After a 2 week holiday hiatus from my blog, I’m ready to jump back in. Happy New Year to you all! With the New Year comes the inevitable lists of trends for what we should be buying and what we should be ditching. First off, let me start by saying that I only buy things I love…if they happen to be a trend, great, if not, that’s ok too.
Secondly, who exactly decides what’s in and what’s out? I recently read an article on my domaine with just such a list. For fun, I thought I’d run through it and see where my house stood in the world of designer trends for 2017.
According to the article, brass is out. I have a few brass accents around my home which lend some warmth to an otherwise modern space. They are keepers.
Brass may be out, but I love the warmth that brass and gold bring to modern interiors.
Moroccan poufs are out too. While I love them, I don’t own one. I say hang on to them. It’s always great to have an extra seat and I love that they work in so many different settings.
This lovely can be found on Etsy.
Here’s one that will break the heart of every boho loving gal out there. Macrame is out! Say it aint so! I don’t own much macrame, but I love my table runner that adorns the bottom of the bed in our guest/ daughter’s room. I found this at my fave local shop, Porch.
Macrame table runner as bedding…
I’m a huge fan of talented people like Sara of the forest fern who weaves the most amazing wall hangings…each one a work of art. There will always be a place for these beauties!
Gorgeous works by Sara, The Forest Fern… photo The Forest Fern
Thank goodness pottery is in. I have a few of Kristen’s of global eye art pieces scattered around our home and hope to collect more. (She now has a gorgeous shop in Santa Ynez…check it out!) Pottery adds that down to earth touch in modern or traditional settings.
A tillandsia is right at home in this gorgeous pot by Global Eye Art
Lovely textural white vase by Global Eye Art…
Did you know that copper is out? Lucky for me I only own four Moscow Mule mugs which come in handy when I’m thirsty for an icy concoction. Sorry for all you people who may have copper sinks and the like! I love metals of all kinds and think they will always be classics…
A splash of copper from my Moscow mule mugs…
I know the beautiful inky blues of indigo are everywhere but to say they are out?? I don’t think blue will ever be out of style…
A beautiful blue indigo pillow is one of many to choose from at my friend Beth Dana’s shop…
Words and signs are supposed to be a thing of the past. I just received these script words from a dear friend and I love them next to my California light…
California sign and script words both from Mate Gallery.
White and cool gray tones are apparently no longer in vogue. Uh oh. I’m in trouble on that one. Color and wallpaper are IN. Somehow, I just can’t picture wall paper covering the walls of The Little Glass House. Don’t get me wrong. I love wallpaper…just not for me. I want to be able to change my mind on a whim. Like the time I decided to paint my first dining room a lovely shade of apple green. That would have been made difficult if I had to remove wallpaper first! Almost our entire home is bright with Benjamin Moore White Dove paint.
White will always be IN with me!
Reclaimed wood is OUT. The author of the article is sick of it and suggests we buy antiques instead. While I do own a few vintage pieces, I have a coffee table and large console made of the so called dreaded reclaimed wood. I love the organic feel of it and the fact that it is indestructible. This comes in handy when people spill things and put their feet up on my coffee table. No coasters necessary! Can you say the same about an antique? And not everyone can afford antiques. If you love reclaimed wood the way I do, I say just enjoy living with it. I’m going to continue spilling and propping my feet up…
This large piece from RH works perfectly as a display for some of my fave finds, and storage for art supplies, table linens, and candles…
I love my coffee table from Kathy Kuo Home.
Can you believe the fiddle leaf fig is passé? In fact, the author goes on to say that “indoor plants in general are an outdated accessory” and we should opt for fresh flowers instead. Why not both? I love my fig tree and have raised him since he was a wee twig. He is most definitely staying put as are the rest of my little green friends.
My fig might not be IN this year but he’s not going anywhere!
While art deco and high design avant-garde furniture are apparently an IN trend for 2017, I’m pretty sure they wouldn’t be right for me or for our midcentury modern abode. I prefer a mix of furniture that looks comfortable living in my home. Embellishments such as ruffles, pleats, and ornate carvings are also IN. That’s great if it’s your thing, but I have a simple aesthetic and it wouldn’t work for me…
The bottom line is, we can’t just change the contents of our homes based on what’s in and what’s out in the world of design trend setters (that would get mighty expensive). It’s fun to try new things, but be true to yourself and what you love. If you buy things you love, more often than not, your home will be an expression of you! And by the way do you think elephant tables will ever be IN? 😉
Who knows, maybe elephant tables will be a trend in 2017!
I loved this post! Crazy to think so many of these big trends are out – like indoor plants… no way! I think we need to decorate to make ourselves happy 🙂 I like to mix in a few trendy items with my stable set of furniture.
Julia – http://bunnybaubles.com
Thank you Julia. I feel the same way! 🙂
Not sure who “they” think relies on their advice! The average person is just getting around to copper, reclaimed wood and several of the other things you mentioned. I think one thing is very true, buy what you absolutely love and keep it as long as it feels good to you!
Amen, Linda! And thank you for taking the time to comment 🙂
Oh my gosh, I have so much to say about all this but I’ll try to condense my thoughts. 🙂
Trends are so trendy! Haha! I believe in the Marie Kondo theory that if something sparks joy for you, then you should have it. Plants can never be out of style as they add oxygen and if you believe in feng shui, they also help the good energy flow in your space. Poufs, indigo everything and multitudes of signs with words – yes definitely yuck (except your new words because they are different and very cool and not all chippy shabby looking).
And the new wallpaper trend – yikes! I am old enough to remember the nightmare of removing wallpaper and I will NEVER have it in my home again. And maybe it’s just me, but the flowery wallpaper I see everyone loving reminds me of a granny’s house (I’m a granny now so I can say that 😉
Great post, Elizabeth – happy new year! xo
(Oh and if reclaimed wood is over now, Restoration Hardware needs a new business model 🙂
I loved your comments Karen! I’m all about the joy…sometimes too many things bring me joy and I have to edit! Thank you for your thoughtful words and I’m still smiling about the RH comment!
Too bad we are free thinkers and will do want we want regardless of the trend setter. This was a great post.I missed you.
Thank you, Karen. It feels good to be back! And amen to free thinkers!! 🙂
“Too bad we are free thinkers and will do want we want regardless of the trend setter.”
Well said. Amen, sister.
I feel behind on the times because I want my space to be light and airy.
On another disappointing note I finally found a vender for those chairs in Canada and there is only 1 left!!!😩
Maybe you are AHEAD of the times! And so sorry about the chair situation. How frustrating. Did you try Greige Design in LA?
First and foremost I love your elephant table! 🐘Makes me smile every time I see it posted.
Your home is just beautiful! Everyone should go with want makes them happy! Can you imagine if every home looked like the new trend! 😳Dianne Ballentine
Thank you, Dianne. And of course you are exactly right! I just find it amusing when I hear things like “white is out”. Really?? To each his own and while I may love a particular style for myself, I can appreciate and love many other styles too! It’s our differences that make this world a more interesting place. 🙂
Hi Elizabeth,
Nice to meet you. First time reading your blog and seeing your wonderfully bright and airy home! Gorgeous! As long as there are clouds in the sky, white will be “in”.
Love what you said about “just be true to yourself”. The beauty of humanity lies within the diversity of each soul! If we surround ourselves with the ones we love and the things we love, our lives will be so full to overflowing, there will be no room for the so called “experts” who want all of us to have spaces that are cookie cutter. I truly believe trends are set each year to help retail companies reach sales quotas & increase profits. I can say that as I’ve worked in the marketing industry most of my adult life and companies only make money when customers continue buying new things. :-/
Let’s all just live with what we love! No trends, No ins or outs! Just those things that make us smile, lift our spirits, make us heart – happy, nurture our families and create a haven of rest and comfort – however they may look to each one of us. Agreed?
I’ll be visiting you frequently! Have a joy-filled weekend!
Hi Alisa! Thank you for your thoughtful comment. I think you are right about retailers and marketing. I think that’s why I like to think of myself as a stylist more than a decorator. Sure, it’s nice to have new things, but sometimes we already have wonderful things and just need to see them in a new way. When we bought a small beach bungalow in CT this past summer, I used most of the furnishings from our previous home…some of which were more than 15 years old. Placed in a different context, the old became new and more importantly comfortable!
Have a wonderful weekend!
Elizabeth
Switching styles with the wind will make the retailers happy but will it make the heart happy? Finding our sweet spot of “home” is all about listening to what speaks to you, not what speaks to consumerism and the philosophy of more is good and everything can be discarded for the new. I am done with that approach and with blogs that support it. Yours does not and I enjoy your good sense and your paying attention to what speaks to you.
Thank you for your wise words, Cheryl.Furnishings have to pass the comfort test for me now! That feeling of contentment when you step through your door just happy to be home surpasses any trend!
A lovely post, Elizabeth! Elephant tables will always be IN on my list and I’m not one to follow trends, ever. I wear what I love, I decorate with things that feel most like me. Following trends in home decor can be a dangerous thing to do (not to mention costly) and can create spaces that lack authenticity. I say trends are ridiculous 🙂
Thank you, Eva. I march to the beat of my own drum too and it has become increasingly apparent to me as I get older and wiser that one of the most essential things in both clothing and decor is comfort…both physically and emotionally! If it happens to look good too, that’s a bonus! 🙂
You do not know how glad I am you said, ‘and should we care’? I say….NO way, Jose! I am kinda tired of these ‘experts’ deciding after 1-3 years tops, that things are passé. I am sooo glad we are in a time when ALL is good, design wise. Seriously, I love your attitude – buy what you love, and it will look good. Really. I actually lovingly rebuked a Realtor.com article that did the same thing, saying shiplap, barn doors, etc was out. I think the public is not standing for that anymore. I am ok…not mad, but sooo glad you said all this!!!!
Love, a brass-loving, all things I love gal
Hi Lisa. You don’t know how many times I took the “should we care” out! I was worried I would come off sounding full of myself! I happen to love white, shiplap, and barn doors, all of which I have in my home. I know what colors I like. I don’t need to be told what the color of the year is! It’s a great big color wheel…why limit ourselves?
I could go on and on. 🙂 If I’m not trendy or cutting edge, people don’t have to read my blog or follow me on Instagram but I say design should be fun and we should try new things but only if it’s something you love, not because it’s IN for a nano second!
Thanks so much for your comment. You made my day! Best, Elizabeth
White is never out. To say so is silly. The same with plants. I never jumped on the bandwagon of macrame ( too boho ) reclaimed wood ( too rustic ) those poufs, nor the signage. I love them all in someone else’s home but they simply don’t suit my taste. I really don’t subscribe to the idea of Trends. What is in this year is out in a year, or two. Not many of us can afford nor want to redo our home every couple of years.
Thank you for your comments. I hope you realize that I wasn’t saying white was out! My entire home is white inside and out! 🙂 I was reading what some designer trendsetter wrote. I didn’t want to mention names because I was always taught if you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say anything at all. I think we should all march to oour own drum beat and respect each other’s design decisions.
Have a great weekend! E
I realize you were only talking about trends and that you truly believe one should decorate with what they love and gives them joy. I think we all like many different styles of design but have our own personal taste in home decor and fashion.if I offended you in any way, I apologize.
Hi Joanna. It was so kind of you to respond and clarify. I wasn’t offended at all! Thank you and enjoy your weekend!
Love your blog. Forget trends and don’t worry that retailers won’t be able to sell you new stuff! Live with what you love. I opened my own online home decor store partly because I want things in my house that are personal to me. I firmly believe that it’s so much more satisfying to make your own personal statement in your home rather than let retail dictate your tastes. We’re fortunate to have choices at all price ranges! Besides, I’ve got gutters and a large window to replace this year–no way can I afford to redecorate!
Thank you, Jean for taking the time to comment. I completely agree with you! But I do realize it’s the way retailers make money. I’m in the process of a bathroom remodel so I won’t be buying anything new for a very long time! 🙂 Have a wonderful weekend!
And I thank you for helping all of us discover talent and treasures that aren’t housed in Big Box retail!
Thank you, Jean. I love to shop local and of course Etsy is also a favorite resource. Have a great weekend!
Who are these fussbudgets that come up with these ever-changing rules of decor? While I am glad to see poufs, signage, and too much macrame hit the road your readers are right; you can’t go wrong if you stick with what you love. Just freshen it a bit each season. And I, myself, will never abandon my turquoise!
Thank you for taking the time to comment, Kathleen. I’m not sure who exactly is dictating the trends but it does seem like everything eventually comes around again.
I’m always going to love white (with some turquoise thrown in!) 😉
First of all, LOVE your home! And who is this person from My Domain (you link doesn’t work) declaring this stuff???!! I really don’t agree with many. Thanks for the beautiful photos.
Hi Mary Ann. Thank you for your comment. I actually read the post on My Domaine before Christmas I think. I jotted down some of the INS and OUTS and thought it would make a good post and produce thoughtful debate. It did!
I didn’t want to mention someone’s name because I didn’t feel it was a nice thing to do. I’m old school that way!
Thank goodness most of us seem to agree that we love what we love whether it is IN or OUT. 🙂
Hi again. Just wanted to let you know that I fixed the link to My Domaine. I left off the “e” ! It should work now. Sorry about that and thank you for pointing it out!
Hi Elizabeth, I love all I see here however I am not a steppford wife sooo I do what I want and decorate with what I like lol I love a mix of wood and reclaimed is kinda a favorite. I thank all the women and men who blog and have shown me the way to a not all store bought home,and mostly my husband who can build -weld -plumb,and do electrical to make our olddddd home beautiful not perfect but beautiful. thanks, k sunday
Thanks for taking the time to comment. I’m with you on only decorating with what speaks to you… trends be damned! Should we care? Nope. I’m happy with my white walls and reclaimed wood. My dad is wonderful at making furniture, sadly my husband is not! So lucky you! Best, Elizabeth
I’m always amused every year by the “what’s in and out” stories at the beginning of each year. Trends are just that and they won’t ever replace classics or good taste. So many of the “out” things on that list are classics in my mind. White walls, plants, reclaimed wood weren’t really trendy to begin with. And there are a lot of designers and bloggers that would be out of business too if everyone suddenly decided all the things on that list were out. I loved the fellow reader’s RH comment and I love your elephant table:).
Thank you for taking the time to comment, Christa. Thank goodness I don’t have to live by the trends. I’d have to scrap my entire house and start over!
My white walls are staying and so are my plants and reclaimed wood. And of course my elephant table! 😉
E
What’s “in” is what you love. No one can tell you what that will be. Who really follow s all these “starement:s” as if they were rules that matters ?
I completely agree with you, Marian! I’m always amused by the lists and how quickly they change. Comfort will always be my thing 😉 E
Where is the couch from?? It’s such a beautiful neutral color and style.
Hi Ashley! It’s The Cloud sectional from RH. 🙂