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Trendy vs classic

bluekitobsessed

16 years ago

My current kitchen is very obviously tract house circa 1988 -- Southwestern style whitewashed oak cabinets that have not held up well. Thus, I'm really anxious to avoid trends that will date a kitchen. For my new kitchen I'm trying to get a cottage feel without being tied to any particular era -- maple & cream cabinets, apron farmhouse sink, etc. My KD, who of course is well up on trends, has suggested very large floor tiles (18-20 inch) instead of 12 inch ones. Are very large floor tiles a trend or have they been around forever? In the same vein, I'm debating between a bridge faucet and a similarly trimmed widespread (Grohe Bridgeford bridge vs. wideset, Moen Waterhill bridge vs. wideset, etc) -- I love the bridge look but I worry about cleaning and I worry that it'll date faster than the widespread. And what about schoolhouse lights? Stainless steel everything? Of course, I don't care if granite goes "out" in a few years because my blue granite is drop dead gorgeous. Thoughts, anyone?

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Comments (4)

pcjs
16 years ago
Since I want my house blue, you have my support. We got schoolhouse lights - rejuvination has them with a blue strip on them, which is what we got and are really pretty. That is why we didn't use a KD and we did DIY - we got what we wanted and a blend of everything.
amberley
16 years ago
It sounds like wahe you are going for is mostly classic. As for the tile, I think it matters more what they are made of more than the size. Plus, how long will you be in your house? If it is awhile, get what you want (not always the same as what the designer directs you towards). Also, I feel that it is important that whatever you do fits the house. You wouldn't put a classic Cape Cod white cottage kitchen in an adobe house in Arizona.
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Interesting comment, Lisa. "High end model homes". No.. .mostly tract home builders are continuing to promote this trend, which is way over played . The actual "high end " market... no way, except in very specific rustic planned designs with very careful specifications and prep and qualified professionals executing. The "pebble thing" is so long gone from a design sense, and it is a nightmare if not installed by a real pro. As long as the consumer buys it, the suppliers will promote it. But high end? No. Low end at best. Many materials and designs have their place but trends and marketing get in the way of good design, form and function.
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IMHO, since the tiles very closely resemble real hardwoods, I think they are here to stay Oh like faux finishing? (Was big in the 80's) Faux brick flooring? (Was big in the 60's) Mirrored walls? (The 80's) Wood paneled walls? (The 60's) Remember the white formica kitchen cabinets with the wood strip? Macrame hangers? Country curtains and country garden signs? Wallpaper for every wall surface? Laura Ashley decorating?
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bluekitobsessed
Original Author
16 years ago
To pcjs: Can you post pix? I've been eyeing those rejuvenation schoolhouse lights with the blue stripe. I don't want the whole room to be nothin' but blue -- I end up feeling like I'm living in a fridge -- but I do want significant blue accents, hence the blue granite. How do you like rejuvenation? Thanks.
pcjs
16 years ago
We liked Rejuvination a lot - they are a bit more than I wanted to spend, but they were very nice to work with and very easy to install. I ordered a bigger one and it was too big - they took it back with no hassles and I ordered a matching curtain rod and it came bent and they replaced it no problems. Schoolhouse Electric (ordered from them first - they let me return it no problems too) has nice stuff too, but their quality isn't as nice as Rejuvination, especially with their ORB finish.

Here they are lit:

Here is the bigger one I returned - too big in our tiny kitchen:

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