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Home / What to Collect / happiness

What were the biggest design trends of the 1990s?

pam kueber - Updated: June 6, 2021

Retro Renovation stopped publishing in 2021; these stories remain for historical information, as potential continued resources, and for archival purposes.

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.

CATEGORIES:
happiness What to Collect

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  1. Kiwi says

    February 10, 2014 at 9:12 pm

    When I close my eyes and return myself to the 90’s, I am surrounded by; “country blue” with peach accents, hunter green plaids, honey stained oak, brass trim and light fixtures, all sorts of beige, vertical blinds with fabric valances, light beige or bone colored appliances, faux marble ceramic tiles, vaulted ceilings, and over sized sectional sofas with recliners, pull-down cup holders and hidden compartments for 30 remotes and/or the TV Guide. There were also entertainment centers with spaces for VHS tapes (usually in a honey oak laminate finish), whirlpool jet tubs and recessed can lights everywhere. My favorite visual reminders of the 90’s though, are the Star Trek TNG episodes. One of the best things to ever come out of the period.

    • Ed says

      October 28, 2015 at 9:33 am

      Gotta figure out how to incorporate some of those pneumatic sliding doors into my tiki bar. “I wonder why Starfleet only issued me one red uniform?”

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