, this never ending instant. ✨
"This never-ending instant"---- Fabulous!🎉
What a lovely way of looking at change - something to embrace, not fear
@@adelaidebeckman9152
What a lovely response to the comment ✨
@@cherylbarrel9966
🌺
I'm 66 and I concur.
Hi Caroline, great video as always ! It's so funny that you said that you weren't able to give advice about how to blend style with a partner, because you totally helped me in that area ! You did a video a while ago with your brother, in which you made him swipe through pinterest pictures to determin what he liked (you called it design tinder). I did this exact thing with my boyfriend (using your pinterest brainstorm board btw
Even though I've watched you for years it was so weird seeing photos/clips of you without your bangs. The bangs are just so YOU.
Hi Caroline! Just wanna say I truly appreciate the rawness in your videos. I feel like a lot of ppl can relate to reliving those strong emotions when looking back through old photos, and the epic dramas that tend to culminate in retrospect.
To hear it from you, a public voice, and then reading it back in comments makes it feel like it's just part of like, the human experience.
I guess just thank you for creating the space where it makes growing up feel beautiful. :)
When I was in a very unhappy relationship I would go out every single weekend and buy things to decorate our house, I spent so much money for things I wasn't even sure I liked just trying to bring a little bit of joy around me. I relate
That was painful to read. I hope you're feeling much better now and that you do treat yourself but because you simply can and because you know that you deserve real joy and appreciation.
I really needed to see this, I thought people were born with a design instinct and I just didn’t have it. I’m deep into the vintage phase right now and I spend all my time and money at thrift stores, thank you for showing me that there’s light at the end of the tunnel.
I’ve never commented anywhere before, but I felt compelled to this time. I first discovered your patio makeover a few weeks after I was released, and I immediately connected with your positive energy and creative insight. You could say I’m one of those annoying people who like to claim, “I was here from the beginning.”
I just wanted to share how much I appreciated this video-not just for the design, but for the way it reflects growth and transformation, both creatively and personally. Over the past five years, I’ve been laid off, moved back home, and eventually started over in a new city where I didn’t know anyone. Through it all, your content has been a source of comfort and inspiration.
It’s been incredible to watch you evolve and discover what you love, especially as I’ve been on my own journey of figuring out the same. Your videos have helped me feel more confident in making design choices that genuinely reflect who I am. I still have some growing to do, but my home has never felt more “me” than it does now-largely thanks to your encouragement to create spaces that truly resonate with the people who live in them.
Thank you for sharing your personal style journey. It’s made a difference in mine. :)
it's truly impressive seeing how far you have come in such a short amount of time. it really feels, not even like you found yourself, but like you created yourself, and still are. you're so good at what you do that sometimes i feel like you're just built different, and this video takes away a lot of mystique and makes it feel doable and also personalized for people watching. once again your content feels both comforting and inspiring, thank you caroline
Any schooling for design?.
I agree with labibliobecco, Caroline has come a long way in a very short time. I've been interested in interior design for 40 years but still can't quite pull it all together. I am taking an online course as I clearly need the help, but Caroline is a focussed design gem.
For living with a partner, what I've found works is - finding a passion of theirs that you can express in your own aesthetic. For ex: my husband is Egyptian so we have a Persian rug in almost every room to tie in his culture in a way that we both find stylish. He also loves history, so I focus on vintage furniture. Even for the art, he's not the type to display prints of flowers, but I am, so I made sure they were prints of his favorite flower to include him as well.
Oh I love this tip!! Great way of blending two people's lives/styles together that hopefully makes everyone happy.
It hurts to see you hurting in those photos. I went through a breakup around the same time, and all I did was take photos of me being happy when it was the opposite of how I felt. Love and appreciate you ❤️
I looked at old photos one time as if I was looking at someone I didn't know. Suddenly the sadness in my eyes was in every photo.
It hit me like a freight train how sad I was during that period.
My parents were both sick and I was doing university and taking care of them. And having no energy to take care of myself.
Looking at those photos and seing how much I needed a hug, helped me forgive myself for some things I thought I hadn't done enough.
I did. I did as much as I was able to.
What you were saying about trying to copy and paste your relative’s home made so much sense to me. One of my aunts has a beautiful home that I always loved visiting growing up. But I realized I wanted to recreate the FEELINGS that the space evoked and not the space itself.
You're the only person whose videos I don't skip over the talk about sponsors. I always know it's going to be real and make me laugh.
Been glued to the news the past couple days so this is a nice break from it.
Turn off the news, ffs! 😂. Life is short. 😊 Be happy.
@@smoofollowingqalroundthewo206 I said a couple days, not a couple months... I think I'm good.
@@smoofollowingqalroundthewo206 Yeah I said a couple days not a couple years... I'm good with my own decisions.
@@smoofollowingqalroundthewo206 Yeah, no... I'll watch the news for a couple days and stay informed anytime I feel like it.
The phrase "all of a sudden I loved flowers" gives me the sweetest, most hopeful feeling about life. It can be so hard not knowing your tastes or all your interests yet and this video is so inspiring to keep looking and trying things that you might find joy and beauty in :)
The perfect man is the guy who says I can do whatever I want with the house. My husband was that way and it was glorious.
i mean this in the best way possible but i love that your camera is sometimes your therapist and you let us in on it. you're good people, caroline winkler!
Those little hehe's are something like a retrospective growth laugh. I did those just the other day. It's so reflexive. It feels like "wow look how adorably cringe I was."
I love how you shared this of yourself, that even as we get older, creativity doesn't need to end. It just evolves in our interests and that we can create our living spaces to reflect our special tastes in life. Your past videos have given us tools and ideas and now you show that you were never "perfect" from the get-go, you show us what many content creators are missing on, being genuine & authentic. Many kudos to you
Girl I just love how you can take a video about design style and weave in some profound truths and have these vulnerable moments with us. Dang I found myself remembering the fur babies and homes and loves I left behind but I’m so thankful for where God brought me to 💜
I am also a senior at 75. And love her shows. I may not be able to do all that she does but I have learned what goes together. And I’m trying different colors. I recently purchased a red bedspread!!
YAY!!! What did we do to deserve two back-to-back videos? My Saturday night is looking up. (I'm a little pathetic but very grateful)
I think IKEA and similar kinds of places with showrooms are a great idea for couples blending design sensibilities; you can walk through slowly and point out what each person likes to the other and, ideally, keep an eye out for wherever there’s overlap!
I was recently in Ikea. I came back with some future purchase ideas.
But... a lot of the show rooms... Also on other furniture stores I visited. So big and spacious. The furniture and ideas for rooms. It was all big and spacious.
My house is not that big and spacious.
I need smaller furniture. Smaller solutions.
I need a dining/living room with space for 8 people when I have my friends over. But that's cozy when it's the 3 of us.
Ikea has an extendable table that I want. But the buffet thingy is always too long. So it has to be storage. But most storage furniture is boring. Just a rectangle.
I don't want to change my sofas. Maybe upholster them?
Buy a new pretty rug.
Anyway, that's my beef with show rooms. The kitchens, the dining and living rooms, even the bedrooms and bathrooms are all big and spacious. Where are these houses with all this available space?
And I have stuff that needs to go somewhere. That doesn't fit this minimalistic furniture for storing nothing.
Any furniture store actually. I get so overwhelmed at Ikea I can barely go there every 5 years.
@@mffmoniz2948 aww I definitely relate to this, too. IKEA often has one or two small rooms to pick a few ideas from, but of course they’re rarely able to truly replicate, say, two people with their whole lives tucked into a studio apartment under 300 square feet!
That said, my comment is more to help with generating ideas on what styles you and a partner might both like when your design sensibilities seemingly have little overlap. Maybe one likes dark and moody, while the other strongly prefers bright and airy - but you both like MCM furniture in mid-tone wood? Those showrooms can sometimes display furniture in unexpected ways, which can help you (both) to imagine a potential shared space that might bring in elements you both like - and potentially build on that towards something unique to the two of you. 🙂 Even if you don’t buy a thing, just being in neutral-party spaces like that can really help alleviate the stagnancy that can settle over discussing design decisions from a home where you both might be feeling a little stuck with what you already have.
I love when you make videos like this. It can be challenging to reflect in such an honest way. I appreciate you going there. I don’t know why but this video hit hard in just the right spot. I can totally relate to that feeling of getting to know your own style and self while simultaneously not feeling my best. Growth for me always happens when it’s tough.
I look forward to seeing whatever you do next. So glad I found this channel a few years ago. I feel like I’m part of a like minded community, I need this right now.
Two videos in three days? I love you. Baby's asleep, toddler's asleep - perfect timing.
All I have to say after watching this and following your for many years now is:
We all love you, are incredibly proud of you and I am sending you a virtual hug
You are happy now and it shows. I appreciate your honesty and opening your heart. It was fun seeing the road you have traveled.
Thank you for being so vulnerable with us. 20:52 I resonated so much with the seed analogy and just generally taking time to recover after a break up. 😢 Why do I still get surprised when I tear up at Caroline’s videos?
I'll be 73 in afew weeks and my husband and I are going antiqueing and vintage store shopping through Va. I want new " old" things for my birthday 🎉🎉🎉 i enjoy all your videos, Caroline.. ❤❤😊😊Kathy from Pennsylvania😊
Caroline, thank you for sharing your amazing personality with all of us here. It’s always a joy to see your videos, they feel like a warm hug and I really look forward to them! I’m only 19 and all of your insight about not only interior design but the difficult parts of being human I take fondly to heart. Never stop being you❤
As a person who rented for 29 years, and 4 homes......style is so transitional! I base it on time and place. Yes, my first home I bought as single person was total mosh of antiques and thrift and oh boy mixed periods .....scary, but workin with no moola , that was what it needed to be!
Caroline, you are one of the few RUclipsrs that I actually look forward to and enjoy your ads/commercials. So creative, fun and interesting! And thanks for all of your great content!
I realise that this is a super personal, post relationship video to make, but...
I ❤ the Caroline context and vulnerability that shows everyone that everyone has a past, plus growth through experience, and good times and bad, plus I learned stuff, and, yes!
It's okay if you don't notice or aren't perfect right out of the gate. Yes! You are allowed to just let things be what they are and sort it out later. ❤ Yes! It will get better if you open up to growing.
All of this
What I am struck by in this video is how much you looked like a sad little girl. Now you look like a confident woman. ❤
I’m in the parent-phase following a big breakup super similar to yours (long relationship in the Midwest, also got a little domestic, also killed a lot of time in thrift stores, also had a puppy I recently found photos of and felt sad about, recently moved back to a big city to live with family). It was so comforting to see your evolution from that point till now, creatively and personally. I love that you truly made your own home that feels unique and peaceful for you. It’s a huge inspiration for me as I try to envision my future independence. Thanks! I can’t wait to see what my style becomes when I get my own space.
i recognize the look in your eyes in your old photos because it's the same look i had in my old photos. I know what that's like, and i feel for past you.
It's crazy how much I relate to this video. So comforting to see that you've gone through so much of the same confusion and inner turmoil before you arrived here!
I love this video. I guess it's the transformations and the idea of allowing self to evolve that excites me. Thank you, Caroline! It really resonated and made me think of my "stages".
My first space was after I moved out from a 17-year marriage. I still ache for the apartment I put together for me and my teen daughter. Completely from scratch. I now realize that I totally overlooked both bedrooms and focused solely on the living/dining space.
Life has happened since that time. My daughter and I ended up moving in with our boyfriends in a couple of years. And we both have changed countless number of places. She - for studying, I - because my new husband is a free-lancer and we've been traveling for over 12 years living in airbnbs all this time.
I now can't wait to get a place of our own, so we can decorate it the way we want and of course I have no idea what it's going to be or even where, but I am excited to see what we end up in.
Your channel helped me stay calm about not having a permanent home. And also helped me grow as a person even though I am much older than you are (you are closer to my daughter's age). Thank you ❤
0:23. “…but the truth is…I’m just some regular old hag who doesn’t know what she’s doing. 😂😂😂 I LOVE your random comments like this. You’re HILARIOUS, talented and fabulous. Just keep doing…you!😊
This thing you said about both parties needing to provide options when they're both vocal about design style is such a good tip. I have an annoying situation with an drop down light over the dining room table not providing enough light and im constantly coming up with suggestions that are rebutted, and then he just says we'll if it were up to me it would stay as it is! Omg so frustrating xD he definitely needs to be more involved in the process.
Love the “too leggy” comment. Eero Saarinen, the Finnish mid century designer, talked about “the slum of legs,” referring to exactly the same thing you just mentioned. He designed the tulip table and chair bases as a remedy. So, point is you must be an innate, intuitive designer who just had to trust the process.
Not the focal point of the video, but I also had to leave my dog behind and it's one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. I feel you.
Loved that! It's so important and so rare to see someone's actual process and to realize that the journey happens over years. That's why it's called a journey and not a day trip. Also to stick to it. Thanks for sharing. It must have been hard. ❤
Oh, YAY! Something for a Saturday night West Coaster like me! Thanks, always, Caroline. You're always honest & genuine. Cheers.
I remember that first video! The patio turned out great. I think one of my faves was when you were apartment hunting. I was so happy when you chose the one that you’re in now. Loved watching the different design iterations.
Caroline I’m 69 yrs old and got married at 18. My couch that I bought had baskets of fruit on it! All the pictures were from Home Interiors! Cheap cheap pictures! But now my home is full of personality and beautiful vintage furniture and vintage frames for pictures or professional frames. It’s what we do we find our way. And yes! Still married 51 years!
I have found that our decor style evolves as we evolve as the person we are in any moment or season of life. After 43 years of living single and then marriage (42 years married), I did the hand me down furniture and what nots from family, then a matching living room suite, and country to vintage, etc. At 62, I am eclectic where I have some of the original oak dining table we bought in our 5th year of marriage, a 100 year old oak buffet from my mother-in-law, a mahogany bedroom suite from my great grandparents, a modern leather sofa, a modern upholstered love seat, 2 mid-century chairs, artwork that spans decades along with vintage maps and family photos all framed (some of the oil paintings do not have frames), lots of books of various genres and a mix of paperback and hardback- they are what we read repeatedly, not coffee table or “decorator” books, simple, natural linen curtains (same in every room), taper candles of different colors that I change out as I get tired of them, lots of brass candle holders from modern to 100 years old, off white walls and ceilings and pops of color with throw pillows, throw blankets, area rugs, lots of real green plants and faux florals (allergic to flowers and their scents). The one, unwavering thing is my foundation colors of blues and greens- the shades may change through the years, but I always decorate with blues or greens and both at any given time. Embrace change and allow your decor to reflect your evolution from child-teen- young adult to geriatric because that evolution of style reflects you as a person- stop allowing others to tell you what is in fashion- you do you!
That’s amazing that you had no memory of the paint swatch wall art and you made it again in your present apartment!
19:37 ❤ it’s so wild to see pictures of yourself and KNOW that you were masking your pain/ depression. It’s also so interesting to be on the other side of that and realize there’s some grieving to do but that, maybe now, the grieving it’s not misplaced… ? Like… you’ve identified your truth and the emotion is connected to compassion toward our past self.. It’s a feeling. Anyways, I really appreciate your work & vulnerability. 😊
talk about character (and style) development. you're doing great Caroline. hurts to see you hurt seeing old photos but i think most of us know the feeling. be proud
people talk all this crap from their yoga mats and sage burning retreats about growth when everything you need to learn about life can be ascertained from authentic people and friends, like Caroline. thanks for sharing your journey girl, you’re a healer.
I recently came across a picture of me posing proudly in my newly decorated on a budget bathroom. I brought everyone in to admire the wallpaper and accessories and it really was nice - for the time. Now it looks laughable. So of course you have not finished developing your design style, you are young and have a lot of decades ahead to evolve, refine, whatever you want to call it. It’s just change -an ever present part of life.
Thanks for sharing! Really helped put things into perspective for me. Crazy, bc i literally just styled my dining room bc my aunt gifted me some vintage glass... it inspired me so much that i went and pulled things together to make it whole, and i am LOVING it.
What?!!!❤ middle of the Saturday night Caroline??! Hold the phones. I'm here for it ❤
You are cute
My husband is a fine artist and I am blessed with many gorgeous original oil paintings, which are all over our house. Your idea to make a gallery wall in a room’s corner was so fun and turned out great! Thanks ❤
I really appreciate what you said about styling your home for where and what it actually is. I live in a condo, and have been wanting to redecorate for years, but have been stuck on what style I want. I'm the kind of person where what I want in terms of decor can change daily, sometimes hourly. But honestly, rustic farmhouse just isn't going to fit in a suburban 2 bedroom condo lol. And this idea has honestly made me feel a lot more willing to commit, because I don't want to spend the rest of my life in this condo. My ultimate dream is to live on an actual farm, and when that happens I will get my rustic farmhouse home. But until then, maybe I can lean more into the scandi modern aesthetic I've also been wanting!
There's hope for everyone! Thanks for sharing the cringey beginnings of what most of us consider a very talented interior designer. I cannot not mention this: you look way hotter right now than when you were younger, more refined, more elegant, more sure of yourself, more eyebrows (lol, love me some good eyebrows), etc.There, got it out of my chest. I really feel when you say that you went through a fucked up phase where NOTHING happens and you feel like dying. I wasted a whole decade of my life and have felt the urge to just... you know. But I'm still here and I'm glad you're also here, fighting your fight and bringing beauty into this sometimes very, very sad world. Keep it up girl. Thanks for the video
Love how this shows the development of social identity - we grow up largely reflecting the social world we live in - the copy paste phase - and as we grow older we observe how there are many other ways of being in the world and shop around, try on on different identities using fashion and interior design to reflect how we feel about ourselves and to what social group we belong or want to belong. 😊
Wow, I had the impression you were a decorating savant, laser-focussed from the start. It is so reassuring to see how much you have grown in just a few years. I feel like I can grow into style too.
I've been married and trying to make our house (this is our second) something I love for 10 years. This year we finally ripped out the ollllld carpet I LOATHED and it made me so happy, I decorated most of our house over the summer, mostly from Facebook marketplace. Even though it isn't totally finished, it makes me so happy.
Evolution is growth. Caroline you have cultivated a fantastic “bloom” of inspo for us, TY!
I really enjoyed this video. I like how its so cosy. Talking to us while laying on the couch. ❤
Sending a big hug to that lost, sad Caroline (Angelica?) from the pictures. It was hard to see for me, so I can't even imagine how it felt for you. It's very comforting to see how far you've come. In your design style and in your confidence. Thank you for sharing 🤍
Great video! I’m decorating a home for the first time (I’m 51) and a little lost so this was a confidence/motivation boost. Also, glad you’re in a better place :)
It seems that what works about your space is something that a lot of people dont take into account when creating their home. It is the respect for the context of the architecture and surroundings in unison with your own style and preferences. It creates a beautiful cohesion. ❤
I've been enjoying your channel for several months now and finally decided to leave a comment. Thank you for sharing your design and life videos with us. ❤️
Truly… I thank you for your vulnerability. I was expecting simply a home decor video. But I deeply relate to your life phases as well. I’m moving home in 2 months and hoping to rebuild even with it being such a tumultuous time in the world.
I feel hopeful especially while seeing your progress in life and in your decor! ♥️
Your style, I would say, is classy, cozy, lived in, fun, eclectic, colorful but tastefully balanced with white and empty spaces that allow the eye to rest. Anyway, you have a great style, and from watching this video, definitely lessons well learned as time moved on in your life. Well done!
Another great show! Made me think of the years of changes in my decor. Now im Looking for the classic eclectic, plant centric earthy, warm and cozy style. Oh brother. Fun times ahead.
I think the stylistic journey and metaphor of the pendulum swing is so true of every artistic journey. I think about the art phases I've gone through and the pendulum swings, omg. I've swung from gritty ink comic art, to wispy feminine watercolor art, to super crisp realistic oil paintings, to whatever it is you would call what I do now...I'm wondering what I'll think when I look back at my current work and style in 3, 5, 10 years. And how my art will have evolved by then.
Love your video. I always admire the way you so effortlessly merge a conversation about a design topic with reflections on life. Thanks for sharing
I love your style! I must also say that you look better, younger, and healthier today than you did in the older photos.
6:00 yessss. This 100%.
You are so right about mutual contributions in any relationship. I had the food question answered with "something warm" and then got the "nos" when I made suggestions. About something I would cook. Boyfriends do it as well. Especially if your partner cooks: you either make a suggestion or you eat what you get (if you aren't allergic, sick, etc. of course).
You're so real for this! 💖 Thank you 🎀
Lovely to meet you Caroline. I think your style develops as you acquire things along the way. Here in the Uk, it is always cold, so I’ve collected a few Persian rugs, which defo keep the rooms warmer, cozy blankets, warm lighting, and lots of hot chocolate in the evening 😂 Not sure what happened to your doggo, but he’s adorable ❤
I relate so much to this. Ironically I left a relationship and moved out of DC after a relationship. I discovered my love of interior design in that period of deep unhappiness, sought meaning in the thrift store. We’ve lived weirdly parallel lives and have a similar aesthetic - always tinkering! Love your videos!
THANK YOU FOR THE ADVICE ON DECOR WITH ROOMMATES 👏 👏 in my previous NYC apartment I was the ONLY PERSON putting in effort to make the space feel comfortable. I was seeking furniture on craigslist free, FB marketplace, repainting the godforsaken renter’s beige, building lamps, hiding cords, curating the walls (they said I could do all this, as an artist with an interior decorator as a mother I have an eye for it). One of my roommates had the taste of a 16 year old in a 30 year old woman’s body (pink and Paris France everything) and the other roommate was “not a possessions person” aka she used everyone else’s appliances/furniture because she only owned her bed and her clothes.
I put SO MUCH WORK into curating the apartment because I’m extremely influenced by my environment- and made sure to thoroughly check with my roommates if they were okay with said thing on the wall or color change or plant/light placement before I went through with my little projects, I made Pinterest boards etc etc etc this house was EMPTY when I moved in with no consideration for design or ease of life via well designed objects/appliances
Sometimes they would have less than practical suggestions about a project I would be working on (like a dresser in a 4x6 bathroom for towels???? WHAT?) and I’d succumb and it would look tacky and they knew it when it was done too wow I was the only one who ever put effort into curating a space call me arrogant or self centered but I know what makes a space feel not like a padded cell YEESH CALL ME TRIGGERED
Caroline can you please do a “not rude review” of homes you like? Especially the Elliot homestead!! I’d love to see what you think about it. Reminds me of your “all vintage style” a couple years ago when I first started watching.
I’m such a fan of everything you do!
I can definitely understand how looking at the old photos brought up hard emotions! Thank G-d your life is beautiful now! ❤
I always struggle with being paralyzed with design choices..this video is an inspiration of "just try it". Great message. Btw, I'm a newer subscriber, and was randomly watching older videos and came across the "Alfredo" video. So funny, actually hilarious! Your personality and humor is no doubt one of the many reasons that your channel is a success!
This definitely helps me feel better about the hideous state of my apartment. I don't feel it reflects my style almost at all. There's things I imagine in my head but likewise I have a pendulum swinging around in there - I love both wabisabi Japanese imperfect natural interiors and Australian modern architecture and also cottage/old wooden farmhouses. Yet I live in a 70s brick box of a building. I don't know what to do with that. Combine it with my inexperience for decorating (something I wasn't allowed to do as a child/teenager, then as an adult I don't have the time or funds), I feel frozen. My beginning step for it though this year is decluttering and also learning how to look after my house better. I hope that once I feel I can look after it and it looks after me, I will feel more confident to indulge in interesting new design ideas. Two important first steps - a new front door, and curtains!
I think it's a lot to learn about decor when we're really not only trying to live in the moment, but at this point in history, we're all trying to make sense of our country's history, the connections to Europe, and surrounding influences in N and S America, then adding whatever feels modern in terms of design - like you can't discount technology and futurism from our lives and it's inauthentic to think otherwise. It would betray reality to have all vintage and deny the idea of something like your iPhone, Laptop or AirFryer and the lines and design influence of these items that we use every day, constantly so I love things like the modern white console you added into your living room. I think decor is always the idea of integrating so much of how we actually live while reflecting our personal tastes and preferences and making it intimate and inviting. I've learned SO much from your videos, Caroline and absolutely love the way you describe the phases you're talking about. We've all been there and I'm still going through mine. I adore the content you do about finding your personal style and picking a few themes and finding which dominate and not being rigid about rules, but also being structured enough to serve what works well in your life. Cheers. Great job.
At about 20 minutes you made me feel better. I am 43 but chronically ill since 13 and Idespite writing a couple of badlt thought out novels and a part time waitressing career I had to end I feel like I have little to show career wise etc.
I'm drafting a new novel by hand and am looking at second hznf0d laptops... i feel ...not hopeful about the book or my life improving but I love my cat and am ok, but I take heart from your words, motherly words really, that good things are just around the corner. Thanks for being like a friend inbetween your design information and personal stories 🥰
Praying for you. Life will get better❤
@@terrispencer7608 Thank you ☺
Research taking Ivermectin and Hydroxychloroquine. Organic. Do a metals detox. And, eat/drink alkaline. You’ll be amazed.
you're not alone. we all go through the learning curve. the style in ALL my old apartments was so bad, they were haunted. like how was it so ugly that it called in the ghosts
I’m so glad you thought of doing this video 🥰
I can't believe most of these updates are from ~5 years ago. You've come so far!
a lot of things in life work like pendulum. depression and grief also work like that. we feel awful then one day we feel good, think it's over but no, then the swings are smaller and smaller until there is almost none, at that point we feel like ourselves again. it's just that pendulum often feels like everything we have done went to waste. it is never the case. pendulum is a process and if you understand yourself a little, you'll figure out easily what is going on and why, and be gentle with yourself.
I appreciated your sincerity. thanks for sharing Caroline. much love!
This might be my favorite video. I love the process and evolution. Takes away the sting of my own…eras (not cringey failures).
I remember your apartment hunting video (the algorithm led me to you when I was looking for a place) and I've enjoyed your growth. I also love fresh flowers.
We have the same size place but yours is way cuter!!
Yes. That was the first video I saw too. Loved the personality and discovering the décor advice, I just parked my tush on the channel.
Thanks for this video! Its so interesting to see how you found your style. Im currently in a trying everything/DIY phase. I have a little note on my phone where Im saving lists of things I have discovered I love. My current room feels a little young for me but I know where I want to go next
Love this!!! Makes me feel so much better about feeling like my space is always a “work in progress”