your hate in a nutshell- part 1
Wednesday, September 15, 2010 at 1:41PM well first of all only like 4 of you posted links to pics of your disgust.
so i had to do more work. fart on all of you for that.
secondly a few of you talked about how lots of design bloggers are mormon.
i did a pie chart for you:
i don't know what this has to do with design trends that you hate but ok.
i did think it was kind of a weird phenomenon.
i don't even know what a mormon is except mormon dudes do it with a lot of women at one time.
so good for them.
anyway..
most of you hate the same shit as me.
and maybe hate is a strong word.
maybe what we really mean is we are just sick of looking at certain things.
after reading all of your comments yesterday (160 and counting!!!)
i started to feel kinda sorta bad.
i mean, we really and truly look at design and decor related stuff all day long. so we see everything.
a lot.
everywhere.
two comments from yesterday put into words what i was feeling:
"I think most things can be done well or poorly -- it's all about context and style. The problem is that decor blogs allow content to be recycled and disseminated so quickly that everyone can have the same stuff, the same "look," at the same time. As a result, most rooms that appear online lack substance and they lack heart. But they make pretty pictures. I was commenting to Raina the other day that I'm sick to death of everything I see online. The only solution is to change the direction of the discussion, and to be honest about the spaces we really want to live with."
erin @ design crisis
and..
"I also disagree with our desire to be constantly entertained/ inspired by something new -- that thinking actually leads to the disposable, trendy cycle you claim to hate. You can't hate the beast and expect to be fed by it.
If you're uninspired, go outside. Go to a museum. Read a book. Quit tapping the same well. Myself included."
shauna cross
in short..we are fucking ourselves.
so what do we do?
stop reading blogs?
can't do that.
stop being so judgemental?
we can try i guess.
take up a new hobby?
maybe.
in any case i think we have to separate the classics from the one hit wonder trends..
like those FUCKING BUS STATION SIGNS!!!
so lets do that:
keep calm and fuck off...
i didn't include this one in my original post bc i figured it was a no brainer.
plenty of vitriol surrounding this one.
i think worse though are the knock offs like that little green one bottom right:
"get excited and make things".
hang this, hang yourself.
if it's the color of the poster that you seek go get some paint and paint a canvas and then hang that.
original.
shabby chic:
elements of the shabby chic style are a classic to me but when you throw it all together in one room and the whole thing is just so overly feminine i just think it sucks butthole.
a little more modern with cleaner lines and some masculine touches keep the look fresh and pretty:
poufs:
i still love a pouf.
i can't find anything bad about them.
maybe i don't see them everywhere and that's why.
i see them a lot, don't get me wrong.
but they are functional and add texture and visual interest to a room.
i tend to like them in neutral colors more than orange, purple or pink.
i group poufs with these:
i am slightly on the fence about them.
i think they are a classic but maybe we need to give them a rest for a while or stop with the cheap knockoffs in trendy finishes and find a cool, unique vintage one on ebay or something:
big ass clocks:
i'm gonna have to agree here.
these are like the bus signs to me.
graphic for graphic's sake.
not original.
you also talked of phrases you hate hearing on every single blog.
i mentioned the word "rad".
here are some you mentioned:
"pops of color"
"swoon"
"lurve".
ok, i wouldn't be me if i didn't offer up some alternatives.
so how about,
"crayola moments"
"fuckness!"
and
"fart-tastic"
go ahead, use them!!
crafty chic:
i guess the idea of diy crafts is that you don't want them to look diy.
mirrors leaning against the wall:
i got no problems with this.
you try hanging that big fucking thing.
foo dogs:
yeah. no.
tiffany lamps:
were these ever good?
they belong in this type of decor:
arts and crafts.
or as i like to call it,
decorating out of your ass.
cluttered coffee tables:
i agree to a degree.
mine is covered with books but it's huge and there is still plenty of room for drinks and feet propping.
we used to eat meals at ours too but now that we have a kid meals are eaten at the dining room table.
only on special occasions or pizza nights do we eat around the coffee table and books are easy to move.
but there is a fine line between good clutter and bad clutter.
the above examples are walking that line.
chevron:
to me this is like suzani or ikat.
a classic that needs to be presented in small doses.
the black and white chevron is a little overdone.
but it's so graphic and eye pleasing.
i might be alone here but i think the diy chevrons are actually better than the mass produced ones from say west elm or the other buttstores.
they seem unique and cool.
moss balls:
ahhh-greeed!
the domino look:
i wanted to agree with you here.
and i tried.
but i went through some domino images and i couldn't find anything i completely disliked.
except maybe the antlers in the top photo.
but the rest is still rully rully good looking.
maybe this one:
change the wallpaper and the clusterfuck art and i love it still!!
chalkboard paint:
agreed.
this is tired.
and dusty.
restoration hardware:
all that beige blandness is whack.
why do they do this?
why can't they style it with other shit that isn't brown?
hipster weddings:
while i think i enjoy the naked wedding picture the others seem a little too trendy.
but i think, unfortunately, i am a hipster.
so...
what?
antlers:
agreed.
and while were at it..
big, fucking letters as decoration.
burlap as viable fabric choice:
we have quadruple offenders present here:
burlap with WORDS!!
sisal.
hide.
hide ON TOP OF sisal.
orchid.
i'm gonna have to concur.
burlap is so ballard 2003.
flatscreens over the fireplace:
look.
next to my husband my tv is my best friend.
that shit is a fact.
i would argue that most people put their flatscreen over their fireplace bc there is no other option.
i mean where the fuck else are you gonna put that giant, wall-raping square?
that said, if you have options the fireplace should be the last option.
but it's way better than this dumbass choice:
that shit is just dangerous and stoopid.
chiang mai dragon and imperial trellis:
i don't hate either one.
but maybe lets just stop talking about it.
same with this one.
gray:
i love gray.
it's such a great neutral.
it will never really be "out" entirely.
i just think we need to begin to use it a little more unexpectedly.
i think the key to everyone loving gray walls again is to pick the right gray.
easier said than done.
and i do agree, it is everywhere.
the cheap looking designer lines for target:
i have to agree on this one.
i was less than impressed with these two.
wellies/boots under a table:
i really don't have a problem with this so long as it is cold outside or rainy, they are by the door, and you actually wear them.
if you are propping your boots up as decor than you are an asshat.
white parsons desk + ghost chair:
there's a fucking maelstrom of parson/ghost combos out there.
notice all the offenders present:
poufs.
inspiration boards.
hides...
design sponge-y ugly piece of furniture makeovers:
i guess the bottom line is an ugly piece of furniture is an ugly piece of furniture.
agreed.
books arranged by color:
soooooo done with this.
zebras and cows:
love. them.
believe they are the least of our decor worries.
in fact i suggest you learn to love them.
i have one and they are soft and they take a ton of abuse well.
adler style:
i personally have never had an adler moment.
not a fan of the happy, preppy chic.
but i don't think it's overdone.
wall decals:
massive hate.
cole and son's woods wallpaper:
i still think it's cool but i agree that it's EVERYWHERE!!
can we at least stop using it to create a theme room?...
and for shitsake no antlers on it...
ok folks...
that's a lot of posting..
so i am going to continue this scientific experiment tomorrow.
i hope you see that this is all in good fun.
observations are ok, and discussions are encouraged.
but let's try to be respectful.
what have we learned so far?
Reader Comments (121)
What have we learned so far? That MFAMB is fart-tastic!
(and I'm glad that I'm not the only one who counts their TV as a best friend)
Very well done.
Loved this. Except for the giant letter and the gray thing... only because I JUST did that in our bedroom... but ours is awesome, not crappy. :)
A+, Jenny. I actually enjoyed some of these looks, so I think I learned what I really dislike about them is the designer's/owner's/poster's attitude about their spaces. I can accept that a Parsons desk and ghost chair may be your personal style, but please... don't act like you're the first person to think of it (unless you are) or that it makes you better or more chic than the rest of us.
Love your blog. I sort of loved you at first, then got offended, then loved you even more (especially compared to the blandness / regurgitation / oversharing of feelings out there). There were a lot of good / unexpected ideas in these things at one point but they are all just overexposed. I don't hate the Domino look (except for the uber-trendy items) because they try to show how people really live. I think that is my big lesson from MFAMB -- to decorate the house the way I really live while still incorporating new ideas every now and then.
I didn't know we were supposed to learn something...fuckballs, i learned that!
i love hipster weddings. i'll admit the mustache thing is getting a bit old, but i hope hipster weddings never go away. especially when the alternative is "traditional" weddings.
First I need to comment on your ability to like think of a concept and google the perfect picture of it. Like finding 98 parson desk/ghost chair combinations. That's magic like.
Also I didn't realize my hate for so many things until you told me to hate them. Good for you and expanding my mind.
I'm putting tree decals in Plankton's room. I think that's like a double offense. The plan was for real birch trees with fabric leaves. The plan died when I got fat and B got lazy.
I also have to seriously agree with teh hipster weddings. Half of them I don't even think there is an actual wedding...just a photoshoot with benches and wood and shit.
You are fart-tastic. Cannot wait for the part 2 commentary When are you getting your own show? Who do we need to call?
You are the best! And I am sorry that not enough people provided you with links to the offending trend images. You definitely had to do a LOT of work to post all those images above. We are lazy, and you are not. Which is why we love you.
(And thank you for using some of my suggested trends too!)
Maybe next week, to counter-balance all the design hatred, we could all comment with new decor ideas that we DO like, and then you could do a post on that. (....and then everyone could copy those ideas and turn them into over-used trends that we hate!)
Or we could give pics of stuff that we love from our own homes (whether it is something "original" or a cliche that we still love (ahem, starburst mirrors)), and everyone else could tell us how much we suck.
Anyway, those are just my ideas.... Love your blog!
This was awesome. Here are some more hates for me...decoraters who put 3 things in a room and call it decorating.
This looks like a dorm room inspired by IKEA and this person actually gets paid to do this! And accolades! I don't get it.
See 2nd & 3rd picture:
http://www.fabulouskblog.com/2010/09/wow-factor.html
And bloggers who have zero content but only exist to prop themselves, their business, and their friends businesses up.
See link above. Enough already with linking EVERY SINGLE DAY. We get it - your friends! Geeks.
hello? Eames shell chairs in EVERY SINGLE DESIGN PHOTO?
Awesome roundup! Like the comment said the important thing is to not regurgitate everything you see but to take elements you like and make it your own. Surprisingly this is a new concept to some people. Strange huh?
I couldn't believe all the hatin' on design bloggers too. Hurt my feelings a little bit honestly. JERKS! Let's see how good your blog is, no one ever said their word on interior design was god. Get over yourself!
wow...this is one big ass nut! (in regards to your blog title) I actually like some of these things but yes; it does get tiresome to see if you see it time and again. The white painted twig mirror looks like tampons that someone stuck around it.
That's alot of hate.
And a great discussion.
xo xo
You are effing brilliant. I am a double offender - antler owner (but mine are metal) and John Derian for Target enthusiast... I have no regrets about either! But I pledge allegiance to the fart that I will never, ever let a set of furry balls into my apartment unless they are fuckballs or belong to a dude.
I learned that chevron is more than just the oil company and that zebra and cowhide rugs take alot of abuse (although I still don't really like them). I also learned what a pouf was and that it's okay if I keep my boots out as long as I wear them (thank gah cause they're out all winter long).
I already knew that you are a fabulous blogger!
Wow, you really have a lot of passionate hate for inanimated objects :)
With the exception of sisal and those garden stools and poofs (which I have never liked from the outstart b/c they seem completely counter functional to their intention of softness underfoot, additional seating and comfortable seating respectively) I pretty much love everything you've listed here.
If i could live in a house full of giant typography, that woodsy wallpaper, chalkboard walls, leaning mirrors and go to lots of hipster weddings, I'd die happy.
I agree with every last thing you said because you are bra-zilliant and I have incredible taste in friends.
P.S. I returned my John Derian feather tray to Target two days ago. Just wasn't feelin' it.
Maybe this will make for some well-thought out design. The thing is, there is no such thing as a completely new or original idea. Somewhere, someone has done it before...and I couldn't agree more with Shauna Cross's comment.
I hope people realize that it's about putting together a space that you love, that represents you, not copying some generic photo from a pottery barn catalog. (OR a blog)
Your blog is thrilling to read, but I'm always scared shitless I'll be called out for not doing something "cool" enough. People are effing mean. So what if I like my comments sugar-coated just a little bit?
I know, I should go boohoo about my hair-calf rug, my sunburst mirrors, my white orchid and my garden stool, right? Thanks for handing me my box of tampons. Wah.
That being said, you are RAD and I LURVE you for speaking your mind. Glad someone does it.
P.S. I think FART-TASTIC has now been overused too, just in the comments to this post.
BTW, could someone please explain what domino decorating is? I looked at the pics, but I'm not seeing the similarities except maybe pillows on couches, books on coffee tables, etc.
Please help me!
i LOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE moss balls!!! love love lovethem.. and most balls
...and my chalkboard fridge... it makes my life easier, it's as simple as that. (and canot afford the one i really want)
(i tried to comment this but I think it went to another post) ... and a lot of the stuff on here. yeah a lot of it's overdone but i still like it.
anyway, really interesting reading all the hates... i guess it's with anything... you have to do what you love and screw what anyone else thinks.
and yeah, as bloggers/ blog readers... we're getting seriously oversaturated with images. trends, etc.. we're over them before they've even hit mainstream. i have clients who are into stuff that's so old to me but if they love it, they love it...
in general it seems like everyone seems to hate stuff once they've seen enough of it that it can be considered a trend. and that's going to happen to pretty much everything.
Just have to say, Jenny, that I've really enjoyed these two posts. Definitely got me thinking. I've never purchased items because they were trendy, but because I loved them. That said, I have a number of these offenders in my house and I'm good with that. The two articulate comments you chose to highlight kind of say it all for me, I'm a bit wary from all of this self-imposed design over exposure, maybe it is time to take a walk, read a book, or just do a little bit of nothing...in between reading your blog posts, that is. ;0)
haha loved ms.bright's comment too. i feel the same way.
i'm cheerful, i get excited easily, i say "love" a lot & generally don't trash talk too much... i'm so probably 1 of the bloggers ppl are making fun of... hahah
One of your Best post ever! I really enjoyed it! I was only offended a few times. I have a D*S before and after. Keep up the good work!