Software
Houzz Logo Print
webuser_146604977

Is white (and distressed or light grey) wood feminine

5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago

I like white, distressed white or light grey wood furniture and want to redo my office in it but I‘ve had a designer and my sister tell me that it’s very feminine. I don’t mind blurring the lines but I don‘t want go into a zone that is obviously feminine.

Not that I love these but for example:

https://www.birchlane.com/living/pdp/kannapolis-reversible-solid-wood-credenza-desk-b001047808.html?piid=1607035322

https://www.perigold.com/furniture/pdp/hooker-furniture-rustic-glam-solid-wood-writing-desk-hrfe1017.html

Thanks!

I hope this doesn’t devolve into a political conversation. I’m for a serious lack of a better word “woke” and I’m not a “bro” that is a proud supporter of the patriarchy. But I hope we can agree that certain things like dresses and most makeup are female or those identifying as female. Thanks again!😀😀

Comments (9)

  • 5 years ago

    I guess only you can possibly know if furniture makes you feel manly or not. You don't want this to veer into PC territory, but I don't think you allow for honest feedback unless you're willing to hear what we all have to say. And the fact is, it's 2020 and it's fine for men to love pink and women to love leather. Those are nice furniture pieces you shared, but what do they say to YOU?


    The furniture you shared is for any gender that likes it. Part of the joy in creating a home is in figuring out what speaks to you and refusing to let anyone else dictate that.

  • 5 years ago
    last modified: 5 years ago

    The conversation I wanted to avoid is the extremes ie men need a huge dark wood desk or there is no such thing as gender. And the argement and bashing that would go with this. You know what mean?

    As for furniture or anything else for that matter It does not makes me feel manly or not. Im completely secure with who i am an aspect. Personally i love pink. But as a CIS man it would not be appropriate for me to show up at a meeting in a dress or high heels I don’t my furniture to do the same. I guess I’m asking if furniture can be more appropriate for a certain gender. I was told that by a high priced designer i hired do a layout.

    I don’t want it to say I didnt understand what I was doing when i picked furniture.

  • 5 years ago

    I think those pieces will look ludicrous if you plunk them into an office full of brown leather, lumberjack plaid, and dead animals strewn about. If you put them in their proper surroundings (I am not a professional so I’ll let someone else tell you what that would be) they will look appropriate and classy. As would a heavy quartersawn oak desk in the other office I described above.


    If I walked into either office it would tell me something about the occupant’s taste, but nothing about their gender. I’m not being PC or woke; I just don’t see gender signifiers in adult furniture. And as people are listening more to what their kids like I think we’re seeing less of it in kids’ furniture, too.

    HU-146604977 thanked SapphireStitch
  • 5 years ago

    Blah blah.


    It's not white and gray that are feminine, but the details of the pieces you linked (especially the first) are definitely fussy in a way that tends to be favored by women. However, if your overall room is "glam," then they'd probably fit right in. Otherwise, there are bound to be options that do the job in a way that wouldn't seem out of place.


    Hard to guess at your style/priorities from just those pieces, but here are a few others as grist for the mill.


    Jameson Silver Mirrored Writing Desk · More Info


    Nathan Desk · More Info


    Parker House Gramercy Park Double Pedestal Executive Desk in Smoke · More Info


    Safco Mirella Free Standing Desk In Stone Gray Finish MRDBF6630SGY · More Info


    ACME Versailles Executive Desk, Antique Platinum · More Info


    Sligh Graystone Chloe Writing Desk · More Info


    Sands Point 3,Drawer Desk in Gray and Gold · More Info

    Hope this is of some use...

    HU-146604977 thanked acm
  • 5 years ago
    last modified: 5 years ago

    I don’t think the color necessarily has to have the biggest influence, but the style certainly does. There are lots of light color desks that are more neutral, while the first desk you showed has very delicate lines - can’t see how the office could be decorated without having a feminine vibe. The styles below would be easy to work with and widen your choices regarding decor










    HU-146604977 thanked Maureen
  • 5 years ago

    It sounds like you are saying that you like what you like, but you are still mindful of how that look "reads" to other people. And you aren't wedded enough to any particular look to embrace it in defiance of other people's perceptions. Is that a fair assessment?


    The first one you posted reads really feminine to me. First, because circles and curves are coded as feminine in a lot of contexts (maybe because of body shapes, I don't know, but sometimes bathrooms are coded circles for women and triangles for men). So the drop pulls and rounded corners, along with the color and detailing, read feminine to me. Second, because when I was a girl, that kind of furniture was THE thing for furnishing girls' rooms. So I carry baggage from my youth.


    The second doesn't read particularly feminine to me. Gender neutral, maybe. It has sharper angles and more geometric design elements that offset whatever coding might come from the color.


    Bottom line is, I don't think the colors are especially feminine. But I do think that many people have internalized "rules" about what is feminine and what is masculine (maybe not millennials or Gen Z, but those of us who are a wee bit older). So maybe run with the color, but avoid the curves and circles that might be perceived as feminine.

    HU-146604977 thanked cawaps
  • 5 years ago

    Who is going to see your office? Is it in your home? Will you be seeing clients there?


    I, woman, am sitting here working on the top of my black wood desk, next to my black wood printer stand.


    Have to admit - I had to look up "CIS." This is all getting so complicated.

  • 5 years ago

    I agree the styles you have shown are more feminine...maybe less so if they were not white....so the the colors you want are fine ...just not in these more feminine styles....the sleeker more contemporary styles are less gender driven ...

    HU-146604977 thanked btydrvn