Trendy? Not So Much!

My dear readers….yesterday, I posted about a few farmhouse style elements that I like to incorporate into my mostly traditional home.  

However, today I want to re-iterate that it is easy to follow a trend and then have it backfire and go completely out of style as quickly as it came onto the decorating front.  I am sure you have seen a new design trend…but you were unsure of it so you waited to see if the trend sticks around, then you decide to follow it and Boom! the trend that everyone seemed to be on board with suddenly departs and  you are left with a dark gold Mediterranean sofa and love seat and wrought iron dining room chairs covered in maroon-ish red paisley cushions sitting around an octagon shaped wrought iron dining room table. Uhhhh, I believe that was the 70’s and 80’s and that, my friends, would be me. 

The picture below is of that golden sofa…forgive the pic of the twins as I didn’t have a picture of the sofa by itself….be sure to note the matador picture above the sofa.  uh huh!  All the way, right? 😉 

Trendy?  Perhaps at the time.  However, I don’t believe a few farmhouse elements tastefully placed here and there in your home will go out of style anytime soon.  And since most things are re-cycled or re-purposed one is not out a lot of money ….it seems so wasteful to get rid of things every few years just because the current trend has changed. So for what it is worth, here is my philosophy that works for me.

1. Decorate with what you like, not styles that are plastered all over fashion magazines. My style is what it is and I am a firm believer in creating what works for me.  I may see a beautifully decorated coffee table in a magazine that has elements I like…but instead of going out and buying “stuff” to get that look, I search around my home to find items I really like or have meaning for me and assemble my own little vignette! I really don’t care if there are those people who frown at my decor, those kinds of people come and go don’t they? Your real friends have staying power if you know what I mean. 
2. Unfortunately there are those of us whose view of ourselves… is dependent on our homes…and that shouldn’t be. God created us and we are exactly who we should be. I’ve learned that I am not the sum of my career, my looks, the money I have, or my weight! God loves us and each one of us have value.  It is amazing what we learn as we grow older isn’t it? I am sure you have heard this saying….what other people think about me is none of my business! 
3. Trends? I am not going to buy something just to look ‘current’. It’s a waste of money if I am buying just to be ‘cool’. You have heard this before….stay true to yourself! No one wants a dated look and it is so easy to add a little paint color.  If your style is lots of color and that is what makes you happy, who cares if you don’t see that in the magazines. Remember that those decorating magazines are just venues for ideas.  You can pick and choose what you like and what works for you. Don’t let them dictate your style.  Stay the course!
4. Stick with the classics for costly items like tiles, counter tops and appliances. I chose black granite counter tops in 2005 for our home in Kansas City and then marble became the newest trend, but you know what?  I chose black granite counter tops for our current home in 2010.  I believe it is a classic even though it isn’t necessarily “hot” right now.

And speaking of classics…I am going to tell you a story.

I am going to talk to you about my Utility Room makeover from a couple years ago.  Below is a before picture of the Utility room, with the previous owners washer and dryer and moving stuff.  

I liked the laundry room.  It was very simple but I needed more storage.  Who doesn’t’ need more storage?  The existing cabinets above the folding table were adequate and I loved the pull down hampers built underneath the folding table AND there also happened to be a small ironing board built into the cabinet to the right of the washer.  

So back to the classics!  I saw something I fell in love with just before we moved to Florida….and I went out on a limb and ignored my “stick to the classics” and purchased a washer and dryer in bright red!  

Completely out of my comfort zone.  I just couldn’t help myself…it stood there in the middle of the show room floor and just screamed at me to take them home. I kept looking at the set and rubbing my hand over the top as if petting a cute puppy, debating should I or shouldn’t I? Usually, my motto is if in doubt….throw it out…meaning to walk away, but I just couldn’t do it. I finally talked myself into these fire engine red machines….and my dear readers, I have never regretted that decision.  Luckily, the utility room is not open to the rest of our home.  Instead it has it’s own character and I love it.

As you can see by the above pictures, the Captain built shelves and installed 3 cabinets over the washer and dryer.  (The cabinets were off the shelf at Lowe’s.) I re-painted the builder beige walls, white to lighten up this windowless room.  I used Sherwin Williams Ibis white SW7000. I also painted the woodwork and the built-in cabinet around the ironing board, Eider White SW7014 in a Semi Gloss the same as the recently made over Hall/Guest Bath… which by the way of keeping a prespective is just across the hall from the utility room.  

I filled the shelves with baskets which house items that I only use periodically.  They are out of sight but handy, should I need them. I added a few touches of black and white and red for accents.  The little bird cage on the top right was white and I spray painted it black, put some white carnations around the bottom and for a “just because”, I added a couple of green and white hydrangeas. 

So as you see my friends…there is always an exception to a rule, and trendy?  Naw, not so much!

Have a great and Blessed day!

Hugs Always