jhmarie, just laughed some club soda out of my nose at those TOH photos!

After reading this whole thread, which includes many posts from pros, I would love to know what IS in right now. What are you seeing/ using in houses currently. Paint colors, flooring, etc.

$200,000 on hand...somehow, I am not surprised to learn that about TOH. .........I think the new color trend is "navy", replacing the gray. I do love gray, have it only in one room, my son's bedroom...he is now an adult and lives on his own. His room is very relaxing, tho. The other trendy thing is "hygge", a Scandinavian word pronounced hoo-ga, which generally means cozy comfort. Apparently its how Scandinavians get through long, cold winters. I must say, tho, I have always created a cozy, comfortable home environment, so hygge is nothing new to me.

200K IS just a drop in the bucket for a Boston area whole home redo. They aren't being that picky.

My favorite TOH was the Wickwire Barn ''conversion''. It started out like one of today's ''barndominiums'', only to run smack dab into the reality that those folks do today in that an actual foundation, insulation, and HVAC system was gonna be required. Then, the barn itself was mostly rotten. So they rebuilt 90% if it as a new timber frame construction. Cost 'em about half again as much as just building everything new from scratch would have, only to end up with about three posts of the old barn. But, it was gorgeous!

Specific colors and palettes jump the shark when people choose those colors without consideration for the humans who have to live with those color choices.

Pedestrian color choices made from a place of fear of looking dated have no soul.

Another blast from the past - remember when sheets were used to make everything in a bedroom match? Here the canopy is made from a sheet and a demo is given on how to make a window valance out of a king pillow sham. Before you knock it - check out the current cost of custom window treatments:)

This Old House - Westwood House 1987

Yes I remember. My first apartment I took a king flat sheets put a rod through them and put them on the back wall of my bedroom of my first apartment. Everyone thought I was so talented!

Haha, I did that in college AFTER I tie-dyed the sheets purple!!!

i believe this old house like most pbs is a cut above. i have learned much from them easy way to run new electric and plumbing. first turned us on to the new supports out of mdf, and then removed it when proved to be a fire hazard.how to cement walks easily. the truly best window. they never complain or pt fingers, they just strive to stay on target.

Haha, those floral sheets and lace are hideous. But TOH definitely a quality show. They take their time, not like many HGTV shows that seem to barrel thru, or give the impression that it just takes a Bewitched twitch of the nose to go from frumpy to fab. Oh, and the poster who said TOH doesn't consist of the dramatic phone call to inform the client of a giant price hike, true. But they do run in to obstacles along the way......as for colors and trends, I think it's a personality thing. Some people love changing out their decor often. Others can live with the same colors for years. I have pictures hanging for 20 years that I still love. Colors that I still love different variations of, cranberry, greens, beiges. Had them for years and still happy with them. Alter things enough from time to time to keep it updated. Seasonal touches to keep it fresh.

Just saw an article about Joanna Gaine's new wallpaper line. Now you can have faux shiplap!!

naturally sue, they are classic after all!

Nobilis Co. has had faux bois for years now. It's very authentic looking, and lots less expensive than the real thing.

I think I have a comforter in that floral pattern on that 1987 TOH, maybe the sheets to match as well (but that is as far as I went with that).

I thought of this thread as we are touring 39 homes for the winter Parade of Homes. These are new construction contract or spec homes by the local home builders association. The last 3-4 Parades had gray in every house. We are about half done with the Parade, and only one house had gray. It seems here, at least, beige is back.

Such good news! Yes, gray is slowing sliding into the river! Hurray. Thanks for sharing!

I actually liked that little floral bedroom better than some of the gray ones I've seen lately:) Maybe not with the floral canopy, but not shown in the pic are a couple of antique pieces - it was at least a cheerful room.

Last year's Parade Homes started out well. The first day for the first time in 3 years I saw some variety. I picked what looked like the most interesting homes for the first day. The next days were one gray interior after another. My daughters who are young adults called them gloomy and depressing. It wasn't just the gray - it was a lot of gray black and brown mixed together. It didn't help that it was very overcast one day. I used to get excited to see the Parade Homes, but not so much anymore. It has been my complaint for a long time - too much conformity, not enough creativity.

I still can't quite grasp the number of people who feel bad and have major anxiety about their homes, not because something is worn out or functioning poorly, but because it isn't the current on trend style. It used to be mostly kitchens, but now it is fireplaces and staircases too!

oh dear jh, it is everything, people start threads on how to decorate their side table!

i think they don't pay attn. world famous designer died a few years ago partner had to have an auction, there were boxes stacked everywhere.

Wow, I would love to go to a Parade of Homes to see the styles and mostly, floor plans, which fascinate me, some of which are horrible. I can understand how it would be easy to see the repetition of the latest fads in home decor in such a parade.
Still, I think grey done right is timeless. My first floor rooms are beiges with cranberry and touches of green. Upstairs, no beige, there are shades of blue with wall colors in soft melon called "wassail". I painted my son's room soft grey; it has multi-blue berber carpet and white ceiling and trim. A fabulous room, very calming. Sits on the south side of the house, I am sure that keeps it cheerful. A pop of cranberry on a low chest.
Grey can go feminine or masculine. It works in all seasons. My house is white sided with grey porches and foundation, a timeless combo I've lived with for 30 years. Looks great in all seasons. My niece had a beautiful home with greys and white in the open floor plan that segued into an deep orange/yellow wall as you turned a corner to the back rooms of the house. The upstairs bedroom was painted sage green, another was cranberry, one was blue. It all worked wonderfully together and was one of the nicest homes I spent time in.
We dropped expanded cable a year ago, no more HGTV; don't miss it! Gives the wrong impression that all updates must be done at once. Our handyman special of a house was remodeled a room at a time over a number of years giving us more of what we wanted and keeping costs down.

I have a relative who is "design" challenged and she would need help with what to put on a fireplace mantel or a wall paint color. I understand and am glad she asks for help, but yes, I've seen the post about what "should" be put on the side table as if in fear and anxiety of breaking some cosmic design law. Fortunately it doesn't need to cost thousands of dollars to change up a side table.

I will admit some people do post some unlovely fireplaces, but I am amazed at the number of ordinary fireplaces, traditional staircases and even ordinary solid hardwood flooring that the poster thinks is dated or horrid and is willing to pay tens of thousands of dollars to change the whole thing out - usually in a manner that really will be dated in 10 years.

It seems each generation thinks they have discovered the ultimate in timeless beauty and design and are willing to spend a lot to achieve it without realizing the trends will change. I thought when I replaced my cabinets 20 years ago that I had increased the value of my home, but now a potential buyer would not see much of a difference between my now 20 year old cabinets and the previous even older cabinets. A new kitchen will increase the value of a home for a while, but only as long as it is the current trend.

I couldn't agree more, jh...

Thinking your kitchen is "dated" and then being told here by someone ;) that the "average" remodel is going to cost 62 thousand might just be a reason that them younguns (wags finger emphatically) will be in debt for the rest of their lives!

jh writes

"It seems each generation thinks they have discovered the ultimate in timeless beauty and design and are willing to spend a lot to achieve it without realizing the trends will change. "

this is because, each generation is aware of 2 designs: 'now' and 'everything before now', which of course is dated. it takes seeing a 'now' become 'dated' to change your perspective a bit.

we pretty correctly blame HGTV and places like houzz for the shaming of 'dated'. like eve with the apple, our eyes are opened. but it wouldnt have happened without too much disposable income and cheap imported junk.

i dont know that we were happier when we were poorer, but we might have been more satisfied.

We were sometimes more creative when we were poorer:) Perhaps less anxious about some things like trends and more anxious about making the mortgage payment.

My father and my grandfather had both been through a world war (in the armed services) before they even started college. I would not wish that on anyone, but it does instill a sense of proportionality as to what is and what is not worth losing sleep over.

i don't know that we were happier when we were poorer. we were happy because it was normal and didn't know differently. If you don't know, or aren't aware, you can't pine for it. right? back then we didn't have the tv shows and internet where lives of the rich were flaunted for all to see. We were ignorant.

I don't think that there are many people who at one time were well-off or wealthy, lost everything and then were quite happy with nothing. maybe ones that were miserable to begin with, but those are the exceptions. Being satisfied and happy come from within, regardless of monetary wealth.

I love shiplap, and everything else Joanna Gaines designs. If you think she's only done ranch houses, you haven't watched every episode. Her MCM, industrial & loft designs were amazing.

Also, gray isn't going anywhere. It's neutral. Shaker cabinets will have staying power as they go with many styles. Some of you guys are nuts.

Dissatisfaction among the populace is deliberately cultivated. The "consumer society" must continually prod consumers into consuming. Hence, trends, and promoting the idea that you must be "on trend" and have it now. Electronic connectedness is their latest ploy to assure that you "buy in" to their agenda. Try it! Talk to someone about a product with your phone turned off. Now get on the computer or the phone and see if you don't get hit with an ad for that very item. We're in trouble folks and we need to get back to the days when we can do without the stuff!!!

I think people who like shiplap are "nuts"....

You know what they say about opinions...

Thank you Beth H . For your comment I was beginning to think I was from another planet first thing you hear open concept entertaining top priority of building or remodeling a home

Well, this thread is a blast from the past, but it's fun to read through it and see how many things that many of us thought were tired in 2016 are STILL HANGING ON!! :-)

Joanna Gaines has moved on to new ventures - possibly understanding herself that she's a bit of a "one trick pony" and her IndustrialModernShiplapStaged "farmhouse" style is nearly played out. By the time all the galvanized animal silhouettes show up at Home Goods, it's nearly done!

I notice that the "color of the year" announcements for 2019 are starting up. The SW selection has me scratching my head. Behr's is close to the color we've picked out for my husband's office. (Although that may get tweaked to better harmonize with another element we've just found). Both - and I anticipate most of the rest - seem to be moving in a warmer direction. Only to be expected.

Shiplap as a trend is probably done. Shiplap, where it is appropriate, will always be classic. Grey on EVERYTHING is nearly done. Grey as a neutral backdrop for a cohesive look that includes other colors (for heaven's sake, people! Some of these rooms make me think we're living in a Black and White TV show!) will stay classic. It won't be "on trend" as we go back into warmer creams and beiges, but it will still look good. As long as you don't try to stick a bunch of Earth-toned furniture into your grey painted room.

My designer had a "go to grey" shade for people trying to update houses from the 90's that had been done in the greens and browns from that era, in order to transition the remodel into the house. I suspect she'll soon be finding a new "transitional color" when working on projects for all the grey houses built in the last 10 years. There are some nice greiges that do double-duty.

I think you're most in trouble if you went whole hog for every design trend that came along and incorporated them into the hard fixtures of the house. That kitchen with two-toned grey and white cabinets, galvanized "wainscotting" on the island, marble-look quartz, rose gold fixtures, "black stainless" appliances, and enormous lantern lighting is probably not going to age well. A lot of those elements all by themselves, might be OK. All of them together communicate such a moment in time that it FEELS dates more quickly. Kind of like my mother's kitchen ca. 1979 with harvest gold appliances AND sink, copper colonial revival light fixtures, faux ceiling beams, and gingham wallpaper. Eeeee. (In fairness, she didn't design it. We bought it that way).

We're all influenced by all the design going on around us, even if we think we're not. Even if you HATE the "modern farmhouse" look, you've likely been more accepting of cooler tones and a cleaner, lighter look.

While we feel like trends cycle fast now, do they, really? Or mostly just spread more quickly? The grey trend started on the coasts as trends usually do. While it's mostly burned out there, it's still pretty big here in flyover country. The newest paint colors show up here at the same time, because the companies are national. But they take longer to catch on.

I keep hearing wood tone cabinets are the new thing, but out here it's still white, white, and more white. Just look at the whole thread above... how many of those things are actually gone? Take a peek at my local parade of homes for Oct. ;-) Farmhouse, farmhouse, rustic barn beams, shiplap, shiplap...

Joanna, is that you?

I've seen the Chip and Joanna crap at Target and it is just plain ugly! Never been impressed with Joanna's designs on Fixer Upper either.

I think the comments about us being happier "back then" when we had less are interesting. Probably every generation has said the same thing (in one way or another).

I am not wealthy by any means, but I have had less. When something comes to you at a cost (of time, effort...whatever, you get my drift) then that thing definitely has greater meaning and, by default, gives greater pleasure, then that which falls into your lap.

These things are treasured more.

I have a decent sized house. My wish is for a simple lifestyle with less. I want to fill my life with interesting things that I earn or create or work for, or have to search out....

If I won the lottery, I have no use for that...of course there would be some frivolous nonsense that I would buy, but money in the bank that I don't need isn't for me. There are others who would benefit from it.

Are we happier with less? For me, yes.

i'm happier with less but thats because i can choose to have less. if i didnt have much to start with i think i'd resent the design gurus telling me i should throw it away or donate it all.

for anyone sick of the standard design yada yada, look higher. i always enjoy decorating magazines with designs that are one tick higher than i can afford. so Architectural Digest says nothing to me (too high) Better Homes and Gardens says nothing to me (too low) but when Elle Decor or House Beautiful arrive through my mail slot, world go away cuz i'm going to be busy for a while. I don't have the option to run out and copy anything much less everything, but I can certainly absorb the colors and patterns and how things are arranged and work on making my house look better in a less mass market way.

Nostalgia has always been a thing. ;-) That's why vintage elements are so popular and publications like "Reminisce" exist! Often it works its way into design and even into trends. MCM is a trend because it hits certain nostalgic cords for some people.

As to being happier with less - sometimes. I can't say that I was happier when the free samples at Sam's Club (a membership was a job perk) made one meal we didn't have to buy. Or when an unexpected car repair bill could have me sobbing in frustration. We're not wealthy now, but at least we're not hand to mouth - and we're somewhat more content, I think.

There is usually more satisfaction in having had to work, plan, budget, and wait for something. It's human nature. There is often a satisfaction in embracing a bit more of "the simple life" where you do more things for yourself. That sentiment is part of what is, in fact, behind the whole "modern farmhouse" trend. Where it went awry was that so many people thought you could capture the satisfaction of going out to the coop in the backyard and plucking cackleberries from the nest boxes simply by hanging a distress barn wood sign reading, "Fresh Eggs" in the kitchen. And then become disappointed when there are not extra warm fuzzies when opening the carton in the 'fridge labeled Great Value. Chicken wire in the cabinets doesn't take the place of the smell of new mown hay. Every time I see a sign hanging in a house that actually SAYS "Farm House" that it's a bit like Margaret Thatcher's quote about being powerful - "If you have to tell people you are, you aren't." The "modern farmhouse" aesthetic has no more to do with an actual working farmhouse than the previous French Country trend did with being French. Or country. Which is why they fade away fairly quickly. And we'll be on to the next trend, which will bring its own unattainable goal about how we think it will make us feel.

(This is not to say that all people who DO embrace the simple life do so by trying to incorporate the modern farmhouse aesthetic. Or that all modern farmhouse adherents are attempting to do the "simple life" thing. That's in quotes because anybody who's lived that way knows it is in no wise simple. I enjoy it - in small doses. But I'm all done with pulling on a coat and boots to run out to the outhouse in the middle of the night.)

We all have our own reasons for doing what we're doing and surrounding ourselves with what we choose. But most of the GardenWeb audience is more design-conscious than average and somewhat less inclined to blindly follow the masses. Which, I suspect, is part of why people HERE are starting to groan over the continued popularity of Magnolia Home even while it sells like hotcakes.

wish there was a 'love' button, holly.

Wow, some very snarky comments. Post seemed to go very quickly from "trends" to home decor bashing.

Nice post, Holly!

down lights in the eaves of houses; evenly spaced columns of light that accent NOTHING. Bonus points for not paying attention to light color. My son and I facetiously say, “Oooohhhhh, architectural lighting!!”

“Every time I see a sign hanging in a house that actually SAYS "Farm House" that it's a bit like Margaret Thatcher's quote about being powerful - "If you have to tell people you are, you aren't."”

Funny!

Maybe that's why they call it "Modern" Farmhouse - a nod to the reality that it isn't at all what we might remember from visits to Granny's actual working farm where absolutely nothing was modern except the electric pump on the well that actually brought water into the house for washing the dishes. Still had to have a "slop/night jar" by the bed though. It was a long trek to the outhouse. I never thought the modern farmhouse rendition had anything to do with the farm house of days gone by. Hanging a few signs and implements doesn't do it either, but I do like the simplicity of some of the homes, and my ideal one would have a wrap around porch overlooking my garden, fish pond and fire pit.

My mother grew up poor, so after she was married, she always had to have things that were, or at least looked, expensive and in the latest style. I grew up with gold fixtures in the bathrooms and big everything. If there was ever even a hint that anything she had was "in bad taste," she got rid of it at once. I loved my aunt's house that had flowered oilcloth on the kitchen table, and, in the living room, a multicolored yarn chicken that, when you squeezed her, "pooped" jelly bean "eggs."

This post is so 2016...

Please make it Barn Doors!

@decoentusiaste, my grandparents' farm in Kentucky had a pump right outside the back door and yep, we brought water in to wash dishes. Gramdmama also kept a pail of water beside the kitchen door with a dipper in it which we all drank from. I do have an old enameled pitcher and her old kitchen matchboxes, but I wish I had a dipper, too. My grandmama made some wonderful food in her kitchen.

Joanna Gaines is probably laughing all the way to the bank after reading these comments!

a couple nights ago i walked into one thread wanted a beachy modern farmhouse. lol

not beachy modern industrial farmhouse? could be a drinking game....

@ningret, would beachy modern industrial farmhouse include a milking machine or two? Or a place to clean fish or shuck clams? Both, even?

After seeing another post about a "rustic modern farmhouse with some glam!" I briefly considered making Bingo cards.

73 years old, 2 mos surgery & rehab this year + 4 mos diagnosis & further surgeries for vision failure. Ripped by family. Thank goodness they had no taste. The mid-century Hermes cigarette box is still here along with my treasured art, pottery & china...they probably have all white kitchens and grey walls! Live with the colors and the things you love and have collected over time. Every morning I walk down the stairs and see the antique patchwork quilt that I have been restoring lying on my red couch and smile.

As I read this article

https://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/smart-home-hack-marketplace-1.4837963

I wondered if the “smart everything home” trend might jump the shark!

actually with all the recent happenings do to computers, i kinda think withiin a couple years we might have a backup to more personal dealings with things like finances.

@drdeb1234, I don't want an oven I can turn on with a smartphone. My husband is also creeped out by Alexa's voice.