Speaking of sustainability. I used to work for a family that did a HUGE renovation and took out their beautiful 5 year old kitchen with gorgeous granite countertops but wait...this story has a happy ending. They SOLD their kitchen, counters cabinets and all to my dad for a good price (especially as the granite was at high risk for cracking one little peice of a backslash lip thing did) who with help and hard work got a beautiful little kitchen , the other people got their new huge ( double the size) kitchen and both groups saved a whole kitchen from the landfill and did a sustainable design.
Keep your eyes open for sales in really wealthy areas. They are often handled by companies that do estate sales. My dad has gotten furniture and cabinetry from multimillion dollar houses. They redo stuff every 5 or so years and sell the old stuff off before construction starts. For example, his dining room table retails for $20,000! He got it for $150 from a family redoing their interior.
My brother did the same- nothing really wrong with the white farmhouse kitchen itself but it clashed with the prairie style and was visible because of the open plan. They had a custom kitchen made by an Amish carpenter- it was beautiful and more workable layout. They removed all the pieces very carefully
So good to hear while the “property brothers” go in with sledgehammers and could donate to people who need it. Like in Detroit or Pittsburg in run down houses
A family member had granite in a kitchen that had been 'luxury' renovated 20 years ago. So when they wanted to update, instead of ripping out the expensive countertops, they worked with it for the new design with the cabinet paint, fixtures, drawer pulls, sink choice. It looks great. I wouldn't choose it, but isn't design about working with what you have and making it gorgeous?
I had just purchased my own home when the Tuscan kitchen was all the rage, and I loved the granite countertop that went with it. Countertops are expensive though to switch out and I did the same as your family member. I had my kitchen cabinets painted to October Mist BM sage colour paint, and it looks lovely with the now dated granite. I think a darker green would have worked better but still loving the outcome. So it's best for the budget to work around the expensive objects in your house, and you end up with an eclectic interesting home, in a good way. When homes look too polished I find them cold and uninteresting.
@@kyraleos yes! Thanks for sharing. I’ve moved cities a lot myself and when you are renting-even a nice, new place-same principal applies. I find it can help hone my creativity in interesting ways.
That’s what I did. I have the whole busy granite-honey oak cabinets-beige tile trifecta that was all the rage at the time, and some fresh cabinet pulls and a fresh coat of paint on the walls really makes it a lot less dated. It’s like literally fine.
I totally agree. Isn’t it hard to meet people who say what the mean these days? The number one thing that attracted me to this challenge. I just love nick’s character.
I see all this TikToks of girls "sacrificing" the -aesthetic- of their place to let their partners put up their decorations (trinkets, action figures, legos, games), and they always give them an ugly black Ikea shelf in a dark corner. It would look so much better to make an effort to make it all work together. As you said, let the room tell a nice story. Not the story of how your partner is a man child without any right to his own space. My current rental has "half" built-in wooden bookshelves in almost every room (they take up most of the wall but don't go all the way to the sides or the top, and the bottom half of the wall is free), I absolutely love it. They have an irregular layout and built-in drawers, and it's the most practical storage solution/decoration I've ever had. The place is small, so wall-to-wall bookcases would sacrifice most of the space, but I can fit a bed or a couch under them, and have hooks and art in the space at the sides, without blocking access to them at all. The fact that they are flush to the wall is also a godsend. When I have my own place is the first thing I'm gonna plan.
Nick, I absolutely love that you talk about how fast trends for home furnishings is not good for the environment or our budgets. You are so real! I’m not even decorating at the moment but I still watch everyone of your videos.
Just discovered your channel. As a 67 year old lady who is on her third house and has strong opinions about decor, I love your videos. You know what you're talking about, but your commentary has a little standup to it, too, and you're content is so thought provoking to me.. so glad I've just scratched the surface with your content!!!! Thanks!
Your comment just spoke to me. I’m 63 and this is my fourth home, been here for 23 years and am passionate about my decor. I can’t get enough of NICK! I’m addicted for the very same reasons you stated. What amazing content! And his sarcasm has me laughing and glued week after week!
I’m a month shy of 68. I discovered Nick through James at Paint People (they often do collaborations). Nick is a pleasure to watch. And very knowledgeable as well.
61 here and in a new to me home, town etc. After living in one area my whole life. So I'm taking my time, doing what I want in this place, and LOVE, love the commentary Nick brings to the table, whether it be wood, natural stone, glass, or ... plastic :)
I just chose granite countertops for my new home. I agree, the stone isn't the problem. The dated cabinets are the problem. I love marble, too. Granite won for the durability.
Absolutely! I've put granite in two of my houses so far. There are so many more options than the shiny speckled tan stuff that people think of. It's such a great stone. Highly recommend.
Marble is sooooo impractical! You literally cannot clean it or remove stains on it without ruining the finish.. I had two beautiful marble bathrooms and try removing hard water spots or soap scum off of marble even when it has sealant on it.. Never again will I put in marble.
I have white kitchen appliances and I love them. Bright and clean. The newest trend to black kitchen appliances appalls me. You don't want clinical depression in your kitchen, and by the way, black shows everything - cleaning nightmare!
Nick’s Nightmare Home: polished concrete floors with animal print rugs, matching 3-pc suite in cream bouclé with bouclé accent pillows & a feature wall papered in giant jungle florals. Lovely.
And don't forget some rhinestones in the decorations, maybe in the desk chair cushion or encircling the bottom of a bar glass to give his drinks have extra sparkle.😉
@@megjillmright probably don't own a bed frame or side tables. I think he is in the middle I am close to being a little cluttered but more paper and family member clutter not my own 😄
As a geology student I definitely have a bias and I love granite ❤ it's really durable and extremely hard because it's full of quartz! Of course if all the rest of your kitchen looks dated it's not gonna look amazing but I truly believe if you put it in a great design it's gonna look super cool.
My husband is a geologist and LOVES granite too. And you’re right ..ANY counter would look dated if it has dated cabinets and backsplashes along with it.. Granite is here to stay! 😄
One thing I don't understand why people started hating whole heartedly is a regular kitchen. Everyone loves the "open concept" and totally believes separate kitchen is like forever in the past. Open concept does work in many situations but throwing away forever the separate kitchen idea seems premature. Love your videos btw, thanks a lot 😊
@@lv2draw1 My kitchen is beside the dining promo but still separate. I wish I lived in a house big enough to worry about caring dishes to the dining table.😂
I like a separate kitchen. I like to keep the chaos of my kitchen tucked away. Also, we have a musical family so we don't like the open concept due to the lack of sound barriers.
My last kitchen remodel, 2017, I went looking for countertop options. I knew I was done with granite - wanted soapstone but knew my budget would get in my way. Walked into the showroom, explained how I didn’t want granite but loved the look of soapstone. She immediately left and came back with a ‘leathered granite.” WHAT? So here I am with another granite countertop and I LOVE it!
Just googled leather granite, super interesting!!! I definitely dig the textured finish but maybe with a less speckled piece. The more solid colored pieces kinda remind me of slate. I wonder how cleaning the leathered surface is?
My parents have leathered granite and I’m in love with their counters. My mom also found this beautiful antique dresser and had a slab of the same granite custom cut to fit to make their guest bath vanity and it’s honestly stunning.
I adore my granite countertops 😍 When I was in the store looking through the slabs of granite, I was in awe - so many of them are like works of art! With everything else in my kitchen very understated (white cabinets, stainless steel appliances), the granite takes center stage and looks stunning.
You nailed it about certain granite slabs being like works of art! A relative selected a granite countertop that had wonderful “movement” in it - the most beautiful counter I had ever seen. I still think about that countertop.... I group granite into 2 main categories: Conglomerate and Sedimentary. Of the two, it is only the latter that’s truly unique, captivating and beautiful. Conglomerate has that scattered, commercial look - it’s the stuff they use for office buildings and headstones. Sedimentary is layered, with undulating lines and elegant waves. People going for the Tuscan Look often opted for taupish, golden or caramel Conglomerate - so it’s little wonder they got sick of it: it lacked any artistic element. 🤷🏻♀️
I absolutely love granite and it comes in subdued and busier patterns for all styles/ tastes. Of course the price points will differ. Gorgeous natural material
@@HeronCoyote1234 Not really. Lowes laminate with install starts at 27/sf granite starts at 50/sf. I work at Lowes in the cabinet/countertop dept. I'm actually watching this on my lunchbreak.
@@LDM805 our Lowe’s (upstate NY) showed they were almost the same cost, once you add in install. For a bit more, especially for only 25 sq ft, we’d rather go with granite (Roaming Mist, I believe, and the cabinets in Cloud).
@@LDM805 There are minimums on laminate though. Last time I priced a laminate countertop, it was $700 (Home Depot's minimum). A black granite remnant in the same space was $660.
I love traditional (closed concept) floor plans. The open concept thing is getting so out of hand that I feel like in 5 years houses are gonna start looking like warehouses. I can’t stand houses that are just one room with a kitchen island in the middle. I’ve also noticed that lofts are becoming a big thing in new builds and I think it’s the biggest waste of space. Like you have a living room downstairs and that space could’ve been another bedroom which would increase the resale value.
Yes. They are great for parties, but not good for trying to cook while someone watches TV or having your friends visit while someone watches TV etc. Open plan is not great when your hubby is a sports addict.
I love so many things that other people think are odd, ugly, dated, or obsolete! Federalist style decor in pale butter-lemon yellow and rich royal blue; so-called gallery-white walls in a living room in order to provide a neutral backdrop for all colors of art; striped silk chair pads in saturated colors like blood orange and cobalt blue or tangerine and goldenrod. Brass? Yes. Copper? Even better. My aunt had a collection of copper gelatin/aspic/mousse molds hanging around her kitchen and I still love how they looked.
I lived in a town founded by Quakers in the 1600s in NJ, and furnished my home in Federal period furniture. But in 2014, I moved to Los Angeles, and I now live in the high desert in New Mexico. I had to leave that style behind -- just doesn't work in the West. But I still admire it!
I ❤ cobalt blue and saturated jewel tones! I'm a rare beed though. If I could mash up a Craftsman style home with its clean lines and woodwork pair it with copper and black metal accents and a jewl tones with a bit of 50s aqua appliances kitschy 🍋print on teal and for fall have some subtle 🦇 decore Id be in heaven !
I LOVE that brass became so popular and is still so widely available. It makes it easier to match the midcentury pieces I inherited and are going to last forever!
Actually, when I was 9 we had an open staircase. We kids learned to jump the last 3 steps because our cat would try to reach through from his hiding place to grab our ankles😂
@@DaveNYCbest comment ever 😂. Now I am picturing the cats playing on the dead kids….actually I’m pretty sure the cats pushed the kids and that’s why they fell through the open steps.
Live in Sweden, some people don't bother to move their furniture from apartment to apartment. Live in an apartment complex with about 120 apartments, there are at least 5 usuable pieces of furniture in the burn bin each week. I haven't had to buy any household plastic items in the time I have lived there.
In the village, my family had an open staircase. And three children. It's actually really hard to accidentally fall through these spaces unless you do it on purpose 😂 more important is to have the barrier and arm support on the outer side of the stairs.
We just remodeled our kitchen and my favorite countertop material was quartzite, but was out of our budget, I tried to like quartz, but couldn't get into it.. so I found a new river white granite that I just love. I love the veining and its light with grey, white, and I love that it has depth and that it comes from the earth
@@dianeyoung8068 you can argue parents are irresponsible if they opt for the open staircases knowing the risks with their kids. Not that they’re not watching kids like a hawk.
@@Nick_Lewis that’s exactly what we got has worked perfectly for three puppy dogs, and two kids and after some training n educating it comes off :) also ur reply just made me totally go fanboy and has made my weekend.
my in-laws had open staircases in their home since my husband was a baby. He's climbed them, his nieces/nephews and any other tiny guests have had no issues with them. Initially I was afraid of them too, but quickly realized that if built correctly (correct height, width, pace- stair engineers know what I mean) the probability that you/your child would fall off those stairs is equal to falling off a flight of regular stairs. Kids aren't made of glass and sugar, and they're smart (or at least are quick learners), they can manage a bit of pain. (and if we're talking about a baby... what are they doing near a stair of any sort lol)
Look up Calvacade of Food. They just did a tour of a Kalvenator Kitchen and other retro appliances. Metal cupboards. The colours were fantastic. They had four stoves from the 50s in 4 different colours. I still do not know what I loved best. You will love if.
I’m with you on minimalism. So calming. I don’t care if my space doesn’t scream my personality to others when they walk in. I’m the one living in it. I like my space to feel like a calm resort.
I was so confused about the open staircases, because almost everyone had them, when I was a kid and I never heard of a child falling through them. Then I realised: I am german - we have DIN Norms and safety regulations. So, maybe the stairs are not the problem in this scenario.
As german myself, experiencing both open staircases at my grandmothers and carpeted enclosed stairs at my parents... the statistics might be off but I slipped on the round carpeted stairs soo much more. I can't count how often I fell. Zero times with the open staircase. But again, fewer times at grandma than obviously at my parents.
I am with you Nick on the granite. Why throwing the baby with the bath water? All not granite are created equal and some are absolutely gorgeous. I waited years and worked many many hours to purchased a beautiful natural stone countertop, and what a treat! Two years later, I am still in love with it, not a week goes by where I notice a new 3-D stunning detail in it. I just love wiping it as it is so beautiful. And if you really use it to its true potential, sourdough doesn't even stick to it! I was one of those thinking that a countertop is just a countertop that you no longer see after a month. Well I was so wrong, I see and admire it everyday!
Ahhh! I love the look of stainless too. However, as someone who actually cooks…a LOT…in my kitchen, those stainless appliances are a pain to keep clean. Every single one of them.
The new alternative to the stainless steel are definitely going to be those cream-colored appliances with brass handles/knobs. They're sort of vintage-looking and I really like them! Stainless steel is always a good choice too, though
Love everything you said! I would like to see more of these. Love an open staircase, but as one ages, tough or dealing with an injury or surgery. Yikes! Fantastic point about granite. We need to value nature's beauty and not view it as easily disposable. It's the real deal.
A well designed staircase, with a strong sturdy hand rail, is no worse if open than closed. Well, maybe if your feet are so big they bump the stair risers or go past the open stair treads. But I'd call that a poorly designed staircase. I am both older (60s) and had major surgery a month ago. [I'm fine now, surgery fixed the problem.] I learned from a physical therapist the best way to deal with stairs when recovering, and they have not been a problem, open or closed. In fact, if I remember, the stairs I practiced on in the hospital were open. Off topic: for anyone who needs to know, the proper way to manage stairs when you're weak: going up, lead with your strong leg, one step at a time. Going down, lead with your weak leg, one step at a time. And use the handrail, both if there are two you can reach comfortably.
I am finally at the point that if I like it, it’s staying. I don’t care if it follows a trend. No way do I want the mess, expense and work of ripping out rooms in my house just so I fit someone else’s idea of a trend. My home is designed for comfort and peace. And that never goes out of style.
@@thesender6321 I didn't know the copper pennies weren't copper all the way through, but I should have guessed it. I live in the West and used to have some old copper stuff from Goodwill. Over the years, I guess I got rid of it due to not really having a place where it would look good. Now I have a little office/den and wish I had it - but I don't see copper anywhere. I think you just explained why. 😁
Minimalism is so great for making smaller spaces feel bigger. I’m way too much of a clutter bug/don’t have enough storage to execute, but in a tiny 400 sqft apartment in a city, minimalism can really trick the eye into feeling like a space is massive, especially with the right lighting.
As a neat freak single person, I love the stainless appliances, but hate the fingerprints. I vote “Yes “ on paneled appliances, but they are in the want category, not need. Good video Nick!
Though there are many stainless appliances that don't show fingerprints! My Bosch refrigerator, for example, is stainless with an invisible glass panel (comes that way). Can clean it with Windex and fingerprints are almost nonexistent.
Natural stone of any kind is beautiful and any can work with any design style. I hate when people tear out natural stone instead of working with it. You can fit brown granite into a modern design. I can understand people wanting to have the one they were dreaming of though. I got to pick my quartzite countertop. Fortunately I was only tearing out old laminate.
I have long been a fan of bronze / pewter ceiling light fixtures (mixed with chrome handles faucets, etc. and crystal candle sticks / glass vases) and black accents and black and dark wood furniture. I actually prefer black fridges and such to stainless steel. I know some love light rooms, but I don’t-I feel ungrounded in them. I don’t know where I picked up this love of black and dark woods (particularly since in my early 20s I was in love with oak) and jewel tones, but that has featured in my home for 35 years. I know people say not to purchase art to go with your furniture but I found my inspiration for my furniture and colors in my home from the art I’ve purchased. I noticed the same colors repeating themselves and realised those colors are what I love to have around me.
I put in my kitchen a stainless line kitchen counter and range hood. White subway tile with black grout. I was so careful to not buy too bright or too cold light and i nailed it. Also the range hood light create such a cozy mood.
Totally agree with everything you mentioned other than the modern staircase. We literally just ripped up our carpeted stairs and installed vinyl plank and my poor nine year old has fallen twice on the stairs. I told him to start going up on his hands and feet like a cat. Thankfully that helped. He still has to go up super fast though for some reason. Always in a rush, so I think we will have to avoid those modern stairs with the giant gaps. 😂
@@darkcreatureinadarkroom1617 Yes, there probably is, but I have always held the child's hand, and kept repeating, "slowly". Funny they gain confidence and motor skills and love to show off. I struggled with being a helicopter parent, and learned more than they did.
My next-door neighbor raised 2 young children with an open side on her stairway. I was sure that kids would fall off, but she said her children never did!
@@annbrookens945 I hope children are being taught to stop and look both ways before crossing the street. I have seen children younger than 5 climb up and down ladders.
coloured appliances, before the big white fridge took over you could get you appliances in various colours, also bathroom fixtures like bathtubs and sinks.
Love My Granite. in the kitchen with the Stainless Steel backsplash it has a kitchy 50's vibe that fits my MCM home. cabinets are all white the stove is stainless the DW and Fridge are white. the Accent Colour is Red. Very 50's diner kitchy and I Love it.
I have a plywood kitchen stained walnut with harvest gold counters and love it. Period dining furniture to match. Love it! Got to learn to work with what you have.
This video is the epitome of why I love your personality. I got a good laugh. "survival of the fittest" 🤣😂 Also, "Sometimes with the metals you can't win" is so true. p.s I've been speaking poorly about my granite because its "too busy with its speckles" but you have made me take a step back and appreciate it again. (Even my house built in 2021 has it)
I literally just bought that exact same white fluted side table (you showed in the beginning) today at Homegoods! Lol I saw it recently on Pinterest and loved it but didn’t want to pay the WestElm price for it…so glad I came across it and was able to snag it for a great price …and that I’m not the only one who loves that style and isn’t afraid to say so! 😁 I agree with you you on all of these “others hate …but you love” styles you mentioned! Curate the home YOU ❤!
Surprisingly enough whit is coming back. It’s not like the old textured white but a smooth sleek modern white with brass or copper handles. Very beautiful!
“Survival of the fittest” 😂 I love you. Agree with all of these honestly. I use a mix of brass and matte black fixtures in our home, and we rent, so I am very grateful for the stainless appliances over ugly white any day. 🥂
could be worse, he could have said, "if you have a 9 year old who died from falling through the staircase odds are you still young enough. just go ahead and have a replacement kid"
Thank you for defending granite. I especially love red/pink granite which is sourced locally to me. I think it's gorgeous and I love the idea of using local building materials.
Soapstone is my favorite too. You can put a hot pan on it. And it isn’t as reflective. I found granite makes it look like you have twice as much stuff on your counter because of the reflection. I like the look of soapstone and the beauty of the veining. Old New England homes used it a lot and that’s where I’m from.
Thanks, Nick, for declaring your loves/likes in design and decor. I really love minimalism, too. Like you, I'm somewhere on the continuum closer to the more minimalist end, but my husband and I have very different tastes, so we meet somewhere that works for both of us. Open, uncluttered spaces make feel happy.
YES to Granite!! i wanted a black marble dining table forEVER and I ended up picking a granite piece from the stone yeard -- it's a beautiful black slab with looongg white veining that looks exactly like marble, with a bit more interesting texture, and MUCH more affordable. Best of all, looks nothing at all like those Real-Housewives-of-NJ kitchen counters!
I’m obsessed with floating stairs. Especially if there is a seventies style planter bed under it. I love that you are willing to get cancelled for it. I’m totally there with you
I dig all of these things, but i get nervous around open staircases solely because i have some balance issues and a great fear of heights. I think they look great! I might not choose them for myself and I do have reservations about them with small chuldren, but they are cool in the right spaces.
Brass: we were gifted some brass candlesticks and a small pot/container when we married 40 years ago- still have them and they come out in the winter months. I am a cozy minimalist- comfy furniture, side tables and coffee table with minimal items on them like lamps and coasters, the coffee table has nothing on it because we put our feet up on it (no recliners for us) and we have 2 Labs who sweep everything off the coffee table; we have no pillows on our sofa but do have lumbar pillows in leather on our mid-century side chairs that are pretty deep- everything has a place in our small home and only the things we love is out but there are “dead” space on walls and flat surfaces to give the eyes a rest. LOVE stainless steel appliance- a kitchen is a kitchen- you cook in it, you use those large appliances constantly and generally, stainless steel doesn’t get chips on the finish like white and black, my kitchen is function first then pretty and again, there is a place for everything and it’s not on my countertops or on the top of my fridge and my appliances are some of those things I am willing to do the “leg work” on for cleaning vs fluted or carved furniture or trim.
I feel like a lot of traditional, antique and maximalist looks are coming (back) into style, but I also still love open staircases, minimalism and stainless steel appliances. But that's the great thing about interior design- to each their own! Live in a space that makes YOU happy! :)
We lived in Germany for a few years and our house had those open stairs. We called them danger-death stairs and they were a pain! We have two dogs and all their hair would fall through the stairs and get onto each floor below. We’re talking fourth floor all the way to the ground floor. Ours were also stone and didn’t have rounded edges, so if you stepped down wrong, you’d cut the back of your ankle. I hated those stairs. I didn’t know that some people hate granite. We bought a house last year that was newly renovated and the kitchen and bathroom have granite countertops. I love them! They’re pretty low maintenance compared to marble and I don’t have to worry as much like we did when we had plastic countertops. Our kitchen is pretty minimal though, so I think it works nicely.
I started watching your channel a few months ago and I have become a big fan! I’m in my mid 20s and am just starting to focus on making my space feel like a real home. I would love to see more videos about apartments, smaller spaces, or rooms where your ability to make changes are minimal.
My problem with brass is that most of it isn't really brass. Brass is meticulous to maintain and also expensive because it contains copper. Most modern home furnishings use a plating method to mimic brass which doesn't always look convincing. For me brass looks best when it's just a little bit tarnished, and that's hard to mimic. Art deco style window frames, railings, elevators, usually in mid century hotels. That brass was gorgeous.
I would agree about the minimalism. I feel so stressed in a cluttered home. I don’t live perfectly minimal and my home certainly doesn’t look like a showroom, but that’s always my goal.
Imo brass ages better than almost any other metal for home decor. A lot of these "brushed nickel" type finishes start to tarnish or rust too quickly. Brass is timeless. Look at vintage decor and antique shops. Brass isn't going anywhere because it is beautiful*and* has longevity
In my family home, we have a beautiful light wood open staircase between the main area of the house and our under the roof rooms. We needed something that wouldn't block the light between the big window at the end of the hallway and the center of the home. You should see the sunlight in the morning coming from the window, through the staircase and into the heart of the home, it's beautiful.
I love Tiffany Lamps and I think they are considered old fashioned and grandma-esque but I just find them so beautiful. The same for any lamp you would find in your grandparents house like those ones with the lamp shades with tassels.
I think the trends are coming and going so much faster because we have way more exposure to every style than we ever have. Like you get sick of a popular song playing on the radio all the time way faster, being exposed to the same style constantly on social media will make us get tired of seeing it and want something new.
I was gifted some great brass decor pieces along with a bold chrome and glass entry/side table by my godmother when she was downsizing. As much as I’d love to marry myself to one metal color tone, I like that I have a variety and I don’t feel too matchy-matchy. They’re also special bc they remind me of my godmother. I def gravitate towards brass, though. No one could ever convince me it’s dated, it’s CLASSIC!
So what I am wondering is, where do people get the money to keep gutting and changing their homes every year or two, to suit the whims of fashion? 🤔And don't even get me started on sustainability! PS In regard to open staircases, I love them, but my dogs are terrified of going up them! So we have the old fashioned kind.
They don’t. The fashion is what new homes are being built with or people who are renovating anyway are doing. No one is saying that people have to follow changing fashions in home building every year.
We moved from a 2003 faux Tuscan-style home that we built last year, and I was going through conniption fits over my gorgeous granite countertops to the point that I requested a portion be saved and returned to me if it was torn out. Thankfully, the new owners LOVED it all, only changed the flooring (it was needed), and are enjoying the very upgraded countertops we had put in. We are in a 1950's flat roof and we put in soapstone, which I love equally. I think I'm going to seek a fluted piece, though. Thanks for reminding me of that.
Yes. It's usually that heavily speckled and swirly granite with stained oak cabinets and a dreadful Tuscan tile backsplash. I didn't even like that when it was a thing. I replaced my countertops with quartz last year but some of the granite they had in the showroom was stunning. I was really surprised at the variety.
I adore the Stainless Steel appliances. They blend into the background at this point. We just bought a huge home on the water. It has white fridge, stainless double ovens, and black dishwasher front. We immediately switched out the fridge with stainless and the dishwasher is next along with new countertops. A nice stone. Not sure which one yet but we were kind of shocked to see laminate in this price level of home. I like the easy to clean tile floors but, wow, hard on my feet!
The term “fluted” is new to me in regards to furniture. I have a custom coffee table and curio cabinet that have corners with this detail. I’ve had them for at least 15 years, and they’ve endured through remodeling and a move to a new house. I expect to pass these pieces to my children when I’m gone. I like how it softens the corners, and (of course) like that they are one-of-a-kind pieces. My husband is the cabinet maker who made them. The house I grew up in is the same era as the house I now own - late 50s, early 60s. Both had copper colored hardware on cabinets, and also doorknobs and hinges throughout the house. My current house still has this color knobs on all the bedroom doors. (It also has light colored woodwork - once blonde, but darkened slightly through time. Though we - and previous owners - have removed a lot of the 50s from the house, I still like to give a nod to that era. I have two original pieces in the living room (a chair and a Lane Acclaim side table), I am slowly adding in brass pieces that fit the style. I think brass is timeless, though I won’t be putting seagulls on my wall anytime soon 😆.
I like minimalism in terms of how much stuff there is in a room (crowded spaces makes me anxious, I grew up with a hoarder), but I like colorful furniture, or with pretty patterns.
I hate marble in the kitchen and there is a reason for that. In 1974 when i was newly married we moved into a flat in a house built 1936. The kitchen sink and counters where marble. No dishwasher. I dont know how many expensive glasses i crushed. Just by laying in the sink even if one at a time, crash. Never again. Then i think at least my home is mixed style. I have chairs from the late 1800 from my grandfathers. Dinner table from 1990 a traytable and more classic pieces. I mix and match and thats my home.
Usually when you talk Nick, I feel that you are the male version of myself. It's like I am listening to myself out loud and I find that fun. Horray, you have just given me a that's you and this is me moment worth cherishing. I love the wavy natural edges to feature furniture. I also love concrete floors in the desert (I'm in Mexico). I also like floral patterns in some places that you need to wait for somebody and there is no interesting view out the window, like a waiting room, hall.
When we moved into our last place with original MCM floating stairs, the first thing we did was check to see if our 18month old's head would fit between the slats. Nope! they were fine for two small kids. I LOVE them too.
Granite or any stone is a fantastic material if you actually use your kitchen to cook in. You can put a hot pot directly on it. It's hard enough to resist contamination and while you really shouldn't, if you're in a hurry, an occasional cut directly on it won't kill it. I live in a small apartment in Israel, where granite is pretty standard, not a luxury, and my landlady is an architect. She put simple off white cabinets in the tiny kitchen with black granite counters. For what it is, it looks good. A kitchen is a work space. If you actually WORK in it, you want it to be efficient and easy to clean. It's amazing where spatters will go and grease will hide. .
I’m with you Nick, I like fluting detail. Also, applied, caning, trim moulding, board and batten. I think it adds texture and visual interest to walls and cabinetry.
When my husband and I did a refresh on our kitchen, we kept the maple cabinets, replaced the linoleum floor with sheet vinyl and opted for laminate countertops. We also replaced the two compartment white sink with a large one compartment white sink. Did I choose white appliances? Yes, I did. I was not a fan of SS either so stuck to a safe choice. If we had tried to afford the cost of granite countertops for a 15' counter on one side and large peninsula on the other, there would have been no new floor, countertops, sink or appliances. We took money out of our house to do this and we're also on a fixed income. I needed to get the biggest bang for the little buck that I could. So I guess I'm saying that we have ALL the stuff designers hate, white fridge and all, but I love it.
The open staircases let the light pass through. This is why they are so interesting. They don't close up the space. I have seen them made of glass and vith a glass banister. Very modern and beautiful.
Grandma had stairs like that bro and I at 3, and 5 couldn't fall through no matter how hard we tried. Granite is gorgeous, and practical. Way more so than marble.
Fluted wood detail was known as lined fold in the middle ages and was a sought after detail in manor homes…it survived as a sign of craftsmanship into some areas into the Renaissance
It’s so funny you give the 9 year old fallling of the open rise staircase example. Our daughter fell down the open rise staircase in our country house when she was nine 😂 She was fine 😊
Always good to start with things you love that others might hate so that when people come from your next video, they can come complain in your comments here about your taste in decor 😂
I have a deep and abiding love for Tiffany style lighting and vintage furniture with deep, dark wood. I also like natural elements, and find that they keep my home from looking too much like you just wandered into a Grandma’s house…even though you did.😄🤷🏻♀️
My mom and I JUST had a conversation about how our bitchy neighbor called our granite countertops from 2010 “dated”. It’s literally like black and white granite in a pretty modern kitchen with white cabinets and a black kitchen island and all silvery hardware.
My grandparents have an open staircase in their house from the 70s. It's one of my favorite features in the house but boy howdy did I have nightmares as a kid of falling through the stairs and into the basement. Still kind of want the feature for myself someday!
I feel like ease of cleaning is definitely a factor people should generally consider, but it's sometimes overemphasised. At the end of the day it's a home, not a hospital, not every decision needs to be about practicality. Ease of cleaning should simply be one factor, not the be-all and end-all, for deciding what goes in your home.
I'm waiting for my fifties nine-inch parquet wood floors to make a comeback. The time will come. I'm fine with them and the twelve-inch squares I used to have in my other apartment were the bomb. Loved them. My friend has rectangular parquets with a darker border around the perimeter of the room. To die for.
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Speaking of sustainability. I used to work for a family that did a HUGE renovation and took out their beautiful 5 year old kitchen with gorgeous granite countertops but wait...this story has a happy ending. They SOLD their kitchen, counters cabinets and all to my dad for a good price (especially as the granite was at high risk for cracking one little peice of a backslash lip thing did) who with help and hard work got a beautiful little kitchen , the other people got their new huge ( double the size) kitchen and both groups saved a whole kitchen from the landfill and did a sustainable design.
Wonderful!
Awesome!
Keep your eyes open for sales in really wealthy areas. They are often handled by companies that do estate sales.
My dad has gotten furniture and cabinetry from multimillion dollar houses. They redo stuff every 5 or so years and sell the old stuff off before construction starts.
For example, his dining room table retails for $20,000! He got it for $150 from a family redoing their interior.
My brother did the same- nothing really wrong with the white farmhouse kitchen itself but it clashed with the prairie style and was visible because of the open plan. They had a custom kitchen made by an Amish carpenter- it was beautiful and more workable layout. They removed all the pieces very carefully
So good to hear while the “property brothers” go in with sledgehammers and could donate to people who need it. Like in Detroit or
Pittsburg in run down houses
My husband and I raised our daughter and a pup with an open staircase home and happy to report that everyone survived 😊
Well.if you look closely at the open staircases they are designed to look open, but no child can fall through the slates or rails.
You are lucky, but maybe question why you are willing to risk your child for design. And speaking as a lawyer, you are asking for it.
@@janicewolk6492 Our house was custom built with all the legal permits that was necessary to meet and go above all building codes.
I think they're gorgeous, but my friends child was badly hurt on theirs so I think they do need extra supervision with them.
A family member had granite in a kitchen that had been 'luxury' renovated 20 years ago. So when they wanted to update, instead of ripping out the expensive countertops, they worked with it for the new design with the cabinet paint, fixtures, drawer pulls, sink choice. It looks great. I wouldn't choose it, but isn't design about working with what you have and making it gorgeous?
I had just purchased my own home when the Tuscan kitchen was all the rage, and I loved the granite countertop that went with it. Countertops are expensive though to switch out and I did the same as your family member. I had my kitchen cabinets painted to October Mist BM sage colour paint, and it looks lovely with the now dated granite. I think a darker green would have worked better but still loving the outcome. So it's best for the budget to work around the expensive objects in your house, and you end up with an eclectic interesting home, in a good way. When homes look too polished I find them cold and uninteresting.
Exactly what I was thinking! With expensive countertops, you change the cabinet doors, the paint, the accessories to update the kitchen!
@@kyraleos yes! Thanks for sharing. I’ve moved cities a lot myself and when you are renting-even a nice, new place-same principal applies. I find it can help hone my creativity in interesting ways.
Exactly. And that is what I did and many others I know as well. I am a firm believer in being sustainable and working with what you have.
That’s what I did. I have the whole busy granite-honey oak cabinets-beige tile trifecta that was all the rage at the time, and some fresh cabinet pulls and a fresh coat of paint on the walls really makes it a lot less dated. It’s like literally fine.
Nick, you should never be cancelled. One of your best traits, along with your dry humor is your authenticity. Never change!
I totally agree. Isn’t it hard to meet people who say what the mean these days? The number one thing that attracted me to this challenge. I just love nick’s character.
I love big, full bookcases. It’s like a full hug of stories
So underrated!
bookcases are a neutral :P
Awwwwwwww! I love this!
I see all this TikToks of girls "sacrificing" the -aesthetic- of their place to let their partners put up their decorations (trinkets, action figures, legos, games), and they always give them an ugly black Ikea shelf in a dark corner. It would look so much better to make an effort to make it all work together. As you said, let the room tell a nice story. Not the story of how your partner is a man child without any right to his own space.
My current rental has "half" built-in wooden bookshelves in almost every room (they take up most of the wall but don't go all the way to the sides or the top, and the bottom half of the wall is free), I absolutely love it. They have an irregular layout and built-in drawers, and it's the most practical storage solution/decoration I've ever had. The place is small, so wall-to-wall bookcases would sacrifice most of the space, but I can fit a bed or a couch under them, and have hooks and art in the space at the sides, without blocking access to them at all. The fact that they are flush to the wall is also a godsend. When I have my own place is the first thing I'm gonna plan.
Me too. My family room is wall to wall bookcases and has a big brick wood burning fireplace. It's where I go to find my soul.
Nick, I absolutely love that you talk about how fast trends for home furnishings is not good for the environment or our budgets. You are so real! I’m not even decorating at the moment but I still watch everyone of your videos.
Just discovered your channel. As a 67 year old lady who is on her third house and has strong opinions about decor, I love your videos. You know what you're talking about, but your commentary has a little standup to it, too, and you're content is so thought provoking to me.. so glad I've just scratched the surface with your content!!!! Thanks!
Thanks Carol!
I’m right behind you in age & I completely agree with you: Nick is fun, smart, & generous with his opinions-which unlike you, I need.
Your comment just spoke to me. I’m 63 and this is my fourth home, been here for 23 years and am passionate about my decor. I can’t get enough of NICK! I’m addicted for the very same reasons you stated. What amazing content! And his sarcasm has me laughing and glued week after week!
I’m a month shy of 68. I discovered Nick through James at Paint People (they often do collaborations).
Nick is a pleasure to watch. And very knowledgeable as well.
61 here and in a new to me home, town etc. After living in one area my whole life. So I'm taking my time, doing what I want in this place, and LOVE, love the commentary Nick brings to the table, whether it be wood, natural stone, glass, or ... plastic :)
One of the things I love in your videos is your absolute no BS honesty "I don't care". Love it.
Yes and he does it without being catty. Others could take a lesson...not naming names but if you know, you know.
I just chose granite countertops for my new home. I agree, the stone isn't the problem. The dated cabinets are the problem. I love marble, too. Granite won for the durability.
I love granite
Absolutely! I've put granite in two of my houses so far. There are so many more options than the shiny speckled tan stuff that people think of.
It's such a great stone. Highly recommend.
Same. I chose a very subtle snow white with black specks. I love it.
I love granite too. Ours is a bit dated (bull nose edge) but the grays go very well with the lighter stained shaker cabinets. And so easy to clean!😊
Marble is sooooo impractical! You literally cannot clean it or remove stains on it without ruining the finish.. I had two beautiful marble bathrooms and try removing hard water spots or soap scum off of marble even when it has sealant on it.. Never again will I put in marble.
I intentionally purchased a white fridge and stove. I think it looks so retro and I like it.
I have white kitchen appliances and I love them. Bright and clean. The newest trend to black kitchen appliances appalls me. You don't want clinical depression in your kitchen, and by the way, black shows everything - cleaning nightmare!
Dear Marble Man,
Nick’s Nightmare Home: polished concrete floors with animal print rugs, matching 3-pc suite in cream bouclé with bouclé accent pillows & a feature wall papered in giant jungle florals. Lovely.
And lots of LIVE LAUGH LOVE signs
😂😂😂
And a big white fridge in the kitchen.😊
And don't forget some rhinestones in the decorations, maybe in the desk chair cushion or encircling the bottom of a bar glass to give his drinks have extra sparkle.😉
🤣🤣🤣
I'm of Indian heritage and I love brass. It's timeless 😊
Yes, brass works perfectly with my Indian decor!! I'm black and I love it! It just feels so warm and elegant.
The faster the trends go in and out, the more thankful I am for my 60s time capsule home 😂
😂
yes, mine's more 1900 but the same thing! Decorate to the period of your home and forget trends.
Extreme minimalists don’t own coffee tables. 😂
@@megjillmright probably don't own a bed frame or side tables. I think he is in the middle I am close to being a little cluttered but more paper and family member clutter not my own 😄
As a geology student I definitely have a bias and I love granite ❤ it's really durable and extremely hard because it's full of quartz! Of course if all the rest of your kitchen looks dated it's not gonna look amazing but I truly believe if you put it in a great design it's gonna look super cool.
Thank you for sharing!
My husband is a geologist and LOVES granite too. And you’re right ..ANY counter would look dated if it has dated cabinets and backsplashes along with it.. Granite is here to stay! 😄
My parents are earthmovers and run a quarry and the granite in their kitchen is mesmerising!
I love granite!
One thing I don't understand why people started hating whole heartedly is a regular kitchen. Everyone loves the "open concept" and totally believes separate kitchen is like forever in the past. Open concept does work in many situations but throwing away forever the separate kitchen idea seems premature.
Love your videos btw, thanks a lot 😊
Yes, I don't always want my whole house to smell like garlic or to be able to constantly view my unwashed dishes.
I like having food prep and food eating spots together - saves carrying stuff long distance. But otherwise agree.
@@lv2draw1 My kitchen is beside the dining promo but still separate. I wish I lived in a house big enough to worry about caring dishes to the dining table.😂
I YEARN for a fully separate kitchen.
I like a separate kitchen. I like to keep the chaos of my kitchen tucked away. Also, we have a musical family so we don't like the open concept due to the lack of sound barriers.
My last kitchen remodel, 2017, I went looking for countertop options. I knew I was done with granite - wanted soapstone but knew my budget would get in my way. Walked into the showroom, explained how I didn’t want granite but loved the look of soapstone. She immediately left and came back with a ‘leathered granite.” WHAT? So here I am with another granite countertop and I LOVE it!
Yes, the not super shiny cousin of polished granite. Please yes
Just googled leather granite, super interesting!!! I definitely dig the textured finish but maybe with a less speckled piece. The more solid colored pieces kinda remind me of slate. I wonder how cleaning the leathered surface is?
We installed a leathered granite in our kitchen that has really big swirls that give it more of a marble look. I absolutely love it!
My parents have leathered granite and I’m in love with their counters. My mom also found this beautiful antique dresser and had a slab of the same granite custom cut to fit to make their guest bath vanity and it’s honestly stunning.
I adore my granite countertops 😍 When I was in the store looking through the slabs of granite, I was in awe - so many of them are like works of art! With everything else in my kitchen very understated (white cabinets, stainless steel appliances), the granite takes center stage and looks stunning.
You nailed it about certain granite slabs being like works of art! A relative selected a granite countertop that had wonderful “movement” in it - the most beautiful counter I had ever seen. I still think about that countertop....
I group granite into 2 main categories: Conglomerate and Sedimentary. Of the two, it is only the latter that’s truly unique, captivating and beautiful. Conglomerate has that scattered, commercial look - it’s the stuff they use for office buildings and headstones. Sedimentary is layered, with undulating lines and elegant waves. People going for the Tuscan Look often opted for taupish, golden or caramel Conglomerate - so it’s little wonder they got sick of it: it lacked any artistic element. 🤷🏻♀️
Love this video. I’m not a minimalist, but still believe in ‘a place for everything and everything in its place’.
Yes you don't have to be minimalist to live in an orderly fashion.
“Sometimes with the metals you can’t win.” Amen to that!
I absolutely love granite and it comes in subdued and busier patterns for all styles/ tastes. Of course the price points will differ. Gorgeous natural material
Yes there are so many more varieties for every taste and it is such a great material, even better than marble.
Lowe’s includes installation in their granite prices, which makes it comparable price-wise to laminate!
@@HeronCoyote1234 Not really. Lowes laminate with install starts at 27/sf granite starts at 50/sf. I work at Lowes in the cabinet/countertop dept. I'm actually watching this on my lunchbreak.
@@LDM805 our Lowe’s (upstate NY) showed they were almost the same cost, once you add in install. For a bit more, especially for only 25 sq ft, we’d rather go with granite (Roaming Mist, I believe, and the cabinets in Cloud).
@@LDM805 There are minimums on laminate though. Last time I priced a laminate countertop, it was $700 (Home Depot's minimum). A black granite remnant in the same space was $660.
I love traditional (closed concept) floor plans. The open concept thing is getting so out of hand that I feel like in 5 years houses are gonna start looking like warehouses. I can’t stand houses that are just one room with a kitchen island in the middle.
I’ve also noticed that lofts are becoming a big thing in new builds and I think it’s the biggest waste of space. Like you have a living room downstairs and that space could’ve been another bedroom which would increase the resale value.
Another vote for actual rooms here! 👍🏾
Unless you are having a party every weekend in your house LOL I also enjoy a semi open concept having a wall here and there 😘
Me too! But trying to buy anything that isn't open is nearly impossible
Yes. They are great for parties, but not good for trying to cook while someone watches TV or having your friends visit while someone watches TV etc. Open plan is not great when your hubby is a sports addict.
Open concepts just make a home feel chaotic because you have so many things happening in one giant space.
I love so many things that other people think are odd, ugly, dated, or obsolete! Federalist style decor in pale butter-lemon yellow and rich royal blue; so-called gallery-white walls in a living room in order to provide a neutral backdrop for all colors of art; striped silk chair pads in saturated colors like blood orange and cobalt blue or tangerine and goldenrod. Brass? Yes. Copper? Even better. My aunt had a collection of copper gelatin/aspic/mousse molds hanging around her kitchen and I still love how they looked.
Me too. I love many things that are "dated and ugly" in other peoples' eyes but I don't really care. I love what I love.
Literally every style you described!❤ Federal style is my fave💓💓💓
I lived in a town founded by Quakers in the 1600s in NJ, and furnished my home in Federal period furniture. But in 2014, I moved to Los Angeles, and I now live in the high desert in New Mexico. I had to leave that style behind -- just doesn't work in the West. But I still admire it!
I ❤ cobalt blue and saturated jewel tones! I'm a rare beed though. If I could mash up a Craftsman style home with its clean lines and woodwork pair it with copper and black metal accents and a jewl tones with a bit of 50s aqua appliances kitschy 🍋print on teal and for fall have some subtle 🦇 decore Id be in heaven !
Everybody's mom had the copper molds above the kitchen cabinets! Thanks for the memory of that TREND.😂
I LOVE that brass became so popular and is still so widely available. It makes it easier to match the midcentury pieces I inherited and are going to last forever!
Staircases might kill your kids but your cats will love to play on them. So there's that😂
Perfect for me! I hate children anyway 😂
I think a cat could slip through easier than a 9 yo.
Actually, when I was 9 we had an open staircase. We kids learned to jump the last 3 steps because our cat would try to reach through from his hiding place to grab our ankles😂
@@DaveNYCbest comment ever 😂. Now I am picturing the cats playing on the dead kids….actually I’m pretty sure the cats pushed the kids and that’s why they fell through the open steps.
😂
Live in Sweden, some people don't bother to move their furniture from apartment to apartment. Live in an apartment complex with about 120 apartments, there are at least 5 usuable pieces of furniture in the burn bin each week. I haven't had to buy any household plastic items in the time I have lived there.
I still (and probably forever will) love granite, brass and stainless steel appliances! Love your take on 'minimalism"..☺
In the village, my family had an open staircase. And three children. It's actually really hard to accidentally fall through these spaces unless you do it on purpose 😂 more important is to have the barrier and arm support on the outer side of the stairs.
We just remodeled our kitchen and my favorite countertop material was quartzite, but was out of our budget, I tried to like quartz, but couldn't get into it.. so I found a new river white granite that I just love. I love the veining and its light with grey, white, and I love that it has depth and that it comes from the earth
Sounds beautiful!
Yes!!! Just because you’re not being a responsible parent doesn’t mean we should hate on open staircases! ❤😂
Haha exactly. Get a baby gate, I don’t know…
@@dianeyoung8068 you can argue parents are irresponsible if they opt for the open staircases knowing the risks with their kids. Not that they’re not watching kids like a hawk.
@@Nick_Lewis that’s exactly what we got has worked perfectly for three puppy dogs, and two kids and after some training n educating it comes off :) also ur reply just made me totally go fanboy and has made my weekend.
I'm a mom and a cat mom, and I approve Nick's and this message.
my in-laws had open staircases in their home since my husband was a baby. He's climbed them, his nieces/nephews and any other tiny guests have had no issues with them. Initially I was afraid of them too, but quickly realized that if built correctly (correct height, width, pace- stair engineers know what I mean) the probability that you/your child would fall off those stairs is equal to falling off a flight of regular stairs. Kids aren't made of glass and sugar, and they're smart (or at least are quick learners), they can manage a bit of pain. (and if we're talking about a baby... what are they doing near a stair of any sort lol)
Colored appliances are where we are returning to and if we can return to the quality construction of the 50's-60's I'm here for it.
I miss porcelain enamel appliances. The finish is so much more durable than stainless.
Look up Calvacade of Food. They just did a tour of a Kalvenator Kitchen and other retro appliances. Metal cupboards. The colours were fantastic. They had four stoves from the 50s in 4 different colours. I still do not know what I loved best. You will love if.
I’m with you on minimalism. So calming. I don’t care if my space doesn’t scream my personality to others when they walk in. I’m the one living in it. I like my space to feel like a calm resort.
Minimalism IS my personality. I don’t like a lot of junk around. And it looks clean.
I was so confused about the open staircases, because almost everyone had them, when I was a kid and I never heard of a child falling through them. Then I realised: I am german - we have DIN Norms and safety regulations. So, maybe the stairs are not the problem in this scenario.
Swede here, we had them too and it has never crossed my mind.
A dutchy here. We still have an open staircase. My children are 13 and 17 years now. Survived this far😅
As german myself, experiencing both open staircases at my grandmothers and carpeted enclosed stairs at my parents... the statistics might be off but I slipped on the round carpeted stairs soo much more. I can't count how often I fell.
Zero times with the open staircase. But again, fewer times at grandma than obviously at my parents.
The Brady bunch kids survived - all of them
Me too. Even some family members of mine had them and I never had an accident on them or my cousins or family friend's kids.
I am with you Nick on the granite. Why throwing the baby with the bath water? All not granite are created equal and some are absolutely gorgeous. I waited years and worked many many hours to purchased a beautiful natural stone countertop, and what a treat! Two years later, I am still in love with it, not a week goes by where I notice a new 3-D stunning detail in it. I just love wiping it as it is so beautiful. And if you really use it to its true potential, sourdough doesn't even stick to it! I was one of those thinking that a countertop is just a countertop that you no longer see after a month. Well I was so wrong, I see and admire it everyday!
Ahhh! I love the look of stainless too. However, as someone who actually cooks…a LOT…in my kitchen, those stainless appliances are a pain to keep clean. Every single one of them.
Truth.
The new alternative to the stainless steel are definitely going to be those cream-colored appliances with brass handles/knobs. They're sort of vintage-looking and I really like them! Stainless steel is always a good choice too, though
Love everything you said! I would like to see more of these. Love an open staircase, but as one ages, tough or dealing with an injury or surgery. Yikes! Fantastic point about granite. We need to value nature's beauty and not view it as easily disposable. It's the real deal.
Older or injured, the problem is not that the staircase is open; the problem is: it's a staircase!
It is truly the real deal!
A well designed staircase, with a strong sturdy hand rail, is no worse if open than closed.
Well, maybe if your feet are so big they bump the stair risers or go past the open stair treads. But I'd call that a poorly designed staircase.
I am both older (60s) and had major surgery a month ago. [I'm fine now, surgery fixed the problem.] I learned from a physical therapist the best way to deal with stairs when recovering, and they have not been a problem, open or closed. In fact, if I remember, the stairs I practiced on in the hospital were open.
Off topic: for anyone who needs to know, the proper way to manage stairs when you're weak: going up, lead with your strong leg, one step at a time. Going down, lead with your weak leg, one step at a time. And use the handrail, both if there are two you can reach comfortably.
That's what I thought too. I like them, but remembering how I completely failed to go up those kinds of stairs when I broke my legs.
I am finally at the point that if I like it, it’s staying. I don’t care if it follows a trend. No way do I want the mess, expense and work of ripping out rooms in my house just so I fit someone else’s idea of a trend. My home is designed for comfort and peace. And that never goes out of style.
It always come back in fashion at some point.
One metal that doesn't get enough love is copper. It's more appropropriate in some decors than others, though.
I like copper too. I think one reason it isn’t more popular is cost. Copper is no longer cheap. Heck, even American pennies are now only copper clad.
@@thesender6321 I didn't know the copper pennies weren't copper all the way through, but I should have guessed it. I live in the West and used to have some old copper stuff from Goodwill. Over the years, I guess I got rid of it due to not really having a place where it would look good. Now I have a little office/den and wish I had it - but I don't see copper anywhere. I think you just explained why. 😁
Minimalism is so great for making smaller spaces feel bigger. I’m way too much of a clutter bug/don’t have enough storage to execute, but in a tiny 400 sqft apartment in a city, minimalism can really trick the eye into feeling like a space is massive, especially with the right lighting.
As a neat freak single person, I love the stainless appliances, but hate the fingerprints. I vote “Yes “ on paneled appliances, but they are in the want category, not need. Good video Nick!
Though there are many stainless appliances that don't show fingerprints! My Bosch refrigerator, for example, is stainless with an invisible glass panel (comes that way). Can clean it with Windex and fingerprints are almost nonexistent.
Natural stone of any kind is beautiful and any can work with any design style. I hate when people tear out natural stone instead of working with it. You can fit brown granite into a modern design. I can understand people wanting to have the one they were dreaming of though. I got to pick my quartzite countertop. Fortunately I was only tearing out old laminate.
I have long been a fan of bronze / pewter ceiling light fixtures (mixed with chrome handles faucets, etc. and crystal candle sticks / glass vases) and black accents and black and dark wood furniture. I actually prefer black fridges and such to stainless steel. I know some love light rooms, but I don’t-I feel ungrounded in them. I don’t know where I picked up this love of black and dark woods (particularly since in my early 20s I was in love with oak) and jewel tones, but that has featured in my home for 35 years. I know people say not to purchase art to go with your furniture but I found my inspiration for my furniture and colors in my home from the art I’ve purchased. I noticed the same colors repeating themselves and realised those colors are what I love to have around me.
I put in my kitchen a stainless line kitchen counter and range hood. White subway tile with black grout. I was so careful to not buy too bright or too cold light and i nailed it. Also the range hood light create such a cozy mood.
Totally agree with everything you mentioned other than the modern staircase. We literally just ripped up our carpeted stairs and installed vinyl plank and my poor nine year old has fallen twice on the stairs. I told him to start going up on his hands and feet like a cat. Thankfully that helped. He still has to go up super fast though for some reason. Always in a rush, so I think we will have to avoid those modern stairs with the giant gaps. 😂
Nothing wrong with teaching a child to be cautious. That is a very good lesson to learn.
Is there some kind of safety net that can be installed behind the steps temporarily until he gains more motor coordination?
@@darkcreatureinadarkroom1617 Yes, there probably is, but I have always held the child's hand, and kept repeating, "slowly". Funny they gain confidence and motor skills and love to show off. I struggled with being a helicopter parent, and learned more than they did.
My next-door neighbor raised 2 young children with an open side on her stairway. I was sure that kids would fall off, but she said her children never did!
@@annbrookens945 I hope children are being taught to stop and look both ways before crossing the street. I have seen children younger than 5 climb up and down ladders.
coloured appliances, before the big white fridge took over you could get you appliances in various colours, also bathroom fixtures like bathtubs and sinks.
Love My Granite. in the kitchen with the Stainless Steel backsplash it has a kitchy 50's vibe that fits my MCM home. cabinets are all white the stove is stainless the DW and Fridge are white. the Accent Colour is Red. Very 50's diner kitchy and I Love it.
I have a plywood kitchen stained walnut with harvest gold counters and love it. Period dining furniture to match. Love it! Got to learn to work with what you have.
I went for MCM and used granite too. It couldn't look more modern! I think it depends on the colour and style chosen.
This video is the epitome of why I love your personality. I got a good laugh. "survival of the fittest" 🤣😂 Also, "Sometimes with the metals you can't win" is so true. p.s I've been speaking poorly about my granite because its "too busy with its speckles" but you have made me take a step back and appreciate it again. (Even my house built in 2021 has it)
I literally just bought that exact same white fluted side table (you showed in the beginning) today at Homegoods! Lol I saw it recently on Pinterest and loved it but didn’t want to pay the WestElm price for it…so glad I came across it and was able to snag it for a great price …and that I’m not the only one who loves that style and isn’t afraid to say so! 😁 I agree with you you on all of these “others hate …but you love” styles you mentioned! Curate the home YOU ❤!
Agree love HS
Surprisingly enough whit is coming back. It’s not like the old textured white but a smooth sleek modern white with brass or copper handles. Very beautiful!
“Survival of the fittest” 😂 I love you. Agree with all of these honestly. I use a mix of brass and matte black fixtures in our home, and we rent, so I am very grateful for the stainless appliances over ugly white any day. 🥂
🎉first comment!
To the 9 year old children. “Some of you may die (through the staircase) but it is a sacrifice I am willing to make.” 😂
Best comment above😂😂😂
Toddlers 😱
could be worse, he could have said, "if you have a 9 year old who died from falling through the staircase odds are you still young enough. just go ahead and have a replacement kid"
Thank you for defending granite. I especially love red/pink granite which is sourced locally to me. I think it's gorgeous and I love the idea of using local building materials.
I love natural stone countertops of all kinds! Mine are soapstone, and they're gorgeous!
Soapstone is my favorite too. You can put a hot pan on it. And it isn’t as reflective. I found granite makes it look like you have twice as much stuff on your counter because of the reflection. I like the look of soapstone and the beauty of the veining. Old New England homes used it a lot and that’s where I’m
from.
Thanks, Nick, for declaring your loves/likes in design and decor. I really love minimalism, too. Like you, I'm somewhere on the continuum closer to the more minimalist end, but my husband and I have very different tastes, so we meet somewhere that works for both of us. Open, uncluttered spaces make feel happy.
YES to Granite!! i wanted a black marble dining table forEVER and I ended up picking a granite piece from the stone yeard -- it's a beautiful black slab with looongg white veining that looks exactly like marble, with a bit more interesting texture, and MUCH more affordable. Best of all, looks nothing at all like those Real-Housewives-of-NJ kitchen counters!
I’m obsessed with floating stairs. Especially if there is a seventies style planter bed under it. I love that you are willing to get cancelled for it. I’m totally there with you
I dig all of these things, but i get nervous around open staircases solely because i have some balance issues and a great fear of heights. I think they look great! I might not choose them for myself and I do have reservations about them with small chuldren, but they are cool in the right spaces.
Yeah. I like to look at them in pictures. I hate heights so much that our house has only one floor.
Brass: we were gifted some brass candlesticks and a small pot/container when we married 40 years ago- still have them and they come out in the winter months. I am a cozy minimalist- comfy furniture, side tables and coffee table with minimal items on them like lamps and coasters, the coffee table has nothing on it because we put our feet up on it (no recliners for us) and we have 2 Labs who sweep everything off the coffee table; we have no pillows on our sofa but do have lumbar pillows in leather on our mid-century side chairs that are pretty deep- everything has a place in our small home and only the things we love is out but there are “dead” space on walls and flat surfaces to give the eyes a rest. LOVE stainless steel appliance- a kitchen is a kitchen- you cook in it, you use those large appliances constantly and generally, stainless steel doesn’t get chips on the finish like white and black, my kitchen is function first then pretty and again, there is a place for everything and it’s not on my countertops or on the top of my fridge and my appliances are some of those things I am willing to do the “leg work” on for cleaning vs fluted or carved furniture or trim.
I feel like a lot of traditional, antique and maximalist looks are coming (back) into style, but I also still love open staircases, minimalism and stainless steel appliances. But that's the great thing about interior design- to each their own! Live in a space that makes YOU happy! :)
We lived in Germany for a few years and our house had those open stairs. We called them danger-death stairs and they were a pain! We have two dogs and all their hair would fall through the stairs and get onto each floor below. We’re talking fourth floor all the way to the ground floor. Ours were also stone and didn’t have rounded edges, so if you stepped down wrong, you’d cut the back of your ankle. I hated those stairs.
I didn’t know that some people hate granite. We bought a house last year that was newly renovated and the kitchen and bathroom have granite countertops. I love them! They’re pretty low maintenance compared to marble and I don’t have to worry as much like we did when we had plastic countertops. Our kitchen is pretty minimal though, so I think it works nicely.
I started watching your channel a few months ago and I have become a big fan! I’m in my mid 20s and am just starting to focus on making my space feel like a real home. I would love to see more videos about apartments, smaller spaces, or rooms where your ability to make changes are minimal.
My problem with brass is that most of it isn't really brass. Brass is meticulous to maintain and also expensive because it contains copper. Most modern home furnishings use a plating method to mimic brass which doesn't always look convincing. For me brass looks best when it's just a little bit tarnished, and that's hard to mimic. Art deco style window frames, railings, elevators, usually in mid century hotels. That brass was gorgeous.
I would agree about the minimalism. I feel so stressed in a cluttered home. I don’t live perfectly minimal and my home certainly doesn’t look like a showroom, but that’s always my goal.
I love brass and always will. It's kinda timeless imo and it has so many diff looks! Polished, matte, brushed, etc...
Brass, like gold jewelry, is such a commitment. I like it for accent pieces, but not for permanent plumbing fixtures. Mixing metals can be done.
I love granite; the patterns and colors are gorgeous. Quartz on the other hand . . . I’m over it.
Imo brass ages better than almost any other metal for home decor. A lot of these "brushed nickel" type finishes start to tarnish or rust too quickly. Brass is timeless. Look at vintage decor and antique shops. Brass isn't going anywhere because it is beautiful*and* has longevity
Quality nickel finishes shouldn't rust. Only cheap knock offs do. But I hear you on the brass. It's the most beautiful, IMO.
In my family home, we have a beautiful light wood open staircase between the main area of the house and our under the roof rooms. We needed something that wouldn't block the light between the big window at the end of the hallway and the center of the home. You should see the sunlight in the morning coming from the window, through the staircase and into the heart of the home, it's beautiful.
I love Tiffany Lamps and I think they are considered old fashioned and grandma-esque but I just find them so beautiful. The same for any lamp you would find in your grandparents house like those ones with the lamp shades with tassels.
Tiffany lamps are beautiful. I have them in a room with a stained glass window. Decorating that room is fun.
I think the trends are coming and going so much faster because we have way more exposure to every style than we ever have. Like you get sick of a popular song playing on the radio all the time way faster, being exposed to the same style constantly on social media will make us get tired of seeing it and want something new.
I was gifted some great brass decor pieces along with a bold chrome and glass entry/side table by my godmother when she was downsizing. As much as I’d love to marry myself to one metal color tone, I like that I have a variety and I don’t feel too matchy-matchy. They’re also special bc they remind me of my godmother. I def gravitate towards brass, though. No one could ever convince me it’s dated, it’s CLASSIC!
So what I am wondering is, where do people get the money to keep gutting and changing their homes every year or two, to suit the whims of fashion? 🤔And don't even get me started on sustainability! PS In regard to open staircases, I love them, but my dogs are terrified of going up them! So we have the old fashioned kind.
They don’t. The fashion is what new homes are being built with or people who are renovating anyway are doing. No one is saying that people have to follow changing fashions in home building every year.
We moved from a 2003 faux Tuscan-style home that we built last year, and I was going through conniption fits over my gorgeous granite countertops to the point that I requested a portion be saved and returned to me if it was torn out. Thankfully, the new owners LOVED it all, only changed the flooring (it was needed), and are enjoying the very upgraded countertops we had put in. We are in a 1950's flat roof and we put in soapstone, which I love equally. I think I'm going to seek a fluted piece, though. Thanks for reminding me of that.
you are so spot-on about the granite!! it's a beautiful stone people only hate it because of the type of cabinetry it's paired with.
Yes. It's usually that heavily speckled and swirly granite with stained oak cabinets and a dreadful Tuscan tile backsplash. I didn't even like that when it was a thing. I replaced my countertops with quartz last year but some of the granite they had in the showroom was stunning. I was really surprised at the variety.
I adore the Stainless Steel appliances. They blend into the background at this point.
We just bought a huge home on the water. It has white fridge, stainless double ovens, and black dishwasher front. We immediately switched out the fridge with stainless and the dishwasher is next along with new countertops. A nice stone. Not sure which one yet but we were kind of shocked to see laminate in this price level of home. I like the easy to clean tile floors but, wow, hard on my feet!
The term “fluted” is new to me in regards to furniture. I have a custom coffee table and curio cabinet that have corners with this detail. I’ve had them for at least 15 years, and they’ve endured through remodeling and a move to a new house. I expect to pass these pieces to my children when I’m gone. I like how it softens the corners, and (of course) like that they are one-of-a-kind pieces. My husband is the cabinet maker who made them.
The house I grew up in is the same era as the house I now own - late 50s, early 60s. Both had copper colored hardware on cabinets, and also doorknobs and hinges throughout the house. My current house still has this color knobs on all the bedroom doors. (It also has light colored woodwork - once blonde, but darkened slightly through time. Though we - and previous owners - have removed a lot of the 50s from the house, I still like to give a nod to that era. I have two original pieces in the living room (a chair and a Lane Acclaim side table), I am slowly adding in brass pieces that fit the style. I think brass is timeless, though I won’t be putting seagulls on my wall anytime soon 😆.
I like minimalism in terms of how much stuff there is in a room (crowded spaces makes me anxious, I grew up with a hoarder), but I like colorful furniture, or with pretty patterns.
Reeded/fluted furniture is easy to clean with a chip brush.
I hate marble in the kitchen and there is a reason for that. In 1974 when i was newly married we moved into a flat in a house built 1936. The kitchen sink and counters where marble. No dishwasher. I dont know how many expensive glasses i crushed. Just by laying in the sink even if one at a time, crash. Never again. Then i think at least my home is mixed style. I have chairs from the late 1800 from my grandfathers. Dinner table from 1990 a traytable and more classic pieces. I mix and match and thats my home.
Usually when you talk Nick, I feel that you are the male version of myself. It's like I am listening to myself out loud and I find that fun. Horray, you have just given me a that's you and this is me moment worth cherishing. I love the wavy natural edges to feature furniture. I also love concrete floors in the desert (I'm in Mexico). I also like floral patterns in some places that you need to wait for somebody and there is no interesting view out the window, like a waiting room, hall.
Open staircases came in with The Brady Bunch and, imo, never went out! Also, I love stainless appliances.
I love the white fridge! I have never liked stainless though. I agree with everything else you said though. 😊
Don't care for stainless either. Prefer white and especially with one appliance in a fun color.
When we moved into our last place with original MCM floating stairs, the first thing we did was check to see if our 18month old's head would fit between the slats. Nope! they were fine for two small kids. I LOVE them too.
Granite or any stone is a fantastic material if you actually use your kitchen to cook in. You can put a hot pot directly on it. It's hard enough to resist contamination and while you really shouldn't, if you're in a hurry, an occasional cut directly on it won't kill it. I live in a small apartment in Israel, where granite is pretty standard, not a luxury, and my landlady is an architect. She put simple off white cabinets in the tiny kitchen with black granite counters. For what it is, it looks good. A kitchen is a work space. If you actually WORK in it, you want it to be efficient and easy to clean. It's amazing where spatters will go and grease will hide. .
I’m with you Nick, I like fluting detail. Also, applied, caning, trim moulding, board and batten. I think it adds texture and visual interest to walls and cabinetry.
When my husband and I did a refresh on our kitchen, we kept the maple cabinets, replaced the linoleum floor with sheet vinyl and opted for laminate countertops. We also replaced the two compartment white sink with a large one compartment white sink. Did I choose white appliances? Yes, I did. I was not a fan of SS either so stuck to a safe choice. If we had tried to afford the cost of granite countertops for a 15' counter on one side and large peninsula on the other, there would have been no new floor, countertops, sink or appliances. We took money out of our house to do this and we're also on a fixed income. I needed to get the biggest bang for the little buck that I could. So I guess I'm saying that we have ALL the stuff designers hate, white fridge and all, but I love it.
The open staircases let the light pass through. This is why they are so interesting. They don't close up the space. I have seen them made of glass and vith a glass banister. Very modern and beautiful.
Grandma had stairs like that bro and I at 3, and 5 couldn't fall through no matter how hard we tried.
Granite is gorgeous, and practical. Way more so than marble.
Fluted wood detail was known as lined fold in the middle ages and was a sought after detail in manor homes…it survived as a sign of craftsmanship into some areas into the Renaissance
It’s so funny you give the 9 year old fallling of the open rise staircase example. Our daughter fell down the open rise staircase in our country house when she was nine 😂 She was fine 😊
Always good to start with things you love that others might hate so that when people come from your next video, they can come complain in your comments here about your taste in decor 😂
I have a deep and abiding love for Tiffany style lighting and vintage furniture with deep, dark wood. I also like natural elements, and find that they keep my home from looking too much like you just wandered into a Grandma’s house…even though you did.😄🤷🏻♀️
My mom and I JUST had a conversation about how our bitchy neighbor called our granite countertops from 2010 “dated”. It’s literally like black and white granite in a pretty modern kitchen with white cabinets and a black kitchen island and all silvery hardware.
Sounds gorgeous! 🙂👍
Sounds like you have a jealous neighbour! 😂
My grandparents have an open staircase in their house from the 70s. It's one of my favorite features in the house but boy howdy did I have nightmares as a kid of falling through the stairs and into the basement. Still kind of want the feature for myself someday!
Funny, we just renovated our kitchen and some of the cabinets have a fluted surface - we love it! It’s really not hard to clean.
Stainless scratches and gets handprints. I don’t get the love. My new house came with newer stainless appliances and I felt pretty happy about it. 😁
I don't like stainless steel because of the special cleaners it needs, too stinky for me
Black leathered granite looks amazing
I feel like ease of cleaning is definitely a factor people should generally consider, but it's sometimes overemphasised. At the end of the day it's a home, not a hospital, not every decision needs to be about practicality. Ease of cleaning should simply be one factor, not the be-all and end-all, for deciding what goes in your home.
I'm waiting for my fifties nine-inch parquet wood floors to make a comeback. The time will come. I'm fine with them and the twelve-inch squares I used to have in my other apartment were the bomb. Loved them. My friend has rectangular parquets with a darker border around the perimeter of the room. To die for.