The NY Times recently published this article about how the accessibility of design has become a challenge and annoyance to designers, editors, and bloggers alike. It’s so hard to be original when once something gets picked up a few times in a decor mag (and then a blog… and then all over the internet), it automatically becomes commonplace. With large corporations making popular designs available to the masses (which I am not necessarily complaining about!), it does make certain pieces less special. Why would you go spend a few hundred when you can drop $39.95 for a knock off?
Affordable Ikat from Z Gallerie, and not-as-affordable from Madeline Weinrib
Here’s how I see it – there are certain trends you know you’re going to get sick of (bubble skirts, ikat pillows, whatever), and you go to Forever 21, H&M, Urban Outfitters, or Target and you drop a minimal amount on it because in a few months you’re going to be over it anyway. But, there are those pieces that REQUIRE investment. A nice pair of jeans, a tailored suit, THE purse. A gorgeous lacquered console, luxurious linens, THE dining room table. It makes all of our livse better and worse at the same time. There were trends this year I was so sick of before I even liked them (wall decals! skulls! sorry, but, ugh!), and there are trends I am still in love with (admit it, you’d take a Madeleine Weinrib pillow or zebra rug right now).
Ok, I’m ranting a bit here (wow, I believe this is a coco+kelley first!), but I suppose that there are good things that come out of the accessibility of trends – it keeps me on budget, and keeps all of us us on our toes – always looking out for the next big thing, discovering boutique treasures or true talents, and usually returning to (or at least incorporating) the classics. But it’s time to get creative and trust our instincts, so here’s my first official new year’s resolution. I WILL NOT LET MY BLOG GET BORING. And by boring I mean, I will try very hard not to simply copy posts from other’s posts, or reiterate what has already been said a million times on the pages of major design magazines. If it moves me, I will post it. If it’s a stupid trend that I cannot stand, you will never see it on my blog. I am not claiming to be THAT original (I’m a sucker for Kelley Wearstler too… ) but I believe in creating and promoting designs with personality. I think most of us out here in blog-world do the same. And what’s great is that we really ARE all different – we all have our little loves and obsessions, and it’s so fun to learn about those. But yes, nearly all of us has probably posted on zebra-print rugs and hermes blankets and skull patterns and deer heads and every other ridiculous trend because, let’s face it, it’s hard NOT to!
So, now I ask you, as we look back at the year, what trends did you hate, and what do you hope will be sticking around for a while? I’m interested to see what designs really spoke to you this year, and which ones fell short… And thanks for letting me rant 
I don’t view zebra rugs as being trendy in the manner of say antlers, skulls or decals. But like those items, they can now be had at a much more accessible price range. One can nab a zebra print on cowhide on ebay for $250 shipped, I mean, that’s the price of a good sized sisal rug some places… not bad at all. I think the overall accessibility is good though. It forces people to constantly be seeking and creating the new. Besides, items should have to justify their cost beyond their brand.
thank you! I’m trying to limit my blog exposure for this very reason, but you will be a daily read for 08.
Also, I’m done with new pedestal bathroom sinks. I want to store some stuff in my bathroom, is that so worng?
garrett, you made some REALLY excellent points, especially how items should have to justify their cost beyond their brand. AGREED! there is reason some pieces are so coveted, and it’s usually because of WHAT they are, not WHO made them… at least in theory
anon – i LOVE your point about pedestal sinks! they’re nice buuuut… how about a cupboard? unless you happen to have a bathroom with loads of storage
oh, hmmmm….i am a sucker for many of the trends.
I have always loved ethnic embroideries. Suzanis are huge and I love them and have them and plan to have them and am a bit worried that they will be out, even though they are still in for me – and everyone will say that I am a has been, when they see them around my house. I still love ikat and am all about wearing it, too. Esp scarves.
I used to live in Namibia and so have had zebra for years – it’s still gorgeous and stunning and I love it. And I don’t think it ever goes out.
I adore lacquer and am having it made into vanities for our bathrooms at Peacock Pavilions. If it goes out of fashion, well, it will still be in fashion at our place.
Oh dear, and I do still find the bird trend winsome and darling and have not tired of it yet.
oh maryam! you are a girl after my own heart – i still love the ethnic prints too, and don’t think they will be ‘out’ even when they do go out… my parents always used tradiational native american and african prints in our home, and i’ve never thought of them as stylish or unstylish. there are some things that are too personal to ever go out of our lives!
and in case you haven’t noticed, i am absolutely in love with birds still as well. wait until you see my christmas ‘tree’ post!
See? Now That’s Bad Ass. Glad I got some before the end of the year!!!
As for trends I hate? Anything big fluffy and furry.
Bags, Shoes, Rugs, Pillows and Bedspreads should not have a hairy look. It’s almost pornographic.
And although played out I LOVE baroque fabric and wallpaper. Happy holidays (again!)
I’m dreadfully tired of the acid/ apple/ chartreuse green colour that’s been everywhere the past few years.
The Kelly W. lemon yellow with black still looks sharp in Palm Beach or LA but has had it’s day in northern climes.
Oversized drum-shade chandeliers: I thought we’d seen the last of them a few years ago but they’re still around and I hope they will disappear for a while.
Robin’s egg blue and chocloate brown. Please make it stop!
http://www.dominomag.com/galleries/paint/slideshow_paintpalette?slide=20
Overall, I’m thrilled that we the consumers have more design choice than ever, and at better prices. Access is no longer just for the rich… surely style democratization is a good thing?
wow, i have to say that i’m loving having some thoughtful input here…
anon, i will agree with you on the chocolate brown/baby blue combo… although if you throw in some other colors i can still buy into it sometimes.
and, MAds! thanks for chiming in – gald you thought it was worthy of the ‘bad ass’ seal of approval!
Trend or not, I say who is? To tell you what your suppose to like and think it’s tasteful and cool. If you know yourself then what you like is what makes you happy, then go for it! Just don’t be mediocre. You can follow the trend faithfully or start your own. I personally don’t like bright neon color in my furniture (although I love graphic lines, like your eva tables), so I think Kelly W. maybe a trend because of her status and exposure (you know the husband being a hotelier and rich plus being skinny and beautiful herself, she is a transvestite’s wet dream). Plus, I don’t know about everyone else, I just went through her book about her home. Give me a break! I always hang around my home in a evening gown pruning trees! I like her trellis print but not really in my home. When was it so PC to hang dead animal heads? have you seen a real one. I have, and it’s really sad. Fake or real I guess because I’m Asian and we don’t really hunt much, I never thought the antler thing and skin rugs where cool.
Love this post… my biggest complaint about the year in decor is simply that things have been so overdesigned. The Wearstler look (and Adler too, in his cheaper & less refined way) are great for what they are, but the whole year was nothing but Hollywood Regency knock-off rooms and Miles Redd-ish rooms/homage-to-late-great-designers where the rooms were just stuffed to the gills trying sooooo hard. It’s not to say that any of this doesn’t work… it was just a hard year on the eyes. So. Much. Design.
I think it was, however, a good year for consumers. Blogland let out a collective groan when the NY Times published its article about trends that are “over.” Consumers snear at the fashion and design world because they keep playing a shell game with us… moving around trends, demanding we spend to keep up, then suddenly declaring something is over so we will move onto the next thing. And the design cycle is just way too fast now. I think a lot of us (me included) are just folding our arms, shaking our heads dismissively and standing with feet firmly planted on our zebra rugs thinking, “Give me a break. *I’ll* be the judge of when my little zebra fetish is over and done with.”
PS – You should rant more. I love blog that start a good, healthy debate!