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Home Decorating Design Dilemma

What if you don't want your house to look inviting?

5 years ago

We are currently building a new house and as part of that process, I've been reading up on a lot of "how to" articles and advice on interior decorating. One thing that struck me was how the majority, if not all, articles focused on tips to make your house look inviting or cozy or welcoming.

What if you don't want your house to look like that? This will be my third house (first with the SO) and we are continuing our preferred stark and cold style, especially in the living room/family room. To us, this is relaxing as the clinicalness helps us unwind, calm down, and clear our minds.

Although my view is undoubtedly in the minority, has anyone run across any advice articles on how to achieve/improve upon this? Google keeps giving me tips on how to achieve the OPPOSITE of this ... although I guess if we simply do what the advice columns tell us NOT to do, then that might work.

Featured Answer

Cyndy

5 years ago

last modified: 5 years ago

I would stop reading advice columns and do what works for you. Seems like you know what you like.

maybe google minimalist decorating style...or something along those lines.

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Comments (16)

Aphaea
5 years ago
It seems to me that the way you like your home--"stark and cold style"--is perfect for YOU. That's the way it should be. We all see lots of homes in magazines, on websites and blogs and in person that we don't like for one reason or another. But if they suit the person or people living there, then are are done well. So I say "go for it."
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Absolutely can I relate to this topic. I live in a 70's split-foyer, split-entry, bi-level, whatever you want to call it. In looking for information on how to update or decorate these houses, etc, I have found entire threads devoted only to people's intense dislike of these homes. The thing is, by buying this house, I got in a celebrated school district (I have no kids but I enjoy living in an area where if the kids graffiti your garage, the graffiti is spelled correctly), with an acre of land, with a creek in the backyard. It is about 2000sf, and into that amount was squished 5 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, a kitchen, a living room, a family room, and a laundry room. The bedrooms are TINY. Which I know people hate nowadays. What we've done, is, instead of adding on, we have tried to reconfigure. We turned one of the bedrooms into a dressing room, and turned our master closet, the windowless half bath and the windowless full bath (these were miniscule, as anyone familair with these houses knows) into one big walkthrough bathroom. Our master bedroom is still small, but we don't need dressers since we have a nice big dressing room adjoined now. We replaced the nasty hollowcore doors with frosted glass doors, which helps add light, and makes rooms feel a bit more spacious. We are updating the kitchen and adding more windows, plus putting in a banquette for dining. We added more closet space to the bedrooms on the garden level (sounds much nicer to say that than basement level). We are switching the huge laundry room and teeny full bath so that the bathroom is the big room and the laundry is smaller. Which also enabled us to seperate our family room into an area where we could view the fireplace, and another where we could watch TV by the walkout doors. These are all changes for our enjoyment. I have no idea if we will recoup any money when we sell, especially since we took out a bedroom and lost a half bath. Nothing can really be done about the outside. I mean, it's a split entry...Me and DH call these "house volcanoes, like the earth is trying to push a house out and hasn't quite made it yet. LOL I am loving our house now, because it's where I live with my darling genius of a husband and I have a huge yard to garden in and to let my three precious dogs run around. I know many people think my home style is ugly, that it's generally despised and realtors hate selling them because nobody wants to look at them...but I live in a wonderful area surrounded by homes that are worth much more than mine. I get to enjoy the very same benefits they do, but I pay A LOT less for the privelege of this excellent area, all I have to do is live in a house voclano:-) Joanna
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hollybar
5 years ago
Sounds like your stark and cold interiors are very inviting to you and SO. Why you two sound positively embraced,made cozy, in minimalist spaces.
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Diana Bier Interiors, LLC
5 years ago
There are not a lot of articles on making your home look stark and cold, as most people do not want to live like that.

But it's your house, so do what you like--minimal color, stark white, hard edges, no patterns, no trim, no circles. Maybe take a look at ultra modern homes--they always look very stark and uninviting to me!
tqtqtbw
5 years ago
Your dilemma reminds me of an episode of "Absolutely Fabulous" where Eddy hires a minimalist interior designer.

You know what you like. Do it.
PRO
Scott Haig, CKD
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Hi Alice, a modern, minimalist approach to design appears easy in theory, but you may want to consult a local architect or interior designer with a similar aesthetic, to actually pull it off. You can see profiles on Houzz by typing in "minimalist design living rooms in Photos" or " modern design in Stories" as a start. Some Australian and/or European examples might help, too. (For example, see the work of Didonè Comacchio Architects)
queenvictorian
5 years ago
OP, have you looked to brutalism for inspiration?
PRO
BeverlyFLADeziner
5 years ago

Look for inspiration from Restoration Hardware Modern.
Angel 18432
5 years ago
Your house, do what you want to do. If visitors don't like it - who cares.
decoenthusiaste
5 years ago
You didn't mention "style" so these may still be to "warm & cozy" for you. Elimination of art, window treatments and softgoods might give the feeling you're after.
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Manon Floreat
5 years ago
The photos you have in your living room ideabooks don't best illustrate a clinical feeling. Here a few well done rooms that might fit the bill better. I can appreciate their use of negative space.

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Casa MAMA · More Info

Tallwood, Atherton CA · More Info

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Color Zen
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
You're a modern minimalist :) I can tell you from visiting 100's of client homes, this style invites me! lol Much more so than endless clutter... And, you can tidy up in minutes.
Alice
Original Author
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
I wasn’t concerned about whether other people will like our house. Was more looking for advice on how to create/improve the style we are going for.

Thank you for all the suggestions! I had never thought to eliminate patterns or round shapes so that’s very useful. Will definitely search for minimalism and stick to only a few colors when buying furnishings (just based on the photos shared here, that seems to help streamline the whole look).
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Diana Bier Interiors, LLC
5 years ago
Good luck Alice--I'm sure that you will come up with a plan for making your home a place you love!
PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
5 years ago
I think your idea books are not waht you are describing. There is nothing wrong with minimalism IMO I have a gray, white and black house interior with very few things that are not useful besides our art that we love . For lots of people the spaces are sterile we love them.I am not a pure minimalist but getting closer all the time. I too find less is more and very relaxing.
Rita / Bring Back Sophie 4 Real
5 years ago
The one mistake i see people make a lot when they are trying for a minimalistic decor is to eliminate contrast as well as color and pattern. Look at Patricia Colwell's rooms, lots of gray, with some contrast with the white and black. The white for me looks particularly good. It would not look as nice if the chair and the sofa were black or gray.

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