Before I started my blog, I was a frequent visitor on the Gardenweb home forums. When I discovered the world of design blogs, the magazine like format of blogs appealed to me and I stopped frequenting the Gardenweb forums. However, one of my readers pointed me back to Gardenweb recently, and I have been enjoying some of the posts.
My favorite forums are the decorating forum (no surprise there) and the building a house forum; I find the analysis of floorplans and the decision points that people make while building houses to be fascinating. More than anyone else, a person who is building a house watches the trends like a hawk, trying to make sure that they do not put something in their home that will be dated just a few years later. Recently, a reader on Gardenweb asked the question - what home elements will scream '2000s' when we look back at them in a few years. Not long before this thread was created, the New York Times had an article on 'Living in a Time Capsule', and the phenomenon of homes that were decorated at a certain point in time, and never updated. Reading both of these sources made me wonder - what are the things that people are doing now when they renovate or build that will be part of this decade's 'time capsule'? The New York Time argues that with credit tight, and 'mortgage strapped Americans bunkering down, there may be a new generation of time capsules in the making' given that people are not gutting and redoing homes as much these days, and the activity is not anticipated to resume anytime soon. The Times cites 'garage size family rooms and stainless steel appliances' as early 21st century equivalents of the conversation pit and the avocado colored refrigerator.
Here is a run down of the top elements that the Gardenweb readers said might very well be 'trendy elements that will scream 2000s'. All of these elements are architectural or a part of the house, which is more of a commitment than a trendy pillow or lamp. I thought I would present a few of the recurring items to my readers to see whether you concur with the opinions of the Gardenweb readers. For the record: I love most of these elements, but of course part of the appeal is that they are a sign of the times, times in which we are still living!
Oil rubbed bronze
Just as brass fixtures seem to date a house to the 80s, some people wonder whether oil rubbed bronze will date a house to the early 2000s. I personally love the look of oil rubbed bronze, particularly in doorknobs, for the nice contrast it provides to light colored walls and decor.
White kitchens
I love white kitchens, and consider them to be a classic. In my mind, you can never go wrong with a white kitchen! However, I wonder if there is an all white kitchen backlash brewing...it seems like there are more colors being introduced to kitchens, whether it be black or gray or even blue. (Commercial style ranges is another one that a few readers predicted would be a dated look - I love this look too, though - doesn't the range look great in this kitchen?)
Stainless appliances
Stainless is another style that has had real staying power; people keep trying to look for the next big thing, but nothing else seems to have the look that works as well in a variety of kitchens. One Gardenweb reader declared that stainless has surpassed the trend, and is now the new standard. Image via House Beautiful, photo credit: John M. Hall.
Maple kitchens with granite
My thoughts: I will admit, this is a look that seems to be a bit dated, but I also admit that this is not my style at all (I had to dig around to even find this image, as I seem to only have white or gray kitchens saved on my computer!). Image via Cote de Texas.
Interior columns
Joni of Cote de Texas did a post on the transformation of her friend's living room. The friend used interior columns to keep the room open, but define the space between the hall and the living room - there is certainly a time and a place for interior columns. I really don't consider these to be a 'trend'.
Arched faucets
Who knows, they seem pretty functional to me, but maybe the industrial look is something that will date this decade. I love that farmhouse style sink...which leads us to the next item...
Farmhouse style sink
Again, since this is an element that I love, I see it as a classic, and can't imagine how this would be considered a trend of the decade. Image via Cote de Texas.
Full body spray showers
There certainly seems to be a trend to make master bathrooms as spa-like as possible. I am not sure if this will 'date' a house to the 2000s, though. I have not given this area much thought! I have a friend who recently built a house, and she got a full body spray shower because she was not able to fit a large bathtub into the master (and the bathtub would never be used), so she opted to get a luxurious shower instead. Image via contractortalk.com.
Two story rooms
This is an extreme example of the two story phenomenon (I spy some interior columns too), which has never been my favorite look, but I would not necessarily associate it with the 2000s - more the 80s and 90s.
Granite
It seems like designers have been trying to move away from granite for a while now - always searching for the next best thing. Here in Atlanta, a lot of people are now doing marble, and have been for the past few years. I have never been a fan of the busyness of many granites, but I like how durable it is.
Open floor plans
When I think about an open floor plan, it doesn't get any more open than this! Ina Garten created this barn as a kitchen and guest house. In today's homes, the combination of kitchen and family room in a very open floor plan is very popular, as life and entertaining get even more casual. Image via House Beautiful, photo credit Simon Upton.
Metal staircase balusters
This is from an old real estate listing - the home was remodeled in the early 2000s. I really like the look of iron balusters, and will probably do them in my next house - but I also think that this style suits some of the houses being built today. Who knows, maybe this is a design feature that will look dated in a few years.
Arched doorways
I always love a good arch, but I must admit that some houses overdo them. I like the shape of the arch in this picture.
Minimal overhead cabinets
This is a look that I love - very few overhead cabinets. Although it has been a lot more common in kitchens this decade, it is really much more of a European kitchen look that is also classic. This beautiful kitchen belongs to blogger Katiedid. My guess: if you look at this kitchen many years from now, it will still look fresh and timeless.
Vessel sinks
I can see how vessel sinks might be a trend that can be defined as a style of the '00s, but then I see a picture of the powder room of the great designer John Saladino, and it is exquisitely beautiful and timeless.
Subway tile
Maybe this will be consider a phenomenon of the 2000s, but this seems like such a classic, non-intrusive style that I don't see how it can be considered something that will date to this decade. I went to a house in Newport, Rhodes Island that was built at the turn of the century, and all of the bathrooms and the kitchen had subway tile. This bathroom image, interior design by Brooke Giannetti, shows how the classic subway tile does not have to be white - and I think this is one of the prettiest bathrooms I have seen this year.
Multiple cabinet finishes in the kitchen
This was another one I struggled with, as I could not find a great picture. I wonder if the Gardenweb readers mean the style where the island is painted a contrasting color, as shown in this picture? It does seem as if this is a style that started to come into vogue early in the 2000s. Another thing I notice in this picture is the wood paneling on the walls, which is very popular in newly built homes in Atlanta. I wonder if this is something that will define the architectural detail of this decade.
Readers, I would love for you to weigh in. To you, what defines this decade in architecture and decor? Many of the examples above seem to be related to kitchens and bathrooms, which are rooms that are often redone every 20 years or so. In general, I believe that good, functional architecture, decor, and design will always have a place and be considered classic. In the end it is important to pick what you love, with materials you like (and, if it suits you, the expert eye and guidance of a design professional), and you will think it is beautiful for years to come. I am not a fan of 'disposable decorating', so this kind of approach resonates with me.
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