Have you checked out Jessie's Vintage Modern Bungalow? We love it. Warm, colorful, personable, it's a home that feels loved and lived in. A few trends that we had thought might be getting a little "tired" looked fresh again when seen in her space, and made us remember some other trends we still like.
- Wall Decals: Say what you might, we still think that wall decals a great way for a renter (especially one whose landlord will not budge from white) to personalize a space or add a bit of whimsy. We love the feather Jessie has in her bedroom.
- Suzanis: We liked them before they became popular and we've continued to like them as their popularity has hit the mainstream. Their bright colorful patterns add a cozy sizzle to a room whether used as a blanket or to reupholster a chair or couch and they pair well with most patterns.
- Chalkboard Walls: Especially with the trend towards dark rooms, we're still a fan of chalkboard paints. We're particularly fond of using them in the kitchen and pairing them with white cabinets.
- Cowhide and Leopard Skin Patterned Rugs: These rugs are classics whose popularity ebbs and flows. They anchored the Hollywood Regency look but they look just as good with mid-century and modern furniture.
- Gray Paint: It's cool in the bedroom and sophisticated in the living room. Dark or light, it works with wood and with metals, both gold and silver. Darker grays look especially great when paired with bright accessories.
Which trends do you have in your home that you still like no matter what?
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I'm tired of people being tired of things.
I have a very old vintage Stay Calm poster that I got in London in 1996. They hadn't become a revival at that point. It was purchased during a time when I was going through a very difficult time in my life and it really spoke to me when I saw it.
Is it trite now? Are they overdone? Maybe. But all I know is that when I look at mine, I don't think/worry about who else has a similar poster in their home or what people might think if they saw it in my house. It's in my bedroom and hung so that I see it when I wake up in the morning. It reminds me I'm still here, I made it through that time.
That is so much more important than whether or not someone else thinks something is trendy.
Ikat. Suzanis. I've loved them for 20 years and won't dump them just because they're overexposed. Hopefully Panamanian molas -- my other textile love -- won't be "Pottery Barned" any time soon.
@surfjack, I got a vintage "Keep Calm" metal coaster for 25¢ at a yard sale back in 2001. I've been collecting anything with that phrase ever since. We're not trite :)
I will never understand the whole cow hide rug thing.
What @surfjack said. Tired of an effete few trying to define style according to their taste or lack thereof... Anything can be stylish in the hands of a stylish person... Keep Calm & Carry On!
Me neither, Xtina.
@lemondrop, right on!!!!
@quiltmaster, I agree that anything can be stylish. Almost. I did just express my distaste for a velvet Elvis painting in another post and now I'm feeling like a hypocrite. :)
@surfjack & @lemondrop: Cheers to both of you! I think your home should be decorated in a way that reflects what YOU like, regardless of it's tiredness/trendiness.
@surfjack: I'm not an Elvis fan, either, but I do have one of those heavy woven cotten blankets with his face on it. I don't really know why - I've NEVER been an Elvis fan!
@sdblondie, I sort of get that, actually. Sometimes those things really worm their way into your heart. I was in Las Vegas once and two older women were standing near me reading one of those weekly event guides. One shrieked and said, "Elvis! And ice cream!" The other one said, "You don't even like Elvis." Apparently, it was worth sitting through a tribute show for the ice cream....
As to the "Keep Calm" posters, they have spawned a mini-industry of satirical knock-offs, most of which are not fit for this august forum. But I am not tired of them.
Look, if mid-century modern can come "back" as a desirable furniture style, anything can. What is in style will soon be out of style, hence in style. I know brother Oscar had something witty to say about that.
I'm still really into using grey, I had no idea I was outdated. Pehaps we're six months behind in London. I'll press on regardless.
Being tired of something does not equate having a smug, elitist perspective on it. Sure, there are always snobs, but sometimes you've just been overexposed to something. Our brain sees the same stimulus time and again and says yawn.
I, for one, am tired of Keep Calm and Carry On posters. That doesn't mean I dislike them -- it just means that they no longer hold any intrigue for me. I don't feel the need to seek one out or buy one or say oooh when they show up in house tours. I'd say the same of the ubiquitous Eames lounger.
Decals, however, I'm not sick of -- I've just plain ol' never liked em ;)
MCM. I've always loved my Eames chairs and always will.
Who's 'we'?
Also, stainless steel kitchen appliances.
BTW, I find that I get "tired" of things like Keep Calm and Carry On posters because I read lots of design blogs and mags - but none of my friends do, so if I had one in my home, they would think I was really cool and unique! =)
@Lisa (Montreal) Ikats and Suzanis have lasted hundreds of years and will never go out of style. Classic, timeless, enduring.
who cares about fashion, if it is concerning you. your personality, your upbringing, your taste. style may get out of fashion, personality should not. if you are you, nobody else should have the right to critizise. fashion passes, personality does not. if you want to please others, follow fashion - if you want to express yourself, do want pleases you.
I didn't even know what a Suzani was. Had to google it.
I never really understand why people would want to decorate based on what's "in style". Dressing fashionably is one thing (something I don't do) but changing the style of your home just because it's not current? Silly. Do what you like, who cares if it's trendy, or ugly, or over done.
@akay - well said. my sentiments exactly.
Regardless of whether you think a trend is tired or not, I would be offended to have my home illustrate this point!
surfjack, no kidding! I JUST bought one this year, specifically to hang in my classroom (when I get it). I anticipate it will be a lifesaver for my students when they're tired or grumpy or just bored.
Grey paint goes in and out of style? That's so weird. Its a neutral. But now that I think about it, I guess I don't remember seeing a lot of it when I was growing up. Well, I'm not about to paint my walls. I love it.
Agree with Elbe1-- just like I dress for myself and not other people, I design my surroundings with things that are pleasing to me and my family, whether it's in style or outmoded. Design is so personal-- you have to get over any hang ups that people will judge your style and stay true to yourself and your aesthetics.
I have a "Keep Calm" poster in my high school classroom. It's a hit, and isn't tired yet. (I have a copy paper version of "now panic and freak out" taped up in my office, the kids find that even funnier.)
Destination posters. I see it everywhere now in Sydney. Tea towel, coasters, evry little thing... I still like it when it's well used but because it's every where now, I just don;t get the urge to buy it anymore.
I didn't even think of those Stay Calm posters til ya'll mentioned it. They were cute the first time I saw them but then the 50th time I saw a post on here or in a "trendy" home with one on the wall, I got way over it.
I am so over the wall decals too. For every unique cool design, there's 50 at target or WalMart that have some stupid saying on it or another tree branch one.
I do love chalkboard paint, but yes, it has been over done. Still like it though.
Most of us only live in one residence at a time. Some of us don't even VISIT other homes all that often... So who cares if something's In or Out or Trendy or not? You select the details that you like and you create your environment as best you can with the boundaries your life presents of space, location, money, access to resources, and things like that.
I'm a big flea market fan. Somebody else's discarded "trends" become my newest finds! If *I* like it and my partner doesn't object, that's all I care about!
All classic retro designs, like Mid Century Modern, are just yesterdays trends, after all.
OK design snobs..i agree sometimes things may need a rest. But i also think our media sources are to blame. We SEE everything! Objects/styles seem over exposed because there are more mediums to see them on...tv, mags, online etc. We (AP viewers) seek out all these sources for inspiration - we see the same objects repeated all over. We know what is trendy or what seems overdone (whether in home decor or fashion which are often related). Most folks coming to your house will not know either way what is played out or not..so who cares. Just decorate with pieces that speak to you! That said, if decorating is a creative outlet for you, then you will crave some newness here and there...that is part of the creative process (redecorating from time to time) and not everything in your home is a sentimental heirloom so don't be afraid to get rid of things too. I personally rotate things. I keep a stock of fav things in my garage and rotate art or objects in and out as I desire. If I'm feeling more modern i grab my Adler vases and put them on the mantel. If i feel more traditional i may go for the brass candlesticks. And yes, sometimes a few trendy pieces make an appearance. The key is to incorporate trends in YOUR own way. Also i think things become trendy because they resonate for a lot of people. Its sometimes called a collective consciousness...do you think you're the only one who loves (or loved) antlers, zebra rugs, Adler lamps Wearstler patterns, etc etc etc??? Just HAVE FUN and don't overthink it!
My thought exactly... when did grey become outdated????? What colors are in now?
None of these things are trends. Wall decals? I personally don't care for them, but they're not a trend they are just another item to fill wall space. It's like saying art hung on walls is passe. Suzanis? So my grandma had some style sense a couple years out of 50, but now, she better return her rugs and quilts to the middle east. Suzani patterns and Persian rugs/items are part of my cultural heritage, not part of a trend that is defined according to someone's whimsy. Chalkboard walls are practical and utilitarian in many senses. If chalkboard paint is no longer acceptable, when are shower curtains going "out?" Cowhide/animal print: Same basic answer as suzani. It's just a matter of taste. They've always been around, and I never regarded them as trendy or not trendy. And gray...this is the most ridiculous. When is a color out of style? I mean really. I'd like to see blue go out of style. That'll be the day.
Long story short, "trends" are phony and only defined to make people buy buy buy. Chunky heels in, chunky heels out, chunky heels in again.
I really want to apply for the blogger position, but would find it difficult to post about trends, mostly because I don't believe they exist.
I have deer antlers above my fireplace. When I look at them, I do not see a trend, but my grandfather. The antlers are from a deer he hunted decades ago, brought home, cut up, and used completely. I can still remember the taste of the venison jerky he made. He passed away 35 years ago.
I don't care about fads or what's in. Actually I was a little sad that MCM became poplar again.( I have loved this stuff since I first got married in the seventies.) I had no problem picking up pieces for a song at tag sales and thrifts stores. Now, it is really hard to find. I think real design should be personal and only what the owner loves.
I consider home furnishings to be trendy when places like Walmart stock them. However, the originals always look better. My local TJ Maxx has a "Keep Calm" sign and five parodies of the "Keep Calm" sign. So I guess it's trendy by my definition. I bought one of those Galileo thermometers years before they were trendy, and I was disappointed when I started seeing cheap versions EVERYWHERE. I put it away for awhile. Now that they're not fads, I pulled it out again to enjoy, which I still do. In summary, keep what you like.
My mid-century modern house is currently "in style" but that's not why I love it. I consider the clean lines pretty classic and timeless. Not to mention extremely livable. I liked mid-century before Mad Men even existed and I will like it long after the "trend" has passed.
being a textile junkie, i don't see a love of any textile ever being a trend, be it batik, ikat, suzani, indian embroidery, quilts, mud cloth, bark cloth, hand knotted rugs, kimonos, etc. this is culture, the stories of women, the work of hands. that will never be out of style. nor, i think, color, well made furniture and anything that has a story, a memory, or meaning to the owner
I agree that vinyl decals are no longer a "trend." There is simply too much variety to classify them as such. Besides, they really are perfect for apartments. Cheap, easy and disposable when you move. As far as chalkboard paint, I've found it to be drippy and messy. Vinyl is also a good option there. You can now get vinyl in chalkboard and dry erase for a variety of applications. Quick, easy, and inexpensive. Here's a good resource: http://tpearl.uppercaseliving.net
Nicely said by many. I know almost no one in real life who looks at AT or other media about design. The delight expressed over things in my house that would seem old hat to anybody who DOES read AT - totally worth being a little behind the times.
I have a KC&CO poster waiting to be framed...
I'm part Indonesian. No one can separate me from my ikat (or my batik)!
Have you ever heard people critiquing models, or famous actresses? "She's not that pretty," or, "She's okay," or, even more ludicrous, "She's ugly!" That's what happens when you compare even the most gorgeous of women. Someone always ends up on the bottom. But take any one of those "ugly" models out of context, put her in the produce aisle at the grocery store, and she's probably the most beautiful woman you've ever seen. Anyway, it's sort of like that with trends. On the internet, or in a magazine, train scrolls (for example) are a dime a dozen. They've "jumped the shark." But in a real home, *your* home, the "ubiquitous" train scroll might just be the coolest, best thing you own. The point is, if it looks great, and you love it, then who cares who else has it? No one is comparing!
I agree with aaakid...I would not be thrilled to have my bedroom in a tired trends post, even if in a semi-complimentary sort of way.
Hand-made textiles (and other things), currently popular or not, are classics with a story to tell. That never goes out of style!
I'm just warming up to grey (heh) but really, I don't care if it's "over" because I am only just about to get into it :) For me, it works that it is "in" (or WAS so in that it is now mainstream and hence on the way out design wise) because I can now buy all my appliances and plastic ware in the most delicious shades of dark grey!
I think it is set to be the default colour of 'white' goods of the 2010s (kettles, toasters, ovens etc etc) - think 70s-brown, 80s/90s - white, 00s - brushed metal/silver, 10s - dark grey! :)
Interesting comments re: grey paint. Last summer I had my fantastic camel-back sofa reupholstered in grey velvet, which I purchased at a fabric store where all the interior designers in my town shop. Not only did I have a hard time finding many options, the staff all commented on how that was a novel choice, because the trendy neutral at the time was still taupe and had been gradually moving from browns to taupes and greys were set to be next. I absolutely adore my grey walls that complement my couch... but here I was thinking I was ahead of the mainstream decorators! Clearly not in the AT world. Ha.
It's not the fashionable side of the trends that I dislike.
It's the lack of individuality.
Who was the first person to put up a railway destination sign as art in their home?
My friend used to collect globes in the eighties. I consider that her thing, but now it's everyone's thing.
I don't mind the trends in people's homes so much coz I guess people like what they see and copy and I think that's ok... but when I see an interior designer copying... I feel as though they're plagiarising... I feel they should acknowledge where their ideas came from. [Admittedly some do, and I think that's great].
Your home is different from your wardrobe, or your haircut. It's not like you're carrying your home over your shoulder, like a purse. By definition, it stays indoors. When it comes to decorating your own home, you can copy a magazine page to the last detail and no one will know, OR CARE. Your home is for you: it should make *you* feel good. Why should it matter whether you were the first to buy a KCaCO poster, or the millionth? If you're a designer, that's a different story. People pay you to be original. But if you're doing your own home? C'mon.
Thanks, akay, I totally agree!
To respond to creative license: your definition of good home design is EXACTLY why people shouldn't have KCCO posters everywhere. They're the equivalent of the Rachel haircut of yesteryear (yes, I'm Gen X): if everyone has it, it stops being fresh or unique, but most importantly it stops being YOU because everyone else has it now, too. If my home is truly a reflection of me, it won't be a carbon copy of everyone else's home. Make sense?
I can't believe someone said gray is played out. Who are those people?!? Is white played out, too? I thought that's why they're called "neutrals", but that could just be me going insane.
Last-why aren't antlers on this list? Whether it's real ones, fake ones, or cardboard ones, AT has them front and center. Here's my compromise: if people have KCCO posters/antlers in their homes, just don't photograph them; I'm sure there are a lot of other elements that make the space unique that could be focused on. We all know AT isn't a stranger to photographing vignettes :)
Anyone who constantly redesigns their house based solely on what's "in" is an idiot, plain an simple. Decorate with what you like. To hell with anyone who doesn't like it.
I think you like what you like... If you started liking something BECAUSE it was trendy, then yes, you will not like it for long after it goes out of style. But if you like something because it makes you happy/calm/whatever, you will like forever (or at least a really long time).
@BigTab - Actually, I didn't give a definition of good home design. But I can tell you that it has nothing to do with whether or not you have a KCaCO poster in your home. It's not about *having* the poster, it's about what you *do* with the poster. And that goes for all of the other "trends" listed above as well. (But, gray? Please. When did that become a trend? The year they invented paint?)
I have a 'Keep Calm and Conjure a Patronus' poster, that has a picture of a wand instead of the crown. Why? Because I love it and I'm a bit of a nerd.
Most of the decoration in my place is random, unmatching, and things I picked up because they were useful and I liked how they look. The house tours I really enjoy here are the ones that incorporate something that everyone else seems to love, and make it part of their own style.
It's the same with some of the places that are tagged "cluttered" here. As long as it's not hoarder-style, it's kind of nice to see the personalities and collections come through and how people effectively store them.
here here for gray. Worked a treat for my bathroom floorboards. http://multi-story-thinking.blogspot.com/2010/07/fun-on-floor.html
i'm still a fan of "to thine own self be true.." do what YOU like. personally in the list of those 5 i have 2 and both were featured in my AT loft tour (casey's loft life)
ps: i also have a keep calm and carry on that i picked up in London 15 years ago. i still LOVE it.
oops make that 3...somehow i missed the "grey paint"
(((( When I read the comments section on AT, I look for certain commentators. I respect their opinions. Others, I never read, because almost everything they write is negative and about how something is "over" or "tired." I don't care if someone thinks something is overdone, what I do care about is how a space is interpreted by others, just in case I missed something that they can show me.
If it grey is out, what is the new grey?
@sugarcake
The new grey is gray. It's SO much cooler. ;)
The thing with these trends is that they aren't inherently bad, just overused. I like Picasso, but I wouldn't be happy to see it on EVERY single wall I pass. It's the same thing with design elements. I like looking at beautiful places, but I also like unique and innovative designs as well. AT recently had post where a couple painted their small apartment living room a deep purple, and their kitchen a deep green. I could never live in a place like that but I liked that it was so uniquely them.
It's ok if you like a design element, but don't think that it's the element itself that makes your place look cool. I've noticed that there will be photos of the overall design of a room but then there will be a closeup of the trendy element alone (e.g. a closeup of an "Always kiss me goodnight" plaque an nothing else) What is that trying to say besides "Look I've got one too!"? I dunno.
But let's face it, people do get tired of trends. It's the reason we aren't all staring at a cave wall with ocher animals right now. (I kid.)
Anyway the only thing I really "hate" are Eames rockers. I'm sorry but it looks like doctor's office chair on skis to me. Put it on regular legs and I'm fine with it. (But still wouldn't want to see it in every house tour.)
I do agree that it gets tiresome to see the same things over and over in many AT house tours, but wouldn't it be sad if people chose not to surround themselves with things they love just because it's been deemed "played out"? I have a few pairs of antlers on my walls and I love them. I don't really care if the trend has gone out because they make me happy. The same goes for my grey walls.
jontsblog, thanks for the photo of your floors! I'm looking for a light gray color for my bathroom floors (which were painted sage green in the past).
I, too, had to Google "Suzani." Beautiful! I don't think I could ever get tired of those.
While I totally understand seeing something so much that you're just sick to death of it, I think that seeing a neat design trend show up in Target or Wal-Mart (or even Pottery Barn!) is actually pretty great, in some ways. Many people wouldn't have the time or money to find their own authentic whatever it is, but they see it at a place they go regularly, at a price they can afford, and it connects with them. We should be so lucky to see iconic, beautiful designs show up in homes from Los Angeles, CA to Los Fresnos, TX (pop. ~5K). Will we be sick of it? Maybe, and that's fair. But they will be improving so many people's daily lives with a little bit of beauty and happiness, and I think that's an overall win. :)
Surfjack: "I'm tired of people being tired of things."
Absolutely!
I like what I like and I couldn't care less about whether someone else thinks it's fresh, tired, hip, trendy or whatever else. I left that silly high school stuff behind in high school.
Oh no, I just moved into my new home and picked gray for most of the rooms and thought I was keeping up and not picking something that was on its way out! Good thing I'm not one to be in or out obsessed. I think your home is like your wardrobe, you buy what you love and pick up pieces now and then that gives the room our outfit a kick. I think if you love it then it works. And ikat...I've loved that since first learning about it in my textiles class many many years ago!!
I have gray walls in my living room, and I love them. I wanted something neutral, but white was too sterile and tan would have blended too much with the floor and couches. Gray was the perfect choice. Right now I have red accent pieces, and it looks great, but I can easily swap out the accent color by changing the curtains and throw pillows and I won't have to go through the hassle of painting everything again.
Oh, and when I have kids, I am definitely using chalkboard paint in their rooms. I don't care if it's not cool anymore, what kid wouldn't love that?
Rob, I find your comment to be snarky enough to be high school-ish. That was really ignorant-no one is saying that people shouldn't surround themselves with things they like. The point of discussion boards is to discuss. Tamarind's point-which was great-is that AT should be more focused on those things that make someone's home uniquely theirs instead of having a multitude of shots of trendy things from every angle. If anything, our critique is of AT's photographers, not people living their lives out in their homes.
Okay folks, back to the subject...
Even though alot of Rococo (for example guild) is going 'out', and homemade (patch work quilts etc.) are coming back in due to social mood and all that....
I still love 'purple sofas' and re-upholstered
mine in purple/plum even though I was seeing a few about and felt the trend waning.
I still love gold/silver gilded frames
Cut glass/Chrystal. Delighted it came back into fashion after the 70's, much more used now and a great sense of glam and quality, hope that trend lingers forever
Chunky oak (notice the style schizo here?)
The Dressmakers dummy as a clothes/ necklace stand. Still very cool, although I see them in heaps of interiors.
Baskets and woven containers, everywhere and still holding their own!!
I'm also tired of people being tired of things. Sheesh let something be and appreciate it's beauty. You don't have to change your style every year or even every 5 years. Just do what you like.
I still don't have a place I can paint but when I do I'm gonna paint my bedroom a warm grey because I wanted it before I even knew it was a trend. I don't care that everyone else has done it, I LIKE it.
Just go with your gut and enjoy.
My entire bedroom is Ikea but I love my furniture and make it my own with my own accessories. Not to mention I'm poor and don't have the time to go thrifting and antiquing to find that special midcentury dresser or whatever. Just because Ikea is accessible doesn't make it trashy or ugly.
I stand by my warm gray walls. I loved them before I knew they were a trend, and I'll keep loving them when the style-makers say they're out of fashion. I think anybody who collects art or uses furniture or accessories with a broad range of color can see the value in a good neutral backdrop.