home decorating

NiC our expert of the day, writes:

I have a bit of a ‘thing’ for older items. I have alot of brass vases, I love collecting candle holders, I adore the pictures by Waterhouse, brass beds, drapes not curtains that gently sweep the floor. Frames of our family, in contradiction, in black frames with the white inserts which give the impression of the picture either deeper or standing out of the frame, completely comfy lounges that arn’t big and bulky. Furnishings which need to be child friendly/proof…lol…

Childrens rooms. Girls, one who likes pink and princesses the other who leans slightly more in the direction of the gothic side. Boys, one who loves AFL, cricket and now golf. The other Lord of the Rings, Star Wars and small toys requiring imagination.

Finally, we live in a Housing Trust/Public Housing home but have pretty much free reign, we also have a limited budget.

Where would I begin? Any and all ideas: websites, stores, mags etc. Let me know please. I haven’t a clue! lol

Thankyou everyone. =)
I appreciate all the answers I’ve been given so far, there are some good ideas in there. What I’m mostly interested in though is where to begin looking for colour schemes, the sort of thing that will work well in a small home and with the type of things that I like, described (sort of…lol…) in the orginal question.

I’m a regular of op/bargin/2nd hand shops. We technically own two pieces of actual furniture that are new and three electronic/whitegood’s that are new. Everything else, pretty much 2nd hand. :) lol I would rather go for newer things though as for once we’ll actually have the money to do so. 2nd hand was has mostly always been our only option, not AN option unfortunately. I will be looking around at the 2nd hand stores still though. I love them. lol

Thanks again everyone, I’ve been going through the sites that have been mentioned and righting a ton of stuff down!