Trendy or Timeless? Vol.5
My homework over the weekend (as given by Bella), was to get some of my decade old magazines off the shelf to do some research for another installment of Trendy versus Timeless. So, I glanced down the spines of my mags and pulled out the three oldest copies that I have (I have done some trimming over the years). There were three issues of Your Home & Garden 2017, and the home on the cover of one of them was very familiar as it was our last home!
We had been featured in the November 2017 issue and our story and photographs were spread over nine pages, so I changed my brief (without editorial permission), to what we had done in our own home ten years ago and whether it was trendy or timeless. What do we still have, what are we still using and what would I do, or not do again. This is what I discovered:
01 - David Trubridge Pendant Light
It’s such a challenge for artists and designers when they become “trending right now”. We got our David Trubridge light for a wedding anniversary present to ourselves around 2012, so it always held a special place in my heart, but I know for some people they might have moved on from these lights, not because they don’t like them, but because they felt they had seen them everywhere.
I’m a longtime fan and remain so. I love David Trubridge’s organic shapes and materials and decidedly Aotearoa aesthetic. I like that hanging one of his lights is like having an illuminated art work and I love that it is supporting a local creative and not some designer from the other side of the world. I’m going Timeless on this one (even though they went through a very trendy time).
02 - Green Subway Tiles
We were so taken by the beautiful green subway tiles used at the now closed Egmont Street Eatery, that we pretty much copied and pasted what they had done. Why change something that is so beautiful?
The “Sterling Moss” Middle Earth Tiles were such a wonderful addition to our rather monochromatic interior and the LED strip light above the tiles washed over them at night to create a glowing green wall.
It’s no surprise that I’m a big fan of green, so it will be even less of a surprise that I am still very much in love with these beautiful tiles and miss them! We went with a warm and neutral travertine finger tile in our current kitchen, and I feel confident they too will be a timeless feature, but I do sometimes miss the energetic burst of colour that we had in our previous home. A big tick for timeless here.
03 - Floral Wallpaper
I’ve been a big fan of Hygge & West for years. They believe in ‘the power of pattern to help people express themselves, bring joy into their lives, and create happy, beautiful homes.’ And I felt this wallpaper really did that for me.
The copper peonies would catch the light and the rich blue stems were soft and luxurious, to me it was the ideal image to create a restful and calming pattern for our bedroom.
Wallpaper can be such a personal choice, particularly when pattern is involved, so I don’t know if the current owners have kept this wall of Hygge & West peonies, but I believe I would still be enjoying their restful pattern. So, for me it is timeless, but I remain open minded that others might differ in opinion.
Interestingly, the aspect of the bedroom that I think has dated most of all is the bedding. The colours on the bed and chunky knit throw say 2017 more than any of the other items in my mind (although the copper bedside lights might have a date stamp too?). It’s a good thing that bedding is usually changed out more regularly anyway, so being a little trendy in this department is an acceptable casualty in my mind.
04 - Yellow Mosaic Tiles in Ensuite
We can’t take credit for these as the previous owners had renovated our phone box sized ensuite before we purchased it. These Glass Vixel Mosaic tiles from Artedomus might not have been my first choice, but I always appreciated the warm “sunny” tone they brought to our compact space and enjoyed the way that their uneven surfaces reflected the light.
Mosaic tiles have been around for over 4,000 to 5,000 years according to Google, so it would take a brave person to ever call them trendy. Without a doubt we can see phases where their use is more prolific but along with the classic subway tile, this is one format that I think has been firmly stamped timeless by generations well before me.
05 - Bit & Bobs, Art & Curio
It was also funny to see what pieces we displayed ten years ago that are still on show now in our next home. I can confirm that we are still using many of the same home décor elements, and in fact we have the same herb planter box and Dishwashing set that we had ten years ago. We still display the vintage Nagel candle stick holders, the Ikea stool and leaf print from Bella’s room, the bedside tables, black vintage chairs, and even the Kip & Co Pretzel duvet cover are all still in residence.
To keep my future self in check, there was even a “Anji’s Reno Tips” at the end of the article from 2017, so I was interested to hear what ten year younger Anji had to say and what I thought of those points today:
Build a ‘scrapbook’ of ideas. Whether it’s an actual scrapbook or on Pinterest or Houzz. Themes start to present themselves. I absolutely still do this to this day, particularly on Pinterest. I have so many boards that have been created while either weighing up a property opportunity or planning a renovation for our own home.
Stick to your guns. Just because your builder hasn’t done something before doesn’t mean it can’t be done. This had come from the fluted glass sliding panels that we used in our kitchen. We worked with a fantastic builder at the time who shared the vision and did the research to deliver what I asked for (which had been inspired by a pic in a magazine). This collaborative approach will always provide the best outcome for small jobs and large.
Go with what you love. Not just what’s on trend. You’ll be living with it for some years! And perhaps even writing a Journal post on how successfully you managed that! I feel in looking back, we pretty much stuck to that strategy outside of more regularly updated items like bedding and soft furnishings.
Spend money on a few key items. Like a stunning light or bench-top, and save on standard pieces such as handles and subway tiles. This remains very true to my decorating style now. Everything doesn’t need to be top shelf, but a few key areas where money is invested, supported by more cost effective items creates a natural, personal and timeless space.
Look at which finishes have stood the test of time and incorporate them. Marble, metals, black and white are classic and less likely to date. Couldn’t say it better myself!