Should These Top Decorating Trends Stay or Go?

The other day, I happened upon a post about top decorating trends from the website, The Spruce? Do you know that site? It’s one that I had not heard of until maybe two or three years ago and then suddenly, they had a huge volume of articles.

In theory, the site is a GREAT idea. However, what concerns me is who is writing this information and is it accurate and thorough enough?

I’m giving it a mixed review. But, it is a clean, nicely laid-out website.

 

This particular post about top decorating trends discusses the trends that “17 top influencers” feel are on the way out for 2019.

 

First of all, why 17? That number bothers me. It’s a prime number. And, it’s disturbing my sense of equilibrium. Does anyone else feel that way?

 

You don’t?

 

Fine. We’ll let that one go. It’s not that big a deal in the scheme of things.

 

But crap! What’s wrong with me? I have to interrupt myself.

 

It’s the Laurel Home SEVEN YEAR blogiversary! Here’s the first post I ever wrote. Actually, it was soooooo bad, that a few years ago, I cleaned it up some. However, I did leave one of the raw links in, as we call them. The proper way is a hyper-link (embedded) as you see throughout this post.

 

Okay. Let’s get back to the topic at hand, the top decorating trends that need to stay or go? But, first, we need another category and that is, is it a “trend” OR “timeless/classic?”

 

That’s because some of these so-called trends are not really trends. They are timeless; therefore, it is highly unlikely that they would be on the way out. And please don’t ask me if a design element or style can be both a trend and timeless.* That’s making me dizzy, just trying to compute. Thank you.

Therefore, let’s go over these 17 top decorating trends that are deemed to be on the way out. And let’s decide for ourselves if we agree or not.

 

Let’s begin with interior decorating trend number one that the Spruce says is on the way out for 2019 (the article is here, if you missed it above)

 

Terrazzo.

Hold on a sec please. I have to go do something. Why don’t you go make a sandwich or something. I’ll be right back.

*

Sorry. That took longer than I thought it would. Hope you’re still there. :]

 

terrazzo outside my apartment-interior decor trends

 

This is what I was doing. I was taking a pic outside my apartment. That’s my door on the right. I do not have an extra-wide door. That is a closet that houses a defunct dumb-waiter. Unfortunately, it’s unusable. My apartment building was built in 1927.

Above, is the original terrazzo floor.

Geeezzz, Terrazzo has been around for centuries.

 

via Antiques in Italian Interiors - Vol I - Mario Ciampi - terrazzo floors

via Antiques in Italian Interiors – Vol I – Mario Ciampi

 

Oh, this is bringing back a memory of one of my professors at the New York School of Interior Design circa 1988-89.

 

Rocco Leonardis is his name. Good God! He’s still there! I had him for at least three courses– all quite enjoyable. Particularly the free-hand drawing class. Yes, with nude models; like that has anything to do with interiors. haha– But, who cares? Anyone have him? Please raise your hand.

 

I can recall so vividly how Mr. Leonardis who is also a professional architect ADORED terrazzo floors.

 

As any true Italian gentleman who’s spent his life steeped in the arts, he spoke of them with such sweet fondness bordering on longing. And even though he’s definitely from New York, (or New Jersey), he would say terrazzo like he had just come off the boat from Naples a century earlier.

I’m quite positive that if you dared say that terrazzo was “out,” he’d throw his entire box of cannolis at you.

He was always bringing them in– particularly at the end of the semester. And, he was sure to tell us that they had just been filled. Nothing worse than a soggy cannoli. Right?

 

Laurel?

 

Yes?

Can something be both timeless/classic AND a trend?

*Please see above. Thank you, let’s move on…

 

Interior decor trend #2

The Edison Bulb

Thank you Bobby Berk. I agree completely.  Who wants to see a big honking nekked-retina-burning light bulb? It’s enough already.

 

Bobby Berk via Pamela Moell (@stiltje.se) on Instagram- “21 April 2018 . How to make an entry . Inspiration from @corinnedelobel

Bobby Berk via Pamela Moell (@stiltje.se) on Instagram- “21 April 2018 . How to make an entry . Inspiration from @corinnedelobel  – I believe this is Corrine’s work. How gorgeous! And I love the all-one color walls, ceiling trim. Remember this post about it here?

interior decor trend #3

White Spaces –

Oh stop!!! And the designers aren’t exactly walking the talk. But white is as timeless and classic as can be.

Half of this website is about the beauty of white. Don’t believe me. Click here.

 

interior decor trend #4

Mirrored Furniture

It’s a trend that’s been around for quite a while. But, I don’t have a problem with an isolated piece in the right setting. I’m still liking this mirrored coffee table we did 6 years ago. It’s when there’s a bedroom and it’s a matched set of mirrored furniture. Well, a matched set of anything is pretty awful, IMO.

 

interior decor trend #5

White Walls

(see trend #3) :]

 

interior decor trend #6

Minimalism

Oh dear. Have they not heard of Philip Johnson’s iconic minimalist masterpiece that is celebrating its 70th birthday?  The Glass House.

 

interior decor trend #7

Hygge 

What? Now that we finally learned how to pronounce it, they’re taking it away? However, that’s hardly the point. Hygge is not a trend or a style. It’s a feeling. It’s like saying, we’re going to take away the contentment trend.

 

top decorating trends - stone fireplace mantel - Erin Hiemstra | Apartment 34 (@apartment_34)

via Apartment 34 on instagram. Gorgeous!

For more about hygge, please click here.

 

interior decor trend #8

Boho

I remember the first time I heard this word; it was in 2011. At the time, I had no idea what it was. For those who don’t know, it’s short for BOHEMIAN if you don’t already know that. Think of the Anthropologie look. I agree that it can get carried away, but over-all am not sure that it’s leaving as much of it is built upon classic styling and proportion.

Sarah McGee Vignette via instagram boho blogger

Instagrammer/designer Sarah McGee (McGizzles) has a pretty, fresh Boho style.

There’s more on this post devoted to her inventive decorating.

And, please check out Sarah’s new website!

 

interior decor trend #9

Mid-century Modern

It’s not a trend. MCM is a classic, historic style. Of course, one doesn’t have to like it. But that doesn’t mean that it’s going anywhere.

 

interior decor trend #10

Industrial Accents

The woman who said this is not an interior designer and has one of the pronounced styles of branding on her instagram account I’ve ever seen. Is she right? Well, the industrial look has also been around for a long time. And, in the right setting, like an old loft, is plenty appropriate and even desirable. But, if she’s talking about those steel and wood coffee tables, I’d go along with that, for sure.

interior decor trend #11

Brass

Brass is timeless. Particularly, natural brass or else brass with a believable antique finish. I love this post featuring some gorgeous brass doorknobs.

 

interior decor trend #12

Grays

Gray is completely classic and timeless as we discussed here.

However, gray done wrong IS horrid.

 

interior decor trend #13

Minimalism

again. (see #6) Not sure why they are repeating the same thing.

 

interior decor trend #14

Nothing

Amen, sistah!  Here’s a quote from the post by Lilli Pettit.

“I don’t believe that anything is really ‘out.’ Our homes are a deep reflection of who we are and should feel like a sanctuary every day.”

 

interior decor trend #15

Grays and Whites

(see #3, #5 and #12)

And then, take a look at one of my favorite posts and if you still feel that this is looking tired and dated, then we’ll just have to agree to disagree. Here’s another post featuring gray for north facing rooms.

 

interior decor trend #16

Gallery Walls

Oh dear. I hope not. I LOVE gallery walls. In fact, there are so many, that this is a link to several art gallery wall posts.

 

interior decor trend #17

All gold and brass everything.

Well, this was never a trend. It’s just bad design, IMO.

It’s always best to do something of a mix as we discussed here.

 

To recap about these top decorating trends; I heartily agree with only one of these loss of trends, the Edison Bulb.

 

But I also agree with number 14– no trends. In my opinion, most of these are not actually trends, but timeless classic design.

 

However, I have written about some decorating trends a few years ago that I think should be gone.

 

One of them is nearly five years old.

And then there is this post about decorating trends to be warned about

Part II of the same topic

This post talks about some of the hottest kitchen trends – Yay or Nay?

And, finally 21 interior design mistakes you need to stop making.

xo,

 

78 Responses

  1. I’m not a big fan of minimalism. Nor of hoarding. I’m somewhere in-between. I like a combination of new traditional and flea market chic.

  2. Sweet buttery pancakes, who doesn’t love the McGizzle!!!

    I found out about Sarah McGee from Lovely Laurel. You too should get together and form a comedy team!!!! You’re both brilliant.

    1. Hi Sharon,

      Too funny. Sarah is also an actress and model and I too, used to go out for commercials and other acting pursuits. One casting director deemed me to be the “Lysol type.” uhhhh… thanks? But mostly, it was P&G (proctor and gamble) Mom, Pretty, Slight Character. LOL I guess that would be “grandma” now. haha

  3. Another great post! It brought to might the Oscar Wilde observation: “Fashion is a form of ugliness so intolerable that we have to alter it every six months.”

  4. I really agree with your (hilarious) assessment, except I’m more inclined to think the industrial trend really is on it’s way out (being that it’s kin to the Edison bulb that makes sense). And the only thing going “out” about hygge is people calling it hygge. Honestly, “a cozy day at home with friends” has been trendy for thousands of years- probably since those days when it was too cold to go out and whack a mammoth.

    I have read the Spruce for a long time and I think it’s a good basic homeowner reference site, but I get the feeling its aimed a little more downmarket/younger than your site is. So I don’t really use it for design advice but it’s not a bad starting point for simple advice on a variety of topics.

    1. Hi Danielle,

      Seriously, yes. “A cozy day at home with friends” is not anything new. As for the Spruce, all the more reason that I wish the aim was to educate their audience in a more authentic way. However, when the people that are producing the articles don’t understand, that is when it breaks down, it appears.

  5. I really enjoyed this post on trends. I too think terrazzo and many other “trends” will be around for a long time. In Wisconsin, they seem to splurge on Terrazzo for all of our school and government buildings…something to be said about durability and beauty.

    I live in a smaller city that serves a large population of rural people who come in to the city either for health care, education, shopping or entertainment, which boosts the population from about 80,000 to 350,000. We had two hotels (one more of a motel) in our actual downtown, that were purchased and completely gutted and reimagined, decorated with rough wood and iron furniture, plank walls and exposed edison bulb fixtures over the bedside table and desk areas.

    While I was happy to see the investment, all I could think of was how unfortunate to have gone so heavily in one direction with the design. Meanwhile, another of your guests asked about bulbs, and I want to pass along the name of a company I discovered and used for the lighting design for my husband’s railroad club building.

    The name is: Earth LED. (I think they’re in Colorado and always ship free) They have bulbs that are truly dimmable, and look like traditional bulbs. They also have straight and bent tip candelabra bulbs that look just like the originals and have great reviews. I have restored Victorian fixtures in my home, and to finally have attractive LED bulbs of the right visual warmth for them is a thrill! I stayed at a lovely, Irish Themed/Owned Boutique hotel a couple of years ago, and they had spiral bulbs coming out of all of their period ceiling fixtures. Yikes!

    1. Thank you so much for all of that great info Cynthia! And yes, terrazzo is a common flooring for many commercial areas that are high-traffic including airports!

  6. And Oh my Werd, I forgot to say Happy 7th!!!!!!!!! You are so loved, Laurel!

    *also, had to laugh at the comments about reading all the links. Sometimes I save up your posts for a block of time when I know I can just sit and fall into a click-hole, cuz I SWEAR I spend more time reading and searching through your blog than I ever have on Pinterest…

  7. I’m mindin my own beez… well, no.
    I’m minding *YOUR* beez,
    reading through this and actually laughing out loud – like, real life noise-making chuckle at number 7, and then I come across a surprise shout-out and a whole lotta love on # 8.
    So that was a real fun surprise, and lovely and day-making, and thank you!

    (pretty sure I’ve told you before – I think you’re so very tops. xo)

    PS- I heartily agree with your assessments, including the Edison bulb. And I admit, I still have one of these suckers hangin on in my own home, but I’m just too tired to fix it right now, so we just don’t turn it on.

  8. Dear Laurel,

    Spinning off of your Edison bulb comment, do you have any suggestions for light bulbs?
    I do staging for my listings and since incandescent bulbs were made illegal, I have been going crazy trying to figure out the new bulbs. (First off, I had raced to the Dollar Store and bought dozens of light bulbs, but now the old bulbs are nowhere to be found.)

    IMHO lighting if extremely important (I’m sure you agree) and I cannot tell you how often I enter a client’s home to find a mish mash of light bulbs including those horrid tubular fluorescents and a variety of green, yellow and harsh white bulbs.
    Do you have any suggestions or might this be a good idea for a future post? Do you have any websites that you use to order light bulbs from?
    Much thanks in Virginia Beach,
    KK German

    1. Hi KK,

      You can still get incandescent bulbs here. They are longer life and lower wattage, but you can still get them in New York. If you get LEDs, look for the ones with a warm, soft light. I forget off-hand how many kelvins that is. I think there’s a post here about that somewhere. Wait, hold on. Here it is.

      Actually, I’m not sure if that’s the post. But I think it’s 2700 or 3000 kelvins.

  9. Thanks for this post Laurel! I take other designers/influencers opinions with a grain of salt, but yours is gold! I also liked your post(s) about gray and its timelessness. I wonder what your thoughts are on the trendy exposed beam ceilings? Will they stand the test of time?

    1. Hi Sara,

      Exposed beams have been around forever. But I guess you mean as a part of the modern farmhouse look? I’ve come to the realization that I prefer small beams and coffers. Again, it depends on the house and the skill of the designer/builder.

  10. I’ve been a bit frightened to see macrame coming back into style! Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birrrrrthday dear Blog… Hope you’re having a celebration of some sort. You deserve it!

    1. Hi Gail,

      Well… yes, definitely celebrating. Every day is a celebration. I really try to. I said try. :] It’s funny about macrame. I was just in a local clothing store with some high-end duds. Well, one rack was filled with embroidered peasant tops. I was sure that I had time-warped back to 1972. haha

  11. I cannot stand the black steel and glass showers that look like jail cells! Please stop! This is a trend that will definitely date your bathroom!

    1. Hi M,

      You might be right about that. I think it depends on the house. I do like iron framed windows and shower enclosures, but only in the right space. If it’s a European style home, the iron and glass showers can look quite nice. But, like a lot of things, they get put in a house they don’t belong in.

  12. My son has an E/W facing basement beach apartment. He wants to paint it white and grey. Classic, but will it be dark and gloomy? 6’6″ ceilings. He’s got champagne taste, and a beer budget. It’s a half daylight basement. So there is some light. They did put “tits” up on every ceiling. I’m fiddling lighting. But, the paint must go in before he moves.

    1. Hi Holly,

      a Six foot – six basement ceiling is exceedingly low. Lighting is very important. Our old basement had no natural lights, but I put up four sconces and then had about four recessed lights and it was very nice. But, the walls were a pale, pale yellow.

  13. Wow, this is my big issue with so called design blogs. Ack, there is so much bad advice out there and if you begin to see it more than once it becomes a trend and a bad one at that.
    I absolutely cringe sometimes when I see some of the suggestions that come up. So nice to find someone of like mindedness. BTW, I thought that the Spruce was about cleaning! Oh well….

    1. Hi Red,

      Honestly, it appears that they either don’t care or are clueless. But probably the former. They just want to crank out crap that will get picked up by google. Of course, I want my posts to get picked up by google too. But, I DEFINITELY care about the content.

  14. Trends are what keep the economy moving. If we didn’t have new trends, people wouldn’t be spending money.
    The one trend I can’t wrap my head around is open shelving in kitchens. Yes, it looks lovely. But I need places to hide my stuff.
    There’s a new show on HGTV called Restored By The Fords. Designer Leeann Ford & her brother, Steve, renovate kitchens & never put in upper cabinets. I don’t know how the homeowners survive in their new kitchen.

    1. Hi Mary,

      Well, you probably have seen some my “unkitchen” posts. Many don’t have upper or few upper cabinets. There are numerous ones on here. The way they survive are with floor-to-ceiling cabinetry and/or pantries. And also, most of the cabinets these days have more efficient means for storing things. This post covers some of that.

  15. Hi Laurel.

    Funny that you should mention mirrored furniture. I have a guest room that I just put a single piece of it in, a lovely tiny dresser or large nightstand on one side of the bed. (It would probably sell for ~$600 but I got it on CraigsList for $100, and in perfect condition too. I have been debating what to put on the other side of the bed and thankfully know not to go for more mirrored furniture. (One is enough for me.) Do you have any suggestions?

    Thank you!

    1. Hi Lauren,

      That’s a tough one. But when I have situations like this, the other one needs to be very different. So, something like a desk or a round table with a skirt. Or something stylistically the same, but maybe painted white. It’s difficult without seeing the space. The other option is to find a different spot for the dresser.

  16. Loved this article, and yes, I’m so tired of faux experts (maybe that’s a trend we can get rid of? considering everyone an expert?) Anyway, the thing I wish everyone would please please get rid of is signage inside our homes – “EAT!” “CREATE!” “FARMER’S MARKET” “ANTIQUES” – Pleeeeeeeze… I’m one of those people who can’t help but read things that are put in front of me, and when I go into a room I want to relax, not consider whether I’m “creating” enough, or whether the objects under the “antiques” sign are truly antiques, etc, etc. There are several instagram decor accounts that I follow because they are generally very pretty, but then a picture will pop up with signage STILL in the decor and it just takes over and destroys the look. They do not live in an old country store!! Whew. Sorry for the rant. Love your blog. 🙂

    1. Hi Jean,

      You will probably enjoy this post where I poke fun at those cutesy signs that remind us to “EAT.” Like we need reminding? lol

      I had a troll who got friends to lambaste me for that post. I’m serious. I got the photos from old real estate listings. The people who did this are undoubtedly long gone. It’s never my aim to hurt anyone’s feelings. And fine. I don’t care. Put up gag-worthy signs like “Eat, Pray, Love.” It’s their home. If the owners are not gagging, in the end, that’s all that matters.

  17. Laurel….I thought you might touch on SHIPLAP….I can’t stand it. I think it was overdone within a year….I know so many people love it and it’s perfect for the farmhouse look, but I just think it’s a definite trend and hopefully fading 🙂

    1. Hi Judith,

      It’s one of those design elements that has definitely been overdone, unfortunately. I like it in the right house and in small doses. But, I think that you’re right. In another decade or two, it will probably look dated to early 21st century.

  18. When I think of the grey trend – I think of all these homes I’ve seen redone in an assembly line fashion because grey was the “it” decorating scheme. In that light I am happy to see it go. I think I’m happy to see the non-personal overly done and oft repeated white kitchen go too. Really, what I’m saying is that the lack of individuality is visually exhausting. Rinse and repeat is just too much. While imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, mainstream design seems so cookie cutter.

    1. Hi Christine,

      Well, you hit on the real issue, I think. Cookie cutter/mainstream/non-personal. And, that could include a banal gray room or an insipid white kitchen. All of that can definitely go bye-bye.

  19. Happy 7th anniversary Laurel! I love your blog. I also get lost for hours reading again and again. That spruce site feels like its disposable information – oh well I said that yesterday so I can say the opposite today. I’d like enduring classics like your blog. And terrazzo – there is nothing like it on bare feet on a hot summer day, especially south of the Midwest!

  20. Personally and IMHO, I feel decorating trends are similar to that of the fashion industry. In other words; styles/designs evolve and are basically re-invented with some being more popular than others.
    -Brenda-
    Footnote: A prime example is that of blue jeans that were 1st (USA) patented in 1873 beginning with the application of rivets on men’s pants yet they are still around 146 years later! 😉
    -Brenda-

    1. Hi Brenda,

      Funny, I didn’t know this until a few years ago, but my mother’s brother’s wife was a Levi Strauss descendant. He was born about 100 years before her, so probably a great-grandfather. Her maiden name was also Strauss. And, BTW, she had the most fabulous taste!

  21. Dear Laurel, I love this post. The person(s) that put this together seem clueless to me. The brass everywhere I agree with. I can’t believe they fingered terrazzo!

    If you are fortunate enough to have it in your home you are blessed. I had it in my previous 50’s/60’s house and in the one I live in now (both in Florida). It makes me sick when people cover it up with tile or laminate, etc. I don’t even care what color it is. I’ve seen everything from pink and green to black. It is all great. It is an artisan flooring that took great skill to install and should be appreciated.

    The mid-century modern listing is ridiculous. Some of it is the most magical furniture. I had an entire house furnished with Adrian Pearsall furniture. I lived in a small home with 9′ ceilings and the effect of furniture was sculptural as well as creating the lightest effect. I felt you could see through all of it. No heaviness at all in the house. This helped with the small size of my home as well as its uniqueness.

    I didn’t even know what this furniture was when I bought it from a woman who had to leave her condo. All I knew is that I fell in love with it and acquired about 10 pieces for a steal–dining room set, coffee table, bench, chairs, etc. Due to circumstances I sold it. I regret it every day. It was me. Also, I would gladly live in Philip Johnson’s glass house. Talk about feeling like you are part of nature. My pet peeve about decorating/timelessness lately is all the buzz about granite countertops. I don’t get it. I love granite but the public has been so brainwashed about the necessity to use it or their kitchen isn’t up to snuff. I find this absurd. There are so many other wonderful, unique choices. They install boring, dated cabinets and think the granite makes it a great kitchen. By the way, I love your “unkitchen” posts. If I was in a position to redo mine, that is the only kind I would have and with soapstone countertops. I love reading your posts.

  22. That goes for me, too: I start with an “ah, quick minute to spare, let’s see what Laurel is up to,” followed by “darn, where did those two hours go?”

    I’ve learnt so much from you, Laurel – thank you!

  23. YES – the Spruce is insidious. It’s actually the evil spawn of Houzz and Buzzfeed and Tasty and Apartment Therapy, I kid you not. It’s like a mosquito – everywhere, petty and annoying.

    And yes on the Edison bulbs. They look nice in photos, all staged-up for Pinstagram, but irl they’re hard on the eye, expensive, hot, and don’t last long!

    There are a couple of a better, Scottish, versions of Hygge, also more pronounceable: courie, and còsagach.

  24. Love your funny wit and analysis of your fellow designer’s opinions, Laurel but I have a bone to pick at. I own a Sears Craftsman home with a lot of original good stuff and the front porch exterior lighting has, you guessed it, Edison bulbs in them. They look fantastic and I’m certain no other bulb will best them.
    Would I put them anywhere else?
    Not on your life. Even in a camping tent.

    1. Hi Averagemelon,

      Well, you know, there are exceptions for almost everything and this is one of them, for sure. I’m sure in this setting the porch lights with their Edison bulbs are way cool!

  25. Here in Florida (my adopted home,NY home) it comes and goes in popularity every few years,
    especially in South Florida. I live in the Panhandle, Pensacola. I like it very much and if I had known there were people who could do it here,I would have used Terrazzo instead of Tile.
    My theory on White color. If in doubt paint using a soft white color as background, you can’t go wrong? Right!
    Love reading your newsletter. Have gotten ideas to use in my home.

    1. Hi Vivian,

      I did terrazzo tile in a kitchen about 20 years ago and it was beautiful! And no, I don’t believe that one can ever go wrong with a soft white paint color. White walls have gotten such a bad rap, unfortunately. However, as stated, it’s what one puts with the white walls. White walls need lots of other white things and always some black.

  26. Happy blogiversary!! +1 to a crisp cannoli. And to agree with Gail, you give us so much. A twice weekly design class & we don’t even need to wear pants. You’re so funny & kind & helpful to us, just giving out all of this knowledge & expertise. Thank you so much & I hope it is a good day!

  27. Hello Laurel, As is so often the case, I don’t know what I enjoy more, your current article or following the links to your previous ones that I might have missed. (Revisiting favorites is also totally O.K.)

    I think that if you do something only because it is a trend or is “in”, you will soon regret it and have to expensively erase your mistakes. I like to see many variations in houses, even when certain items suit the owners but I would not choose them personally. However, when something is noticeable merely because it is unique, and then it catches on and is repeated endlessly, it loses its sole reason for existence and becomes cliché.
    –Jim
    p.s. The site Shorpy, which features old photographs, usually gets lots of comments on the most obscure details of the featured subject. However, this photo of Ruby Ross Wood drew not one comment! I know that fame is fleeting, but Ruby Ross Wood surely has not been forgotten!
    https://www.shorpy.com/node/24534?mc_cid=6d1d673e0b&mc_eid=3ce24bf2de

  28. Hi Laurel. Boy, reading this post made me feel like an old fogey (surely it has nothing to do with my age). So many timeless ideas deemed trends!?! Social media requires “influencers” to keep producing lest their audience move on. How many posts and articles do we see about rising and falling trends? Bleah, I say. Who cares?

    I have come to the conclusuion that there are two types of people in this world: those who care about trends and those who eschew them and favor classic and timeless standards.

    It’s true in fashion as well as design. Styles and trends come and go, but I prefer classic bones that stand the test of time. You can introduce some trendy elements that can be easily be removed when you tire of them. Classic with a twist is what I like to call it. But going all out in any trend is risky (and expensive) when it is no longer the thing and then you have to replace everything.

    Classically yours,
    Anne

  29. Hi Laurel,

    That was a ridiculous post from The Spruce. I agree with all that you say!! I am familiar with the Spruce as it comes up frequently in my google searches. But I never stay there or even bother to click on their link as I find in general their information is not well researched or superficial in information. This goes for the DIY and cooking. They do have some nice images though so it could be used for that. For example they have one now with yellow kitchens. I personally would not want any of them but if that’s what appeals to someone, then they have some really good examples.
    P.s. You are my go to influencer. Always an abundance of great ideas

    1. Hi Margaret,

      I had another paragraph in the post which I deleted about “influencers.” A lot of these are not even close to trained/experienced designers. I mean, if I was asked to give a quote on trends in dog breeds because I know about something else, would that be appropriate? Of course not. Authenticity/credibility is super huge for me. If I don’t know the answer, I either say so or I research it. However, blind stabs at something people know nothing about (but think they do) is an insult. Plus, it serves to perpetuate myths that are clearly not true.

  30. Haha! I had the exact same thought in design school….”what the heck does drawing naked people have to do with interior design?”! Only my professor did not bring us canollis, and he sometimes made us draw using a carrot dipped in India ink?! I guess that made him artsy and eccentric! Anyway, great post! Though I will take Edison bulbs over fluorescent ones, given a choice!

    1. Thanks so much Janet! A carrot dipped in India Ink? Thank God you learned how to do that and spent how much learning how to do so? (eyes rolling outta my head!)

  31. Laurel, So glad you wrote this post. I had come across the 17 trends recently, and not much of it resonated with me as true. Thanks!

  32. Happy 7th Blog Anniversary, Laurel! I discovered you about three years ago and you have been my decorating muse, influencer, guru – just pick one! Every Wednesday and Sunday morning the first thing I do is take time to read your blog – even hubby knows to not disturb me till I have done so, haha. I have shared you with friends who also love you. You are funny, delightful, and so talented! Thank you for sharing with us. Take time to do something nice for yourself today. Warmest wishes for continued success!

    1. Oh Gail,

      These lovely words truly warm my heart. I appreciate your kindness so much! And, bravo to wise hubby, too. In fact, I have to stop this right now, to get ready for my ballet class!

  33. Followed the link to the Spruce, wherein another listicle of theirs described the 17 Influencers 2019 “obsessions.” At least 3 listed minimalism.

    1. “listicle.” haha! But then, I thought before I reveal my ignorance completely, I better look it up. And, it is indeed a word. Usually, with these types of posts, they’ll ask the “expert” to send in at least 2 or 3 so that they don’t have duplicates.

  34. Hi Laurel, Thanks for another wonderful post and for a trip down memory lane. Rocco Leonardis was a great person and teacher. His classes were always entertaining. I think the first time I had a cannoli was in his class.

  35. Oh Laurel. I laughed out loud. “It’s like saying, we’re going to take away the contentment trend.“
    This was a great post although all your links have sent me trailing through your blog and reading for hours AGAIN. It just never gets old and I learn so much with every post. I need to resist the urge to read every single link though if I’m ever going to get anything done on your blog days. Thank youuuuuuu!

  36. I’d go further against the mirrored furniture in the bedroom, Laurel. I saw recently a pic of a newly-refurbished bedroom, with a very large mirrored chest of drawers opposite the bed. You sit up in bed in the morning and the first thing you see is the unimproved self — frankly, I’ve got better things to look at.
    And perhaps the rejection of hygge means getting rid of the word — no bad thing as it’s over-used and usually means extra candles.

    1. Extra candles. haha. Very funny Gilly! I agree that the word, hygge is difficult. Particularly for most Americans who struggle with English, much less a foreign language.

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Hi, I’m Laurel, and Laurel Home is the website and blog for Laurel Bern Interiors.
I’ve been creating new-traditional interiors since 1988. The blog is where I share all.

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