The inspiration for decorating and appointing our home for my wife and I are:qualitylongevitybeautytastefulmeaningNo paint anywhere because paint fails in its task and so requires repeats of scraping and painting. No thanks. NO PAINT!We can live with stained and oiled cedar and redwood trim, as well as unpainted brick. The same goes for the inside. There isn't any paint. The walls are covered in lovely paper. Even the ceilings are covered in embossed tin patterns, with tung-oiled oak and walnut trim throughout.Carpet is a disgusting means of having a permanently filthy home in our dusty locale, so at most rugs that can be easily taken out and cleaned properly. Other than that genuine oak and walnut and marble flooring.That, I believe, should be the focus of the decor and appointments... that sigh of relief while you're feeling it, whatever it is for each individual.