I thought it would be fun to capture the top-10 design trends of 2011 — while the year is still fresh in our minds. We can also ask, “In 50 years, which will be keepers — and which… maybe not so much?”
The thing is, I spend so much time in retro-world that I don’t have the greatest sense of what has been “in” all year. My main connection to the “real world” is the New York Times Home & Garden every Thursday, and I go over to Apartment Therapy to see what they are up to, now and again. I also still get some catalogs, although they have mostly given up on me. So I need your help building a list, which we can then refine to the top-10:
I have a few suggestions to help get started — please add your own!:
- Greige Nation. Dark grey and greige everywhere, including laminates named after clammy death. Restoration Hardware gets the prize for interiors that look like they were designed by and for vampires. Although I think their prices and products are aimed at the 1%, not the 99%, dark grey and washed-out coordinates do seem to be everywhere at all price points. Accent colors: Plum and yellow.
- Edison bulbs
- Pendant lights made out of any possible piece of junk, errr, I mean, vintage treasure. “Put a Bulb In It!“
- Huge chandeliers made out of any possible piece of junk, errr, I mean, vintage treasure. Even more so: Layered chandeliers. That is: A big something (usually with vintage reference) on the outside, a chandelier on the inside. E.g.: Birdcage outside, three-arm chandelier inside… and big drum shades over capiz shells.
- Dark kitchen cabinets. Espresso. Kona.
- Big zig zag prints, on pillows in particular. There was that whole Missoni-mania at Target thing.
- Perhaps, though, silhouetted leaf prints on pillows were even more common?
- Mid century modern mania. Blogs go Craigslist crazy. Ebay prices officially go too high. Many Unhappy Hipsters are hatched. Saarinen tulip tables and chairs peaked. Like out of nowhere, 28 places to buy a mid century modern sofa. Note: Five years ago, there was NO PLACE to buy a mcm sofa.
- Relatedly: The wisdom of restoring mid century homes, even the modest ones — came solidly into the mainstream… Not only was there significant coverage about this blog in places like the New York Times… there were lots of other stories in mainstream media about such renovations… and, hey, even pink bathrooms got *some* respect on tv home decorating shows.
- Relatedly: Vintage and DIY. 2011 was an economically disturbing and depressing year — we pinched pennies and instead, bought used, raided grandma’s attic, fixed things up ourselves, and made due. Gosh, that part of the Great Recession (GR) has been fun.
- Glass tile backsplashes. I think we’d see more glass tile showers but for the GR.
- Ridiculously expensive “green” houses are still being put out there as if there were such a thing.
What else? Also, were there any interior design ideas, including those driven by technology breakthroughs, that were really *new*? And, any other big trends in kitchens or bathrooms? I’m thinking that most of 2011’s trends are “cosmetic” — surface treatments. Everyone is broke or sitting on their dough…
What do you think, readers?
What were the big design trends in 2011?
Let’s build a list, then we narrow it down to 10 with a vote. Fun!
Kelly McDonnell says
Wow, the flood gates opened.
What happened to the rule of not tearing down other people’s design choices?
That said, I am still enjoying reading this thread. :).
pam kueber says
Well ummm, the rule has gone to heck with this thread. Yes, “No one should be made to feel bad for their design choices” still are wise words. Everyone WANTS to make a beautiful home. That greige thing gets me all hypocritical. It’s funny, though, when you start listing out the “trends” it is easy to make fun — maybe because when the mass market takes hold, and you start seeing the same thing all over the place, you start to rebel. Too much of a good thing — taken too far — becomes *hideous*. “Familiarity breeds contempt.” I go back to my original question: Judging aside, which of these will be “keepers” 50 years from now.
Elaine says
I love those glass mosaics, and also the art on tile glass murals. I think those will be keepers down the road, as the designs are unique and the artwork adds a one of a kind feel to the room. It’s like those art tiles you featured the other day.
Chris H says
I don’t read any renovation/decorating blogs but this one. (I wouldn’t mind finding a few more retro sites) I don’t know or care what the design trends are in 2011.
Based on the comments I’d have to say one thing has held constant through the years – most people jump on the same band wagon.
Years ago I was a house painter doing a lot of new construction jobs. The trends may have been different than today, but everyone did the same thing, then something else became popular and everyone did that. People are afraid to be individuals.
pam kueber says
Ha! You get a prize, Chris H. Yes, this is what this post is all about!: “The trends may have been different than today, but everyone did the same thing, then something else became popular and everyone did that.”
Jill says
The new Restoration Hardware tome feels rather “steam-punk-ish” to me. As though the characters living with those furnishings have no children or spouses, but are instead reckless monocle and johdpur wearing adventurers who wind their clocks when they are home, but mostly fly about in their steam powered biplanes collecting oddities, while their furniture collects dust.
I wish it all had a bit more color and humor…because I think the steanpunk aesthetic is rather interesting…if not quite right for me.
I wonder if it’s just a tiny blip of a fad or perhaps a larger trend.
pam kueber says
yup yup yup!
AmyEbbertHill says
One thing I do like is low VOC paint. We recently repainted all the rooms in the little house with low VOC paint and it was nice to be able to use the rooms immediately after painting and not have to wait for the smell to go away.
One thing that bugs me is replacing old windows. I kept the old 6 over 6 windows in my house and added storm windows instead of replacing them with new double paned windows. It’s just as energy efficient and didn’t add anything to a landfill.
Sometimes I think it’s just consumption for consumption’s sake. Tearing down your barns to build bigger barns.
pam kueber says
The low VOC paint is a great addition, AEH. Good on you for doing the storms instead of popping for the replacements — which I hear would fail in 20 years!
AmyEbbertHill says
I love those old windows. They make the point that this is an old cottage. And you are correct, new ones fail in a short period of time. Plus, I read that new ones are tricky to fit in an old house, causign more draft & air leaks.
Lauryn says
Had I known about the window nightmare … we replaced the windows in our kitchen (I needed a rubber mallet to open and close them and there are no storms/screens big enough to accommodate them). Though I am happy that I can get air circulating in there, they don’t look quite the same as the old ones, but worse yet, the space was an odd size, so this was no simple replacement. Have had two different contractors working on them, neither of whom seem to care about the job; they STILL don’t have the proper trim outside, which means I still have a draft coming in (so much for more energy efficient) and all this extra work means more money (and the windows themselves were a small fortune). The good news is we have found someone who is a genius, has integrity, and knows how to make it all right, and in the end I think it will be okay. More money, but I just want it taken care of. (Note: the old ones will not be going to a landfill, but will be used to make cold frames for the garden someday.)
In short, I am not TOUCHING any of the remaining 13 windows in my little cottage. The storms on them are working just fine, thank you.
Just another Pam says
Thanks to an article Pam posted here years ago I resisted replacing what is for all intents and purposes a wall of glass and had those windows repaired instead. Blessings be upon her and the people who did the research.
ELK says
I am sort of scared by all the terrariums I am seeing. I remember them from my childhood and it doesn’t take long for them to become very scary sort of green goop ponds. I fear it will inspire people to “stick a frog on it” in place of the bird!
Laura's Last Ditch--Vintage Kitchenwares says
I think upcycling quality vintage furniture by painting it in various dark colors. Then, using it for bathroom vanities, kitchen islands, etc.
Kathryn S says
We did that in the seventies too, although admittedly we mostly didn’t paint them!
JKaye says
Here’s an exterior trend that started well before 2011, but certainly saw no signs of slacking off this year — the notion that when using fake stone, brick, and wood, you can completely ignore the old rule of placing the heaviest building material on the bottom and the lightest on top. Used to be, builders would use real stone for a foundation, real brick for exterior siding, and real wood for trim and dormers, for example. Now, all the vinyl and resin substitutes weigh the same, so, hey, anything goes, such as vinyl wood siding with stone dormers. Makes me cringe when I see such things.
Elaine says
Oh, my, that reminds me, Lladro figurines!
chut says
Still standing by my distaste for the granite and stainless vibe, but maybe I came off too harsh on glass tile. I think they are pretty, and heaven knows I like color. I’ve seen a lot of really nice and thoughtful restoration/renovations with readers here.
Didn’t mean to cast aspersions on any of those.
I’ve just seen some glass tiles that are too, too much for the kitchens or baths they are in.
Our rule of thumb around here is not to restore with anything that would be too fancy for the original home. Sort of like the rules for dressing business casual.
You know-dress one tiny click up from what you think your client would wear. No more, no less, and you’ll always fit in.
Same way I wouldn’t put a huge chandelier in a small room. Not only no longer functional, just doesn’t FEEL right.
Carol Litten says
Do you think the Willowtree Angels will stand the test of time??