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I’ve lived long enough to realize that trends change with each decade. This information gives me a healthy perspective when making design decisions. But still, along comes some fabulous trend and I can’t resist, even when deep down I’m sure in 10 years I’ll be asking myself, what was I thinking?
before…a “look” from the 70’s {I’m embarrassed to say, the pattern on the drapes and walls once adorned one of our first sofas. Our adult children saw a picture of the room with that particular sofa a few years ago and said, that can’t be our sofa!} I don’t think we had it very long, we were tired of it after a few years.
My home is mostly traditional but personal tastes in color and appointments come into play and I’m a huge fan of decorating with what you love and what brings you comfort and joy. I largely ignore the designers that dismiss some of my favorite accessories and or color selections as being “so last year”.
House Beautiful ~ remember the trend towards chintz, it’s back and I must say I’ve seen some beautiful, modern day versions. I believe my chintz days are over but beautiful floral patterns still stop me in my tracks.
Then there are those rooms you’ll come upon that were designed several decades before and you are immediately smitten, you cannot believe the rooms/house were decorated that long ago.
Alessandra Branca ~ the Asian influence, calming neutrals and touches of red create a timeless look.
Better Homes & Gardens ~ stone floors, classic urns with boxwood, and the trumeau mirror create a timeless look, don’t you agree?
Bunny Williams ~ Elle Decor
I wonder if we will one day say, this room (above) would be timeless if it weren’t for the sea grass/sisal rug. I love the look, but you know how this can go.
Charles Faudree ~ CF is a favorite designer of mine. I realize his rooms may be too busy for some, but they hold great appeal for me and I am always referring to his books for inspiration for my own home.
Today, I thought it would be fun to share a few of the rooms we all remember and a few that I believe may go down as timeless, classic and as all-time favorites!
Charlotte Moss ~ this image is from one of my all-time favorite books, “Winter House”
…more images from Winter House
Charlotte Moss
Some of the trends that have been declared by a few designers or shelter magazine contributers as “over” for this decade are oil rubbed bronze hardware (guilty as charged, I have it in my master bathroom and converted most of the interior door knobs to it in early 2001). I still like it but confess, it hasn’t worn as well as I’d like. Stainless steel appliances, sorry, I still love my Viking stove. Granite [really?]… how can granite be dated, it’s been around before man! Vessel sinks in bathrooms. I confess, I’ve admired them for others but due to space restrictions have felt they would take up too much space in our two bathrooms. These are but a few of the items I’ve read about and trust me when I say, I take features on this topic with a grain of salt.
Dan Carithers ~ another favorite whose timeless rooms always thrill me.
John Saladino ~ when the idea for timeless design first popped into my mind, John Saladino is who I thought of; in my view his work epitomizes “timeless”.
The ever timeless and classic Phoebe Howard
Isn’t blue and white the very meaning of classic? Image via Splendid Sass
Anyway, do you feel you are living with a trend that may be on it’s way out, at least as far as you’re concerned? Or, do you go forward with confidence that if you love it, you can live with it and be happy?! Me too!
House and Garden ~ Whitney Fairchild (above/below)
So tell me your thoughts, are you more apt to follow your heart where design is concerned, or follow the trends? I love hearing from you.
xo,
Karen
Garden, Home & Party 
debra phillips @ 5th and state said:
hi karen
what an in-depth and thought provoking post!
i am close to your sentiments, love and have the classics but throwing in a bit of current trends because it makes me happy.
i too cringe when i think back to my first sofa, c. 1976, you can only imagine!
debra
Victoria Elizabeth Barnes said:
Those are all gorgeous rooms. The trend I find myself really loving is the white, white, white, white, white… everywhere. Except? How do you LIVE in a space that white? I bought a white sofa, and I really wish no one would sit on it. This has a lot to do with my personality… but still! I made a fitted slipcover, and it took so much time and energy that when I was done, I couldn’t bear to not cover THAT one as well. So now I have material draped over it! You cannot even tell what a nice sofa it is!! Husband suggested I just go ahead and wrap it in plastic. He knows me so well.
Splendid Avenue said:
Karen,
90% timeless and 20% trends – that is my motto! And when it comes to trends it is usually accessories – not big pieces. Even with wall papers I have picked patterns that will look great 20 years from now. (Yikes, does that make me safe and boring?).
I do however have a couple of rooms where I experiment more and leave my comfort zone. But nevertheless those rooms have to tie in with he rest of the house!
Hugs to you – trust your good instincts Karen.
ox, Mon
P.S Funny comment above!
Linda said:
Beautiful rooms and lots of inspiration. I always follow my heart. It’s too costly to follow the trends. I want a comfortable soothing home. It would be fantastic to have different home to decorate differently.
Kathy said:
Hi Karen,
I think that’s why I’ve always leaned towards antiques. The scrubbed pine European pieces add the kind of “dated” look I want. I decided a long time ago, I don’t want to be the oldest thing in the room. I don’t know if my age or the world that is constantly in one crisis or another, but I just want my home to be relaxed. I kind of resent when marketers tell us we really need to throw everything out and start over. Why? Next year they’ll tell us what we replaced it with is old news. I think the problem for me is when something floods all the magazines and shops it just gets boring. Having said all that, I still like to throw in change to shake things up. I say do what you love. I predict…in my humble opinion…. not far down the road there will be an explosion of more color and a return to wallpaper. I love all the rooms you picked out.
Kathy
Linda Coble said:
Karen,
What a walk down Memory Lane this post inspired! I remember the fabric in the first photo and I loved it at the time. I’ve always felt that more of a trend buster than a trend follower. I’ve always been a Traditionalist and I love to accessorize. I still decorate with baskets even though they’re a bit out of favor. I never gave in to the pressures of Southwest decorating (thank God!).
Loved the photos! Charles Faudree is a favorite of mine too! I like the “timeless design” quote. It’s what a try to do and sometimes I succeed.
Mona Thompson said:
I fear I live with a lot of things that some might term as “over” or out of favor…hopefully they were never really purchased because they were “the thing”…they were just right. I’m a timeless design lover…and as someone said what really happens with me when I see the same thing over and over or trends…I just get bored with them. Great post..
Gretchen said:
Karen, I had to laugh at your first picture since I had also cut it out and wanted to use that fabric somewhere in my house. Fortunately my decorating budget at the time did not allow anything but the basics. I’ve always preferred timeless to trendy. I LOVED all the classically designed rooms you highlighted.
martha said:
You must be reading my mind! Your highlighted rooms are always just delicious!