Interior Design Mistakes I've Made (and How I Fixed Them!)
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 25 มิ.ย. 2024
- New Audible members get a 30-day free trial. Visit audible.com/nicklewis or text "nicklewis" to 500 500 to try Audible today!
In this video, I go over some of my personal interior design mistakes that I have made over the years. I have made all of these mistakes and I am sharing them with you today so that you can maybe learn from this so you don't make the same mistakes yourself!
🛍 Shop My Favourite Items on Amazon
www.amazon.com/shop/nicklewis
🛍Shop This Video
➤Etsy - Sideboard
bit.ly/3QXVkZY
➤Etsy -Matte Ceramic Vases
bit.ly/3wxWGlE
➤Etsy -Nordic Minimalistic Ceramic Vase
bit.ly/3Tkobcp
➤Amazon - Handmade Stoneware Dinnerware
amzn.to/3pOu7Na
➤Amazon - Dezaart Wood Pendant Light
amzn.to/3Knbppo
➤Amazon - Hanging Planter
amzn.to/3q78RTf
➤West Elm - Modern Weave Storage Baskets
bit.ly/3cqtXbU
➤West Elm - Ida Media Console
bit.ly/3ARIbfp
➤West Elm - Graphic Woven Lidded Baskets
bit.ly/3Kmp0gR
➤West Elm - Rosanna Ceravolo Media Console
bit.ly/3e4ZgJS
➤Cb2 - Entryway Cabinet
bit.ly/3cpzD5K
➤Cb2 - Mill console
bit.ly/3pK04q5
➤Crate and Barrel - Blake Tall Cabinet Bathroom Storage
bit.ly/3KmO2MJ
➤IKEA - Klippan sofa
bit.ly/3vGfpJi
➤Norse Interiors - Pink Cane Doors
bit.ly/3hVUBK2
➤Barter Design - Wooden stool
bit.ly/34p2orH
➤Barter Design - Concrete decorative bowl
bit.ly/3yLQ4jp
➤Cathy Terepocki - Beautiful Ceramics
bit.ly/3i7184N
➤Fable Home - Ceramics Company Importing From Portugal
bit.ly/3yKJfyh
➤EQ3 - Marcel lift bed
bit.ly/2R0VbLu
➤Rove Concepts - Truman Coffee Table
bit.ly/3yJw00R
⏱ Timestamps:
00:00 - Interior design mistakes I've made
00:28 - A word from our sponsor, Audible!
01:29 - Buying everything from a big box store
03:44 - Installing black countertops
05:15 - Not adding enough of my own personality to my space
07:09 - Not having enough storage
09:00 - Buying a tv that is too big
🎬 My TH-cam Equipment
amzn.to/3Rcggfh
🛋 Shop My Living Room Background
➤ West Elm - Bar Cabinet
bit.ly/3cssX6T
➤ West Elm - Media Console
bit.ly/3PMKZOY
➤ Crate and Barrel - Dining Room Table
bit.ly/3e0dStS
➤ Crate and Barrel - Dining Room Chairs
bit.ly/3PTuUHd
➤ CB2 - Marble Coffee Table
bit.ly/3wxliLk
➤ Amazon - Frame Television
amzn.to/3wzEBnk
👉 All My Socials
campsite.to/nicklewis
📸 Photo Credit
Photo credit belongs to: ikea.com, google.com, cheatsheet.com, barterdesign.ca, instagram.com - @katespiers @mykitchcanada @dinewithfable, etsy.com, amazon.com, graniteselection.com, architecturaldigest.com, granitegold.com, hgtv.com, kylieminteriors.com, gearonhoffman.com, housebeautiful.com, tripadvisor.com, pinterest.co.uk, whitelanedecor.com, sarahshermansamuel.com, dwell.com, interiorstylehunter.com, alusplash.com, elephantstock.com, carmeonhamilton.com, astrollthrulife.net, eq3.com, westelm.com, wayfair.com, cb2.com, interiorzine.com, studio-mcgee.com, crateandbarrel.com, mommacan.com, hometalk.com, placeofmytaste.com, fablehome.co
👋 Heads up!
➤ My videos, descriptions, and comments may contain affiliate links! If you buy something through one of the links, you won't pay a penny more, but I'll get a small commission, which helps me keep the lights on! Thanks! - แนวปฏิบัติและการใช้ชีวิต
The buying from big box stores part reminded me of an episode of FRIENDS where Rachel kept buying stuff from Pottery barn and lying to Phoebe that it was from a flea market because she was against big box stores and then she saw their entire living room in Pottery barn store front!😂
Adult me wondering how a waitress can afford a Pottery Barn furnished living room. lol
@@snsmystic A channel called The Financial Diet did a great breakdown on the unrealistic living environments and spending shown in Sex and the City and the damaging way it markets that lifestyle to women. I never cared to watch that show, but I enjoyed watching it be torn apart, lol.
@@snsmystic or a waitress being able to afford an apartment at Central Park lol
And Ross with the Apothecary table... Lol
@@fehyndana7725 Monica inherited from her aunt and Rachel stayed at a friend's rate
I just wanted to say that it is highly appreciated that you always take care of timestamps and links to mentioned items and sites. It makes you stand out from the rest and is highly helpful
Ikr...
Also not considering thrift, vintage or second hand goods is a big mistake. Shop local and support your community.
Absolutely! That can be part of the story as well!
No kidding! You can get fabulous stuff for cheap.
I have furnished almost my entire house with things I have found off of FB Marketplace, Offer Up and Next Door. It’s a bit like being a curator for a collection. You have to be patient waiting for a quality piece to show up and match your style, and you have to be able to pay cash rather than credit, but the result can be amazing and for a lot less money. My style is more traditional and classic rather than trendy, so that may make a difference, I’m not sure. I love the idea that my money is going to an individual or small business rather than a corporation.
I've always bought second hand - both clothing and furniture's and restored them, and I got furniture's you can't find anywhere else, very cheap, my last buy is an almost new leather couch - I paid $100 it's worth $1800 from new, I would never buy IKEA furniture's, which is unusual because I'm Danish, but I want quality not quantity 😉
I'm definitely all for keeping things out of the landfill. I've found a lot of decor second hand, and it gives me permission to rework it, or use it different than intended.
Would be really cool to do a video featuring Etsy sellers you like.
I was thinking that too! There are so many handmade products on Etsy I love!
@@Nick_Lewis Oh, yeah, I was thinking that too. Etsy!
I luv Etsy, that would be great to see ur favorite shops 🤗
Yes please!
Could you please include Etsy Canada sellers..???
“Yes, of course, we all like to think that we are minimalists.” Why he gotta call me out like that? 😂
One thing that we like to do is, when we travel we will buy a small "souvenir" that is made by a local artisan and not one of the typical mass market souvenirs. We now have a couple of nice paintings and hand crafted items that show our personality and that are sentimental to us. It is nice talking to the person who created it, and like you mentioned they mean something to us and we can look at the items and remember the story behind them. We love having something unique while supporting local shops and artists. Please keep these awesome videos coming 😀
I love buying souvenirs that only I know where and why I got them. It's a conversation starter and I don't end up with cheaply made garbage that I don't feel like I can throw away because it is my only thing from the place. I have this rule that if I wouldn't buy it from my own country then I won't get it. I have a beautiful necklace from Greece, a throw blanket from Bulgaria, a hat from Italy, a painting from Austria, a small lamp and a nutcracker from Hungary, and some books from England, Scotland and the Czech Republic. From everywhere else, I just have well-taken pictures that I have put into frames and I have a gallery wall in the hallway of "Places I have been but didn't get anything from" It's AWESOME.
@@aurora7442 Hello from the Czech republic 😀 I hope you did enjoy your stay here!
@@kameliat7704 I most certainly did! I went to Prague for The Pinkas Synagogue and for the astronomical clock, worth it on both accounts. The food was Delicious 😋
I do the same thing but with Christmas ornaments. my tree is full of unusual shapes that represent places I have been. I have a pineapple, lizard, maple leaf, cactus, golf club, dinosaur, Eiffel Tower, Big Ben, Irish crystal, carved coconut shell charm, turtle, silver aspen leaf, shell, sea horse, Native American painted ornament, Tinker Bell, rooster, and many more. Every Christmas I remember where I have been when I put up my ornaments.
@@lauramiller8332 What a great idea!
The thought of sleeping knowing theres a Christmas tree under me is giving me anxiety levels i never knew i had.
It is bad feng shui for that reason.
I always struggled with the 'sentimental' stuff that was given or left to me. I ended up taking really beautiful colour and black and white pictures of the objects and then framing them as a gallery wall. Every picture meant something and fitted the vibe of the room. But I didn't have to display the actual things. A win-win for me! And YES! Storage is everything - I learned that very late! Listen to this man - he is absolutely correct!
Great idea!
Fantastic idea. Thank you! Downsizing to an apartment soon and this could be a game changer ❤
Not putting your personality into your space -- This is something that would NEVER happen to me (snort). And I've noticed that so many designers -- not to dis you, Nick -- spend tons of money and their spaces look like expensive hotel rooms. I've also seen this in photos of celebrities' houses. Ugh. Come on: it's YOUR house, YOUR apt., YOUR space. Don't be afraid of making mistakes all in the name of being "safe." Sure, learn from designers, copy some of their tips and ideas, but always remember that you live there and nobody else.
Very true! I think I struggled to find ways to put my personality into my space while still keeping true to my design style. It's a balance I've been working at.
Ricki... He has made it clear.. Nothing with a connection...Thats just not his "Vibe" Its very clear... expensive Hotel room is exactly what Nick Likes... not to dis you, Nick!!!!
Everything you say about storage is 1 million percent true. I keep seeing these wonderful, charming minimalist spaces and I can’t help but ask, where do you put the toolbox? The vacuum cleaner? The ironing board? The plant fertilizer, the Christmas lights, the patio cushions when it rains, the patio plant pots that are empty but have to go somewhere in the winter?
One of the best things I did in my office is stack a bunch of IKEA kallax cabinets of different colours, Tetris-style, 15’ high and 10’ across. I store all manner of everything in there (ok not patio cushions, those don’t fit). We, family of 3, live in probably 1000 square feet of our house but store things in the other 800 square feet. And our house feels HUGE, because there’s not crap all over (it’s almost Spartan). Meanwhile we are harbouring a collection of a hundred scented candles (spouse needs an intervention), 5000 Christmas lights and more clothes than any one village needs (that would be my issue). And let’s not start on the kid’s Pokémon collection. But it’s all organized and tucked away (we are not showy people, even with the nice stuff we own). It’s so…civilized.
Your comments on too-big televisions is spot on. To me, it's like so many modern homes where the garage is at least a third (or more) of the facade. It makes the house look like a place to simply store your car(s) - and oh, yeah - we live there, too.
I've stayed in a house where the garage was a big part of the streetside facade, and really appreciated how much more space and privacy it created in the back yard. Plus there were no bedrooms facing the (busy) street, and it was really convenient and functional for transporting children and groceries in bad weather. Depending on the design this could be an issue for curb appeal, true, but sometimes it can improve quality of life.
It’s also a result of developers subdividing new communities into smaller and smaller lots and putting big houses on them. That try to maximize the housing density while maintaining a “single family home” feeling. So instead of the garage in the back with a long driveway, it’s now out front with a short one. It’s a trade off definitely.
I couldn’t agree more! My husband insisted on a giant TV for our family room but we hardly ever use it. When we do it feels like it takes over the room.
Yes, storage! Looking at real estate staging and magazines and blogs and especially in store furniture displays I am always amazed at how little consideration there is for the need of storing crap. A single wicker basket in the living room might look super pretty but it would hold exactly one blanket and I have a gazillion blankets in my living space - all 3 of us plus the cat have to be cozy after all. And those dinky bookshelves that hold like 3 books, a plant ab and a picture frame ... Yeah, real cute. What about my other 300 books, where are they supposed to live?
I have a cleaning business and we do a lot of dark countertops that are super hard and laborious to clean to professional standards.
They need to be touched by hand to feel the dirt you cannot see, looked at a angle to see dirt reflected by light, scraped with a razor to take the dirt off when you cannot see it but can feel it. Polish them to erase smudges and water marks and bring the shine out. And lots of direct light to see what you are doing
They sound really high maintenance!
@@barbarak2836 They are!
Lots of people say this, but I find this puzzling. My parents had dark granite in the kitchen and it seemed to show EVERYTHING, and it was obvious if it hadn't been cleaned daily and after every activity. Their neutral mid colored granite in the bathrooms hid everything, and you had to feel the counters and view them at an angle to make sure they were clean.
The light granite in my kitchen also seems to mask everything, I'm always discovering my family hasn't wiped up something on the counter because they can't see it.
So while my parents' kitchen needed constant cleaning to keep the shiny dark look, it meant it was always clean!
@@banhit75 I know what you mean. Neutral beige granite is the one that shows the least but I noticed that black shows more when you have good lighting in the kitchen but won't show as much when the lighting is poor, and anything that is light colored shows more but dark grease won't show as much unless light hits it at a certain angle.
I think depends on some factors, some show more than others depending on light, type of stain, etc.
I personally prefer light colors and I have light granite on my kitchen and sometimes it is a pain to clean too because of how well it disguises dirt.
@@banhit75 you are exactly correct. The granite counters (unless it’s white Quartz) that have speckles or movement hide crumbs until you put your hand in them😛 I had black pearl granite in my last house. Yes I cleaned it well & it was beautiful. If someone is dirty it would not be. It is sort of like white cabinets, people say white cabinets get dirty easier. Not true….the dirt is there regardless you just see it more on white. Life‘s messy clean it up.🤣
it’s weird to think he would make interior design mistakes. his taste and instincts are impeccable
The TV tip is hysterical. I was in line at Costco when a dude wheeled in a huge tv to return because it was too big🤣🤣. What a hassle 😂
It happens to the best of us!
I gotta laugh, at ‘hiding all your crap.’ My home looks basically clean- until you open a draw.😑
Mine too! Stuff just happens, right?
Same 😅
My house came with a tremendous amount of storage and I love it. Probably too much. I never have anything out so my house looks kind of empty since I'm just beginning to decorate it.
"hiding all your crap". The story of my life. Too effing big television. There are times that I wish I had a brick in my hand when I walk past that television.
Hop over to the 53 things you need to declutter today (that you won’t miss at all) by But First, Coffee on TH-cam. It’s a game changer!
My design style is very simply put. I purchase only things that I absolutely LOVE because I can live with what I LOVE. Over time, I will change things out decor items, to keep my home feeling fresh each season. But, more often that not, those things I absolutely LOVE will stand the test of time. Loving your channel!
seriously, storage is SO important. we moved from a larger apartment to a smaller one and we had to consider exactly how much of our stuff to keep and to get rid of. i also had to insist on a bed with storage capacity because our travel gear would otherwise take up valuable closet space. i do recommend Japanese renovation shows though - they have ingenious ideas on where to cram in storage spaces!
Can you recommend any of the japanese shows? Or what to search for, for example on youtube?
I have built in shelves as a requirement for my future home. I like storage being already thought of. the house I grew up in the living room had wall to wall cabinets, book shelves on top of them to the ceiling and the center had space for the tv with shelves above it. It was only one wall but lots of storage
When the afternoon sun pours in and showcases every crumb that I know I cleaned on my dark, brown granite counters....just ordered new, lighter quartzite counters. Can't wait.
I appreciate you talking about not including personal items in your space. One of the things I find really sad about decorating since the abundance of generic decorating shows is the lack of the person. The homes are all beautiful, but they lack any personal sentiment. Anyone could live there. I don’t think people have to be a slave to the past, but your home should reflect you, not a generic person.
Can you do a video on how to do an office space? I find monitors, wires and a PC not that attractive so how should I go about that?
This would be genius!
Agree!!!
OMG hahaha the tv part 😂 Chris and I had a conversation about TV size last year and he wanted an 85”!!!! What?! I was like… umm so you want a big black box on a white wall? we ended up with a 75”, viewing distance the size works perfect but I still think it’s too big 🤣
Upps same here ;-( I ended up with a 55" and to be honest less would have been better for my space of 22m² (about 237 square feet).
Put the black hole of a TV on a dark wall. I have an 85 inch SONY TV on a dark gun metal black semi-gloss painted wall. It fades in so much making the space look good. The TV looks like the ghost image of a TV. The low glow of unseen lights shining up the almost black shiny wall framed by two very dimly lit mission style floor lamps gives the wall a foggy creep factor if the TV is off. If the TV is on it looks like a sharp viewport floating in a fog of light even by day. It's hard to lose a TV on the wall but it CAN be done. You know it's done right when the TV is NOT the first thing that jumps out at you when turning to look at the TV wall.
I wish I were less sentimental. I can’t throw anything away and it sits in storage boxes forever!
I wish I were more!
I understand, but you know, you’re just gonna leave all that behind for someone else to have to sort through and get rid of someday...not a bad idea to cull some of it.
I would HIGHLY recommend you have an in depth study on Marie Kondo, including watching her Netflix series. That much "stuff" can prevent you from living your best life and as someone else mentioned, do you really want to burden someone else with that task when you're gone? Please seriously study Marie Kondo!
Give yourself permission to let it go. It is hard.
Let it go. Let it gooooooooo!🎵🎤
In my last rental in Copenhagen there was this dark stone countertop that was HELL to take care of. Since the water there was too hard, you had to be absolutely sure that every single drop of water was wiped down immediately otherwise the stone would have all sorts of stains from the water. Needless to say how annoying that is to have as the kitchen countertop with a sink in it! Thanks a lot for your videos, I am just about to decorate my new home and I am very excited to put a lot of your hints into good use.
I am Danish and I know exactly what you mean, this is why you should choose a countertop, that can handle some vinegar and other acidic stuff, because that is the only way to get rid of those stains.
Totally! My old dark granite countertops were so hard to take care of.
I feel you, living in Denmark means that you constantly have to clean all surfaces that come into contact with water, and there's always a need for some sort of vinegar-based product to make it look nice again.
I'm looking to getting new countertop soon and was thinking of dark so thanks for the warning!
@@stefs3460 I commented about my dark countertops and I wholeheartedly recommend quartz (which my daughter has in her kitchen.)
Dark countertops remind me of science classes.
YAS NICK!!! Get that audible coin!! 🙌🏻🙌🏻
Thanks Bailey! I am trying to go easy on the sponsors because I don't want you all to think EVERYTHING is sponsored. I'm actually having a lot of fun with them because I get to highlight other stuff I like in addition to design. I also don't put ads in the middle of the video so that feels like a good balance for me. Having fun on this TH-cam journey though!
@@Nick_Lewis So what if everything is sponsored? Don't people have to make a living?? I never really understood the harm in having sponsors. Skip it if you don't want to listen to it.
Make ya money, Nick! You deserve to be paid for the resource you offer us!
I've shopped at consignment stores for years and have scored unique treasures. family and friends love to visit because my place feels like a home, is welcoming and cozy. a little old world, Tuscan and traditional all mixed...along with some modern items sprinkled in because I love all of those styles and they work well together in my home. every item I purchase is an investment and must be quality without breaking the bank, and I gotta love it!
That pendant light is just gorgeous, nice you have good memories of when you bought it 😁
Thanks Kathryn!
I love my dark green serpentinite (looks like marble, but performs like granite) counters. Being a metamorphic rock, it is streaked and mottled with lighter greens and grays. They have a leather finish, which I wasn’t sure about at first, but now I love. I wouldn’t go for a plain solid dark finish, get natural rock instead, which has great texture, unlike manufactured products.
Yes it a lovely stone with an rather unusual combination of colors and I find the name very amusing. I had seen it at several places and that stone doesn't age at all. You can actually change the surroundings and just keep that stone and will still look awesome if you desire so.
Those countertops sound divine Kimberly!
There’s no denying that they look beautiful, they’re just a lot of work to maintain and keep clean.
My “personal touch” is artwork that speaks to me. We already have a John Singer Sargent print (“Madame X”) in our living room. While perusing a JSS art book from the library, I fell in love with another one of his portraits, “Lady Agnew of Lochnaw”. I bought an 18x24” print, worked with my local framing shop, and now have a beautiful museum-worthy painting in my home, for $300.
I’m moving out for the first time in 3 weeks. Your videos have helped me SO much❤️
I am so glad Emma!
I have an aunt who lives in a garden apartment and her TV is so gigantic it takes up a whole wall, floor to ceiling! Besides it not looking good, it's so massive that you can't see the screen clearly because there is no room to move far away enough for the image to make sense and not distort. It;s like being in the front row of a movie theater every time you watch TV
Mistake #1 reminds me of Friends episode when Rachel bought furniture from Pottery Barn and told Phoebe it was from "yester-year."
My countertops are white! And yes, spots are so easy to see, they are always (almost) clean. I started with hand me downs, so I never bought matchy stuff from big box stores. Things sort of went together, but never matched exactly. Fast forward through the years and now that I have furnished several houses and now this apartment, I have things from Crate and Barrel and West Elm, but not everything. I still have the same hand me down sofas, which are on their fourth reupholster, changed color on my good wood furniture which you can't find anymore, and just bought accent tables and stuff new. I also display A LOT OF THINGS!!! I am a collector of little things and love to have collections displayed through the apartment and little vignettes of things, and I have my family shelf with lots of photos in the family room. Yup, I am a sentimental sap. I usually rescue stuff from my mother's declutters.
I'm similar. I love that my decor and furniture are unique and that our home reflects us a a family.
Great point about the low bed. I really like the low bed look so I was considering that for my next bed, but you're right, that's a huge loss of storage. Underbed storage is so great for seasonal clothing storage; I wouldn't want to lose that option.
My main reason for avoiding low beds is that they're hard to get out of. You must be young. Wait until you're in your 50's and you'll understand. 😉
Low beds hurt your shins when you're constantly accidentally bumping into the low bed.
I will argue the countertop statement, light countertop including stone, especially engineered stone, stain, badly! I have had and worked with everything, dark, light, timber, tile, laminate, you name it, I too am a building and interior designer, and the only product that stands the test of time has been dark garnet countertops. It is the only thing I have never regret, in my home.
I agree completely with everything else ☺️
Sentimental doesn't have to mean Grandma's teapot. I had a Great Aunt I adored who lived in a house that had been in our family for 80 years. She went into a home and the delinquent son of the family who rented the house decided to take a lit firework into his sister's room. 80 years of family history up in smoke. But I discovered anything can become an heirloom. I framed the spare key that my mother kept. I took and artistic picture of the letterbox and blew it up and framed it.these aren't things I would have chosen to remember the family home while it was intact but afterwards they became precious - and they all look kinda cool
Also you can buy things that make you think of someone you love without being anything like something they'd own. I have 2 very cool corrugated glass vases, very modern, very chic, yet they remind me of my Nana. She had a corrugated plastic mudroom on the back of her house and she used to store all her vases there when they weren't in use.
I was just recently shopping for an accent table. I drooled over an industrial one with bicycle spokes. I thought it was such a conversation piece, so ornamental!
Then common sense took over and I got a sensible piece with drawers. It needed to be functional as well as ornamental, and that spoke table wouldn't look ornamental in our home because it would have ended up covered in the tool collection my partner insists on having in arm's reach.
Yes you have to pick and choose when things are pretty vs storage. If you have enough storage then go for aesthetics, but I've learned to prioritize storage too.
Not to mention a pain to dust in between the spokes!
We have an 82 inch tv :))) BUT It's in the specific room FOR tv watching, so it's pretty appropriate there, because the room is designed basically as a theater room
I have dark countertops in my rental, and I in totally agreement. It’s always tricking me into thinking it’s clean.
Don't forget to add in a few vintage items so your space feels unique. These are the pieces that are often times the most talked about in your space. Everything new is quite boring and safe.
This was such a great video! I appreciate your awareness s d care for your viewers in different budgets. Earlier in my decorating life (my own home and helping friends) I found unique items at garage sales, consignment snd resale shops. I’m retired now and have a little more spending money so although thrifting is a habit that dies hard, I think of the artist/artisan I support when I buy handcrafted items at a small shop. I know how many hours go into creativity, design, and the actual making of the item. I think of it as a “God-kiss” of encouragement.
Your truths about storage and too big TVs were spit on! And I love using/seeing items that come with a story, like your DR light on shopping excursion during a trip for your friend’s wedding.
Kudos and kisses 😘
Thank you so much!
While my style doesn't match yours, this is why I like to listen to your videos, you're very practical when it comes to the basics that a lot of people seem to overlook., and it's information that is flexible for any style to work with.
I’m glad he said that those were HIS mistakes.
Cut the cord and ditch the TV permanently. It's amazing not to have to worry about where the damn thing will go. :-)
I ditched mine and put a beautiful traditional writing desk in the space it occupied.
Our house has black granite countertops-my husband chose it before we were married-and I agree with you. It looks beautiful but i feel I have to scrutinize it from every angle to make sure it’s clean. And sometimes the flecks in the granite make it look like there’s a crumb on the counter that needs to be wiped away. They were way too expensive for us to replace now, but if I had it to do again I’d choose a light color.
I'd love to see a video about trends that you've changed your mind on (for better or worse)!
Re: TVs that are too big - I feel like one solution that doesn't get talked about enough is a projector. Like no, it's not going to be the ideal solution for anyone who's serious about gaming and cares about latency and blahblah, but it works beautifully for my ~420 sqft apartment. I can still watch things on the big screen, but it's just open wall space otherwise.
I did this because I hate most tv stands! Totally recommend it for anyone who doesn't watch a lot of tv during the day. And the latency is good enough for the Switch, but maybe not something like CoD.
This is a brilliant idea.
I haven't had a TV for several years after a move, and just watch 'TV' on a large computer monitor on an ottoman quite close to the sofa. But this whole time I've pondered what size/type to get when I eventually purchase one.
Avoiding the 'black hole' on the wall has contributed to my procrastination, and those _mirror_ types or those that have screens that hide them when not in use are, in my opinion, way too expensive for what you're getting.
@@be5952 I'm the same way, my couch is perpendicular to my monitor so I used to just watch things from my couch and turn my monitor when I wanted to watch TV, but it was messing up my cable management. I just bought a cheap like $200 projector and now I can have proper movie nights without adding an eyesore to the wall. Only downside is I have to keep my walls white now, though.
I have regretted for years getting talked out of my dream kitchen design of white cabinets with black counter tops. My contractor would not let me do it because of all the complaints and problems he had with clients in the past. I had cut out pictures for years of my dream kitchen with these counter tops but when we renovated our kitchen I let myself be talked into white marble granite. It's beautiful. Everyone that has ever been in my kitchen tells me they love it and want it in their home. But I always think to my pictures of white cabinets and black counter tops. Thank you, Nick, for reaffirming that I made the right decision. It was pointed out that all my pictures and any pictures of black counter tops are taken at a sharp angle which does not show any texture on the surface and they are usually when the were just installed so you can't see how easily they look dirty.
the super giant screen is the ultimate dream. a whole wall of video to immerse you in your viewing experience, Just Like The Jetsons !!
[we need a sarcasm font]
Did you ever read Fahrenheit 451 in high school? 😮
Apartment tour coming soon right?!?😍
Totally!
I like to see a lot of personal touches in a living space, otherwise it looks just like a doctors office or a showroom floor and that’s depressing. I don’t put a lot of family pictures on display in the main living area, but I like decorating the family heirlooms. It makes me feel connected.
I have dark terazzo countertop and it’s amazing because it hides all the mess 😁
If it hides it, then it gets a big 👍 from me!
My dad in the 70s put down white cream tiles from the foyer into the kitchen. And then he tiled the countertops in white. And I still use them. They look great. I don't get junk all over them. If I do it wipes right up. But I think it's more than a memory that I don't want to take it out and put down some BS that I burn. The best part with a good tile if you put a hit-as-hell pot on it, it doesn't matter it's still loves you... everyone needs a forgiving countertop at times. Y'all have a good weekend
Exactly. When did camouflaging a mess become a bad thing? It makes me want to consider dark countertops specifically for the reason everyone else is avoiding them 😄
I live in a van so storage is so important!! My only regrets in my Van build is the size of my sink that I changed for a bigger one and not having a surface that’s waterproof on the counter. But a lighter shade, mine is maple is very good 😉
Thank for your good vlogs
I don't live in one, but I have a van for vacation trips, and I stay in it for weeks at a time. I love it!
@@FlaviaDias000 I have put a osmo finish on it but it needs to be reapplied from time to time. But the finish is gorgeous its like white washed wood when freshly done 😉. But yes vanlife is awesome I just spent 6 months in BC for the winter.
The storage thing, especially for bathrooms! I've seen so many people sacrifice built in storage meant for the bathroom (see linen closet) in the name of separate tub/shower or having a pantry for the kitchen (when the closet is in the hall) and then they're having to deal with guests coming into their master closet for linens/towels and they're left wondering where to stash the bulk buy of toilet paper from costco or all the linens bed linens and towels for the downstairs bed & bath are upstairs in that linen closet (if it still exists) or more commonly, are stashed in the closet of the guest bedroom and then guests are left wondering where they're supposed to hang their clothes when visiting.
I've been watching so many YTers (specifically Simmers) seemingly forgetting that humans need storage unlike Sims when they're buying and renovating their new to them homes.
Lots of good info here. With lighter countertops, I also recommend adding some sort of pattern instead of a solid color. Small tiny particles of color in a top do not show from 6-8' away. The top will "read" as a solid light color from a distance, but those extra colors and small patterns help to camouflage finger prints and missed crumbs.
In our reno we are dedicating the bedroom closest to the living room as a "media room" where the large TV will go. The room will be for all kinds of entertainment involving "media," including games, movies, and there's even going to be a small music studio that will be tucked away in a built in cabinet. Yes, there will be comfy sectional seating as well that can be rearranged to transform the space into a guest bedroom at need. There may also be a small tucked away bar with fridge. No TV in the living room!
My apartment came with a big flat screen TV attached to the wall. I do not watch TV and I don't like having an intrusive black screen in my face all day and night, so I draped a beautiful gifted tapestry over it. Fits perfectly, and now when I see it, I am reminded of my dear friend!
Great solution! And now you get to look at something beautiful.
The personality thing is so true. This is my first time living alone (not with a flatmate or in a dormitory before that) and I really made the place my own. For example, my "living room" is a full on yoga studio with the full wall of mirrors, all the bed linen and towels, mugs and appliances were chosen by me. People always say, wow, this flat is so you! It makes me happy:)
You are so right, Nick! Before I always wondered why do I like the amazing vase (from a big store that was produced in big bulks somewhere in a factory) that totally goes with my livingroom vibe much much less than the small collection of stones taken from Croatian coast that me and my partner spent our first vacation together on. Great points, keep on going!
I used to be housekeeper to a family in a beautifully updated farmhouse that had black granite countertops- 100% agree, will never choose dark stone. It was my enemy every day.
Bad Blood is such a good book. I second this recommendation. It's true life, but written in such a page turning way. It's fascinating.
Agree with all that 👏🏻 oh yesss those worktops - nightmare, get light colours, amazing advice! I am not a designer to get to that point where all you’ve said is sooo true and we are so different- amazing!
Your videos are informative and straight to the point!❤️❤️❤️ I simply bypassed videos that are an hour long and it’s nothing but fluff in there!
So excited for your new home! Hopefully you'll share your journey of it one day and share your thoughts of how your going to be designing your new space!! Love your videos as always 😁
have been following all ur videos lately , they are extremely engrossing and helpful and this time we finally get to hear about your Partner Mike. It was a happy moment.
Storage is important inside a home just like home aspect to catch the sun in winter is.
I loved Bad Blood! Who knew corporate malfeasance could be so intriguing 😅
I love your videos - your advice always seems so down to Earth and practical! The only one of these 'mistakes' I am guilty of is the TV. We got a 55" flat screen which feels too large for our Living Room, but it actually ended up being perfect since I am legally blind and now I can see it from the sofa! Plus, we got it used for $100, so at least it wasn't an expensive choice. I do cringe a bit when I look at it in relation to the space, but I am okay with it at the end of the day.
I love the dark granite but I agree with you in that it's hard to see stuff that is on them. Also, made that mistake with a new bed. I had an old vintage iron bed that was really high up off the ground. Was wonderful for storage. About 3 years ago, I needed a new mattress and decided to upgrade from a full bed to a queen bed. Didn't even think about the under bed storage. Glad I upgraded to a Queen Bed and I love the bed I chose, but I also wish that I had remembered that I stored things under the bed.
“We all think we’re minimalist” that though has never crossed my mind. 😂
HA HA!! Ditto!
I literally started cleaning my counters when you spoke about the dark counters! Luckily, I went with the white quartz! Dirt can’t hide anywhere
I have recommended your channel to all 3 of my adult “kids” who are, as I type this, moving into their 3 new-to-them first homes. One house, one condo and one apartment. Your channel addresses so many great design topics. You are a REAL person (obvi) and have a fantastic way to approach individual aesthetics. Fellow Canadian here...thanks!🥰
Before I bought my place (white quartz island and light grey quartz main countertops) I rented a place with dark artificial stone (not sure what it's called, it's like that printed stuff over particle board) and while it hid dirt, i could never ever get it clean and i always had to get down at eye level and somehow i could never get it all lol. It's so much easier and quicker to clean my light countertops!
Thanks for your honesty.
Yes, I could not agree more about the dark counter tops. We bought a house wit uba tuba granite and your analysis is spot on. I can’t wait to replace!
Thanks for your expertise!☺️
I totally agree with all of your points.
As you said is “it is what you need/can not what you want”. A lot of times your second or third choice will look better.
I also try to maximize the useful top surface area because It makes your place welcoming. I hate when you don’t have a place to put your stuff when leaving or entering.
I’m sentimental but don’t like clutter or miss match. I left one small cabinet for my vintage/family porcelain, when I opened it, it makes me feel good.
Storage is a key, if you can, store your stuff beautiful. It is always calming to open a closet that looks clean and beautiful.
Dark counterops and sinks are a deadly combo for cleaning! I learnt the hard way, they are incredibly high maintenance. And thanks for talking about sentimental items! I have been passed down some vintage vases, lampshades but they don't really do with the contemporary style that i prefer. They all end up in a cupboard...
I’m pretty new to your channel with an interest in home design. I have to say I’m hooked. Love your presentation style which is refreshing and humorous. Your videos are also relevant and have given me great ideas on home decor.
My mistakes are buying small things on impulse, accumulating collections of things eg vases, throws and buying things with no place to put them. On your list, attractive storage that fits is really difficult.
Nick I really enjoy your videos and I feel like I learn a lot! Thanks for all your work.
OMG perfekt! I was totally about to make some if these mistakes😆 Im moving out this summer yay!
Amen! My black granite is so frustrating! LOVE your videos and your style! 😀
Storage makes a huge difference in aesthetics but also having that and keeping all the crap contained is mentally relaxing - clutter is too stimulating
Excellent one. Thanks for all the tips! Made the mistake of not enough storage space under my bed. And as for the TV, as someone who has not owned a TV for 14 years, I got mine, just about right for my smaller space (42 inches) Yet I do not only watch Movies on it, but display pictures/long ambient music videos on that screen. Plus, as a die-hard sci-fi fan and designer (yet not of the interior kind) I purposefully choose and integrate my tech to give off a certain energy from some of my favourite series (Star Trek, The Expanse). This trick makes/made being alone for long times in isolation better. For instance, the big flatscreen also dubs as a "communications" screen for private (not professional) Zoom/Skype talks and my workstation looks like it could be on an Expanse spaceship. That is how my nerdiness creates some personal style, tells a story about me, despite me not being the sentimental person otherwise. I find it very relatable you said that about yourself. Thank you!
I'd love to see a video on what to do when your spouse is a HARDCORE minimalist and is absolutely happy with 1 chair and 1 tv mounted to the wall and the rest of the house completely empty. I love that we don't have much stuff, we have more storage than we'll ever use in this big house but it can feel so empty and cold sometimes and he see's rugs/pictures/plants etc as clutter.
Sounds exactly like my husband, he thinks the same about plants etc.
Found your channel a few weeks ago and I absolutely love your videos! Very clear, funny and educational ✨💛
You are my favorite designer...love what you do
Getting good sponsors, Nick! Good for you.
Thanks Lori - I am trying to ease them in because I don't want everything to be sponsored. I also don't do ads in the middle of the video when it's sponsored either so people aren't bombarded!
@@Nick_Lewis I appreciate that. Have a nice weekend.
I've just bought a house and I've made my own guiding rules from watching your chanel, from talking to friends who bought houses and what they learned from the process, Pinterest, Instagram, magazines. My 10 guiding rules are:
1. Bed and sofa must be sturdy, preferably solid wood, center pieces to their rooms, setting the tone for the rest
2. Bed frame/platform needs to be tall for storage purposes (and proper cleaning); no massive headborad
3. Sofa should be slim, not to overwhelm the room (no chunky massive units)
4. Made a list with my stuff (clothes, shoes, bags, books) and calculated how much storage I need/ what type & where
5. The dining table has to be sturdy (as it will be used as a work desk most of the time)
6. A tall loveseat/cuddle sofa/ bench I can use in different ways (to receive guests and instead of a work chair)
7. TV not more than 55 inch, the Samsung Frame that looks like a painting when off (so no black box on the wall)
8. Maximising the storage room and all extra storage space in the house (including loft) with shelves and hooks
9. Buying just the essentials, no decor in the beginning, live in the place and see what would fit in time
10. Keep things light, not too many colours ans definitely nothing without a purpose (dust collecting objects)
Great tips! Thanks!
Nick Nick Nick! Summer is coming up again! Can you pleaseeeeeee make an updated 2021 outdoor furniture guide!? My backyard needs life 🌞 and I’m not sure what’s “in” these days. Love you and your videos 💞
Tk u! U are so clear in your explanations.
OMG I didn't know that black countertops are hard to maintain - good to know. Also, would love to see a video of how you'd incorporate personality with hand-me-downs and antique items into a space :)
Dark countertop hack- use a plastic lid to go over surface (quiet, doesn't scratch, but WORKS) it scrapes off smoothie blurbs etc, THEN use spray
Always the best advice... you need your own show!
I agree with you about dark counters that have a polished finish. I have Jet Mist granite counters in a leathered finish. I think the leathered finish nearly eliminates the issues your talking about. I adore my counters!! They are classic, and I’d buy them again in a heartbeat:D
Love your videos. Such great advice!
Wow! I a gree with absolutely everything you said in this vídeo! Dark countertops are the worst. No matter how much of a minimalist you are, storage is essential. Most of all I hate when it looks like a “one space fits all” with zero personality. I want people to walk into my home and see me.
I feel like minimalist are always on the run for things they just threw out.
About the tv thing.. I bought a projector for my living room because I hate tv stands. All tv stands are hideous in different ways and I spent two years trying to find a good one for the living room that wasn't a couple grand. I had a smaller okay-ish one for the bedroom, but I don't live in the bedroom and I only use that tv when I'm sick or having a bad night for some other reason.
Compromise solution. I have a blank white wall and a projector. I get home after dark about half the year and I don't watch a ton of stuff anyway. So it's technically too big for the space but it's only seen when in use and I just have a normal living room sans tv. I highly recommend it to anyone who doesn't watch a lot of stuff during daylight.