Funny, my house is modern and my taste is sophisticated. Must mean small. No pink flamingos here. 1,300 square feet of house at the beach is a standard apartment in Manhattan. No further introspection needed lol. I think I agree with this thread. http://www.city-data.com/forum/renting/1650600-why-word-cute-used-so-often.html

"Because most RE ads are written by women, and some women have a two word vocabulary to describe things. "Cute" and "fabulous." lmao

The more I revisit the original answer, if I had adolescent taste and kitschy brick-a-brack, the answer would be pretty mean!

Now that I read your second comment, I’d agree on everything except the kitschy dig. The graphic artists from Chicago did a great job building the mermaid. I’d buy that lovely piece of art over and over! Many houses on the beach make a nice statement with their seahorses, crabs & such on their front face. For my house, it balances the negative space where a window couldn’t be and adds a unique touch to the property. I’ve received many compliments on it and it fits beautifully. Certainly an artful piece. As far as the style of my house, It was listed as a contemporary in the listing via Sotheby’s when I bought it. As far as assessing personal taste, I appreciate mine; I’m an artist and have made a nice life being such.

What do you care what adjective other people call your home? If you like living in it, that is what is important. It could be that whoever said that to you knew it would bother you, so that worked.

Interesting viewpoint. Some things may be unkind to others and not to you. The people who called my house “cute” were total strangers so unless their intention was to take me down a peg, I doubt it was mean-spirited. If a friend had a negative intent, they wouldn’t be a friend. I love my home so at the end of the day it doesn’t matter. If you’ve never been offended by what anyone has said in your entire life, that would be very interesting!

Interesting connotations! To me, "cute" is also likely to mean something more akin to "charming".

Words mean so much. I think I have to separate my perceived connotations and take it for it is. A compliment. In real estate land, charming = small. I thought this was funny to read: https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.inman.com/2016/12/07/say-what-19-real-estate-listing-terms-translated/amp/

To me cute means charming or quaint. I guess almost any word could be seen as a put down. Spacious= impersonal, high-end = pretentious, etc. if you love your house who cares though. It sounds like you worked hard to live by the beach! Now enjoy!!!

I remember when I was entrenched in wedding planning there would frequently be dramatic posts with people getting offended about their engagement rings getting called cute! So apparently a lot of people take offense. That being said, I do think that unless you have a Hello Kitty themed home there are much better ways of expressing admiration than “cute”.

Thank you for that! I realize if anyone has ill intent when addressing where you live, that’s on them. It was a personal dream of mine to have a beach house. Now that I do, it gives me great happiness & peace. 😊

Looks like in this thread you can’t addresses individual comments but oh my God @ Recordaras! Calling a wedding ring cute IS saying small! It’s sad someone would say that! A wedding ring is so personal!

@livewireoak - I addressed your comment in my first which I edited. Cute how you called the mermaid kitschy - the married graphic artist team that built it from Chicago probably wouldn’t appreciate that! It’s a lovely piece.

To all that provided positive commentary, thank you! I just thought of a great retort to the “your house is so cute” remark. Thing is, it works for someone being kind/complimentary and & it works for someone jealous/insulting. “Thank you! I found it absolutely lovely myself so I bought it!”

Good heavens! Keep the mermaid! When all your new found friends looking to come for a free weekend at your Cute beach house and can’t find it just tell them it’s the white two story with the mermaid!

Thank you Lynartist! I searched high and low for something like that and when I found it I didn’t care how much it cost, I just bought it! I love it! 🥰 it’s funny because it’s really easy to tell people where I live because of it. Last house on the street before the houses on the sand with the big blue mermaid:) I like your description!!

If your house is two story..is that 650 square feet up and down?...without seeing the interior..that could definitely be described as cute...without intended insult...with the info offered i think you may be taking offense at what may have been meant as a compliment...if it has small rooms...little couches...cozy decor ..any of this could be called cute without insult....not denigrating...

Personally i think the mermaid is really cute...no insult intended

I love your house and please don’t be offended by this but, “It’s CUTE!” (I mean that as a compliment). I consider it a dream to own a beach house, a pure dream. If people can’t appreciate your mermaid artwork - then they probably also wouldn’t appreciate the joy of living at the beach! So ENJOY it, your earned it. By the way, my Dad had a home at the beach and it was cute!

btydrvn- 1278 square feet and modern:traditional furniture with artwork throughout. I’d show off my design skills but I don’t want to publicly show the interior of my home; it doesn’t look undersized in the slightest. Plus it’s just me and I have more than enough space in the closet space is also a dream.

Kiffkat- thanks! It IS a dream!

I thought this was interesting considering the thread. This home is only 162 square feet bigger than mine. Is this ”cute” too?

https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/112-Waterbury-Ave_Milford_CT_06460_M43521-71037

Adorable 😂

@ lynartist - lmao at almost 700k? I wonder, truly wonder how much people pay for their houses to gleefully say cute without thinking, “that‘s a mf’ing expensive cute house”! It’s like buying a 700k puppy! Now THAT’s adorable!

I have fully concluded by this thread to avoid ever having your house be called “cute”, you have to spend over a mil at the beach. Cute is a cute word. I know it’s my very individual, personal opinion yet I’d never describe someone’s house, wedding ring, relationship, job, business endeavor, “cute”. I will think of it as a compliment from here on out but with our vast language, full of adjectives, “cute & adorable” to me are reserved for adults that have freckles (compliment), babies, little children, puppies, kittens (any small animal), stuffed animal, etc. Somehow, the word takes on a different meaning & tone despite the very adult & expensive moves/accomplishments one had to make to achieve them. It really misses the mark as a compliment, however genuinely intended.

Hi Julie, I totally get what you are saying. Just remember, if the word “cute” is used by a true friend or kind person to describe your beach home then it’s always a compliment. Now go enjoy the beach while summer is still here! 🏄‍♀️ 🌊 🏖

I concur. I think I care about words a lot; I’ve been a writer all my life:). 🧐