Late this past summer, while contractors were at my home adding more insulation to my attic, a momentous thunderstorm swept through town. It was so fearsome that everyone stopped whatever they were doing and gathered in the garage to watch. We were there for just three or four minutes when BOOOOOM, right across the street a super-powered thunderbolt pounded into my neighbor’s front yard right. At least, it seemed that close… it was so fast. You could feel the strike deep into your reptilian brain.
Initially, there seemed to be no consequences. But when I drove down the lane on an errand a bit later, I saw that a humongous, old tree had been hit and fallen three houses down, at the intersection leading toward town. The entire DPW and firetrucks and gosh, everyone, was buzzing, it was some excitement.
Moreover, that night, when we went to watch TV: Nothing. No signal on two of the three TV sets in the house. Darnit, another project. Fast forward a couple days and a couple of service guys, and it seems the lightning came right through the (unground) cable and electrocuted the TVs. Today, we are proud owners of a big honkin’ flat screen with surround sound and high def and some variety of better cable service with 600 channels and which will be dissatisfying us by next year, I’m sure.
Our old TV was very old, so my husband likes to say, we have now left the 1990s and entered the 21st century. But not so fast. The first thing I want to look up, once I learn to triangulate the three remotes, is: Portlandia — a brand-new TV show where, yes, they they still dream of the 90s. It looks pretty funny. I like my satire. Note: Comedy/satire can be offensive… no political statement intended, not the purpose of the blog… and actually, in its way, I think this video actually pokes fun at all/both sides… Also, there is one reference to anatomical parts. Be forewarned.
Hey! My first post on the 90s!
I was bigtime decorating obsessed that decade. As I recall, the top trends included, (in no particular order):
- Pine furniture….
- Shabby Chic…
- Oversized slipcovered sofas…
- Corian countertops…
- Apron sinks…
- Arts & Crafts furniture…
- White kitchens with ivy trellis wallpaper…
- Huge prints of a pears…
- “Bringing the outside in” with architectural ornamentaion…..
What else, readers? I bet most of us were there! Note: BE NICE, everyone! This is not a post intended to diss the 90s.
JPB says
MINIMALISM. that’s all.
Cloud says
There was a small trend in teen furniture in mid-to-late 90s with inflatable furniture – I had a magenta inflatable chair!
I still can’t stomach animal prints because of that trend from around 1996 – everything from bedspreads to earmuffs was zebra or cheetah.
Seriously, am I the only one who feels literally ill, thinking about these trends?
Lisa M. says
Hunter green, yes, with navy blue and burgundy/maroon
Cows as a kitchen motif
Matchy-matchy bedding and pillows to curtains, tablecloths (the round decor table ruffled tablecloths, of course), chairs, wallpaper borders, shower curtains, towels, etc.
Grey-toned berber carpet
The home office for the family desk-top computer (so you could have email and play solitaire)
Lots of oak furniture and cabinets
Dana @ Cookin' at Cafe D says
Seafoam green and peach.
Brass everything – coffee tables, curios, knick-knacks.
Ducks and Geese on your toaster and water pitcher.
Home Shopping club was all the rage!
Mom #1 gold pendants.
Ruffled tablecloths on round decor tables.
Baby blue and pink.
Lots of cross-stitch – pillows, wall art, clothing, ornaments.
Lace dressed stuffed bunnies and tuxedo dressed stuffed cats.
Jill says
Hey! I happen to LIKE seafoam (mint) green and peach. That’s what my downstairs bedroom is, with dark green carpet. It’s very relaxing.
Midge Brock says
I like sea foam green and peach too! I tend to equate it with Art Deco , as I once lived in a fabulous 1920’s apartment with that color scheme in the bathroom. I loved that bathroom so much that I want to replicate it, so that we can transform my current, very 1970’s bathroom ( think “Liberace’ gold accessories and cultured “marble)…
Joe says
Seafoam & peach, with terra cotta accent. Little animals stenciled on the walls, especially cats and ducks. Hunter green everything. Light-oak wood. Brass fixtures. Dusty rose (mauve) and muted blue. Aspen/Navajo white on all the walls. Cheap sheet vinyl. In short, nothing I would even countenance today. Butcher-block laminate countertops and almond appliances made a quick exit.
Kathleen says
Hold it. Hold IT! What is wrong with Corian countertops? I gotta be honest, we installed them in our bathroom in 2007 and I still love them…neutral easy cleaning, low maintenance, lasts forever.
How about 4″ white ceramic tile countertops with oak cabinets and brass knobs?
And Nambe, though I think it was late ’90s.
pam kueber says
Nambe! I agree: We must all be careful about making it sound like we’re dissing on any particular feature. When I think I said Corian – it was because that’s when it was introduced and became a big phenomenon. ! I actually agree that Corian can be a great solution for bathroom or kitchen countertops in a mid-century home. I also like Caesarstone – they have a “Blizzard” that is terrific. For me the key to keeping it “timeless” is to keep it simple.
Kathleen says
Pam, I just wanted to make sure I hadn’t made some massively huge decorating mistake in my bathroom that was just a few years ago still “in” and now “out”. In the event that real estate ever picks up and we can actually sell our house for what we put into it, that bathroom is our biggest selling point. You made my heart skip a beat.
pam kueber says
goodness, you’re fine!
Annie B. says
Alexander Julian colors, herb gardens, Plantation shutters, 4″ Dutch lap vinyl siding, computer desks…..
pam kueber says
My husband was saying Alexander Julian was 80s. What do you all think?
Annie B. says
He’s probably right, Pam. It’s just that in the NC Triange area – the home of AJ – they carried over forever.
pam kueber says
haha. i still see it!
Mr. Modtomic says
I’ve got just two word for ya…Fu…&…ton.
Dave says
Hunter green was a color you saw on everything, from garbage cans and tupperware to leather sofas. I remember seeing a lot of gold, black and glass on occasional tables, entertainment centers, and dinettes. Farmhouse tables with inlaid tile tops and Windsor back chairs seemed to be a dime a dozen. Apple or sunflower kitchen accessories seemed to be a must.
gsciencechick says
HA! I had the tile top farmhouse table with windsor chairs IN hunter green! It is at MIL’s house. Really need to donate it to Habitat.
krystal says
Mauve…carpet, curtains, countertops, etc. Clunky, chunky, country, wooden decorations made with blocks of wood, twine, & wire with cutsie sayings, quilt racks hanging on the walls, pastels, dark green, the STILL IN USE Apple kitchen decor,
PLAID anything!
katkins says
Upscale Country like Pottery Barn and Martha Stewart . Leather furniture. Framed black & white photos. Metal accessories with colored spirals and triangles. Wicker and island colony style a la Pier 1.