{Home} Trending vs. Timeless

26 Tuesday Jun 2012

Posted by Karen B. in Antiques, Decorating, Designer

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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!

Ken Gemes Interiors

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

Atriums, Conversation Pits and other tract house trends

12 Monday Jul 2010

Posted by Karen B. in Entertaining, Misc, Outdoor living

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architecture, outdoor living space, Trends

In the early 70’s, when my husband and I were looking to buy our first home many of the new housing tracts offered things like atrium’s, conversation pits and cottage cheese ceilings (ugh!). When I was a newlywed I thought I wanted a brand, spanking new house. Boy, did I figure out quickly that I wasn’t a “new home” kind of gal.

This is my friend Jane's house---the charm comes from years of work on various parts of a home. It makes it livable and cozy.

Our first home had an atrium. At the time this feature was a relatively new innovation for bringing the outdoors in—a Southern California passion (maybe this is common in the mild-winter states). We purchased the “model” so our atrium came with a lovely built-in, brick fountain which rarely worked but at least it was a finished space as opposed to the barren ground that the new non-model homes had. I admit that my current house, built in 1968, has an atrium and I’ve grown to love it. We enjoy the large outdoor wicker chairs and will often read and relax in this space.

Atrium / Courtyard outdoor living spaces

Even the cat is happy about the atrium.

My friend Jane has an atrium/courtyard that rivals most. This gate is a hint of the welcoming atrium just inside.

Jane often sets the atrium dining table with beverages for a party.

This wall hanging and a fountain on a nearby wall create a room that is as pretty as it is inviting.

Jane's Front Door is as pretty as the atrium it resides in.

Conversation Pit

Just typing the words “conversation pit” cracks me up. It reminds me of one of my all-time favorite movies, “Father of the Bride” when Steve Martin (playing the father) says, “we could have the wedding in one of our all-time favorite restaurants, Bob’s BBQ Pit” and the young son says, “Ah Dad, I don’t think we want the word ‘pit’ on the invitation”. Hilarious.

If you've never seen this movie, rent it, you will laugh out loud.

Our second home featured a conversation pit—I wonder what the thinking was behind this design detail. The pit in our house was a step-down space between the living room and kitchen. Our ‘pit’ was much smaller than the pictures below (and I’ve never had a contemporary house, maybe that was the problem for me). There was room for a sofa and we installed shelving to accommodate a television—therein lies the problem, we wanted to watch TV and the design team wanted us to converse.

Our "pit" wasn't nearly this large and our house has never been contemporary.

I don't have pictures of our conversation pit but you get the jest of it from these photographs.

The final trend in the late 60’s and early 70’s (at least for tract houses in and around Southern California) was the acoustical stuff they sprayed on all of the ceilings. I didn’t like the way this “cottage cheese” texture looked and I am not sure of why they used it but it seemed to be in most newly built homes during that time period. It was later discovered that a lot of the materials used in the product contained asbestos and we were very happy to have found someone to remove it from the house we are currently in.

What are the trends you find in your region for new home construction in your area?