Design Styles: Which Ones Are Just Trends & Which Are Here To Stay?

Yesterday I turned on the TV and caught a few minutes of one of HGTV’s shows about “tiny house living.” They have several shows going on right now about this latest trend.

A family of four (wife, husband and two young children) had just completed building their tiny house and the wife made the comment that she knew folks would wonder how a family with two children under the age of 4 was going to manage without a bathtub. I had missed most of the show but apparently their tiny house didn’t even include one of those itty bitty bathtubs that looks like it was designed for bathing the family dog.

She was right. As I turned off the TV, I was trying to envision how she would bathe two children after a day spent playing outdoors.

Tiny Houses

Source: HGTV.com

I’m all for down-sizing when you have more house than you need, I expect I’ll be doing that myself one day. And I could even see a single person, or a young couple buying a tiny house as their first home, or maybe having one near a lake or vacation spot where you stay just a few days at the time. But I just don’t see how a family of four can enjoy living in such tight quarters. What about when the little ones grow into teenagers and want to have friends over?

I also worry about the practical aspect, can a tiny home withstand severe weather like the tornadoes we sometimes see here in Georgia? Can they withstand strong winds? What if  a tree or big limb falls on the house? Yes, I’m a worry-wart, but I do wonder about these things.

It started me questioning if tiny house families are just jumping on the latest trend without really thinking it all through. I wish HGTV would do a follow-up show with these families in 2-3 years, kind of a “Where are they now?” show to see how many families are still living the tiny house lifestyle.

I also wonder if a $40,000-$60,000 investment in a tiny house is such a great idea. Will these houses hold their value in the long run? If a family gets tired of living in their little house, will the trend have passed and they’ll be stuck with no one willing to pay them anywhere near what they’ve invested in their small abode?

Do You Agree With the Readers of Curbed?

Today I Googled to see if anyone else was curious about the longevity of the tiny house trend. I came across an article at Curbed where they were discussing the latest home trends and which ones they felt had been way overdone. The discussion was mostly about decorating trends and the comments were interesting and kinda funny.

Here’s a partial list of some of the trends Curbed readers wanted to see go bye-bye, and yes, tiny houses did make the list.  P.S. Don’t shoot the messenger, I have a few things in my home that were mentioned in the comments at Curbed, too, namely granite counters and garden stools. Love me some garden stools! 🙂

Manufactured hardwood flooring
Open Interiors
Animal heads, faux and real
Stainless steel appliances
Gray paint
Concrete Counters
Gallery Walls
Burlap fabric
Fake fireplaces
Barn doors used inside
Accent walls
Wall quotes
Small Houses
Granite counters
Distressed furniture
Bench seating in dining room
Pallet furniture
Stairs without handrails (didn’t know this was a trend!)
Mirrored furniture
Flatscreen TVs over fireplaces
Garden stools
Colored coded bookshelves
All white interiors
Industrial lighting
Industrial interior design
Ombre anything
Reclaimed furniture/wood
Chevron patterns

Did you see any on the list that you would second? Which decorating trends to you think need a stake through the heart?

On a positive note, which design styles/ideas do you think are here for the long haul? Which ones are classic and have enough value that they’ll still be around 100 years from now?

If I were making a list, here are a few I’d put on my “will-be-around-forever” list. I don’t necessarily do all these in my home, but I do think they are classic styles that will most likely never go away.

Hardwood Flooring and Plantation Shutters

Hardwood Flooring for the Guest Room

 

Porches (screened and non-screened)

Build a Screened Porch

 

Crystal Chandeliers
White Kitchens
White or Neutral Paint Colors

(See more of the home below in these two posts: Beautiful Victorian Home Rises From the Ashes, Part 1) and Beautiful Victorian Home Rises From the Ashes, Part II)

White Kitchen with Granite Counters & Chandeliers

 

Wallpaper (it may wax and wane but it never goes away)

Entry with Dutch Door and Beautiful Wallpaper

 

Botanical Prints (in wallpaper, fabrics, upholstery, rugs)

Natural Fiber Fabrics (like linen, cotton, wool and silk)

Bunny-Williams-Bedroom

Designer, Bunny Williams bedroom in her book, An Affair With a House

Blue and White Design

Books for Decorating in Blue and White

 

Blue and White for The Bedroom

Source: Country Living Magazine (Designer: Jackie Higgins at Beachglassinteriordesign.com)

Antique Furniture

Southern Living Idea House in Senoia Georgia

Southern Living Idea House, Senoia Georgia

What house or design ideas/styles do you think are just trends and will never stand the test of time?

What house or design ideas/styles do you feel hold enough value and appreciation, they will stay the test of time?

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Comments

  1. Marty@A Stroll Thru Life says

    I agree with your choices. I think Traditional and Transitional are here to stay. I also agree that these tiny houses are probably just a fad. I lived in a studio apartment for 2 years and I can tell you, it is not for the faint of heart. Mine was 350 sf and these tiny homes are not even 100 sf. So I can’t even imagine. I at least had a bathtub.

  2. I have to laugh at that list. There are many of them that have been around a long long time that I do not see going away such as engineered hardwood, stainless steel appliances, and granite counter tops. As for distressed furniture, gallery walls, accent walls those have all been around for the past 20 years or so as well. The tiny house thing makes us shake our head in disbelief. They talk about it as a better investment but honestly I see it as just throwing money away. They will never see any money back from it and they will have no equity in anything. To me it is not a smart investment for everyday living. Reclaimed wood has always been around as well. It just is something that is being focused on so it seems like a trend. I looked back thru some of my old decorating journals that I have kept. One was from a project I did backing high school almost 30 years ago. At the tie I wanted a pink stucco house, other than that my color stories have staid the same. I have binder that I started when we got married 15 years ago with a bunch of magazine clippings and funny thing is all of those things are STILL in style today. Sure the color stories change here and there but for the most part it all still is going strong. So I say who cares what the trend is. If you are able design your house the way you want to. Make your house your home!

  3. Diane Anderson-Edwards says

    Animal heads and grey paint need to go!!!!!

  4. Charlotte Orth says

    I have never liked granite counter tops, ever! I will be so glad to see them go.

    • I have to agree with you on the over priced…OMG I have to have granite countertops. We lived without them for years and survived and when and if you got sick of them you went out and bought a new countertop for about $300. As for as the stainless steel appliances. Another over priced “got to have”. To me…the kitchen should be a happy place and having those large ugly grayish appliances just brings down the mood. But like everyone else….this is only my opinion.

  5. Julie Williams says

    There were only about 3 things on your trend list I’d keep and we agree.
    Industrial stuff will always have some appeal, neutral/white, distressed furniture, open layout; stainless steel and concrete will cycle. My opinion. The rest, including the teeny houses is weird and some is distasteful. Trends are created to increase market spending. Classics last. As for the tiny house—I’d rather spend that money on a trailer. Not all zoning would even allow tiny houses. j

  6. I am well over subway tiles, which I never cared for in the first place. Too reminiscent of public restrooms, morgues and other places that need to be hosed down occasionally. I always wonder if those kitchens put a drain hole in the floor, too.

    • Elizabeth Roderick says

      Yes Tammy you hit the nail on the head. I’ve never liked them either. They remind me of the school cafeteria walls in the 60’s. Morgues…yes, too funny!
      Glad to see granite going and grey is my least favorite color.

    • Nope, I have to disagree, LOVE subway tiles and I always have, they are traditional and completely timeless. But at as with any design element, if you love it that’s all that matters!

    • Subway tiles have been around since the 1800’s and used in both kitchens and bathrooms going on well over a hundred years. They are here to stay. I think the recent rediscovery of them is due to the fact that people are looking for classic elements in there homes that will stand the test of time. White subway tiles are a classic look.

  7. Your house is your home! Do what makes you happy, not what other people say should go or stay. That being said i like a home that looks like it has evolved over time, i never go for trends.

    • Alycia Nichols says

      I’m with you 100% there, Linda! I go for classic with little tidbits of “trendy” tossed in by way of accessories just to keep everyone on their toes. 😉 If Intried to keep up with every trend, we’d go broke and our home would always be under construction in one way or another!!! Everyone should have a home that makes them feel warm, loved, and safe surrounded by people in it who make them feel the same. I also agree with Pamela…a lot on that list has been around since oceans were mere streams! The “gallery wall” of today? I don’t know what grandparent’s home you might visit in the last umpteen years that didn’t have one. Kids, grandkids, great-grandkids, vacation memorabilia…we’ve perhaps just refined it a bit and/or gotten a bit more creative. Mirrored furniture? It’s been around since at least the 1940s. So called “reclaimed” wood? Not a trend at all! Animal heads on walls? Been going on for decades. So I think we’re in it for the long haul with some things, especially with our more casual society. Now excuse me, but I have to go wipe down my granite countertops and polish my stainless steel! 🙂

  8. Tiny houses-awful
    Grey paint-bye bye
    Animal heads-just dumb
    Accent walls -just no
    Wall quotes-already look dated

    There is a reason classic design is classic and your house still looks good Susan! Definitely agree on wood floors and plantation shutters–will always look great…..wanting some shutters myself!

  9. Mary Anne Looby says

    I absolutely loved the title of this blog! Tiny homes are crazy, but I do know that in Scandinavian countries families do live small! As for the list on curbed, I am in agreement with everything, especially chevron! I know grey has become the new beige, but having had a grey living room and dining room for a good ten years, I don’t feel like I am being trendy. I also happen to love animal heads, fake of course, only because I have a very farm type sitting room, which I thoroughly enjoy. Of course I would live on a farm if I could. I also find wording on a wall, in an appropriate place, like a nursery is fine. Now to your list….I adore all of it! When I saw the blue and white bedroom my spirit soared! I have a blue and white bedroom and I adore it. When we downsize, I think of all the style I love that blue and white will dominate the space. I have hardwood everywhere, two porches, one really huge one, love botanical anything, treasure antiques, and love plantation shutter, although I do not have them. Sounds like we are on the same page with many things. I will add soapstone, which again put me way ahead of the curve, as I have had it for at least 10 years. I love pillars and brick, especially brick patios, also canvas awnings and painted and cherry furniture. I love all things traditional. I have a framed quote in my living room, it is small only 5×7, and at the moment I cannot recall whose words they are. It is a man, and I think he was or is a designer. The quote says “surround yourself, only with those things that you love”. I may be paraphrasing, but the message is the same.

    • eowana jordan says

      surround yourself quote needs … and people and dogs you love..ahh.. great quote.. subway tiles.. ugh.. for the uncreative.. sp? in my opinion. but I do love my granite countertops!

  10. Fun post!
    In (hopefully): duvet covers, kitchen islands, bringing outside in with lots of plants and natural textures.
    Out: books wrapped in plain paper, unused formal living rooms

    • I have to heartily agree with Mia about books wrapped in plain paper so that they “match” the décor. How silly – books are timeless and classic and as far as I’m concerned, by virtue of being books, cannot clash with any décor. Same with flowers in the garden – nature does not clash.

  11. I can’t figure out what they are doing with the tiny house once it is built. Are they renting land or purchasing it? How are they hooking up utilities? They all seem to be out in a field. Where is the water line and sewer hook up? Are they drilling wells and putting in septic? You could build a “real ” home once you factor in these costs.

  12. This list made me laugh. Tiny house? Yes, as a potting shed, please. Painted furniture and faux brick walls? Reminds me of the old antiquing days and z brick of the 70s (I can remember avocado green antiquing in my parents’ house, and z brick on the kitchen backsplashes). On and on….
    Traditional and transitional (which, to me, is traditional with a slight injection of some sleek, modern lines, as in campaign style, but still classically traditional) will be here for the long haul. As will solid wood furniture, not IKEA’s version.

  13. Thats quite a long list! For me heres my list of things to can go bye-bye, subway tile, some granite, not all(I have seen some that is just plain ugly), gray paint, I tried it i. a bedroom and it just looked like cement walls. Accent walls, never been a fan, wall quotes, pallet anything and chevron. In my book traditional and classy will live on :). Hardwood floors, white anything, brick patios and antiques are what I love

  14. Peggy Spencer says

    Susan,I enjoyed this post so much. Life is so hectic lately and I was able to take myself back”to the good ole days” for a few minutes. Martha’s show was my favorite show back then. I taped so many, but no longer have them. I probably wore them out watching them over and over! The Halloween specials were great,but my favorite one was an Easter show, with Martha making the best Easter baskets,cookies, and having a huge Easter egg hunt for lots of kids in her backyard. I enjoy your blog so much,and have learned so many things. Oh how I wish I had your courage to travel far away places. I really enjoy hearing about your travels. I would have loved going to Italy as you did. I cannot imagine being able to go and do the “Under the Tuscan Sun” tour. Sorry I ran on too much, I really did want you to know how you have the ability to make people’s worlds a little larger.

  15. I can’t stand to watch the Tiny Homes show because I’m claustrophopic!

    I still like a lot of the things on the list, especially your list. I don’t like animal heads, but like “people heads” (busts on stands!) Some people think they are weird! LOL!

    This was a fun post!

    Katherine

  16. Warning: this may be a bit of a rant. If some of the things I mention are what some people like please know that it’s a big wide wonderful world out there and there’s room for everyone.

    I personally don’t like tiny rooms much less tiny houses. There’s a television show that’s based in Canada where they redo peoples houses and I can’t watch it because for me it’s too depressing. So many little tiny rooms! Ahgg!

    Seriously though, tiny rooms, the worst of some of the styling from the 1950’s (certain sofas and chairs in particular) and truly sterile neutrals – not lovely white’s or soothing neutrals or even classic minimalism. But dingy greys and glaring sterile white’s with a weird bright turquoise lamp thrown in for a “pop” of color. These are my many pet peeves.

    Porches will never go out of style, beautiful patios, elaborate moldings tastefully done, gardens, fireplace mantels that aren’t a painted 1″x 6″. Stairways that that don’t look like catwalks. Back staircases leading down to the kitchen if the size of the house calls for it. Balconies, rooms with spaciousness, a floor plan that isn’t so open that it looks like a barn or a furniture showroom. Beautiful windows that don’t look like cardboard cutouts. Sorry I already mentioned moldings.

    Hope this made sense and wasn’t too much of a jumble.

  17. Great post – and great title! I DO NOT understand this tiny house craze at all!!! Just flipping through the channels and seeing those ridiculous tiny houses for 2 seconds makes me feel claustrophobic. It seems like whenever I turn on HGTV, that’s all I see. So annoying! I agree with you on your list of what will be around for awhile. I always tend to lean towards classic decor.
    Shelley

  18. I agree with yours, these are mine:

    Gallery Walls are a hundreds of years old tradition

    Distressed furniture if the distressing is authentic

  19. Maybe I’m the oddball but I do like some of the things on the “byebye” list. I an live without chevron but I don’t think it should be stricken from decorating all together. I think there is a place for everything as everyone is different as is everyone’s budget. Yes, I love traditional, but I also like neutral and a more traditional farmhouse look. Good taste is in the eye of the beholder.

  20. Diane botello says

    I was just telling my daughter the other day that I know after these peoples first winter in a tiny house, they will run screaming from the house. When I was young they were called house trailers and no one ever lived in them permanently. If they were such a good idea why did they go away? One woman was looking at one with her husband trying to figure out where she was going to put all her cosmetics and hair appliances since the bathroom had no storage! Unbelievable!

  21. kim domingue says

    Oh, your list and the responses left by others truly gave me a good case of the giggles! As Sarah said, it’s a big, wide, wonderful world out there with room for all kinds of tastes and trends! I love white subway tile and white kitchens and bathrooms, have never been a fan of blue and white, don’t like granite, love soapstone, love porches and can’t stand houses that look like big rectangular blocks. I love plants in the house as well as cats and dogs but dislike animal or people heads, black kitchens and tiny houses…..just…..no. Don’t like fussy, prefer simple, like wood floors, hate wall to wall carpet, wood floors are great, cement floors……nope.

    Lol! I don’t follow trends, I just do what I like. I wish EVERYONE would just do what they like and forget that trends even exist!

  22. Here’s a link to an archived radio broadcast from Rochester, NY’s public radio station, WXXI Connections w/Evan Dawson talking about … tiny houses! The guests had some interesting observations to make and I thought you & your devoted visitors might enjoy it: http://bit.ly/2av3dF2 . I’m not sure I’m a fan but, I do feel pulled towards more of a minimalist style that will get me started on the path towards downsizing. Soon. Not yet. Soon. lol

  23. martha murphy says

    I have only recently found your blog and I absolutely LOVE it. I have spent hours reading and trying to catch up on every article. My favorites are the beautiful pictures from the movie sets. I have always to see these kind of pictures but never knew where to find them. (My favorite is Somethings Gotta Give.) I feel the same about the tiny houses but especially animal heads on a wall.
    Looking forward to the next post!

    Martha

  24. Southern Susie says

    The biggest trend that I’d love to see go by the wayside is stainless steel appliances!! Besides being cold and sterile, they are impossible to keep clean – it drives me crazy! Even the so called “smudge resistant” ones still show fingerprints! Urgh…. I’m forever cleaning my appliances, especially my french door fridge – I think someone comes into my home in the middle of the night just to put fingerprints all over my appliances. Ha! I am in the process of building a new house and my first requirement was NO stainless steel – slate, black or even white, but NO stainless steel!

  25. To each his/her own! Mean spirited is way out of style. franki

    • Oh yes, yes franki! I read through these posts and instead of it making me feel happy that people love to do their own thing so many have the my way or the ugly way mentality that the things others love that they don’t, are in bad taste, uncreative, etc. So sad. Mean is mean and no one needs to put in their snide little remarks to make a point. Other than those few it was fun to see what others are thinking. I had to laugh when reading some people’s thoughts on what would still be around in the future and what wouldn’t be, I’m obviously quite old because I remember lots on the list when they were original years ago (although many were from way before then) and they have cycled through several times in my life with just a little variation. Maybe it’s true, everything old eventually becomes new again and so what, just so long as you love your home is what matters 🙂

  26. oh good…time to vent….and no one will really care….lol….Subway tiles and those thin little rectangle tiles… 10 years from now people will say …oh those were popular in the 20teens… and really those barn doors that slide …so out of style in 6 years if they last that long.. just give me Queen Ann style and traditional furniture …lasts forever.

    rls

  27. Renee Harris says

    Trends to go; Manufactured hardwood floors, gallery walls, pallet furniture and wall quotes. Design to stay; Hardwood floors, porches, antique furniture.

  28. I think it depends upon which part of the country you live in. In Southern California wallpaper hasn’t been in fashion for 20 years. Because of the high price of property here the tiny houses are currently viewed as an alternative for aging baby boomer retirees. White kitchens can seem sterile and hospital like.

  29. I think they are nuts! We had a 37 ft. motorhome that we did a lot of traveling with the kids in. We estimate it had 270 sq.ft. of living area. While we always enjoyed the vacation time in it we were all ready to get back inside our real home to have more space, privacy and convenience. Those people will be at each other’s throats before long. I also think that’s way too much money to spend on such a small home and I sincerely doubt they will grow in value.
    I’m done with the glass mosaic glass tiles they have been using now for the past 10 or 15 years. Most of them are too busy for my liking. I’m like you about the classics.

  30. Laura Tieri says

    My husband & I used to watch some of the tiny house shows. We got tired of the people saying thing like “Why can’t I have a full size fridge?”, “How will my king size bed fit up here?”, etc.! That’s great if people can do it but when I look at those houses, I see a craft room that I can park in my backyard. I don’t think that I could ever downsize that much.

  31. Michelle B says

    The one that really got me on the list was – open interiors. Really? Who wants to go back to closed off rooms? I don’t agree with that one at all. Design trends come and go and manufacturers make their living off these trends. Who has the money to change their decor on a whim? Decorating with what you love will never go out of style. Your home only needs to make you happy. And yep, tiny houses will be a thing of the past very soon.

    • Me–on houses actually having separate rooms. That’s how all houses were built before the 1960’s…And what a lot of new builds are going back to–especially in historic reproduction houses/neighborhoods.

      My house is much much older–it’s an 1850 Greek Revival in the antebellum south. Everything is a separate room (very large & very tall rooms) with long center hall. The huge doors and moldings are beautiful, and it’s also very nice to be able to paint each room it’s own color, as well as have the ability to close off rooms for heat (or to hide a mess, lol!).

      A lot of people don’t realize that 20, 30, 40+ years is not a long span of time in architectural or design history. In other words, a trend can certainly last that long and still be a trend and just go away eventually.

  32. Linda Page says

    Love your take on Small Houses. Total waste of money as I don’t see how they could ever get their investment back. I would love to see a”where are they now” in a few years. Great post.

  33. One thing not mentioned I feel will always be in style: brick floors.
    Next year, we will be building a tiny house (not on wheels!) on our 20 acre country property. It will be used for our weekend get away.

  34. Just FYI: the photo of the beautiful blue bedroom in this post is from Beach Glass Designs. The designer is Jackie Higgins and it is her bedroom from her home on Nantucket. I know because I used it as the inspiration photo for my bedroom! You can reach her at beachglassdesigns.com. The home was featured in Country Living Mag. several years ago, which is where the picture came from.

  35. I love my bedroom! Wish it were that big, lol.
    I love that whole Nantucket house.

  36. Cyndi Raines says

    Interesting post. I say, do what makes you happy. For me, it is more traditional, love porches, antiques, stained glass, columns, brick and I even like statues, garden – flowers, bird pictures /nature and I love my very pretty granite, but I have white appliances, mainly because they still work and still look good. I go with the saying “If it’s not broken, don’t fix it.” ha. Love your new bracelet “Love the life you live” – seriously considering purchasing one. Thanks Susan – as always a good read. Just ordered “The Fairytale Girl” – and the plastic candle sharpener. Eager for both to arrive and I will let you know how it well the sharpener works. I’m sure I’ll love the book! 🙂 .

    • Cyndi, if you can, also read the Martha’s Vineyard book. I think it’s my favorite of the three books. I read it in three days, couldn’t put it down. I really love the way Susan writes, it’s like talking to an old friend.
      Yeah, please let me know how the plastic one works, hopefully it will work just as well as this metal one I bought on eBay. There were a bunch on eBay when I bought mine but after I blogged about it, they were all gone. If the plastic one doesn’t work very well, I would send it back and then just watch for the Wilton one on eBay. Hope it works, though.

      • I just received all 3 books from Amazon and can’t wait to start. I have a feeling I will be binge reading for quite some time. I’m retired, so I can do that with no guilt. 🙂

  37. Cyndi Raines says

    Will do Susan. Oops, I think I have the saying on the bracelet backwards, but it works that way too! 🙂 haha.

  38. Distressed furniture is high on my dislike list. It feels phony. If a piece of furniture is worn from polishing it 300 times, that is authentic. Sandpapering is not. I have never liked subway tiles for many of the same reasons as Tammy mentioned. The same goes for granite in homes – too reminiscent of gravestones.

    Also benches at dining tables. If the hostess ever had to sit on one through dinner, she would realize how disrespectful of her guests’ comfort they are.

    I rather like the English style of decorating. Buy the best and keep it for 300+ years.

  39. Theresa McDaniel says

    Tiny houses they show are very over priced .

  40. Not a fan of the tiny house-too claustrophobic. I like big houses. I figure the people that love fads, Birkenstocks, and climate change are their best customers. I am a Gumps kinda girl.
    I love the big white kitchen photo. It would be like dying and going to heaven to have one that size. With white, you can keep changing accessories for the season and my cobalt blue glass and blue and white Chinese pottery collection would be perfect in there; changing to red glass for Christmas.

  41. My pet peeve? Painting over beautiful wood with badly done chalk paint applications. I personally love traditional and transitional style, maybe a trendy accent thrown in for a breath of air. And I love my granite countertops….can set warm casserole dishes on the island for buffet style. But this is my personal taste. TV is trendy and ratings driven. I am probably the only person who cannot stand Chip and Joanna! But design is not a one size fits all. And how awful if everyone’s house looked just like mine! The sad part is when people are so insecure they have to follow every trend as it comes along instead of their own personal taste.

    • I’m happy to hear that I’m not the only person with a negative thought about Chip and Joanna. Joanna is fine, but I could only take Chip in very small doses. Hopefully, his need for constant attention is for the camera and not actually his juvenile personality. I watch the last few minutes of their show so that I can see her design ideas, but don’t have the patience for Chip during the rest of the show. I have no desire to try to keep up with trends and try to stay true to what is comfortable for me – which is a mix of traditional and contemporary. Pretty simple to maintain without things going out of style.

    • Painting over antique wood furniture is my ultimate pet peeve too! Makes me cringe soooo much. I fear all the beautiful antiques will be scooped up by crafters eager to lay on the chalky grey paint or bright turquoise, thus ruining it forever. Seriously, a lot of those pieces are in perfectly good condition before, or they’re very rare or old and will never be able to be replaced.

      Another pet peeve is tearing covers off of books–I’ve seen people do this in attempt to get a neutral look (I guess?) and it ends up looking ridiculous, like um, ripped up books. I’ve also seen a lady sawing up hardcovers so she can use their spines to glue on boxes to hide things in. Ugh, I don’t think I could ever bring myself to saw a book. That’s just no respect for books and their writers, and no respect for the painstaking craftsmanship of antique wood furniture. Die trends!

  42. I often wonder about the safety of using many of the currently trendy ideas around small children – sliding barn doors; leaning framed art, mirrors, and even ladders against walls, bench seating, etc. I cringe to think of all the pinched fingers and more serious injuries when heavy pieces fall on children. Also, I collect and display books based on topic, not color – how would you ever find a book you wanted if the titles were not displayed? Finally, I’m glad that my guests in the living room can’t see the dirty dishes in my sink when I’ve been cooking right up until they arrive!

  43. Hi Susan,

    I think this may have made the “Don’t” list, but just in case, I think open floor plans should be on the list for sure… Had the chance when building our first house and said no way. Moms of little kids need quiet time too!
    SheilaC

  44. My husband & I chuckle while watching “Tiny Houses” thinking back 45 yrs to college days when we lived in a post WWII married housing on campus –no bigger than these “newly” designed, very expensive ones these “kids” are buying now. We rented for $27/monthly including electric/water, etc. Thoses were great times: before kids, entertaining other college couples, enjoying life!! However, once we graduated, I told my husband –never to put me into a “trailer” again –already did that –let’s move on!! Almost 50 yr of marriage, my husband has told me that wherever we live, I always seems to make it feel homey & comfortable. My theory: wherever you live, make it your own to reflect you and what you love to surround yourself with. We began our marriage with near to nothing –mostly hand-me-downs; now I’m trying to “downsize” –keeping only what we most cherish. Sorry for the “rambling”, love the post & blog –read it as often as possible.

  45. Oh I love this post! So glad to see there are others that just don’t get this tiny house thing. No offense intended here but they really are nothing more then a glorified camper IMOP unless of course the foundation is secured. My husband and I have owned several different campers over the years. and I can honestly say I have seen many campers that are far better layed out with more amenities then these homes seem to offer. I mean I just don’t understand how it is saving money when you have to buy the vehicle/home/ land? You either have to own a very heavy duty vehicle to tow, or pay to have your home towed around, rent or buy the land and you are still going to have utilitiy bills. Then there is probably even more limited availability as to zoning law for them. Finally, I just don’t see it offering up much of a return investment if you decide to sell either. Most campers do not hold their value over the long run but atleast the market is there for people who are like me and my husband who enjoy getting in and out of camping but are not looking to buy new. I worry the resale on these is just going to be so very limited. I enjoy watching the show because I like looking at the layouts. I didn’t say I like the layouts I’ve seen, but I like looking at them much like I like looking at floor plans of all homes. The no headroom in many of those loft bedrooms and those crazy unsecured steps going up the wall would drive me insane though! LOL! As for home trends, I love, love, love granite, concrete not so much. I love my stainless steele, fingerprints and all. I love a country farm look but am kinda over the barn doors everywhere, especially in a more modern or traditional style home. I know, don’t hate me. I agree here with everyone else, to each his own and it will be very interesting to see how the tiny home trend plays out. I certainly am not opposed to those who want to live more with less I just don’t think the tiny home option is the best plan. I would love to see more of these young people buying up those older small homes in communities and reviving them. Now that would be a great HGTV show and a great new trend!

    • Alycia Nichols says

      The very thing you mentioned about young people buying and renovating smaller old homes has been going on in the Kansas City area for years, and I agree…it would make a spectacular HGTV show!

  46. I never even watch those tiny house shows. There is no place for tiny in my heart. I’ve been around the block and back to blue and white. Love ocean/cottage/beach design. Casual and welcoming. Lived-in and comfortable. Lots of pillows, fluffy duvets. Hardwood floors. Your home is your nest. Make it where and what you want, not what TV says is the current trend.

  47. Colored coded book shelves bug me, but even worse, the latest “hot” thing I saw was the books shelved backward-just the pages were showing, not the titles. Dumbest idea ever.

    • Lisa Muncy says

      Oh, wow!!!!!!! This just made me laugh out loud!!! The books shelved backwards? Only the pages showing?? I agree, dumbest idea ever!!

  48. I’m going to be in the minority here; I’d like to see McMansions on that list. Huge houses are wasteful and encourage separateness, everyone in their own room watching their own TVs … They are costly to maintain and have a much bigger environmental footprint. Tiny houses are the other extreme, and I don’t know how more than one person can live in one for long. But I love small houses, especially cottages–human-scaled and cozy, with just enough room to have things you love and not enough room to collect too much stuff (we are currently downsizing to move into a 36-foot fifth wheel for a couple of years while we look for that cottage). Another thing I’d like to see on the list: overstuffed furniture. The old La-Z-Boy look can go away forever as far as I’m concerned, I don’t care how comfy it is (we took all of it out of the trailer). About half that list, I agree, could go away, especially gray paint (OMG, it is SO overdone! And I’m about to paint much of my house in shades of gray, because that’s what buyers want these days), color-coded bookshelves and one of my pet peeves, flat-screened TVs over fireplaces (oh, my aching neck!). But as some have noted, a number of those things aren’t trends; they’ve been around for a long time, sometimes centuries. What’s “trendy” is just so … shallow, just like fashion. Far better to find what you like, find a way to make it your own and learn to do it well. Edit, edit, edit … And while some open plan is wonderful, I want at least some separation from the kitchen. I don’t want people looking at the wreck I created cooking a great meal in my cozy, human-scaled kitchen.

  49. I completely agree on the “tiny house” trend. Not for me! Also not for me were several of the things on the Curbed list, but at the top would be stairs without handrails. Just plain dangerous – and now that I have bifocals, and arthritis, and sometimes vertigo, I absolutely NEED handrails, preferably on both sides! I’m not a fan of chevrons either but that’s just a personal taste thing, as are many of the items on this list. Safety, however, is a different matter. I love many of the things you put on your “around forever” list, although a white kitchen would not work for me – there again, it’s just personal taste and there’s room for all of us. Great blog post!

  50. Love this post. The tiny houses are cute but like so many have said I could not live there long term. My biggest pet peeve about that show is how much the new owners are complaining about where they are going to put all their “stuff”!!! Every time I say OUT LOUD then WHY are you building a Tiny House!!! I just shake my head. I don’t worry about trends, I just go with what I like at the time. My only thing is gray paint! I love the colors but I have this mental block about pairing it with wood furniture. I do not like the two colors together….so I don’t have any gray walls in my house! But I do love them in pictures! Blue and white is so classic and soft. So forget the lists….forget the trends…..just love and play with what you like and make your nest your own! It is so much more fun that way! I did have to smile about the subway tile comments tho….I feel that way about valances and foo foo curtains…..like I am at a funeral!!! But if you love them then you should have them in your home and enjoying them every single day! (but now I will look at subway tile in a different mind set!!!)

  51. Such a fun post! I so agree with the list, Susan…stainless steel appliances, especially, are THE worst unless you enjoy cleaning them over and over every day. Basically, most things on HGTV are trends and not good value–after all, they want to keep you coming back for “the latest and greatest.” Some of my least-liked: gloomy gray walls–the most non-color of all non-colors; glass tile, unless you enjoy seeing adhesive through the glass; and busy-patterned granite. Never understood it. Thanks again for such an interesting post!

  52. I wonder what trend will replace expensive enough granite countertops? More expensive quartz? And then what from there?

  53. I could never do a Tiny House either, too much downsizing and I agree about not getting their money back if they decide to sell it.
    Things to go – wall quotes, stairs without handrails, ombre & concrete floors
    Things that last – hardwood floors, blue & white, white kitchens, reclaimed wood.
    There is a 172 year old house where I live and they exposed the original ceiling wood and it is gorgeous! Now, homes in this area are putting reclaimed wood ceilings (like in a Foyer) and it is just so pretty. When you go to the plantations most have white kitchens & hardwood floors – if it is still around over 200 years I say it is a Classic.

  54. Maggie Amis says

    Thank YOU – I am BAFFLED by the “Tiny House” trend..- not at all practical – If you want to live that way – get a motor home… they have far better storage options – and – then, when you can get a “real” home – you still have a “vacation” home!
    sorry to see Granite countertops on the list – love mine – of course – they replaced Formica ones – so – I would!!
    As for the rest of the list -I agree with many of the items – some I am neither here nor there on, or think they are the best option in some situations…. I do have a TV over a fireplace… it really is the best place in the room for it…. the entire room is oriented toward the fireplace – but, really – as thin as they are now – you could cover the thing with a painting if you wanted…
    and, I have never cared for “open floorpans” but, I love antique houses – so – they would not have one –
    How about soaring ceiling heights and arched windows…. that should be on the list ( may have been on a previous list – I don’t think they do that any more – but I have always disliked that look)
    Great article. Thank you …

  55. Kate Tutass says

    Love your style, hope it never goes away.

  56. When Tiny Houses programs are on TV, I change the channel, and now they are on A LOT! My lessons learned are to decorate for the year and style of the house. I live in a 1919 bungalow and love choosing colors, furniture, etc that are appropriate to the period. The plus here is that I don’t need to change everything out when the “newest” fad/colors are in. Subway tile…well, in my house, it looks appropriate and I love it. Stenciling or frieze in one room looks great because in circa 1919, it was a decorating feature. Distressed wood, open concept, barn doors, granite…you will be putting a date stamp on your work. Expensive and time consuming unless you enjoy replacing everything often. My best money spent was hiring a decorating consultant to “suggest” lighting, which included sizes of chandeliers for the entry and over tables, paint colors throughout the house and names of stores in the area that catered to that style of decorating. We later sold that home and the staging was relatively simple and painless since I had done what she suggested. I think her services cost around $150 and worth every penny!

  57. I must say, I’m at least a little bit surprised by that list! I find that several (if not MANY) items on the list stand up, not only to time, but are currently very popular. I do have some of the things on the list, namely gray paint (which I was so opposed to having at the time–I never could imagine it in my house–but I got it, and I absolutely LOVE it)! While I don’t have granite, I do have natural stone (Taj Mahal Quartzite) on my 9′ x 5.5′ island–and it’s gorgeous! I will never-ever get tired of it! Not ever! Still, many other items listed really intrigue me and I love the look of them, such as Industrial Interior Design and Industrial Lighting (done right). I’ve tried to incorporate a little of these designs into my guest bedroom, and it’s really very cute in there. Maybe I wouldn’t like the entire house done in this decor, and would eventually grow tired of it, but I sure think it’s terrific when in the right place! As others have said, Stainless Steel is here for the long haul, until some way-future time, when a new (and better) product comes out. So far that hasn’t happened, and let’s face it: Stainless Steel is NOT stainless! UGH, just one fingertip means polishing! —even the new “smudge-free” stainless is NOT stainless!! But it’s pretty, it’s current, and looks great in a kitchen! Fads not on the list that I’m pretty sick of include Shabby Chic (and trust me, I had a lot of that going on, way back in the day!), Fabric Pouf Valances (again, been there, done that!), and collectible knick-knacks (like Hummel figurines, teapots, antiques, etc.), which only crowd space, are way to much to look at, and do nothing but collect dust). I think that all-white will be around forever. It may wane a bit in the future, but it’s crisp, clean and bright, and in the right place and done correctly, it’s a keeper. And finally, I think that the T.V. over the fireplace is also something that will last forever. It’s a great spot for it, especially if you want to enjoy the fireplace as a focal point. My TV is not over the fireplace, and I admit that I love NOT having it there. But still, I can see why it’s a popular place for the TV in many homes, and nowadays, cords and such are concealed beautifully. The TV can even be concealed if you want. It kinda just “makes sense” for a lot of homes.

  58. What goes around comes around. Just read an article about how beige is trending (can avocado be far behind?)And remember when anything brass was a no-no. That too is making a comeback . Here is my it-can-go list: chalky painted furniture, chalkboards in general, Macmansions with soaring foyer ceilings, marble countertops in the kitchen (hard to keep) and the one I really, really dislike is clear glass showers (a little privacy please!) what’s more, they are impossible to keep clean if you live in hard-water area. And I wish our American furniture makers had not been pushed out of business by cheap imports.

    The only way I could live in a tiny house is if it has an attached 2,000 sq ft closet

    • I completely agree about our American furniture makers. You can add our American silversmiths to the list, and I fear cloth manufacturers might be next. I pray not. I have an antique chalkboard I’ve used for more years than I care to count and still enjoy it. But I think too much of anything can become old fast. That being said, some things look best massed together. My antique box collection for one. 😉

  59. Ann Butler says

    I say if people do not like these trends then do not participate in them. Buy and decorate the way you want, it is their home. As for the tiny home, lived in a studio apt many moons ago and did not like the no space thing. If you wanted privacy it was the bathroom only. I would love to have a tiny home if had a lot by a lake for vacation time but don’t want to live in one year round, even if it was just me.

  60. Well my first NYC apartment was an overpriced studio in a chic area of the city. It was so tiny, the bed had to be a murphy- bed- drop down style. Try living like that for a year and you will never, ever think tiny houses should be a ‘thing’. I noticed transitional style homes were on the list but frankly, I don’t think I will ever want a formal living room again. Would much prefer a larger, open family space to a fussy dressed-up room that no one ever uses.

  61. I absolutely agree with all the posters who have said traditional and transitional are here to stay. What I find really annoying about some of the comments, though I am the first to say to each his/her own opinion, is the rudeness with which those opinions are stated: “Such and such needs to go!” … “Some style = ugh!” I love enthusiasm but there is really no need for rudeness. And that’s my pet peeve out of the way! 😉 Personally, my style is sort of shabby chic but with much less shabby and much more chic. My daughter calls it comfortable and classy. Light colours, lots of windows … I don’t feel a house – or a room – has to be large to feel that way. I really don’t think these tiny houses will be around for very long and I feel badly for the people who have invested so much money, which I truly don’t think they will ever get back. I’ve lived in spaces from 600 square feet to 3,000 square feet and I’ve been happy in all of them, doing my own thing in my own style and never paying much attention to the trend of the moment. I also rarely dislike or criticize anyone else’s decorating style, so really don’t have a list, as such. But Susan, I do have to say that hardwood floors and plantation shutters will always give my heart a little flutter. Sending warm thoughts to you. 🙂

  62. Susan,

    Ah, the debate rages on about the emperor’s clothes! 😉

    As you know and we’ve discussed, I am a traditionalist. I prefer the classics, but I understand good contemporary design and admire it. That being said, we have won preservation awards on four houses over the years, and I pay no attention to trend versus trend. I do what I like and what I deem appropriate and have even lived with some things that were outdated when the dinosaurs roamed the earth.

    Stainless steel will never go away if you want a high-end kitchen with a Wolfe range and a chef’s sink. Or even a sub-zero refrigerator. I like different styles of kitchens from cottage to sleek. They all have their places. This is a matter of personal preference. Granite which I actually like (sometimes) versus marble which I also like but which can be impractical versus wood which can also be impractical but which adds warmth versus concrete which can look pretty neat in the proper setting versus Formica which is more forgiving to dishes and pocketbooks are all a matter of personal preference. I prefer a light (white) kitchen because I don’t like cooking in a dungeon, but some people like dark wood cabinets which is fine. I saw a house once that is a classic brick Colonial Revival that had its original stainless steel countertops. It was so neat. The next owner? Ripped it ALL out. Installed cherry cabinets and dark granite. The next owner? White cabinets and white marble.

    Subway tile may be overdone to some, but it is also traditional in much older homes. We had them in a bathroom in a house built in the 1920’s, and I have seen them in even older houses. They aren’t going anywhere. White bathrooms are ALWAYS a smart investment. They don’t look dated and look clean. Change your towels for a new look. Or paint your walls. Wallpaper in a bathroom other than a powder room might not be a smart idea. Been there, done that. Learned the hard way.

    Gallery walls? One thought: Mrs. Astor’s stairwell. Classic. Not going anywhere. The difference? Invest in real paintings/art as you can afford it.

    White? Michael Taylor anyone? Classic. Architectural Digest when Archidectural Digest ruled.

    Chevron. I usually see this in pillows, and those can be easily changed. But as far as what we referred to as flame stitch back in the day? Always a classic. I have chair seats in flame stitch I had intended to cover years ago, but every time I start to do it, I talk myself out of it because I like it. Plus it’s classic.

    Industrial design? Always has a place in the right place.

    Barn doors? Personal preference, and the space might call for that or a pocket door. I think they can look good in the right setting.

    Distressed furniture? Painted furniture? Always has a place, but should not be overdone. I just prefer it used in moderation. And don’t paint valuable antiques and ruin their value. I’ve seen some travesties occur on the Internet, and a friend told me I was going to hate what she did to her daughter’s antique furniture. She would be correct.

    Brass? We’ve had this conversation before. I like it in candlesticks, furniture pulls, and some light fixtures. I also have brass fixtures in some bathrooms, but not in my kitchen. If you like it in yours, great! I prefer my brass unlacquered and unpolished. In other words, with patina. But I like the way the antique brass looks when they polish it all over London. Brass + London = a good thing.

    Crystal chandeliers? Can be gorgeous, but again, a matter of taste.

    Silver? Is meant to be polished. If it is silver-plate and showing major wear, not valuable, not antique Sheffield which can show wear, then have at it and let it tarnish. But sterling? Needs to be polished or used as do silver services. Otherwise, it looks like Morticia Addams is in residence! 😉

    Flat screens over mantles? I prefer art or mirrors over mantles, but if that is where you sit and enjoy watching TV, then do what is comfortable for your family. Or design a piece of art to go over it. Easy enough. Maybe a large hanging canvas bird print. (I think the antique ones were biology charts) which you can use to cover the TV for parties or when it’s not in use. Get creative.

    Antiques? Not only are they “green”, but they can be beautiful and add the warmth of wood, the patina of age, and the panache of style. Or they can be simply old furniture. We need to educate ourselves. But we also need to play by our own playbook about what makes us happy. One man’s junk is, indeed, another man’s treasure.

    And good luck getting animal heads out of the South or the West or England or Scotland, etc., either, where hunting is a part of life. I don’t have heads in my house, but I grew up with a father who hunted. I married someone who did not.

    Hardwood floors are always classic. Use oriental rugs in high traffic areas. Old oriental rugs look better with wear.

    Tiny houses? I have restored everything from an 800 square foot cottage to much, much larger homes, and again, it is a matter of preference and pocketbook. My husband loves to look at tiny houses, but unless he wants it as a cabin in the woods, he can forget it. Plus as you age, who wants to climb ladders to a loft? I’m not that intrepid.

    Downsizing is also a matter of preference. Some people prefer to age in place if they can. My mother did, and so did my mother in law. With a bigger house, you have room for visiting family and holiday company. Or you might feel like you are rambling around in it. I am watching friends sell their gorgeous homes and move into smaller quarters. And I’m thinking, “Why?” But that’s me. I say that as we plan to do something new. Yet, I will always love the scale of a cottage. The important thing is to live in a place you love with the things you love. My grandmother scaled back after my grandfather’s death, when she was only 45, and her cottage was always comfortable, welcoming, and charming. Just like her.

    My pet decorating peeve? The use of the condescending term “granny” as if it is something to be avoided at all costs. If I had half the style of either of my grandmothers I would be a happy camper! I cherish the things I own of theirs and my mother’s and mother in law’s. My advice to people who use this term? Get over yourself! Your taste will be in question tomorrow. When you question your choices a year after doing it, you aren’t being true to yourself. You are chasing trends and following the crowd with its herd mentality. Maybe you should check out what other people’s grannies are doing if you don’t like your grandmother’s taste. You might learn something valuable if you’re willing to listen to someone else with experience and good taste.

    Things I love: hardwood floors, English design, American quilts, antique furniture, wonderful china, natural fibers, sterling silver, oil paintings (contemporary and classic), good needlepoint, symmetry, fireplaces, French crystal, interesting collections, family heirlooms, and blue and white. Plus, I’m not afraid of color or what some people call clutter. I’m with Mario Buatta, “Dust is a protective coating for fine furnishings.”

    And Susan, I think you are safe with your garden seats. They have been around for THOUSANDS of years. I dare say they will survive a trend stake list! 😉

    Nothing like a dissertation, but you asked! Please excuse any typos.

  63. Like some others I am no fan of Hgtv’s Tiny House show and have only watched a few in their entirety early on.
    I think anyone considering such a move should try living in the same square footage prior to relocating and investing any amount in such an endeavor.

    Perhaps a follow up in 6 months (not 2 years) such as a Where Are They Now would be appropriate!!

    As far as decorating….to each his own. I decorate in what “I” like not what may be the ‘current’ trend.

    Great discussion Susan.

  64. Styles and fads come and go.
    But I’ve decided to keep and enjoy the things, colors, and furniture I enjoy. As I’ve gotten older I just want to have the things I like no matter whether they are in style or not. It’s my home, it reflects me. It’s a large home and will be passed down to my children because it is on family acreage. It will be their choice to restyle to their desires if they want. But they all like coming home to the place they grew up in my children and grandchildren.

  65. OK, I’ll add my 2 cents:) We built this house 3 years ago and I am SO happy with my granite counters. I had been wating them for SOOOO long! I also like my stainless appliances. I chose very dark cabinets because we have an open concept (which I also love) and you see the kitchen from the living room so I wanted it to be dressy. It all flows and I love it. But that is the point: I think we have to live with what WE love! This will be our last home so I wanted to have what WE loved. Luckily, Joe and I agree on design choices. The tiny houses are horrible, in my opinion. I could not deal with it at all. Our first apt. was WAY bigger than these things and we made the best of it but bought a house within 2 years:) I also love color so when we moved in to all white walls I couldn’t wait to paint! Now it feels warm and cozy to me.

  66. Anne McCorkle Garrett says

    I totally agree with the extinction list on Curbed! Some additional trendy items which I would like to add are: vessel sinks, bronze hardware, and kitchens without upper cabinets. It’s a shame so many people are renovating classic homes from the early 20th c. by removing walls and classic trim, and putting in cabinets, sinks, hardware, and lights which clash with the period. I love traditional décor, which wears well over time, and feels comfortable to so many people, including guests.

  67. Regality (aka The Quing) says

    Trends from the list that drive me bonkers (I could write paragraphs on each, but I won’t, cuz verbosity also drives me bonkers):

    1. Open interiors
    2. Animal heads, faux, and real
    3. Stainless steel appliances
    4. Grey paint
    5. Burlap fabric
    6. Small houses
    7. Granite counters
    8. Distressed furniture
    9. Pallet furniture
    10. Stairs without handrails
    11. Flat screen TVs over fireplaces
    12. All white interiors
    13. Industrial interior design

    Trends that I still like:

    1. Gallery walls
    2. Accent walls
    3. Wall quotes

    Trends I would add to the list:

    1. The 6 Bs–beige, brown, blue, black, blanc, and bland
    2. Chalk paint
    3. Mason jars
    4. Blackboard
    5. Furniture legs (not a trend, just a personal irritant)

    And one pet peeve that is not a decorating trend, just lazy English:

    1. “Amazing”

  68. Thanks, Chrystal! xoxoxo

  69. I’ve never seen that t.v.show, but I find tiny homes fascinating. There’s so much to think about in their design and they would be fun (and challenging) to decorate, much like glamper campers. I wouldn’t feel safe in a strong storm and I personally want (need!) a full-size bathroom and kitchen and more space for full-time living. Where would I keep all my dishes??? 😉 I can totally see them as a whimsical weekend guest cottage or retreat or for those who enjoy a minimalist nomad lifestyle. My family of 7 used to vacation in a 280 sf camper. Not as small as some of the tiny homes, but when you think about the number of people, it wasn’t a lot of space. Fulltime RVing in all shapes and sizes is popular with small families who spend more time being active outdoors and going places than being in their home. I can see how tiny homes make sense in that regard, too, for those who want something different. I don’t know if they’ll last, but they’re intriguing for sure.

    I can’t do gray walls or all neutral interiors because I’m a color obsessssed girl. The antlers/animal heads/cowhide rugs are creepy to me, but, I have bunny and bird accents in my house that others could think are creepy – my oldest son does! I like decorating with vintage/flea market finds, some of which may have been trendy in their heyday, and many would say are too old-fashioned today, but I think they’re unique and fun.

    I like cozy rooms over big open spaces, like Kate Winslett’s cottage vs Cameron Diaz’ home in The Holiday. Except for Kate’s bathtub which was cute, but too small, and okay, I’ll take Cameron’s pool all day long! I love white kitchen cabinetry and, yup, subway tile, and wooden floors. Brick/slate/stone and classic architectural details are keepers for me. Please give me stair rails – that’s just too scary and unsafe! Porches and really any outdoor spaces make my heart sing. We just built a large deck off the back of our house after 17 years of waiting, so that’s our fun new outdoor space. We’re fortunate to have a lot of trees that provide afternoon shade.

  70. I agree SO MUCH with that list. Can’t wait to see most of those trends go, and they certainly WILL–because they’re just that–trends. I have a special hatred for wall quotes and grey paint, lol. The only two I like were the exact same as you, Susan, garden stools and granite counters. 🙂

  71. Debby Lowry says

    Of course everyone is just giving their own opinions and stating their preferences! No need to get your panties in a wad – we aren’t talking about legal/ illegal or cardinal sins. Gee whiz.
    So this is my opinion:
    I am 50-something and have been married for 30 -something years to the same man and we have never been close to the poverty level. So many of the current trends look like a young person’s first apartment when they simply have to make-do.
    Old, worn furniture that soneone is throwing out? They’ll take it.
    Drinking out of jars? Better than going thirsty.
    A scraped up old window ? They can use it to decorate.
    They have no picture frames … so twine and clothespins.
    The barn door inside … well, even poor recent graduates get desparate.
    Burlap … gives the illusion of using old sacks , but how long ago did burlap stop being used?

    I like nice things and have nice things. We use our nice things and will continue, as long as possible, to both use them and keep them looking – well- nice.

    When I see before-and-afters and cannot tell which is which ( or get it wrong), I know how outdated I must be! As I said, I am in my fifties! But I am also old enough to know most of it is fads and will elicit much, “what was I thinking?” A few years down the road. Meantime, my twenty-somethings offspring can decorate in the current styles very, very cheaply!

    • Exactly, Debby, thank you. People simply having different opinions is not “being rude.” To each their own, and agree to disagree. Good grief, we are talking about personal decorating tastes here, so how can you not expect disagreement?

  72. FRANCES TROY says

    Dislike stainless steel appliances but most people think my white appliances are “granny” I think of them as fresh, bright and clean look. My small 45 yr old house has an “open floor plan” for the kitchen, dining and living room before it was a must have item. Much prefer it to 3 small rooms. Most of the “wish they were gone” trends can be had in accessories that update your classic neutral items and colors can change as you change.

    I do think that barn doors are a passing fantasy and you will end up with giant holes in your walls when you are sick of it. And Tiny Houses. 1. I have way too much stuff and 2. I cannot IMAGINE a bedroom where you had to climb a ladder and cannot stand up. LOL.

    Most of the rest of the list items come and go through the years. If you chase the latest you will wear yourself out.

  73. I took the test 🙂 ..

    Manufactured hardwood flooring .. Real hardwood can’t be beat.
    Open Interiors .. I like each room to represent itself.
    Animal heads, faux and real .. If the whole body isn’t attached, forget it, and if it was alive, well that’s just wrong!
    Stainless steel appliances .. Have them, not many choices, rather have something different. We have a blue range. We had a choice of color and our range was painted for us! I’d like that for other appliances too.
    Gray paint .. I like color. Grey is not at the top of my list. Reminds me of a dreary day.
    Concrete Counters .. Have seen them with glass incorporated. Love that look.
    Gallery Walls .. Depends on the subject and artistic placement.
    Burlap fabric .. For potato sacks.
    Fake fireplaces .. We have a gas insert. Love it! Doesn’t kill trees, fill the house with smoke, or make a mess.
    Barn doors used inside .. A barn.
    Accent walls .. One room, one color.
    Wall quotes .. ?
    Small Houses .. As a playhouse, for me :), in my backyard. My dream!
    Granite counters .. Have them, before the craze. Love them. I don’t like having what everyone “has” to have but there aren’t a lot of choices I’d like.
    Distressed furniture .. I don’t want my furniture stressed.
    Bench seating in dining room .. The last thing I like is to have to scoot to my seat, or climb over to it, especially in the dining room. Chairs please!
    Pallet furniture .. There are creative folks out there. I’ll pass.
    Stairs without handrails (didn’t know this was a trend!) .. What? No thanks.
    Mirrored furniture .. ? I don’t think I’d like that.
    Flatscreen TVs over fireplaces .. Too high for comfort and not attractive.
    Garden stools .. Love them! Have a couple inside too 🙂
    Colored coded bookshelves .. Kids room?
    All white interiors .. I need color.
    Industrial lighting .. In industry.
    Industrial interior design .. ”
    Ombre anything .. ? Had to look this up! No!
    Reclaimed furniture/wood .. Nicely done can be interesting.
    Chevron patterns .. Not a fan.

  74. bobbi duncan says

    Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Everyone has their own idea of what makes their heart skip a beat, and should decorate in a way that brings them comfort rather than feel they must follow trends. Trends are for marketing purposes only, not necessarily a thing of real substance. I have always felt happiest with the classics, but that is MY love. The home we purchased almost three years ago has a few things I would not have chosen, but are upgrades that cost too much to simply replace if and when the newest trend hits. I know we will never buy a tiny home because we will kill each other within a week, but others may enjoy stepping (tripping) all over each other…perhaps that is better than everyone confining themselves to separate areas of a huge home. You’re certainly forced to interact when you live in close quarters, albeit not in positive ways I would think, unless you lived in the south whereby one could escape to the great outdoors quite a bit. More power to anyone who can make it work because they can save a lot of money not keeping up with a house…the cleaning, repairing, remodeling, less time enjoying life. Think I’m going out to find us a tiny house, lol!

  75. Interesting read Susan as well as all the comments. That said; I am a firm believer in ‘to each their own’. In other words what may be good for one, may not be for another. As for my likes, I must admit at present my favourite element in interior design is under mount sinks for practicality and secondly for aesthetics which I hope never goes out of fashion. As for my dislikes; I do have to question the feasibility of ‘very large’ kitchens that are equipped to the hilt and/or one requires a pair of roller blades to navigate, not to mention the enormous Islands that so many seem to desire. -Brenda-

  76. I’ve also wondered about the resale value of tiny houses. And also, can’t imagine how anyone but a single hermit could live comfortably in such a tiny space. I’m glad to see that TVs over the fireplace might be on the way out and won’t be broken hearted if ’70s-inspired decor should disappear as well (not on the list, but should be).

  77. Regality (aka The Quing) says

    Um…why the title change?

  78. I would love to see all GO except 3 on this list. I like the design style of Mary Carol Garrity….always in style for me. (Oh, by the way Susan, I love your home.)

  79. What a great post!I loved reading everyone’s comments. Tiny houses…OMG, I can’t even watch it! I love subway tile and have it in my recently remodeled kitchen along with my stainless steel appliances (except the dishwasher which has a cabinet door cover). Our cabinets are white uppers and black lowers which grounds everything. We have marble-like quartz counters which I love. Our house is cottage size in a fairly traditional style. I love color but am ready to change some of the colors we’ve had for 10 years. I agree with the list for barn doors, words on walls, the bookshelf issues, stairs without railings (why??), animal heads, distressed furniture. But as has been said before, your home style should make you happy and comfortable. And as there are as many styles as there are individuals, everyone should follow their heart . Oh by the way…don’t like the tv over the fireplace, but I lost that battle to my husband!! Happy decorating all!

  80. One trend that mystifies me is the move to enormous showers – “car washes,” my husband calls them. Homeowners remove bathtubs and replace them with huge wall to wall shower areas, usually glass enclosed. As someone who is always cold in the morning, I prefer the coziness of my normal sized shower that stays nice and warm while I’m in there. The other trend of very dark hardwood flooring may disappear as homeowners realize the upkeep involved in keeping them looking clean. (Love the hardwood flooring that you used in your home, Susan.) Always such a delight to read your blog and see your photos – fun and informative!

  81. Wow…I’m almost afraid to comment!!!

    I’ll just say I prefer a cozy, homey look & I’ve had people over the years we’ve lived here (43) that is just what I have achieved. Our house was built in 1929, we are only the second owners! Still have original woodwork, molding, front door. The tiny, tiny kitchen did get remodeled about 30 years ago (wow!)..I’d like to brighten it up, but that isn’t going to happen, so I have white appliances, which helps. Cozy, homey, comfortable, welcoming is for me.

  82. I too had to laugh upon reading the original list… I wrote a couple of blog posts some time ago covering both sides of this question – what should go and what do I still love. At the time, “what should go” for me were chevrons (only Charlie Brown could really rock that motif!), “ombre,” and chalkboards. 🙂 As far as what I still loved (and still love): painted furniture, the time-worn look, roses as a motif, and repurposing junk-to-treasure. It is SUCH a matter of opinion, and I think as others have said, it just proves that you should just make your home your own – wherever you live! – and do what you love. As far as tiny houses – fine and dandy if you’re at the lake for a week, but as far as a long-term investment or housing solution? No way. You are essentially living in a shed… I did it once, for three months out of necessity… and as Grumpy Cat would say, “It was awful.” Great discussion, really interesting to read what is on everyone’s stay and go lists! Here are my blog posts if anyone wants a chuckle. 🙂

    Enough with the (insert design fad here):
    http://www.hazelandverdie.com/2015/09/enough-with-the/

    I can’t get enough of (insert decor fad here):
    http://www.hazelandverdie.com/2015/10/i-cant-get-enough-of-insert-decor-fad-here/

    Thanks for the opportunity to share!

  83. What a great list! I think with restraint, and when everyone is not doing the same thing, a lot of things are ok. But, when everyone is doing the same, it really gets overly trendy and tired.

    My feeling is that shiplap/planked walls will be the popcorn ceiling of the future. And that’s not an easy thing to change either. Beadboard, on the other hand, I think is less trendy and has more staying power.

    I have gray paint, but it is a color from my great grandfather’s house, “Battleship Gray” from the 1930s, and I painted all my cabinetry and trim with it four years ago — before it was a trend.

    I also have antlers, and again they have been in my family for 50 years or more, plus antlers as decor has been around forever. It might come and go, but never totally go.

    Granite, definitely glad I don’t have it now and think marble is classic. Wish I had a marble-look quartz, and think quartz is here to stay with so many options for patterns, etc.

    Open concept — my grandparents had an open kitchen/dining/living in their old victorian farmhouse, (1940s-1950s) so I think it’s here to stay although I wish people were not sitting watching me cook and wouldn’t mind a separate kitchen:-)

    Stainless steel — definitely too trendy for me, and folks will be replacing them with whatever is next, which seems to be Slate.

    Wall quotes — definitely:-)

    Reclaimed wood — again, my grandfather used it and saved everything which I am using now, so I hope this is a trend that continues as people recycle and are more aware of wasteful practices.

    Having moved from 3,800 sf to 1,500 with three kids, no, no no to tiny houses. I think it’s a ridiculous investment and not practical. There are other options that cost less and offer more space.

    I love your list of classics, Susan, and agree those are here to stay:-)

  84. What an interesting discussion this post resulted in. I agree that the “tiny house” trend is just that, a trend. I always find it funny that many of them say they are parking their house on their friend’s/parents’ property. So essentially they are squatters. I do wonder about electricity, sewage, water…
    I think you can’t go wrong with traditions that have already withstood the test of time (e.g. solid wood furniture, hardwood floors, solid wood molding, real tile floors, etc.) Some homes reflect the area in which they are located. A Spanish style home would look out of place in New England, but that doesn’t make it less timeless or traditional. Essentially, mass produced, inexpensive items are around because that is what many people can afford, but they aren’t something that you would pass on to your grandchildren. Real paintings, classic solid wood dining room sets, dressers, real oriental rugs, crystal wine glasses… those are the things that are made to last and never look trendy. Just my opinion. -Jenn

  85. It’s not really a surprise that so many Americans dislike the tiny house trend in the U.S., because the U.S. has the privilege of big houses, big yards, big portion sizes, big everything, but if you travel or move to other countries (other than Canada and Australia) most other countries people live in smaller places because they don’t have the luxury of having a big American sized McMansion. I am American and moved out of the U.S. to another country and learned to deal with tiny places even though the house I was raised in the U.S. was a small house for an American house size so I guess I was already sort of used to it already… But I don’t understand the hate/dislike people have for the small house trend, I think its humble and if someone wishes to live in a small space that’s their choice to live simpler. I agree with everything else on the list though I dislike modern style stuff (like chevron print yuck!) so I agree classic style stuff is timeless like the beautiful pictures you showed of timeless examples.

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