I'm hoping there are people who are taking the article seriously - very seriously, and that they will find the need to replace their suzani pillows with...ummm....orange formica.

They can then sell me their suzanis - cheaply, of course, because they're yesterday's news & no longer valuable.

Mooncat:

After Allison finishes sending you her hopelessly-out-of-date pillows, maybe she could send me her David T. Smith paper towel holder, over which I've been drooling and lusting ever since she first posted it!!

I suspect neither of us should hold our breath.

Arlene

The day I take decorating advice from a guy pushing orange formica and corian, is the day, well that I give up my hide rug (thank god it's not zebra style....ummm it's giraffe) :OP

I'm with them on the huge sleigh beds. Sleigh beds in good proportions (ie antiques) are lovely. 20' monsters....bleh They scream McMansion to me (I prefer VicMansions...as in victorians) :o)

I confess to being totally tacky: I heart suzanis and I heart a smidgen of animal print (totally faux -- I am vegan, after all!). I would l-o-v-e to carpet my upstairs hallway in leopard. Yum yum! And it would probably do an excellent job of hiding little children stains ....

I'm not a granite gal but I have seen some achingly fabulous granites over on the Kitchen forum, and I have the fondest memories of the sleigh bed my younger brother had when we were wee ....

I have some branches of red coral in my bookcase and a coral beaded pillow which makes me happy (I got it after we moved to the States from Australia, even though the Great Barrier Reef is hardly red!) and has made me happy for nearly a decade.

In our den we have kuba appliqued as well as raffia cloth kuba and mudcloth -- does that mean I am on my way out (again)? Probably. But I love them and for me, they hold great sentimental worth. They'd definitely be on my (too-long) list of things to grab in a fire (after the children, the pets, the photos, etc.).

But the puff-piece did have a kernel of truth to it: we've all seen things which have been overdone to death! Like, "if I see one more X I'm going to gag." And for those designers it was those items. I could name a thing or two I would happily not see again, and I bet my home holds pieces I love which some of you find tired.

But now I am off to my ridiculous kitchen (it has a "no-no" appliance in it) to make ridiculous cookies (somebody [me] is going to need elastic in her pants soon!) with my favorite four year-old accomplice.

I was surprised by a few of the comments. Marble for kitchen countertops? Marble is a fairly absorbent stone and not at all what I would consider a good material for countertops.

And just exactly how do elaborate curtains and drapes cause poor air quality?

I've heard of suzanis, but only within the last year and only in one catalog. Here I was thinking they were a new trend!

I admit that I try to steer clear of decorating trends. Unless the trend is something that I have been looking for (waiting for?), in which case I snap it up. Mostly, I don't want the expense of trying to keep my house "updated" to the newest trend.

I like older furniture and styles, so I tend to stick with those. My study is done in the vibe of "1940's newsroom." My living room and dining room will be, some day, 1920's bohemian artsy vibe. Not recreations, but using the styles of the day to influence the choices I make. Since everything has been out of style for a while, yep, it's going to look "dated." But it will be an environment that I will feel comfortable in.

camlan: Marble has been (and is still being used) for countertops for centuries - mostly in Europe but also here in the States. For lots of info on marble countertops head over to the Kitchens forum. There are lots of people there who have them and love them.

Authentic suzani's are featured in the latest Pottery Barn catalogs. At least they're not knockoffs!

I am THIS close to ordering some suzani pillowcases. Seriously. I have several Tibetan silk embroidered pillows which I LOVE, but haven't been able to find more of, & would love them for my office. The suzani's are similar, & in colors that would suit my office better than the Tibetans.

And who knows how long it would have taken me to discover them if I hadn't found out that they're dated!

Thank you, LA Times Style Gurus! :-D

The only trend I wish death upon is the obsession w/ being trendy (a new phenomenon, thanks to HGTV & the internet).

Back when I was young, it's enough to be comfortable and surrounded with things you love (& can afford). It's okay to have old furnitures, old cabinets, old appliances. A trend cycle used to be like 20+ years, now the minute I can afford a trend (i.e see it at our local Target), it's already on the way out. In fact, being seen at Target is the KOD (kiss of death) for any trend. I collected Adler pottery and when it turned up as tooth brush holders at Linen & things I know my prized possessions are on the way out. :-( I found these very cool bamboo chippendale chairs from the dumpster & dragged them home so I can lacquer it. Next thing I know Adler & Kelly W. were doing it and I thought -'hey, cool!! I'm being ahead of the trend". Now it's out out out and I haven't even come around to paint it yet :-D By the time I finally do it, they will probably be back in style.

I didn't even know Suzani was ever in style. Yike -- where were I when that trend pass me by? :-*

I meant to add to one of my posts that my Mom and Dad put in SS appliances back in 1959~does that make it *old* or does he mean dated? I doubt if *he* knows what he means. As for granite, it's been used in estate homes for years, as has marble, usually for countertops where baking is being done. I've heard there's nothing like it for rolling pie crust since it stays cold.

My Mom also had pink formica, pink being a popular color of that era. But orange? I'm just not envisioning that in anyone's home. But then again, i'm no trendsetter, or 'into' trends. ;o)

I think the Suzani is pretty. Never saw it before!

"New complete sets of furniture. Nothing is worse than a room that looks like you pointed to a page in a catalog and said, "I'll take it all!"

Thank goodness this is out! Now everyone will stop thinking I'm poor, and believe I chose old mismatched pieces on purpose.

lol Thanks for the laughs. I've been at the doctor's office all afternoon and it was nice to come home to this.

I think whatever they say is on the way out, we should stock up on. No one else will be looking for them or have them. We'll be different than everyone else!

I honestly had no idea what a "Suzani" was....... or where Uzbekistan was for that matter when I was looking for a "different" kind of pillow for the chairs. Anyone who has seen pictures knows I like "different."

As far as the LA Times list, granite and marble are here to stay (although I like several counters used in a kitchen, not just one). I don't want more than 1 SS appliance in my kitchen, but don't care what you do in yours. Same for heavy draperies, leather club chairs, fake anything, CFLs, red coral, etc but I love my walnut sleigh bed. Actually, the room is so large that the bed could to be larger...but it's not going anywhere.

Allison I drooled so much over your Suzani pillows that, after spending WAY too much time researching & gazing & drooling some more & editing, I ordered 2 pillow cases; can't wait!

I wonder if mine will come with that lovely brown wax seal.

Hey weren't the countertops in the Brady Bunch house orange formica??
And Allison- you put us all to shame with your decorating- I drool over every pic you post AND- your kitchen is my all time favorite.

Thanks! That made my day.

lol Moonkat, where did you order yours? I've been trying to find two pillows for the sofa w/out luck. Don't think I want more Suzanis...one of those "know it when I see it" deals.

bellaflora, don't worry about your upper end Jonathan Adler -- it still goes for good money and is a good investment, IMO. There's a well-known difference between the "for Target" lines and the real lines of, say, Graves, Mizrahi, Starck, etc...

sorry, as soon as i saw them pushing 'orange formica', i lost all respect for their taste (and agenda)...

allison I think that perfect pillowcases are as hard to find as perfect chairs! I need to get back into sewing (yah right, I REALLY need another project!)

I ordered my suzanis from Uzbek-Craft.com. It looks like they have some nice choices, and reasonable prices. Where did you get yours from?

Here is a link that might be useful: Suzanis

OF the whole article, the part that got me was "real coral out,now, turquoise, that's in - I saw a whole wall of turquoise I would just love to use in a home" Honey, if I had enough turquoise for a wall, that stuff wouldn't be wasted on a friggin wall, I'd be dripping in it every time I went out!:)

terry, with enough turquoise for one tile, maybe, and daydreams of Santa Fe....

As soon as I saw "orange formica" I knew that the article was written with tongue firmly planted in chic, oops, i mean cheek.

Bigdtc, Santa Fe at this time fo year is magical. We were just there on Saturday wandering around the Plaza, through the gorgeous LaFonda Hotel where locals and skiiers were settling in for evening cocktails, down Canyon Road, having dinner at Tomasitas. There are tiny white lights in all the trees at night and the air smells faintly of damp pine trees (it snowed again the other day) and pinon smoke from kiva fireplaces. You should come visit it.
Lynn

Well they don't actually complain about Suzanis, just FAKE suzanis. I have seen fake suzanis...never knew they were a "fake" of something, and never knew they had a name.

The whole coral thing must have begun and ended before I had my morning coffee. I never noticed it.

I figured stainless appliances were out when that is pretty much all they had in stock at Lowes. White was a special order!

I'm so relieved that granite is out, since I never got it. I am ultra hip with my laminate countertops...don't you all wish you could be me?

I've never been a "trendy" person because to me the most beautiful houses are those that have individuality and show the passions of the owner. The items that I listed are those that I personally would not be comfortable with in my home because they don't make me feel good. I think I was hoping that in this thread people would voice what they personally don't like that they've seen too much of and which doesn't go with their personal style. It's not to disparage others who have different ideas but rather to find out what people on this forum happen not to like for themselves. I think almost anything can look good, including elaborate window treatments, bare wood floors and granite. What bothers me is that when it becomes a trend everyone jumps on the bandwagon and you end up with many cookie cutter homes, and often they are not done with the finesse and style they could be because people don't relate to the things they are putting in their homes; everything is there because it's "in" and it's what everyone else is doing. That to me is bad, trendy and soulless decorating.

Moonkat, I bought mine on Ebay - where else!? I see they only sell in pairs now, for the most part. Prices have gone up since I purchased too. Congrats on your purchase. Be sure to post when you receive!

Here is a link that might be useful: uzcraft777

Thanks allison - & I'll be sure to post a pic of my package too, especially if has, um, brown stuff on it! ;-D

Oops mildredpots - I skimmed the article too quickly, & I missed the part about it being fake suzanis that are out.

Does that mean I'll be trendy when mine arrive?

I was envisioning a moose-size sleigh bed, but the one in the article doesn't look bad at all, IMHO.

I think sleigh beds are classic, too, but my friend found one with wrought iron inserts because she didn't want one that looked like a "church pew". Hers is also queen size so not too imposing.

I would agree on the heavy drapes. They do collect dust and do need to be cleaned. I think that's what they meant in the article. I prefer a room to be bright and let in light vs. with the heavy drapes.

I've always loved the look of sleigh beds, but with a husband who's 6'3 it's not really an option.

Daisy-
My sleigh bed has no foot board, our first home had a very small Master bedroom so I purchased one that the footboard is actually below the mattress so we could sit at the foot of our bed to put on our shoes. I'm only 5'2'' but I often sleep on my belly with my feet hanging off the bottom of the bed- I can understand why your husband wouldn't want one.

With all respect to ingrid vc and flyingflower, who wanted this to be more of an "I don't like this" kind of thread, we also had one of those a few weeks ago. I believe it was about design trends.

If people want to add those things, they obviously can. We've been down both roads before.

Parma is right...the "things we love to hate" theme has been quite done lately. I sometimes wonder if this growing anti-trend sentiment is a backlash arising from a collective sense of economic restraint.

"Well they don't actually complain about Suzanis, just FAKE suzanis. I have seen fake suzanis...never knew they were a "fake" of something, and never knew they had a name."

I think they mean a printed design instead of real embroidery, in the same vein as a bedspread or duvet made from fabric printed to look like a quilt. It looks cheap.

But authentic, fine handwork never goes out of style, imho. (at least, it doesn't at my house)

I could care less about the actual trends, but honestly? What I could stand to see "go" is the term "Spa" or "Retreat" as it pertains to master bedrooms and baths.

I honestly had to stop looking at Rate My Space because I got so sick of seeing the terms "Spa-like" and "Master Retreat". (The rooms themselves may have been gorgeous, but I couldn't even get that far!

And "pop", reno_fan, don't forget that one!

I'm with you renofan- if I want to go to a spa, it sure as hell is not going to be in my house where I can hear my kids bicker or where my husband can ask me "where's the remote?" - it seems on HGTV these days everything is "spa-like" and it almost makes me laugh. There is nothing wrong with having a nice new bathroom, or master bedroom, but some of ones they show on HGTV are just ridiculous. I was just watching one the other night where one couple in Fla. had an outdoor bedroom in addition to their indoor one. It was very pretty, but the most ridiculous and impractical things I've ever seen. The husband was even taqlking about cooking eggs and bacon on the gas grill that was behind the curtain next to the bed. Could not stop laughing at that one.

What I'd like to see gone ASAP are most fakes. Excluding, of course, my Formica granite-look-alike countertops!

I had thot that coral was endangered so not sure if that's correct or if they are talking about fake coral.

Granite's really not as much a trend as a timeless choice that hopefully won't be replaced after a year or two by too many of those trendy types.

Let's face it, in this era of keeping up with the Joneses there will always be trends and those who follow them. I love reading about trends as it gives me ideas of what I may soon hope to find in yard sales and thrift shops at a cheap price. :)

I get your point, Ingrid. OK, I'd have to say: stainless steel appiances. It's not that I dislike seeing them in people's homes; most are very nice, actually. I am just sick to death of hearing every person on HGTV, etc. who's evaluating a home and ALWAYS has a disparaging remark about one that doesn't have all SS appliances. Give me a break! Next year, the same people will be recommending their viewers take out all SS applainces because they're "dated" and put in the newest trend.
I'm definitely NOT one who must have everything "Green", although I can appreciate efforts in that direction, but these IN & OUT trends just smack of the consumer gluttony that's helped get our country into such bad financial straits.

Hmm... my dad's wife is from Uzbekistan, and she's visiting there right now. Wonder how many Suzanis she could stuff in her suitcases?

I must confess. We have orange formica kitchen counters installed by the man who built our home in the early 70's. However, as soon as the kitchen redo account is fully funded, we will be replacing the orange formica with colored concrete. The kitchen has been last on our list of renovations and believe me, the food tastes just the same whether you have granite, silestone or heaven forbid, orange formica. Once I change out the counters, I will finally be able to face the world without hanging my head in shame.

I had to google the suzanis as well. I think they are really very interesting.

I once saw this magazine article that had pictures of Frank Sinatra's home. He loved orange and had different shades of orange formica all over the place.

Count me among those who never heard of Suzanis, but I do like them, fake or not. Other stuff like sleigh beds and granite, not my taste, but probably the most interesting thing to someone who has never had cable TV is the complaints and frustration with HGTV, sounds like there is a great marketing opportunity for someone to come up with better design oriented programming.

sandyponder

luckygal, you hate the formica like the one I just put in my new laundry room that is an exact match to the granite in the kitchen? I didn't think it was necessary to have granite to fold clothes on and since it's an exact match to the kitchen granite that is 10 ft. away, I thought I did good. Now I find out I didn't. Thank God for these threads. Guess I'll go spray paint the SS fridge now. LOL

{{gwi:1397849}}

Brutuses....
Your laundry room is lovely!

But, fyi :-)

Originally posted by luckygal (My Page) on Wed, Jan 7, 09 at 14:18

What I'd like to see gone ASAP are most fakes. Excluding, of course, my Formica granite-look-alike countertops!

Check out the kitchen counter in the house that I grew up in. The house was built in 1978 and it was *very* au courant when it was built.

{{gwi:1539935}}

Brutuses, I like your counter and agree with your reason for choosing it. I still have the Formica "butcher block" counters that my kitchen has had since 1978. They are in very good condition and blend well with my kitchen. They certainly aren't up-to-date, and eventually we will change them out....but not until there is truly a need.

And, the photos below show just where my practical (stubbornly so? ;) streak began. This is the house where I grew up, and my father still lives there. These photos were taken just a few Christmases ago. Yes, those are the *original* coppertone appliances, Formica counters, and a faux brick backsplash in their kitchen. In that second photo of their living room, the wool carpet and drapes are also original to the house (1965), and still look nice and timeless. Can you tell that they loved and were influenced by their visits to Williamsburg? :)

My parents have always taken good care of their things (that carpet is spotless), and remembered the lessons from the Great Depression. They didn't see a need to replace something until it was required (and neither did most of their friends)...my mother said that those coppertone appliances would outlive her, and sadly they have. They didn't criticize if others liked to keep up with the "latest and greatest", they just didn't feel that need themselves.

She and my father enjoyed their "antiquing" trips and found lots of goodies (almost always at a bargain price) on their jaunts, went out a lot with family and friends, and my mother enjoyed hosting events for her various ladies' clubs, so they did have some fun with a little of their money. They just didn't replace things just to replace them. That house may be full of older (working) appliances and some out-of-date finishes, but somehow it still "works". It is a warm home full of laughter and fun, and everyone always feels welcome there. I hope that my kids will remember my home the same way, regardless of the finish. :)

I was just in Target today and guess what I saw? Faux coral! Obviously if they are selling it to the masses at Target it must be out!

Retro Baby! Bring back kitchen 'shrooms and brown dishwashers to go with that orange!

(um, is that shag carpet on the ceiling?) :^D

thanks Joan, I didn't see that. LOL

littledog, they have come back with oil rubbed bronze appliances. I kind of think they won't go over too well. I saw that dizzy attorney aka kitchen designer, put them in a kitchn today. UGLY!!

Oh southernheart, your parents home is so warm and lovely. I may have to sneak over while they're visiting Wms.burg
and steal that bird lampshade. Of course, I'd need to beat at least 3 ( can you guess who I mean?!)others, I can think of off-hand, who will have the same idea! Hmmm, maybe they can have the shade and I'll grab the the beautiful rug under one arm and Windsor chair under the other.!