Trend Blasts From the Past: 5 Old Met Home Trend Watch Trends

I spent last week away from the computer, on my annual beach week with friends. At the house where we stay (in Bethany Beach, Delaware), my favorite feature is the big chest full of old shelter magazines. It's full of hundreds of back issues of House & Garden, House Beautiful, and Metropolitan Home.

This year, I spent a lot of time with the old Met Homes. One of my favorite features is the very last page of the magazine - the "Trend Watch" feature. I can't get enough of checking out what was trendy ten years ago.

As it turns out, many of those "trends" are either still popular, or they're popular again (in some way). I thought it would be fun to look at a few of those trends and to see if Houzz has any photos of current incarnations:

Kit Pollard

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The complicated tangle of color on the wall of this home office is reminiscent of the mess of wires an untrained eye might see inside a hard drive.

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5. Hot Wired. This trend, from March/April 2001, was all about computers' insides. The trend watchers liked the look of the wires and circuits that make our electronics work, so they sought out similar looks in products - like this geometric (and 70's-inspired) wallpaper.

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Wild retro stripes are a great way to incorporate a '70s vibe into a modern home.

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4. That 70's Show. This trend, from July/August 2000, is all about funky disco graphics, flashing back to the 70's. It's perfect for outdoor, summery spaces - like this garden.

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This gate takes the "hole" look to a grand scale.

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3. The Hole Truth. This trend, from the heady techy days of January/February 2000, was a pretty literal one, involving products with laser cut holes. The holes could be cut in anything - trash cans, tables, lamps, or even the wall, as in the office above.

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I like the role the shiny platinum lampshade plays in this room. The neutral palette allows texture to take a front seat.

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2. Gray Cool Platinum. In September and October of 1999, the trend watchers thoughts turned cooler, to platinum shades that reminded them of wedding bands. I love this wallpaper for its fancy shine and casual stripes.

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Strong pinks are fabulous in the garden, too, whether they're on cushions or hydrangea bushes.

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1. In the Pink. In the July/August 1999 issue, the trend watchers were all about super strong, even shocking, pinks. Intense pinks are great summer shades, since they brighten a room (and look great next to a tan).