Home Decorating Building a Home Design Dilemma

New contruction need help with fixture, hardware, & finish colors

6 years ago

HELP me please! I am building a new home that I don't want to look outdated in a few years. Can anyone help me with what finishes are classic verses trendy? I love gold, but I am scared that it will end up looking dated sooner rather than later.

Featured Answer

Rita / Bring Back Sophie 4 Real

6 years ago

Gold falls into the very trendy category. If you love it, find inexpensive ways to accessorize with it. Do not use it on fixtures.

It's hard to generate a list of classic vs. trendy. And while I think inspiration pictures may be a good place to start- I worry that the images we see on Houzz and IG are incredibly consistent in what they present, so you see the same thing over and over again with small variations.

Make a conscious effort to look at images from a wide variety of sources in a wide variety of styles- even styles you know you are not drawn to. Understanding both our likes and dislikes is useful- the good and the bad are useful in equal measure in informing our taste.

Perhaps yo could draft a one or two paragraph statement, as though you were looking to hire an interior designer explaining who you are and what you want your house to feel like and how you want your house to function.

Who lives in your house? Little ones, big ones, just you and your sweetheart. Pets.

How do you like to entertain? Formal sit down meals or everyone in the kitchen helping toss the salad and sipping wine. Pizza and movies for the pre-teens,

How do you live? Do you work from home? Do you like easy to care for surfaces over fussier surfaces?

Do you have strong preferences for modern or traditional design. Are you attracted to bold colors or do you prefer quiet ones?

Are there any real or fictional interiors you admire that could give us a jumping off point?

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Comments (7)

pink_peony
6 years ago
To start with I suggest that you choose classic finishes on things that are difficult to replace like cabinets, counters, flooring etc. If you like gold use it in areas that aren't going to be hard to change the item out like a light fixture or cabinet hardware. Do you have anything chosen yet? Have you been browsing inspiration pictures? Do you see a pattern in what it is you like in them? I would say pull 10-20 inspiration pictures for each room. SO for example lets say you pull 20 kitchen photos you like. Now analyze them. Is there an element that can be found in every single one like say white cabinets? or maybe 15 have white cabinets and 5 have blue. That will give you a feel for what you love. So take each thing you need to choose for that home, cabinets, floors, counters, lighting, etc. And based on your constants from your inspiration photos you should be able to get a good base for where to start.
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Kathi Steele
6 years ago
Start with the exterior....

http://mcmansionhell.com/post/149284377161/mansionvsmcmansion

http://mcmansionhell.com/post/149563260641/mcmansions-101-mansion-vs-mcmansion-part-2

Interior....

Wood floor in a medium stain. Tile floors that are neutral. White bath fixtures. Neutral decor. You can have a wild back splash in the kitchen, but.....it is very hard to replace when it bores you!!! But a wild crock tool holder can be replaced easy peasy.

Know that a lot of times, classic can equal traditional.

Here are some good things to read about timeless home design...

https://www.google.com/search?rlz=1C1CHZL_enUS746US746&ei=C9etWp_9CMq7jwSovIOQDA&q=what+is+timeless+home+design&oq=what+is+timeless+home+design&gs_l=psy-ab.3..0i22i30k1.130834.132170.0.132874.7.7.0.0.0.0.108.662.5j2.7.0....0...1.1.64.psy-ab..0.6.552...33i22i29i30k1.0.yH3hRiIloPU
jessica9874
Original Author
6 years ago
Thank you guys for the suggestions thus far. So, super helpful. I would say that my style is transitional leaning more towards traditional. I like neutral colors with a light and airy feel. An occasional pop of color through small accessories, pillows, drapes, and flowers are what i typically do. I love for my home to feel welcoming, but still nice enough to host formal engagements.
I’m so indecisive about these finishing metal colors. I love gold, but also polished silver. I think I’d be happy either way, I just find myself being more attracted to gold fixtures.
Thankfully we’re a ways away from having to pick that stuff out. It’s just the biggest dilemma thus far and i don’t see that changing. Of course what I’m picking out is pretty spendy, so i want to get it right. For example, attached is my foyer light fixture. I can’t find anything else that I love like I love this. I’m trying to find classic pieces, but question whether I truly know what’s classic.
User
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Hire a designer. There are 4972 more decisions that still need to be made.
miss lindsey (She/Her)
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Buy good quality items that you feel reflect who you truly are. They will never be 'out of style' to you because they will be an extension of your personality. I don't know about you, but what I like, what truly speaks joy to my spirit, hasn't changed much since I was young. A child, even. Yes I've been attracted to new things as I've discovered them but I still gravitate toward the same things I always did. I don't think I'm alone in that.

Hire someone to help you if you don't have the confidence that you can bring it all together pleasantly. But don't worry so much about what will look 'outdated' to others in a few years. Choose things that make them say, "wow, that is so jessica9874! I love it!!" and then your house will always feel like "You." And very few will even notice that your lights are gold instead of nickle.

Btw, it's totally fine to mix metals!!
RaiKai
6 years ago
I think it is important to think of what "feeling" (i.e. cozy and warm, classy and clean, etc) that represents you and the home you want, and then to pick pieces (not randomly, but put together an idea board or a list) of things that represent that feeling to you, and that speak to who you (and your family) are. You will quickly probably sort out what speaks to you, and what does not. To me, it is senseless to worry about what is or is not "trendy". If you like something, you like it regardless of whether it is in or out of trend. If you don't, well, you sure don't want to pick it and live with something you don't like just as it is on trend. EVERYTHING comes and goes so just stick with what you love...you are almost guaranteed to be on trend again anyway when it comes back around - In fashion and interior design alike (look at the return of 80s clothing style not long ago, and the increased popularity of MCM style interior design.

I love gold too, though for me I would prefer to introduce it in small pieces that can easily be changed or moved, like a gold thread in some throw pillows, or a gold framed mirror, a gold lamp, than necessarily faucets, or hardware that will be on my cabinets for a long time. If you love that light, then go for that light, it does not mean you need to do every other fixture in gold too. I do think, however mixing metals is fine (I do it on my body...indeed right now I am wearing a mix of platinum and yellow gold, so why not mix in my home?). Your preferences of course, may be different.

P.S. you are brave letting your phone get down to 4%, I start looking for a charger long before that, ha ha.

New contruction need help with fixture, hardware, & finish colors

Rita / Bring Back Sophie 4 Real

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pink_peony

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New contruction need help with fixture, hardware, & finish colors

Rita / Bring Back Sophie 4 Real

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pink_peony

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