This architecture is art nou-what now?
Finding a design style
DAVID MINK GateHouse Plus

If you're like most single American men, choosing a design style is not a problem for you. Words like art deco, gothic and Bauhaus aren't even in your lexicon. In fact, you probably designed your home in the 32-inch style, centering your home furnishings and wallhangings around your goliath television set, home entertainment system and uber-comfortable couch and recliner. What else really matters, anyway?

For those who are interested in having a cohesive design style, however, the 32-inch probably isn't going to be the focal point of the living room set. Things more important to design - like furniture, paintings, draperies, curtains, cornices, window treatments and the like - should receive a little more foregrounding, while the massive TV should more than likely be shipped down to the man cave.

Cohesive, effective design always starts in the same place: the planning session. No one has ever "thrown together" a neoclassical living room. A strong design requires forethought, consideration, research and trial and error. It's not all going to come together right away, so don't expect it to.

The best place to start your planning is in the research department. Pick up some interior design magazines and cut out things that catch your eye and inspire you. Keep a folder or scrapbook of these clippings for easy reference later. Visit buildings in your area, as well. Old estate houses turned over to historical societies are great for these type of visits. Museums work well, too, but don't leave out the local homes. Arrange time with your friends and neighbors to tour their homes and get a sense of not only their decorating styles but the designs of the architecture, as well. Take pictures of everything that catches your eye, and toss those in the scrapbook as well.

Established, classic design styles are constantly being adapted into newer forms, and in a sense are constantly becoming newer styles. There are literally hundreds of styles to choose from, from art nouveau to art deco, from country French to craftsman, and from Tudor to Tuscan. While there is not nearly enough space here to define these styles, a good resource for orienting yourselves with these classic designs is the style archive at ArtSparkx.com. Look over the various designs and find the one that most closely represents what you have in mind. This will give you a good idea of what to shop for at your local arty home decorating shop.