From the comments section of yesterday’s post about the DIY Draper chests:
I have a question for you…
I am currently redecorating my living room and dining room. I decided to go with a 70’s British bachelor pad inspired look. Sort of a well traveled look with some Kuba cloths and other ethnic textiles for art. Lots of navy and gray.
Then I looked at this Draper project and realized I am still in love with Hollywood Regency. I am not too far into things to make the switch. It’s just that things like x-benches, Chiang Mai (love and have been holding onto a piece for a while now), chevron, painted furniture, and so on…seem so done now.
Are we too exposed to design? I love my blogs, especially yours (very honest unabashed flattery), but are we over-exposing ourselves (Keep Calm Carry On)? This is something I have been wondering about for a while now. It seems like once I finally get to taking on a project (making ikat drapes now), it starts to seem cliche.
Do you think we are moving too fast with interiors, or do you think we are moving in the right direction where anything goes. Sort of like fashion, you can still wear your skinny jeans or flares. When you start a new project do you agonize over doing something new, or do you just go with what you love at the time even if the idea has been seen?
House Beautiful
Just two days ago I was brainstorming with my mom an idea for my apartment when I nixed the project we were discussing because I felt like it had already been done on blogs or in magazines. I think we both realized how silly that sounded as soon as I said it. Why wouldn’t I do what I really love for my space regardless of whether or not a version has been done before?
I feel like it’s especially tricky as a blogger. If I put up a picture of campaign dressers (which I love), I’ll usually get one or two anon commenters talking about how campaigners are so over and so boring to them. And here’s the tricky part – we look to blogs and magazines for inspiration, for fresh looks, so I can understand in a way why the commenters are annoyed. They’re saying – “Yup! Got it. We know campaigners are/were cool. But what’s next?”
NYT
Are we oversaturated with design trends as bloggers and blog readers? Totally. I have hundreds of blogs in my Reader and sometimes I feel like I’m seeing the same thing over and over again. So I’m there with you.
But I also think it’s easy to forget that most people in the world don’t read design blogs. Most people don’t really know about ikat or suzanis or lacquer or lucite the way we all do. It’s crazy to think that someone is discovering a Keep Calm poster for the first time today!
A neighbor stopped by my house a few months ago, noticed my ikat skirted console table and said – “I love your decorating style…but what is that funky fabric on your console table? Crazy!”
And then just a few weeks ago I was meeting with a client here in the city, who reads my blog and who is a blogger herself, and she told me how much she loves ikat but feels like she can’t have it in her home – like it’s too expected now or something.
NYT
Are we decorating for ourselves or for our design-conscious friends (or blog readers)? Every time I feel like some of the sparkle of decorating is wearing off, I realize it’s because I’m over-thinking it or worrying too much about what other people will or won’t like. Unfortunately I think that comes with the territory as a design blogger. Still, don’t let yourself fall into that trap. If one in a thousand visitors thinks your decor is dated because you love your Chiang Mai pillows and the Keep Calm poster, don’t sweat it. Guaranteed the other 999 will wonder where you got them.
Maybe it’s time we take a collective chill pill about decorating and see it all for what it is and should be – a fun way to express yourself and your style.
What do you say?
PS Have you been watching Portlandia? Shell art is OVER! Seems so appropriate for this post.
PPS All the Miles Redd images above feature ikat chairs, which I love and think I might go ahead and do in my house, even though they have been done before. :)
Everything is over exposed.
If everyone tried to keep up with trend, we all would be chaging our decor more often than we we do already. Ultimately it's all about what you love. Creating a space that you will be comfortable living in. You have to stay true to you.
Bravo. I love this post! As an aside, I felt this exact same way about anything and everything wedding when I was planning mine, but felt much more pressure to not be behind the curve because a wedding is more public than my house is. I will say that I am overexposed to design terms. I have no freaking idea what Hollywood regency means. And disgust with negative commenters is exactly why I cannot read A certain blog geared towards twenty-something would-be hipsters.
I find a good way to add balance is to ask the opinion of someone who NEVER reads a design blog (my husband) and listen to it.
And by the way, I have ikat pillows and a suzani and painted furniture (safety red!) in my house, and I love it all.
Couldn't agree more. Your home should be a happy place so fill it with design that you love, regardless of what others may think.
What a great post! And it's completely appropriate for bloggers of all kind, because when you are immersed in this world, you can let yourself get overexposed to EVERYTHING! I blog about my life and my daughter, and sometimes I see posts out there so similar to what I have been working on, but that doesn't mean I don't have my own spin on things. I mean, if my daughter starts walking and I want to blog about it, I am not stealing the idea…it is really happening in my life! And if I see someone else's post about their trip to the state fair, well I shouldn't consider not going because it's already been blogged about!
And PS: I don't think I ever comment here…but I love your take on design!
I think we are absolutely overexposed to design, but we're overexposed to everything–fashion, technology, whatever. I also think, like you pointed out, it's a small percentage of the population that's overexposed to design, so what feels "over" to blog readers still feels fresh and interesting to people who don't see it every single day.
What feels the most "over" to me are spaces where the homeowner has just tried to copy a bunch of trends that she's seen on other blogs. I think it's refreshing and exciting to see when someone really knows their OWN personal style really well and decorates accordingly. I feel like it's harder and harder to remember your own personal style when you're faced with hundreds of blog images every day.
I do not think we are overexposed…to design, I think we have a plethora of choices and that is the challenge to choose or design what is right for you or your client. The old adage of living with what you love never loses one's heart, however life propels us forward and to me, one eye looks back and the other looks ahead.
Choice, conviction and individuality are key.
Trust you own voice and choose for you…as we know you will – regardless of how you carry on!
pve
Great post! And, yes, we are overexposed. But you and I live it (when we design and blog–it is so much of our lives). But you're right, in this little community it is way exposed, but not for the public. Last weekend in a fabric store I asked if he had buffalo check in another color, and he said "you know, not many people know what buffalo check is."
Sometimes I think about proposing something because I think it is unusual and therefore maybe publish-worthy, but is it really best for the client?
you'll get a ton of comments on this one.
Wow, my words in big print, not sure how feel about that.
I feel I should take a moment and explain my comment yesterday. For years I have been telling myself I would start a blog. Now that I am in the midst of one more redecorating project (it's a sickness) I have decided to do just that. Hence, I feel compelled to try and bring something new to the table, and have been agonizing over it.
I did not want to take away from the "Draper" project or the clever blogger featured. On the contrary, after checking out her blog and seeing her lovely work, I realized I may be abandoning a style I still love.
I don't look at pictures of rooms on blogs and think, oh I have seen that before. However, as someone interested in posting myself, I need to find my own niche.
I hope this makes sense. I am not a negative person. I rarely post a comment, or read comments due to this. LGN is the first blog I look at in the morning, and is sort of like a safe little home. I thought it was an interesting place to discuss the matter.
Ask yourself this…Do you still love Suzanis? I sure do, but would I invest in one now as part of the currently Suzani-less masses? Probably not for fear they have been in too long and are sure to expire shortly. However, if I owned one it would still be displayed with pride.
Also, normal people decorate a room by buying a showroom at furniture store. They do it once, and are satisfied for years. We (those obsessed with design), are not normal…this is our thing…our gig. I don't know about you, but I think about decorating an unhealthy amount. So, I don't think we are decorating for Jane and John Doe, we are doing it for each other. Cause Jane and John want and over-stuffed recliner when they come to vist, and that aint happening in this house.
This is totally something I struggle with. Since I live in Brazil, I haven't had access to some of the items you mentioned: draper or campaign chests, ikat or suzani, or even just a great Craigs find. Therefore, despite seeing them on all the blogs, I haven't had my personal "fix" of them.
In truth, though, I love so many of these looks, so I don't let what other design junkies might think/say bother me too much.
In general, we DO need to chill and realize it's not all about the blog.
The realm of design blogs has been a blessing and a curse for me – they do add pressure to do something great that everyone will love, but for me personally, they have pushed me to appreciate many more styles than I did before.
I believe my style has evolved from being a blogger and blog junkie.
It is such a relevant topic that you have touched upon today..all of us who are design bloggers or design blog readers are indeed oversaturated with design trends…but that doesn't have to be a bad thing…if a particular trend is seen in too many magazines or blogs that also means it is something with a wider appeal…it is likely to be appreciated by a lot of people.the majority of people don't know about these trends and honestly couldn't care less…they would much rather leave it to their decorators….since that's the reason they hire us.It would be unfortunate if one has to forego what one loves and feels most comfortable with, just to be thought of as different. I say, stick with ikat if that brings a smile to your face everytime you look at it!!
I totally agree! We forget that most people are discovering these ideas for the 1st time and we are appealing to them not just other designers. Plus you want what you love around in your home…who cares what others say..As for Portlandia…"Stick a bird on it!"
I absolutely love this post. We write about design "trends" because we love them. And we love them for a reason. Some trends are so great, they will soon no longer be trends and become classics. Then will they be acceptable again? I think its best to push through with what you connect best with! But I have to agree with you on the other point. I just finished a project that has a big giant chevron painted wall, and I can just see the annon commenters now…
How many times recently have I thought to myself "I would love to do such and such . . but I'm not sure if it will photograph well for the blog." How stupid is that?! I really like to think I do what I love (or can afford) in our home, but there's definitely this added pressure if you're writing a design blog and feel like people are watching/judging/critiquing. Anyway, great post. And, totally agree–the majority of the world has no idea how crazy we all are nor do they care. They just want pretty spaces.
I really appreciate this post. I think that I personally will purposely NOT do something just because I think it is too trendy or overdone, even if I really like it. I think that is just as bad as doing something just because it is "cool" and I have been trying to get out of that rut and just do what appeals to me, no matter what it's "status." I think this applies to every area in life as well, not just decorating.
Well said.
great post! i totally agree with the people who are talking about individual style. so what if everyone uses ikat. the person who stands out will be the one who used it the best. the blogging community IS so small in comparison to the rest of the world. i only know one other person in my whole group of friends who writes a desgin blog. furthermore, how many people who read blogs can actually afford to run out and buy all new stuff every time the trends change? not many. i, for example, try to work with what i have (tons of family hand-me-downs and thrift store purchases) and incorporate small influences and changes as my style evolves. i have to use what i love because i simply cannot afford to buy something on a whim. i think most others are the same way. the result is a look that is totally unique to me versus someone who is throwing down a bunch of money copying what they've seen on a blog. (this doesn't mean i don't sit around dreaming and obsessing over what is new and fresh in blogland. i do!) great post! fun to see what others think about this.
"Maybe it's time we take a collective chill pill about decorating and see it all for what it is and should be – a fun way to express yourself and your style."
Love it!
Great post! I was the new blogger who did a post on the "Keep Calm Carry On" posters thinking that they were the next best new thing. But I was proud of the post and I really liked the posters. So I was honest with myself and my readers That is all that matters to me. Just today, me and Marianne at Haven and Home did a post on the new Anthro wedding gowns. I was not upset at all. I actually took that as a compliment. A well established designer (I'm totally not one) is having the same thoughts I have.
The bottom line for me is that if you do what you love in terms of blogging, decorating– or just anything in life, then you are staying true to who you are and what you like. That is all that matters!
love this post!!! im struggling with this very same issue now!!! what great timing you have!!
On another note….one thing that i am sick of seeing is white subway tile!!! good lord…talk about over it. Sure…it is a lovely choice and a fail proof option….and there are different variations (i.e. dark grout, honed textures, etc) but i want to see something that blows my mind. ya' know.
but…i totally agree with you about "if you love it….then who cares if it has been done a thousand times"!!! (just not subway tile!! lol)
So well said. I am going to take my design chill pill now and finish decorating my bedroom and family room with the things I love… even if they are so over. Best post I have read in a really long time.
Yes, but I don't care. I'm happy we're in a place where we can decorate with what we truly love and that is exactly what I've been seeing over and over on various design blogs. Maybe being overexposed isn't a bad thing…
Great discussion!!
I was wondering the same thing this week. I have used some sort of gray in my home in EVERY.SINGLE.ROOM. I can't help but wonder if gray is going to be SO out someday.
Someone recently commented on my twitter that painted furniture and big prints are so done. Well unfortunately I can really only afford painted furniture right now haha! So I do it and it makes me happy.
So to each their own! I always tell clients put in your home what makes you happy.
I, for one, and STOKED about the campaigner I scored at a thrift store the other day– it took me until the trend has "died" to find one! Painted navy blue, with reclaimed wood typography art above and thrifted ginger-jar lamps with an ikat-inspired fabric drum shades on top– it makes me smile. I think so much of what is being done now is really pretty, so who cares if it's trendy? I always prefer a collected look, and it's hard to recreate that every few months, so I will continue to buy what I love and love it even when it's "over."
Just last week I wrote a post about this topic. It seems like many of us are becoming slaves to trends and not spending enough time filling our homes with what WE love, not what will tantalize the masses. I recently read a comment on another blog that once a trend hits HGTV it makes her cringe. Are we becoming design snobs?
Great post!!!
Great post!! I'm a design blog reader and there have been so many new windows of ideas that have come my way because of reading the blogs. Regardless of been there, done that, what's the new thing. The art of thrifting for furniture and fun things has become a fun hobby! I've decorated my salon with quirky things and NOT matchy matchy furniture and my clients love the "fresh new" look. So it's true, 99% of folks don't know what Ikat is. I love seeing ideas that design bloggers write about and put my own spin on it.
I'm new to the blogging world. I don't know what hole I was living in, but at any rate, I love seeing all of these different ideas over and over again. My husband and I are still trying to find our style, so it helps us so much to see the same picture or ikat chair in a different room. I'm not a design wiz and truly enjoy the inspiration that I can get from the blogging world. And I am the person that as first introduced to ikat about a month ago! So thank you for all of the inspiration and please keep it up. I am in love with the blogging world!
No comment on the "are we design jaded" part of this post. I totally agree that we (as in design bloggers) are hyper exposed. But I had to let you know that yes, I'm watching Portlandia and that hipster/over skit is all I could think about when you mentioned campaign dressers. Incidentally, I don't care if they're over, I love them.
yes, i agree with everything! i currently just hate everything in my living room…and i think it's exactly because of the reasons you described…too much exposure to design blogs, and everything being the same. it's a little frustrating, as i want ALL NEW EVERYTHING right now…not good…oh well, i think you are right…comes with the territory…
I am a reader and not a blogger and look for inspiration. I absolutely believe that we are overexposed to design because we love it. That being said though whether blogger or reader we need to remain true to our selves. As one person said it is too expensive to keep changing things just because it is in. As Shakespeare said " To thine own self be true." With all the choices out there that maybe difficult. I recently had a discussion about Ikat and ssid that I have not been a fan. That was a trend awhile back and because my mother chose what I call the test pattern wallpaper for our living room during the orange, avocado, harvest gold era I run from Ikat. Admittedly the current Ikat is pretty and I might consider a pillow, but that is it. Also, I had a person come to my home to help with choosing colors and she asked me what my thought was about greys. I said that I was not absolutely opposed to it, but I believe in a few years we will know who changed their home because of it. I do not want to do it just becaue it is a trend, but because I like it. Do what fits your personality and don't worry about the Jones'
Great thought provoking post!
Thanks!
completely agree and well said! i have a "keep calm" poster in my bedroom and i love it. and you're right, some friends who come over ask me where i got it. do what makes you happy!
I've been design obsessed since I was probably 12 years old and in today's technology age, blogs, e-zines and magazines and television home shows we do see it all and alot of times we do see the same thing over and over and over again but most of the time the thing I'm seeing once again has been tweaked to make the style a bit of their own and that's what design is all about, there is nothing wrong with alot of people loving ikat or a suzani because it's not like it all looks the same, there are different colors and different styles of it and people uses it in different ways. As an interior designer one of the first classes I took was furniture 101 and quickly learned we've been using the same styles since Greek and Roman times but putting a spin on it. Do we as designers all have alot of the same elements in our spaces, sure but I read alot of blogs and each and every designer's space looks different. I love getting a chance to see how others live and how they make their space their own. And the commenters on here today are right when I have guest over 9 out of 10 of them have never heard or seen a campaigner dresser no less a bright cobalt blue one like I have in my office! I've just learned as a blogger there are always going to people who are going to be design snobs and are going to tear spaces apart but I think those type of people probably see the negative in everything and they must be the lucky one to have found a store that only sells them one of a kind never seen pieces!!
Great post Jenny. My husband is convinced most projects I do are only for a blog post! I think it's important to decorate with something you love and don't need to swap out when then next best print or fabric comes along.
The most important thing in design as in life- is to be happy for yourself, first! Everything else will fall into place. And I wouldn't even worry about the negative comments, because negativity will always be out there, with anything in life. I believe it's most important to stay positive, do what you love, decorate how you want to live- and the rest will fall into place! great post, because it's so important to take a moment every now and then, and focus on what's really important- you!
Such a great post! I often think that unless I had a secret workshop to crank out original fabrics, paint colors and furniture designs than I am a copycat. I love magazines and design blogs. I just borrow a little of this and a touch of that and hopefully come up with a bit of an original combo? I say choose what you love and make your home:)
Hi,
I agree for the design obsessed we are so quick to move on to the next thing. Frankly it's exhausting!I love to see something new it's exciting and inspiring but the blogs that are the most inspiring to me… are the one that truelly reflect the persons style and vision. I don't care if I see a piece that has been "overexposed" if it's something that makes that person happy you can tell. Keep up the great posts.
Andrea
I absolutely loved this post. Thank you so much! I think that blogs are just a stepping stone into the direction we want to go in. You make your interior space you with the things you love.
Love this post! I too have over 100 blogs in my reader and sometimes I do see the same thing over and over again, but often when I do see the same image more than once I notice something different about it every time I see it.
I love decor/DIY blogs, while I might not love every fad or style, I can pull aspects that I do like and incorporate them into my own home. And even though something might not be my style or taste I can appreciate a well put together room, and I can see the beauty in it. I can admit that reading decor blogs has really opened up and help me define my personal style. so thanks to you, and other designers/bloggers like you for providing inspiration and direction for those of us that decorate and DIY as a hobby!
Great conversation. I think you echoed every bloggers dilemma.
Amen.
Well… I do think we are totally over exposed.
When I started my apt a few years ago, something like putting an ikat cushion on a lucite z chair seemed SO NEW AND EXCITING TO ME!!! I actually still think its pretty cool. Painting the walls silver seemed like an awesome idea(Did I know gray was going to take over the world? NO!), and black imperial trellis!!! WOAH, I thought I was so outside the box!
But then 2 years later, when my home was in Rue last month, I was seriously WORRIED that people were going to rip me for being a trend hoarder…
What was I supposed to do? Throw everything out because it became overplayed in the blogosphere?
The only (outloud) criticism I got for overplayed design was on my HIcks pendants in the kitchen… When I bought them last year I had only seen 1 photo of a room using them… now they are EVERYWHERE.
Should i throw them out? OBVIOUSLY NOT!
And almost 99% of people that come over have NEVER SEEN THEM or heard of them, and think they are kind of weird/cool looking.
So yes we are overexposed. But I think the trick is to do things that feel fresh to you. If you love it, it wont stop being awesome.
such a great post Jenny. I am FINALLY using ikat in my home. forever I thought it was too common, but then I really thought about it… I love it, so who cares. It's going in my home.
I'm one of the people just discovering "Keep Calm" and ikat – and it's so disheartening to hear that it's "over." Who cares? I will just Keep Calm and do my own thing.
Thank you for the post!
Jenny you said it best, "Maybe it's time we take a collective chill pill about decorating and see it all for what it is and should be – a fun way to express yourself and your style."
Hats off to you on a wonderfully honest post!
The nature of technology, we love it but it does saturate. That being said, if one complains about overexposure than turn off the computer, put the magazine down, go outside…tons of inspiration :)
P.S. I live in FL and shell art will never be over!
I complete understand Katy B. I think about design way too much and the result is a concerted effort to keep my focus on the direction I'm taking with our home. My litmus test was a recent encounter with my MIL. I told her my plans and she thought they were "boring." I'm still really excited and think the house will really shine when all is said and done. Know thyself, I guess. Great post! xoxo
I don't normally comment on your blog but I had to this time.
I have been contemplating using a cowhide rug in my bedroom (I think they're cool) but then decided against it because I see them on so many blogs. I worry about using items that are trendy because I want my bedroom to be timeless. IE…I don't want to have to re-decorate after it starts to look dated.
At the same time, I realized I'm the only one I know that keeps up with design trends. So anyone that would ever see my house would never know if my cowhide rug was cool or dated.
It just tells me that I should just go with what I love and not worry what my friends think.
How can you get tired of something you love?
This is a great topic. It's so hard not get overloaded with design ADD. But I totally agree with what you said. I always try to remember when I get stressed making decisions that this is for me and my family and no one else.
wow, you really wrote this so well. something i could not have put in words- but totally agree with. i love that you said we all need to take a chill pill! xo
Very well said!!!
Amen. It really is easy to forget how much we design bloggers get exposed to that 99.9% of the population has no idea about! (c: I say love what you do and do it often…no matter what!