DO WE CHANGE EVERY SEVEN YEARS?

Tonya’s Style has Certainly Evolved

Do We Really Change Every Seven Years?

There’s a theory that we change every seven years. Whether or not there’s any magic to that particular number, I do think we move through different seasons and our tastes tend to move with us.

I see it in the way we dress, and I see it in the way we design our homes.

Think about your closet ten years ago. Maybe you were wearing more color, different silhouettes or following trends you wouldn’t consider today. But chances are, there are certain things you’ve always gravitated toward. Maybe it’s a beautifully tailored jacket, a great white shirt, a classic loafer or the perfect pair of jeans.

The pieces change, but there’s usually a thread that connects them.

I think our homes work exactly the same way.

My personal style has certainly evolved. I can look back at different periods of my life and immediately recognize the colors and influences I was drawn to at the time. But underneath those changing layers, my foundation has remained pretty consistent. I’ve always loved warmth, traditional elements, natural materials and rooms that feel collected rather than overly decorated.

Where I tend to have more fun and where my taste changes is with color.

Just as I might take a neutral outfit and add an unexpected shoe, handbag or piece of jewelry, I love a mostly neutral interior with something that gives it personality. Right now, that might be a hit of chartreuse, a deep navy or a beautiful green. In another decade, perhaps it will be something else entirely.

And that is why I believe both a great wardrobe and a great home benefit from the same philosophy: Invest in the foundation and have fun with the layers.

In fashion, the investment might be the coat, the handbag or the beautifully made shoe. At home, it’s the cabinetry, millwork, flooring, stone or that really wonderful piece of furniture you intend to own for years.

Then come the accessories.

Pillows are a little like scarves. Lighting can be jewelry. Wallpaper can be that fabulous patterned dress you fall in love with. Art, objects and textiles bring in the personality. They’re also the things that can evolve as you do.

That doesn't mean everything needs to be neutral or “timeless.” Quite the opposite. A home should reveal something about the person who lives there right now. The trick is creating enough of a foundation that it can continue to feel like you even as your favorite things change.

Maybe our personalities don't completely change every seven years. Maybe, like personal style, we simply edit. We keep what still feels like us, let go of what doesn't, and add a few things that reflect who we've become.

And if my current wardrobe and my interiors are any indication, apparently I'm in my chartreuse era.

xo, Tonya

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