That’s Not My Signature
Knowing we’re always game for a decorating quiz (like these of the past), our Twitter buddy Shelley sent us the link to Ethan Allen’s “What’s Your Signature” quiz a few days back. It, like any other non-scientific “what’s your style” quiz, was a just-for-fun attempt to define your decorating personality – this time in terms of Ethan Allen’s “Signature Lifestyles.”
It was also remarkably speedy (style quizzes = fun, belabored twenty minute style quizzes = not fun). It just asked you to click one of two images based on what “grabs you first,” which was actually kind of a fun way to let your gut instincts take over. Heck, I even found myself randomly choosing a pearl necklace.
But look where all that jewelry-clicking got me. My diagnosis: Romance (?!?!?)
In a word: barf. Beg my pardon, that’s not very “romantic” of me. I meant: le barf.
No offense to this style or this style quiz (or Ethan Allen himself), but it is the COMPLETE opposite of me (just what every wife wants to hear, right? I’m 180-degrees from romance). But c’mon, just look at the description (curvaceous silhouettes? dressmaker fabrics?). And here’s one of the rooms they suggested I’d like:
If you know me at all, you know there is very little about this space that could be described as my “signature lifestyle.” Okay, maybe that map over the bed (I never met a map I didn’t like).
Speaking of maps, Sherry rubbed it in by getting Explorer as her result:
Probably not a perfect description of Sherry (her blank passport does not speak to “images of world travel”) but it was definitely a closer fit than mine (she loves natural fibers, textural variations, and we’ve definitely been embracing a bit more “relaxed eclecticism” in this house compared to our first one). Here’s one of the “Explorer” rooms that caught her eye. Not 100% her, but not as off as my princess bedroom above (she likes the ORB light fixture and loves the french doors with the dark hardware in the background).
Feeling jealous of Sherry’s diagnosis, I took the quiz again (they have different image pairings each time). And even though I dared to click on the pearls again – I got a closer fit with my second result: Vintage.
Not that I’ll be wearing that outfit above anytime soon, but the rooms shown under this style diagnosis definitely felt more like moi me (sorry, that’s the “romance” sneaking back in). For example, I’m digging the light fixture, the mixed chairs/table as well as the graphic rug against rustic floors in this shot. Though my favorite part is definitely the architecture. Too bad I can’t bring that home from a store.
Okay, your turn. Feel free to take the “What’s Your Signature” quiz (even twice if you have to) and share your results. Were they way off? Dead on? Inspiring in all the right ways? Or just nice for a good laugh? Oh, and if you feel like killing more time, you can find a bunch of the previous quizzes that we’ve test driven here.
Psst- In what can only be described as more-thrilling-than-90210 news, Tori Spelling herself mentioned us on her blog today (among some other great sites of which we’re humbled to be grouped). When I told Sherry she went into silent-freak-out-mode, which never happens. It was epic. I mean, when is Sherry silent?
Psssttt- We picked this week’s giveaway winner. Click here to see if it’s you.
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I took the quiz and got vintage, describes me perfectly ;)
Can you say Modern, boys and girls? I knew that you could.
I got elegance. I loved every room, so I guess that’s me!
Too the test twice and got “Romance”. Not sure I think of myself that way, but tests don’t lie!
I got VINTAGE. And I think that’s spot on. However, my house doesn’t look vintage – my husband would never go with that. So I’m trying to make the change one piece of furniture or one project at a time. :)
I got vintage, and I loved the rooms that came up under vintage!! You all really do have a great blog, no surprise to me that you would be mentioned by celebs!!!
This is quite possibly the worst quiz ever. LOL. I’m with the people who said picking the photos was like choosing between the lesser of two evils. I think everyone needs to be jumping Ethan Allen for their lack of professionalism instead! ;) And not that J + S need defending, but they’ve said many times this is a blog to remind them of things, a time capsule if you will. It’s their life, their style, their humor… not yours (per se.)
I can never figure out how to see who won the giveaways!!! I look at all of the postings but there’s over 2k of them. Please tell me since I feel like a dummy but I really want to know how to see if it’s ever me. Thanks!!!!
Sorry for the confusion! It’s actually announced right at the top of the post (not in the comments), so when we link to them as a p.s. (at the bottom of a post on Thursday or Friday) just follow that link and read the top of the contest post! And if you think the person’s name and answer might be you, you can even click the linked name of the winner and it will take you to the exact winning comment so you can be sure!
xo,
s
I got Vintage on my first try. Amazingly it is a pretty accurate assessment of my tastes – in the mostly black and white rooms. The light blue/white/floral stuff doesn’t do much for me though…
Ha ha. How fun. I played twice. The first time I got modern. The second time I was dubbed vintage. I’m a contradiction, I guess. Thanks for sharing.
BTW, I’m addicted to your blog. Read it every day, do a happy dance every time there’s a new post, and cry bitterly when I check back and there isn’t a new one yet. : )
Thanks for sharing your home, your skills, and your humor with us!!
Haha, for some reason “cry bitterly” is infinitely more hilarious than “cry.” Cracking up over here.
xo,
s
I got “Romance”, too. Blech! Definitely not my style. Also, I’ve been cruising the comments this morning and saw all of the peal necklace references. I just have to say that I didn’t even get it until I saw a few complaints. Then I laughed. I’m not even as sophisticated as a fifth-grader. I’m like the fifth-grader’s younger third-grade sister that didn’t get the potty joke, ha ha.
took the quiz 3 times, got explorer each time… seems about right :)
I just had to comment – I did the quiz twice like John. I got Romantic the first time, like John and I got Vintage the second time, like John. Too funny. (And I really don’t think Romantic is anything like me…and Vintage maybe a little – like John.)
I never would have thought my taste was “vintage”, but I took the quiz 4 (yes 4!) times and it came out that way every time. and the rooms for vintage are pretty dead on to my taste. I’m going to make my husband take the quiz, though he’s not nearly as game as John is.
“le barf” made me snort laugh :)
Thanks!
Took the quiz twice, I got elegance, twice. Though explorer would be sup fun, elegance feels right to me! “quintessentially classic” and “enduring fabrics” were two of my favorite descrioptors. I just wish I could afford elegance! :) By the way, I read yhl and bowerpower as a guilty pleasure… the whole “fifth grade sense of humor” keeps me comming back. I don’t mind being one of your many “immature” readers…i mean, Katie’s picutre of will pointing at her boob. HILARIOUS.
The first time I took the quiz, I got Elegance. I like the idea of timeless, classic pieces, but that was about all that fit me!
The second time, I got Modern. “Simplicity and functionality are key” was part of the description, and I definitely agree with that. So I guess I’m a mix of Modern Elegance?
Finally a quiz that YHL didn’t crash! I got elegance. Never knew that word would describe me, but I can’t say I’m unhappy about it!
I love how quick the test is… thanks for the link. I’m a Modern, which makes sense — every time you talk about making IKEA goods look less IKEA-y I have to do a double-take. Surely, IKEA is the be-all and end-all of style? :)
I took it twice. The first time I got Romance, and the second time I got Elegance. I would say they are both correct. :)
I got romantic the first time (which I totally disagreed with) and vintage the second, just like John! I’m not sure I really agree with either (either). I think it must be the pearls that prompt the “romantic” result…
I got Vintage and it was pretty accurate! Fun little quiz, even though I ended up sidetracked by looking through all the images on the Ethan Allen site! Guess it worked for them!
Sorry to read some commenters got their noses out of joint. Seriously folks…lighten up! Did they not read the disclaimer you put right below the comment box??
Love your blog…and don’t mind a little immature humor every now and then. Keep up the good work..who know maybe you’ll be mentioned on Nate Berkus’ blog next!
Took it once and got “Modern”. Took it 5 more times and got “Explorer”. Just depends on the assortment of pics they give. Plus, I think they are defining “Explorer” as eclectic. But, I have to say that I am definitely the modern explorer decorator. Love modern furniture with art and textiles from exotic places. I’ll admit that some are from my travels, but most from World Market. How can you carry some of that stuff home anyway????
I did it a few times and I always got either Elegance or Explorer. I don’t think I’m either. Where’s the category for the person who dreams of putting Louis Ghost chairs with a farmhouse table? I guess it shows I’m not an Ethan Allen kinda girl.
I got “ROMANCE” as well, and I do like many elements of their “ROMANCE” style even if I don’t think the word they chose quite fits – the furniture shapes and colors are really appealing to me. But I also really like the “ELEGANCE” designed rooms and prefer a very sparse and simple arrangement of a combination of elements from both.
Many times in the choose a photo pairings, I picked one not because it appealed to me, but because the other most definitely did not. I think a better gauge of tastes and preferences would be a grid of images to choose your favorite X number of.
This made me laugh. I feel like making my husband take the test now–every time I watch Secrets of a Stylist I bemoan the fact that Emily Henderson cannot style diagnosticize us….this will just have to do. :) I got “Elegance”, by the way. Sounds good to me.
vanessa
Omg I can’t believe you took the pearl necklace comment down! When I first read it I laughed out loud and thought, “They are never that dirty- maybe they don’t know what that means…” bahaha we all have you guys up on the “we don’t talk about dirty sex things” pedestal now. I am still snickering.
I got modern! Totally right! I love modern :)
I got “elegance” and love it!!! I would totally have my rooms like some of the elegance example rooms. Too bad I don’t have an “elegant” wad of cash in my “elegant” wallet!
I took the quiz and got Elegance. It was pretty dead on! lol
Modern. To a t! I’ll have to try it again and see what else pops up.
Fun little quiz.
B
I received Elegance:
“We’ve analyzed your selections – your Signature Lifestyle is Elegance. Elegance is the essence of timeless sophistication. A seamless composition of quintessentially classic design elements, reinterpreted through streamlined scale and shape. Luxurious yet beautifully livable. A cosmopolitan mix of clean woods paired with chic, enduring fabrics.”
What’s funny is this is pretty true, but there’s also a part of me that just LOVES the designs in Southern Living magazine.
I also really don’t like the mirrored dresser they show in the shot for Elegance.
I was a Vintage, and remarkably, it matched much of the decor I already have in my family room (lots of black).
I took the quiz and Im with Sherry as an explorer..sorry John…this could be why I luv everything you all do…whatever your “true” signature John the good thing is that you and sherry complement each other and it shows! :)
For me that was like when Sherry commented on my pin on Pinterest!!! Congrats!
Vintage – I like it :-)
Vintage! Pretty spot on for me I must say…
I got modern. Of course most of our styles can’t be pinned down with a single word like that, but I’d say modern would definitely describe a big part of me.
I got explorer, then vintage, then romance.
I was an Explorer all 5 times I took the test! I am going to do a post about that this week on my blog. Thanks for directing me to the quiz. I have always loved quizzes! And keep up the great blog work…I love reading. :)
~Michelle
It told me my style was “Elegance” and showed me pictures of a bunch of things I would *never* have in my house. Howls of derisive laughter, Bruce.
So I retook it and got “Vintage.” Much better.
Then I thought, “Best two out of three?” and took it a third time…and this time I got “Modern.”
As a result, I am now convinced the results of this test are entirely random and meaningless.