For the first room - one of the tricks people sometimes do when picking fabrics for quilts is to take a picture in black and white. If everything turns into the basically same grey, you need more contrast. So even if everything technically plays together nicely, it all feels boring because they're all in that same value range.
Yep! Even if you’re using tons of different colors, if you can’t distinguish the grays, there isn’t enough contrast. I’m a knitter and use this trick a lot, especially when working with pale colors. A peach and a pale sea foam turn pretty close to the same shade of gray because they’re both white based. It’s less of an issue with really vibrant colors but starts to be an issue again with darker colors.
This is brilliant! That room definitely looks like it would all be one shade. I also thought it could’ve used some wood tones like the inspiration photos in the video. A medium toned wood would also add to the contrast.
I love how Nick talks all sassy and directly at other videos, but when he is talking about real people with feelings, he is all respectful and careful with his choice of words. I think you explained yourself really well and achieved to say what you thought in a nice and productive critic way😊
Dana, If you love your artwork, consider moving it over the desk area. It is a bit too close to the ceiling and moving it over will enable you to lower it a few inches. If you are not in love with it and want something new, consider something horizontal that won't be hugging the ceiling so much.
What about the space on the opposite wall? She could hang the art there, perhaps over a dresser, and choose a new piece of art over the bed. Something with a darker seafoam.
I was thinking the same, two vertical pieces above an already tall headboard. It also clusters all the color in that one region. We need to pull the color from the bed into the rest of the room
I think he has some very interesting pieces in the space, but they don't stand out because literally everything is from that same time period. That picture of the living looks like it's straight out of 1962. The only reason you know it's modern is because there's a flat screen tv in the photo. I never really thought about it until Nick brought it up but those spaces look like sets from TV shows. If you love it, then go for it. I couldn't live in that for a day, but it's not my space.
When you get something handed down from you from someone who has passed away, it is sometimes hard to get rid of it. I’m dealing with that right now with some things that I got when my sister passed away. I don’t want to get rid of it because it feels like I’ll betrayed her. And yet it’s not my style at all. I know, I got to get over it, but it’s hard. But I have noticed that with the stuff I have gotten rid of so far I don’t miss it at all and I don’t feel bad. So I understand that Jay has a lot of things and maybe he doesn’t want to get rid of things for certain reasons like that. He’s not alone.
someone once told me to take pictures of the things you let go of, so you can still remember the person. Also, looks towards refinishing, upgrading or reupholstering. Good luck and sorry for your loss.
When you are gifted summat, it's yours to do with what you like without feeling guilty. If it isn't your thing, your style, your colourway and doesn't spark joy as Marie Kondo would say, then you're free to sell it, auction it, give it away/whatever so someone else will derive the pleasure from it. P.S. I'm a nightmare to buy for! Best take me out for a meal or somesuch!
Remember that getting rid of *thing* is not getting rid of a *person* or your memories of them. Things are just, well, things. If it's too hard to declutter everything, maybe think about keeping one or two small items that make you think of the person you loved.
This is me, but I don't feel like I'm betraying them. It's more like it was a part of them and I can't let it go. Even my grandfather's car was excruciating to let go off. I had to tell my mom to take care of the selling and taking away of it. Cried my eyes out afterwards. I still have the last outif he wore the day I took him to the hospital in my closet.
I'm so sorry for your loss. I have some furniture pieces that are sentimental as well that simply didn't fit my style. Since the furniture is older it's all real wood, so I wanted to keep it. I decided to update the furniture. For example, I have an old cedar chest from my grandmother. To give it new life, I replaced the legs with modern metal legs, removed the frilly moulding, and refinished it. Now it's my style, it's real wood, and I get to keep the sentimental piece of furniture. I like the idea of giving sentimental pieces a new life.
For Jay, I would start by taking about half of the stuff out! As you said, showcase the pieces you truly love. The place would seem twice as large if it weren't so full.
Yeah, there is something about the books in the cubical-shaped bookcases/holders that makes his library look too busy. I see the cubes instead of the books, instead of feasting my eyes on his books, which can add such warmth to a room
The drapery does weigh the room down tho. Just that going would make it feel less Grandma-chic. The wood might give a heaviness to the room, but I can see wanting that. That's probably my amish woodworking genes at play--so Im not to be trusted. Im a sucker for real wood in this mdf world.
Yes it seems more "cluttered" rather than "maximalist". Possibly because the vintage style makes it look more like stuff that accumulated over years versus a purposeful design.
For Dana, one little addition you could consider is to get a basket that your rubbish bin will fit inside and that's a little deeper so it hides from most angles but is still very accessible - that could be a way of introducing another warm, textural element while retaining your practical bin-with-liner situation that is obviously there for a good reason :)
3:37 "Room placement" The Dear Modern youtube channel would roast that room placement instantly. The headboard is intercepting too much energy from the door, and the lack of symmetrical night tables will prevent her from finding looooove. The bed needs to be in the command position, and the desk needs to have more support to protect her from being assassinated through the window. So, now you know!
Jay: One suggestion I have is regarding your couch, which looks older than it needs to because the cushions are quite thin and flat. For extra loft (and greater comfort) you can pick up a roll of batting from a fabric store, unzip the cushions at the back, and put a layer or two of it between the foam and the upholstery material. That’ll help tremendously! 😊
Jay, what I have done when I find myself clinging to a lot of sentimental items is to move them into my garage and store them for 3-6 months. Almost all of the time when I go to my garage to decide what to do with them I end up donating them to charity. I have learned that letting someone else enjoy what I not longer need nor want becomes a great gift to people that I will never know.
Hello, I love your comments and ideas. For Jay, I had an antique couch given to me (it is mahogany and had a terribly dirty gold damask on it. The cushions were stuffed with horse hair!! My husband was allergic to it without us knowing). I let it sit for several years in storage with tarps over it but then had saved money and had it reupholstered with a fresh but period appropriate print. It it is now one of my favorite pieces. Good luck with your future upgrades!
But there's not so much in the rest of the place, especially the bedroom. He should spread the framed pieces to other rooms. Then it won't be a solid top-to-bottom array. The thing that was most jarring to me was the monitor perched on one storage cube and wedged between the others. I'm jealous of the space and the neighborhood. Lovely!
I used to take all my family's stuff and my house was so crazy and not cohesive. Years ago I stopped feeling bad and got rid of most of it. Now I love how my home is decorated and it's much more my style. 🥰
You really gave Jay a solid helping hand! It’s easy to be totally overwhelmed by all that deep vintage and ruffle. But you had a tempered and compassionate take that was super helpful!
I so needed this reminder. I had family move overseas and they literally gave me all their stuff. So I’ve been trying to work with it, but most is in a large storage unit collecting dust. I’m going to weed it out and sell or donate. Thanks for the reminder ❤
"Feels like a film set" ... great advice! My MCM living room was similar. Over the course of ~3 years I found pieces/art that I really enjoyed and was able to be a bit less Wes Anderson ;)
You put so much work into these suggestions, Nick. Colours, mood boards, inspo pics, even a floor plan. These take time and effort. They are lucky to have your input.
I love how kind you are in these reviews of subscribers’ homes. Thank you for always being respectful, funny, and helpful! Now how do I send you pics as I very much want to be roasted by you? 😂
Can’t wait! Wanting to submit my own living room…but also nervous…at least there are no boob lights in my house. And I have consistent light temperatures!
Dana I think two simple things would make a huge difference. 1- a fuller fluffy duvet. I think it will help with the flat feeling. 2- wood frames around the art it will add warmth to your space and make the art feel more luxurious. Remember rooms are always evolving and nothing needs to happen all at once. You’ve put together a lovely space and it will continue to evolve with you. 😊
My unsolicited suggestion for the first room, which I think is quite nice, is to bring in some natural wood elements to warm the room up a bit. I think a larger lamp, they do make wooden ones, would also help. Then I think bringing some color in with two large pillows against the headboard in a deep rusty orange color. Then a throw with texture and a stripe of deeper, darker seafoam green would give the room just the kick it needs.
Even though your critique/suggestions are for specific people, I love how a lot of people can have something to take away from it! Thank you, Nick! Another lovely video 😊
It seems all of these share the common thread of locking into a theme/style and never diverging even a bit from it. I think that's such an easy thing to get stuck in out of a desire to feel cohesive. Your comment about sticking to a style from a specific time period feeling like a movie set is spot on. Set designers are purposefully doing that specifically to establish setting especially when the media is not set in the current time period. But while a set should evoke "1956" (or whatever), most of us just want our house to evoke "home." A good reminder to add elements that break the mold a bit.
Suggestions for the 3rd room: 1. Minimize clutter around the TV area. 2. Remove the Christmas lights from the ceiling. 3. Invest in a closed storage cabinet. 4. Include furniture pieces that are not Midcentury.
Jay: With regard to your living room curtains, consider hanging them differently (v. replacing them). If you hung them on a longer curtain rod so that each panel hung straight to one side of the window without blocking it, they would add a textural modern element without blocking any light. Maybe also consider raising the curtain rod to just below the ceiling (b/c you cannot see the bottom of the curtain anyway). You could add a sheer or other shade if you need to control light. I tried that way of hanging curtain panels and I love it! It makes the window look larger while maximizing the available light in the room.
We bought a 2004 top of the line (for 2004) fifth wheel to live in while building a house. It had padded dark tan/brown fabric wood covers and curtains on every window. I took them all down and the camper felt that much larger. Eventually I bought a pair of light teal IKEA curtains and cut them up to make little valences-looks much better.
Great advice all around, Nick. What I take from each of these is that we have to be careful not to overdo our ideas . Too much in muted tones feels flat. Too much in period style feels heavy. Too much stuff just feels like too much in general. Here’s to adding in a little quirk to whatever style we choose!!
I know I'll be in the minority, but i absolutely LOVE Jay's space. It feels very cozy to me. But then again, my dream is to style my home like a 1940s house and this is along the same vibe of all one decade.
Dana-What's your favorite color? Get that in new art above your bed and repeat that color and others in the new pic on some throw pillow, a vase, etc. Jay-Painting your wall paneling will make a world of difference and you will still have the texture. Did it in my home and it came out great looking. That & a few tweaks (Nick's suggestions) will make it feel fresher. Sofa slip cover, some newer style pillows, etc. Bobby-Looks fine to me :-) Overall mixing difefrent styles feels more curated instead of dated. Also the "nod" to a style does work better than themed rooms. Great advice (as usual), Nick!
In the nautical/pub bedroom, I would paint the wall behind the bookcase and framed pictures a dark colour to help it read like one large element, and cohere a bit more.
Bobby's living room and bedroom are soooo different, I almost got whiplash, lol. I'll be honest - that accent wall with the string lights took me back to my 90's college days when I thought string lights in my bedroom was the COOLEST thing ever. I personally love the boat (it's a very unique piece), but I have to agree on the wall of books and art and plants was all tasteful elements but too much when crammed together. Spread the love! I would paint the room one color (love the Navy suggestion) and move the art collage to the wall behind the bed to help open up the other wall a bit. And maybe balance the plants in the room to move some by the bed. As for Jay, WOW do you have a plethora of stunning pieces! The furniture, the art work, that cuckoo clock - just reduce the amount of stuff by 30% and for the love of Pete, what you don't keep, definitely sell. Almost everything you have there is beautiful!
I love when you review people's spaces! It's nice to see what real-world people are doing with their homes and how we can all improve our spaces. I'd love to see more!
Not really a design enthusiast but I started binging this guy's videos a couple of days ago and kept it as background. Really entertaining and informative. 👍🏽
The first picture looks a bit like a hospital room for new mothers❤ The color palette is good but I'd like the green on the walls maybe? Of course Nick's advice is spot on.😊
Yes, I'd paint the room in a version of the seafoam she seems to like (and maybe add some of the molding shown in some of the inspo photos). I like the idea of changing up the furniture location (although the opposite wall may have a closet door or have weird angles that are limiting). If not, I've always been a fan of mocking up the room on graph paper or in an app and playing around. There might be a cool potential layout that doesn't have everything lined up.
Yes!!!!! Museum is a perfect description. It's a shame because there are some really nice pieces in the mix. For the other one the artwork is the wrong size, wrong direction, and wrong colors for the room. If it were a horizontal scale piece with any of the colors that Nick suggested, then it would be a huge improvement. If the headboard was painted a darker color from the ones shown or even a variation of the drape color, then that would be a huge improvement as well. There's a lot of potential in that room though. A smaller desk, not L shaped would also open up the space a lot more.
I completely understand the family heirlooms or family gifts issue. I had a China hutch full of glassware and glass figurines that didn’t feel like my style. I packed these items and stowed them away in a place where I don’t have to look at them, but feel as though I still have these old antique family pieces. Replaced my China hutch, with a buffet table and feel 1000 times better with the overall look.
Suggestions for the 2nd room: 1. Reduce clutter. 2. Replace the heavy curtains with sheer ones. 3. Consider selling some of the vintage furniture and items, and add a few modern pieces.
Jay's place: x old window treatments and use modern blinds instead, and paint the walls. Should make a real difference. Otherwise it looks cosy and strong in style. Like the pruning advice.
For Jay, lose or change the fabrics.Biggest bang for easiest, get rid the lace table cloth and update the curtains. Possibly reupholster the living room chairs to something more modern. New rug. More involved updating paint it some type of white and update the lighting, fixture and lamps. It’s cute but cluttered feeling from the heavy use of ruffles and patterns.
I agree, and would also recommend to remove the stuff on top of the kitchen cabinets and the china cabinet, remove the plates on the wall between the living/dining rooms, remove the fake flowers, and remove some of the small dishes in the china cabinet and leave just the larger ones. You don't have to give this stuff away (not yet anyway), just put it away. It will take time to adjust to the newly empty spaces so give it a few weeks and then see how you feel about it.
A nice way to have a fun painting: put a canvas on the floor, on a large protective sheet as there will be a lot of splasing, and dip 4 or 5 ropes in different colours. Then throw the ropes on the canvas. carefully remove the ropes and look at the shapes you got. You can take a brush and spread/complement things a bit. ON one occasion, I made mine look more like a forest, on another more like the sea. Etc.
Looove this video!! I think we all like to see what each other’s places look like, it gives us a chance to see what we do and don’t like. That helps us to curate our own spaces! I hope that makes sense.
If I don’t absolutely love the way it looks, I’ll pack it up and put it in my attic. It can still be passed down to my kids, but it’s not in my way as I design my space.
I also inherited a mid century teak buffet, it could almost have been made yesterday (except for the workmanship) it's a beautiful piece of wood, and I keep all the dinnerware in it. Plus I use all the dinnersets... I love eating off 100 + year old plates and drinking tea from the cups, my grandparents and parents never used the "Good China" except at christmas...what a waste.
Absolutely. Sometimes they can be modernized with reupholstering if that’s reasonable/desirable, or they can be accessorized differently and given air to breathe. If they’re not as crammed together, given a calmer/brighter wall as a backdrop, and some more modern accessories like curtains and rugs, the furniture won’t feel as locked in the time period 😊
I watched this video with enthusiasm. Standing out to me is that none of the participants succumbed to the urge of making, and hanging, a pizza pan clock on their wall. Bravo everyone. 👏
Jay, you have some amazing art! I would encourage you to research some of them. Looks like one or two may be dutch masters rather valuable. Check the backs of them carefully for artist notes, dates and info handwritten. Also the lead crystal in cabinet is lovely.
@@MrCS647 totally! I really loved the commitment to personality and I felt like everything actually did compliment each other, and all of it was made of REAL WOOD 💖💖💖💖!! I think what he needed for that final polished touch was just flow; but idk if the space was large enough to effectively make that happen. For example, I think, he could achieve that by having storage that is a much lower profile, like shallow built-in, real wood bookcases with beautiful moulding and glass doors for display, and possibly suspended a ways off of the floor so that the eye feels the room has more space. But again, it would be ashame to lose any of those beautiful traditional china display cabinets.
Thanks, Dana, for putting yourself out there. ❤ I like Nick’s suggestion of moving your bed to the opposite wall out of the path of the door. I don’t know if I’d move my desk as well. That way you could have an upholstered chair/reading nook in the corner where he moved your desk and a side table to serve double duty as a night stand between the chair and your bed. Also, I have no problem with your art pieces, I just wouldn’t hang them over the bed. They don’t have room around them there to feel special. I would consider hanging them apart, say over you desk area or in the reading nook and on the two walls of the corner of the room (not right in the corner, but near the corner so they look like they’re together but with some space around them). I agree with all the rest Nick advised. Best wishes!
Great video. I love Bobby's. Thanks for sharing, all! BTW., Bobby, RE: the library wall, one of the things I do in my place that really works for me in terms of... emotional response, atmosphere... is I never hang art above the frame of the door/window. VIsually it just feels calmer to me.
I would look for more cohesive bookshelves, either as a unit or made to measure. There's nothing wrong with books (I love having my books out on show) but the type of shelving they're housed in can make such a difference to how cohesive a space feels.
For jay, I feel like a great place to start with minimal cost would be to paint the space a crisp white that is slightly warmer, and then update most of the simple fabrics in the space- curtains, pillows, table placemats, and lamp shades. The furniture is gorgeous and I feel like these things would do a lot to broaden and lighten the space as well as make it more contemporary.
For the vintage dish set- perhaps keep a couple of pieces and sell/ gift the rest or pass them on to other relatives. I feel like each family member who wants to could display a cup, saucer, and plate, for example, without being burdened with an entire collection which consumes a whole hutch.
I also would mention of the heritage stuff- furniture you can’t imagine getting rid of it for sentimental reasons maybe just reimagining it to a style that suits you. That way you honor the person that gave it to you but you actually love living with it into the furniture. Especially artwork, remat or reframe can be your best friend and make the artwork current.
I like the color of the walls in Dana's room. I think the only issue there is there isn't enough variation in the color intensity. If she added some of that green but in a brighter/darker shade, maybe in a lamp shade, some artwork, and a throw and/or pillow on her bed, it would look wonderful. Also that artwork above her headboard is the wrong size for that area; it's much too close to the ceiling. Move that to over the desk so it can be lowered, and add something bright and horizontal over the headboard.
For Dana, maybe consider a rug under the bed, it helps to ground it in the space and it helps it not feel like it’s just kinda floating there. Contrasting nightstands might help too, but if you’re short on space the rug might be easier. And I don’t think there’s anything wrong with putting a rug over carpet!! Just maybe not a super thick plushy one.
Nick you are a very kind human being! So I will try to write my comments with that spirit 😉 For Dana: moving the furniture around if possible, the headboard and desk are the same white and read plain. Contrast with textiles even in your desk chair, change the size of the art, also a plant will liven your space. For Jay: I think the issue is not so much the furniture per se, but the excesive amount of decoration, including patterns of the minicurtains under the kitchen. You can edit SLOWLY and feel the space, for example taking out everything above the cabinets. Or take all ornaments out and put back SLOWLY what you like and also feel it. Def change the curtains or at least the way they are hanged, and the minicurtains are easy to change for a plain or small print cloth. For Bobby: the art of the living room is the wrong size and too high. Also add contrast with some lighter textiles to giv e movement to the space. On the bedroom: edit the bookcase wall, specially all the small things above. I love plants, but I think that is not the right place for them cause they don´t have their own space to look nice, maybe move them?
on the other hand of the taking family's stuff. I have nothing of my grandparents stuff, and I buy mostly from facebook marketplace and so many times I've been told, 'This was my grandmothers, but we just don't have room for it" one woman was worried that we were furniture flippers, but no, I might not have my grandmother's stuff but I have A grandmother's stuff and I kind of treasure it for the fact that someone before me was proud of it, even though I never knew them. This was hopefully meant to make those who have to sell their family's furniture feel better because hey, they may actually really appreciate it the way your grandma did too!
Dana, your space is so calm, pretty and restful. Totally makes sense for a bedroom! Sometimes, "cohesive" can turn into "samey" if we don't prioritise a little contrast. In order to keep that really serene feel, some natural fibres and materials would go a long, long way and provide that pop of difference. Honestly, the family of colours you've chosen are some of my favourites. They might just need a boost in saturation! Jay, I would feel so happy and cosy in your space. I love that you've leaned into the tradish! I think Nick is right in that adding a few updated items could enliven the space a little. I also think some fun DIY could do something for you because if you've inhereted so much, you may want to personalise your space. Take a look at the TH-cam channel, Reissued. If you're into being artistic, you'll get some fun ideas for sure. Bobby, your place is gorgeous. I would apply the restraint you've shown in your living room to the TV wall/library in your bedroom. Lots of lovely trinkets to spread around the room. Some of those frames would look so good accompanying the ship over your bed!
You were very sweet to your inquirers and your advise was spot on. Problem is will Jay have the nerve to move a lot of that stuff out so he can move some fresh stuff in? Reupholstering can work out fantastic to freshen things. I am bothered by bedrooms with tiny "night lights" you couldn't read by if you wanted to - dimmable wall lamps saved my bedroom.
I love your examples of mixing styles for submission #3 - I really like Caroline Winkler's video on how to find your design style and how she says don't focus on picking one style - pick a few adjectives like 3-5 to describe how you want your space to feel and then make your choices within those categories - that really helped me. Thanks for all the beautiful examples and advice Nick!
For Dana, I think a darker rug to ground the room would help. Something navy with some other colour pattern ( ie pink or the seafoam) will also add an opportunity to add another contrast colour to add contrast.
This was fantastic! A great watch and thank you for linking the inspo items - you've helped me solve a window treatment problem! Sending appreciation for your wonderful insight and helpful feedback, from Sunny England 🙂
I do love these! I love seeing people’s real homes and hearing your gentle advice for them. (I love your sassy advice too, but it’s nice to mix it up with the gentler advice sometimes too).
I love the roasting videos! I found you because I have absolutely no interior decorating sense at all. And like others have said, I stayed for the snark. What you do here is kind candor, which enables us to all learn and be entertained. I still have crown molding, doors and window trim to put on my home, but then I will be submitting my space to be "roasted" as well!
The first bedroom, Rosebushes under the apple Trees, ca. 1905 and Pear Tree #1 by Gustav Klimt in stretched canvas 24x24 for over the bed Lake Attersee, Klimt, 1901 canvas print ( not framed) and make a french ribbon bulletin board for behind the desk, texture and colours.
MCM mixes so well with traditional because that’s how people used to decorate back then! They had thier older antiques (or just stuff from 20+ years prior) and mixed it with the contemporary trendy stuff and made it work. I always think back to my grandparents houses, how they had a mixture of both in old pictures while my parents were growing up and it felt cohesive
Comment for Dana: Pusheen and panda bear. You’re speaking to my heart 💜 I feel like a blanket draped over the foot of the bed in a statement color like a saturated sea foam or blue with some coordinating pillows could go a long way. I also think bolder artwork would help… even a chunkier frame on the piece you have if you love it. Comment for Jay: I love the wood paneling and brick fireplace. They often end up painted over and loose so much of their charm. I think Nick is absolutely right about removing the heavy drapery. I think some simple sheers would really lighten the place up as well as provide a place to bring in some saturated color. I think a really pretty deep shade of what’s on the couch could be nice with some brass hardware. I’ll be honest, I’d also go with a cohesive color palette and theme throughout the space. The kitchen doesn’t need the fruit themes, particularly since it’s all one open space. You could add in some nostalgic kitch with some mushroom canisters for coffee/tea/cookies whatever. That would also tie in with the 70s dining set. How is the top of the set? Is it in good shape? Letting it stand alone without the table cloth would lighten the space some too. I’m also curious with the artwork, is it the artwork you love or the frames… or both? I also want to reiterate what Nick said… showcase what you love. When there’s lots of things in one space, it’s hard to see what you’re looking at and appreciate the individual items. I think this is particularly true for the fireplace mantle and the cabinet tops. Comment for Bobby: The coverlet on the bed is so lovely and the window nook with the plants and the chair… I feel the vibes. The tv wall is losing me though. I can’t help but feel like one stack of barrister bookcases would feel far more cohesive. Each individual cubby feels very disjointed. And I say this as someone who adores books.
Adding Panel Moldings to the walls all throughout my Home is the next big frontier for me as I continue onward in my Decor journey. I so appreciate how much you brought up Wall Moldings and the various types of them in this video. Your insights are always endearingly stated. Thanks, Nick. 🖤
I use my grandmother’s tea cart as a bedside table. A chest of drawers in my dining area provides storage for my mother,’s silver which l use and live, tablecloths etc. I love my solid walnut dining room table and chairs…reupholstered in apple green chenille. I have weeded out and kept the good stuff. Gave to friends if they admired something, donated the rest.
Bobby's plant needs some love😊❤️some of those shelves need closed doors, i put mirrors on my cabinet doors and 16:11 mullions over it. They look like glass - removing the weight- and reflecting the light❤
For Bobby, I also love MCM. You have some great pieces. But when Nick showed your bedroom, it just looked a little junky. The boat mobile hanging in the middle of the wall over your bed-what if you moved it to hang over your night stand. I love the asymmetry of MCM design and that could make the boat feel special vs random. With the bookcases, again, what if you moved all the separate pieces together to look more like one piece of furniture and arranged your art around your tv (which I’d hang on the wall) above a straight line of shelving underneath (at a height of 3/4 up the wall). You have some gorgeous plants there too, so maybe move one or two and some of the art over to the side where your bed is. I’d take the cloth down from behind the bed and use some of your art above your bed for the interest factor that Nick referred to as a feature wall. The cloth looks makeshift vs feature. I think you’d get more of the uncluttered, red 😅Ned nature of the MCM that you have in your living room by visually decluttering your bedroom. Thanks for putting yourself out there!❤
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For the first room - one of the tricks people sometimes do when picking fabrics for quilts is to take a picture in black and white. If everything turns into the basically same grey, you need more contrast. So even if everything technically plays together nicely, it all feels boring because they're all in that same value range.
Basically just create some contrast between the different shades
Very good tip!
Yep! Even if you’re using tons of different colors, if you can’t distinguish the grays, there isn’t enough contrast. I’m a knitter and use this trick a lot, especially when working with pale colors. A peach and a pale sea foam turn pretty close to the same shade of gray because they’re both white based. It’s less of an issue with really vibrant colors but starts to be an issue again with darker colors.
This is brilliant! That room definitely looks like it would all be one shade. I also thought it could’ve used some wood tones like the inspiration photos in the video. A medium toned wood would also add to the contrast.
Love this tip!
I love how Nick talks all sassy and directly at other videos, but when he is talking about real people with feelings, he is all respectful and careful with his choice of words. I think you explained yourself really well and achieved to say what you thought in a nice and productive critic way😊
"Tact is the ability to tell someone to go to hell in such a way that they'll look forward to the trip"
I would love a follow-up show where we see the subscribers’ spaces after implementing your advice!
I vote that you do more of these. We get little decorating nuggets from real life situations. Love it
Agreed
Absolutely. It feels much more real and relatable than highly curated spaces from Pinterest.
Dana,
If you love your artwork, consider moving it over the desk area. It is a bit too close to the ceiling and moving it over will enable you to lower it a few inches. If you are not in love with it and want something new, consider something horizontal that won't be hugging the ceiling so much.
YES! That was my first thought as well when I saw her room.
Agreed! I was thinking he same. That single movement with a new quilt would add so much to her room. 😊
My first thought too!
What about the space on the opposite wall? She could hang the art there, perhaps over a dresser, and choose a new piece of art over the bed. Something with a darker seafoam.
I was thinking the same, two vertical pieces above an already tall headboard. It also clusters all the color in that one region. We need to pull the color from the bed into the rest of the room
Jay: “You may not be able to tell.”
Nick: “Jay, I can tell.” 😂
😂😂
We can all tell!
The way he was so quick with that lol 😂😂😂
😂
I think he has some very interesting pieces in the space, but they don't stand out because literally everything is from that same time period. That picture of the living looks like it's straight out of 1962. The only reason you know it's modern is because there's a flat screen tv in the photo. I never really thought about it until Nick brought it up but those spaces look like sets from TV shows. If you love it, then go for it. I couldn't live in that for a day, but it's not my space.
When you get something handed down from you from someone who has passed away, it is sometimes hard to get rid of it. I’m dealing with that right now with some things that I got when my sister passed away. I don’t want to get rid of it because it feels like I’ll betrayed her. And yet it’s not my style at all. I know, I got to get over it, but it’s hard. But I have noticed that with the stuff I have gotten rid of so far I don’t miss it at all and I don’t feel bad. So I understand that Jay has a lot of things and maybe he doesn’t want to get rid of things for certain reasons like that. He’s not alone.
someone once told me to take pictures of the things you let go of, so you can still remember the person. Also, looks towards refinishing, upgrading or reupholstering. Good luck and sorry for your loss.
When you are gifted summat, it's yours to do with what you like without feeling guilty. If it isn't your thing, your style, your colourway and doesn't spark joy as Marie Kondo would say, then you're free to sell it, auction it, give it away/whatever so someone else will derive the pleasure from it. P.S. I'm a nightmare to buy for! Best take me out for a meal or somesuch!
Remember that getting rid of *thing* is not getting rid of a *person* or your memories of them. Things are just, well, things. If it's too hard to declutter everything, maybe think about keeping one or two small items that make you think of the person you loved.
This is me, but I don't feel like I'm betraying them. It's more like it was a part of them and I can't let it go. Even my grandfather's car was excruciating to let go off. I had to tell my mom to take care of the selling and taking away of it. Cried my eyes out afterwards. I still have the last outif he wore the day I took him to the hospital in my closet.
I'm so sorry for your loss.
I have some furniture pieces that are sentimental as well that simply didn't fit my style. Since the furniture is older it's all real wood, so I wanted to keep it. I decided to update the furniture. For example, I have an old cedar chest from my grandmother. To give it new life, I replaced the legs with modern metal legs, removed the frilly moulding, and refinished it. Now it's my style, it's real wood, and I get to keep the sentimental piece of furniture. I like the idea of giving sentimental pieces a new life.
For Jay, I would start by taking about half of the stuff out! As you said, showcase the pieces you truly love. The place would seem twice as large if it weren't so full.
A mirror or two would also help by reflecting some of the natural (and not natural) light and open it up a bit more.
Yeah, there is something about the books in the cubical-shaped bookcases/holders that makes his library look too busy. I see the cubes instead of the books, instead of feasting my eyes on his books, which can add such warmth to a room
The drapery does weigh the room down tho. Just that going would make it feel less Grandma-chic. The wood might give a heaviness to the room, but I can see wanting that. That's probably my amish woodworking genes at play--so Im not to be trusted. Im a sucker for real wood in this mdf world.
As much as I LOVED his house, I agree. Less stuff to bump into if you're clumsy, too.
Yes it seems more "cluttered" rather than "maximalist". Possibly because the vintage style makes it look more like stuff that accumulated over years versus a purposeful design.
For Dana, one little addition you could consider is to get a basket that your rubbish bin will fit inside and that's a little deeper so it hides from most angles but is still very accessible - that could be a way of introducing another warm, textural element while retaining your practical bin-with-liner situation that is obviously there for a good reason :)
Love this idea! Thanks!
3:37 "Room placement" The Dear Modern youtube channel would roast that room placement instantly. The headboard is intercepting too much energy from the door, and the lack of symmetrical night tables will prevent her from finding looooove. The bed needs to be in the command position, and the desk needs to have more support to protect her from being assassinated through the window. So, now you know!
😂
yeah, it is all kinds of Feng Shui wrong, I was cringing here.
I’m wondering if there is a closet opposite the desk🧐 Move the bed and leave the desk?
YES I was thinking the same thing. That room needed some feng shui
Haha, you even have his exaggerations down pat! I thought of that, too, when I saw the bed by the door.
Aw, the second one is so Grandma core. I just want to sit down and have a cookie with Grandma at that table and I expect a hug. 😊
Jay: One suggestion I have is regarding your couch, which looks older than it needs to because the cushions are quite thin and flat. For extra loft (and greater comfort) you can pick up a roll of batting from a fabric store, unzip the cushions at the back, and put a layer or two of it between the foam and the upholstery material. That’ll help tremendously! 😊
Such a great tip! Hopefully his cushions have the zips but if not, he can always take it to an upholsterer or furniture manufacturer to stuff! 😊
@@Lau3464l Thank you so much for your kind acknowledgment! 🤍
Jay, what I have done when I find myself clinging to a lot of sentimental items is to move them into my garage and store them for 3-6 months. Almost all of the time when I go to my garage to decide what to do with them I end up donating them to charity. I have learned that letting someone else enjoy what I not longer need nor want becomes a great gift to people that I will never know.
I 100% Agree.
Fantastic advice. Someone else can use it, it doesn't have to be you!
Plus, you're supporting the charity's mission.
More contrast to the bedding will let Pusheen have his moment!
YEEEES!!!! Love the Pusheen. Also I think I have the same plushie :D
Hello, I love your comments and ideas. For Jay, I had an antique couch given to me (it is mahogany and had a terribly dirty gold damask on it. The cushions were stuffed with horse hair!! My husband was allergic to it without us knowing). I let it sit for several years in storage with tarps over it but then had saved money and had it reupholstered with a fresh but period appropriate print. It it is now one of my favorite pieces. Good luck with your future upgrades!
Wow, that is really antique! They used to use horse hair to stuff cushions as well as other materials back then.
Bobby, please set your clock to the forever correct time of 12:17. Lol
Can Dec 17 be Nick Lewis day?
@@emmaparker7219 umm yes please😂
LOL
Jay, I think you will find that getting rid of stuff is very liberating. Less chaos will make your home feel so much calmer.
But there's not so much in the rest of the place, especially the bedroom. He should spread the framed pieces to other rooms. Then it won't be a solid top-to-bottom array. The thing that was most jarring to me was the monitor perched on one storage cube and wedged between the others.
I'm jealous of the space and the neighborhood. Lovely!
Find out if any other family members want some of the stuff that has been passed down..........if not, then donate.
The placement of the furniture is all wrong and needs some paring down.
It will be easier to clean and the air will circulate and be fresher, too.
And it will create visual space for that Mary Cassat to shine!
Love these types of videos! Great to see real life examples, and how things should be changed!
I used to take all my family's stuff and my house was so crazy and not cohesive. Years ago I stopped feeling bad and got rid of most of it. Now I love how my home is decorated and it's much more my style. 🥰
You really gave Jay a solid helping hand! It’s easy to be totally overwhelmed by all that deep vintage and ruffle. But you had a tempered and compassionate take that was super helpful!
I so needed this reminder. I had family move overseas and they literally gave me all their stuff. So I’ve been trying to work with it, but most is in a large storage unit collecting dust. I’m going to weed it out and sell or donate. Thanks for the reminder ❤
"Feels like a film set" ... great advice! My MCM living room was similar. Over the course of ~3 years I found pieces/art that I really enjoyed and was able to be a bit less Wes Anderson ;)
You put so much work into these suggestions, Nick. Colours, mood boards, inspo pics, even a floor plan. These take time and effort. They are lucky to have your input.
I love how kind you are in these reviews of subscribers’ homes. Thank you for always being respectful, funny, and helpful! Now how do I send you pics as I very much want to be roasted by you? 😂
Can’t wait! Wanting to submit my own living room…but also nervous…at least there are no boob lights in my house. And I have consistent light temperatures!
Our handyman just switched out our last boob lights! 🎉
I would have to use AI to colour correct lighting 😂
No more boob lights? That's my new years resolution for next year 😂
Dana I think two simple things would make a huge difference. 1- a fuller fluffy duvet. I think it will help with the flat feeling. 2- wood frames around the art it will add warmth to your space and make the art feel more luxurious.
Remember rooms are always evolving and nothing needs to happen all at once. You’ve put together a lovely space and it will continue to evolve with you. 😊
My unsolicited suggestion for the first room, which I think is quite nice, is to bring in some natural wood elements to warm the room up a bit. I think a larger lamp, they do make wooden ones, would also help. Then I think bringing some color in with two large pillows against the headboard in a deep rusty orange color. Then a throw with texture and a stripe of deeper, darker seafoam green would give the room just the kick it needs.
Nick just defined my style: "1950's Sitcom". (Looking for a photo of conga drums for my mood board...)
Yes, congas! Try the Jazz Radio with inspiration from Bossa Nova such as BEBO, etc. with album covers.😮
Great advice Nick. Spot on. Be great if these 3 get back to you with improvements they make as a result. A 'before & after' vid.
Even though your critique/suggestions are for specific people, I love how a lot of people can have something to take away from it! Thank you, Nick! Another lovely video 😊
It seems all of these share the common thread of locking into a theme/style and never diverging even a bit from it. I think that's such an easy thing to get stuck in out of a desire to feel cohesive. Your comment about sticking to a style from a specific time period feeling like a movie set is spot on. Set designers are purposefully doing that specifically to establish setting especially when the media is not set in the current time period. But while a set should evoke "1956" (or whatever), most of us just want our house to evoke "home." A good reminder to add elements that break the mold a bit.
Suggestions for the 3rd room:
1. Minimize clutter around the TV area.
2. Remove the Christmas lights from the ceiling.
3. Invest in a closed storage cabinet.
4. Include furniture pieces that are not Midcentury.
Jay: With regard to your living room curtains, consider hanging them differently (v. replacing them). If you hung them on a longer curtain rod so that each panel hung straight to one side of the window without blocking it, they would add a textural modern element without blocking any light. Maybe also consider raising the curtain rod to just below the ceiling (b/c you cannot see the bottom of the curtain anyway). You could add a sheer or other shade if you need to control light. I tried that way of hanging curtain panels and I love it! It makes the window look larger while maximizing the available light in the room.
We bought a 2004 top of the line (for 2004) fifth wheel to live in while building a house. It had padded dark tan/brown fabric wood covers and curtains on every window. I took them all down and the camper felt that much larger. Eventually I bought a pair of light teal IKEA curtains and cut them up to make little valences-looks much better.
Love, love, love these types of videos! Very cool to see what "real people" are doing!
Great advice all around, Nick. What I take from each of these is that we have to be careful not to overdo our ideas . Too much in muted tones feels flat. Too much in period style feels heavy. Too much stuff just feels like too much in general. Here’s to adding in a little quirk to whatever style we choose!!
I know I'll be in the minority, but i absolutely LOVE Jay's space. It feels very cozy to me. But then again, my dream is to style my home like a 1940s house and this is along the same vibe of all one decade.
Dana-What's your favorite color? Get that in new art above your bed and repeat that color and others in the new pic on some throw pillow, a vase, etc. Jay-Painting your wall paneling will make a world of difference and you will still have the texture. Did it in my home and it came out great looking. That & a few tweaks (Nick's suggestions) will make it feel fresher. Sofa slip cover, some newer style pillows, etc. Bobby-Looks fine to me :-) Overall mixing difefrent styles feels more curated instead of dated. Also the "nod" to a style does work better than themed rooms. Great advice (as usual), Nick!
I don’t agree with painting wall paneling. Reversing that to go back to wood is very difficult. Check out furniture restoration channels.
@@BritInvLvr Yeah painting real , quality wall paneling is a crime. Those were meant to be wood color.
I painted my 1980s brown paneling antique white and the difference is HUGE! Great idea!
@@karenk2409 1980's paneling is usually low quality wood. We are talking about older paneling which is made out of real wood, not MDF.
@@vaderladyl Beautiful old wood should never be painted, in my opinion. Since I had the 1980s builder version, painting was a HUGE improvement!
In the nautical/pub bedroom, I would paint the wall behind the bookcase and framed pictures a dark colour to help it read like one large element, and cohere a bit more.
Bobby's living room and bedroom are soooo different, I almost got whiplash, lol. I'll be honest - that accent wall with the string lights took me back to my 90's college days when I thought string lights in my bedroom was the COOLEST thing ever. I personally love the boat (it's a very unique piece), but I have to agree on the wall of books and art and plants was all tasteful elements but too much when crammed together. Spread the love! I would paint the room one color (love the Navy suggestion) and move the art collage to the wall behind the bed to help open up the other wall a bit. And maybe balance the plants in the room to move some by the bed. As for Jay, WOW do you have a plethora of stunning pieces! The furniture, the art work, that cuckoo clock - just reduce the amount of stuff by 30% and for the love of Pete, what you don't keep, definitely sell. Almost everything you have there is beautiful!
I love when you review people's spaces! It's nice to see what real-world people are doing with their homes and how we can all improve our spaces. I'd love to see more!
What a smart idea to give us ideas. Thanks to those who were brave enough to send in photos of their homes!!! ❤️
I really enjoy this type of video, real people with real suggestions.
Not really a design enthusiast but I started binging this guy's videos a couple of days ago and kept it as background. Really entertaining and informative. 👍🏽
The first picture looks a bit like a hospital room for new mothers❤ The color palette is good but I'd like the green on the walls maybe?
Of course Nick's advice is spot on.😊
Hospital room was my first thought as well. Hope she can move the bed as Nick suggested, and then brighten the room up with favorite colors.
Yes, I'd paint the room in a version of the seafoam she seems to like (and maybe add some of the molding shown in some of the inspo photos). I like the idea of changing up the furniture location (although the opposite wall may have a closet door or have weird angles that are limiting). If not, I've always been a fan of mocking up the room on graph paper or in an app and playing around. There might be a cool potential layout that doesn't have everything lined up.
on the second room, take down all the curtains!!
they should be replaced by lighter, simpler curtains.
"Dana" - the artwork above the bed is too large.
"Jay" - when it's 100% vintage, it's a museum.
Yes!!!!! Museum is a perfect description. It's a shame because there are some really nice pieces in the mix.
For the other one the artwork is the wrong size, wrong direction, and wrong colors for the room. If it were a horizontal scale piece with any of the colors that Nick suggested, then it would be a huge improvement. If the headboard was painted a darker color from the ones shown or even a variation of the drape color, then that would be a huge improvement as well. There's a lot of potential in that room though. A smaller desk, not L shaped would also open up the space a lot more.
Yes, and if she wants to keep it, move it to above the desk, and lower it.
Agree, and the lamp on desk is too small.
I completely understand the family heirlooms or family gifts issue. I had a China hutch full of glassware and glass figurines that didn’t feel like my style. I packed these items and stowed them away in a place where I don’t have to look at them, but feel as though I still have these old antique family pieces. Replaced my China hutch, with a buffet table and feel 1000 times better with the overall look.
Suggestions for the 2nd room:
1. Reduce clutter.
2. Replace the heavy curtains with sheer ones.
3. Consider selling some of the vintage furniture and items, and add a few modern pieces.
Jay's place: x old window treatments and use modern blinds instead, and paint the walls. Should make a real difference. Otherwise it looks cosy and strong in style. Like the pruning advice.
For Jay, lose or change the fabrics.Biggest bang for easiest, get rid the lace table cloth and update the curtains. Possibly reupholster the living room chairs to something more modern. New rug. More involved updating paint it some type of white and update the lighting, fixture and lamps. It’s cute but cluttered feeling from the heavy use of ruffles and patterns.
I agree, and would also recommend to remove the stuff on top of the kitchen cabinets and the china cabinet, remove the plates on the wall between the living/dining rooms, remove the fake flowers, and remove some of the small dishes in the china cabinet and leave just the larger ones. You don't have to give this stuff away (not yet anyway), just put it away. It will take time to adjust to the newly empty spaces so give it a few weeks and then see how you feel about it.
Since he needs to edit, the cheapest option may be to ditch the side chairs to free up space.
And remove half of the decor pieces out
I can already hear the feng shui guy screaming "Noooooo" about the recommended bed position in the first example^^
😂
actually, I think the feng shui would also recommend flipping the bed around, no? Or maybe I misunderstood your comment haha
😂😂😂
A nice way to have a fun painting: put a canvas on the floor, on a large protective sheet as there will be a lot of splasing, and dip 4 or 5 ropes in different colours. Then throw the ropes on the canvas. carefully remove the ropes and look at the shapes you got. You can take a brush and spread/complement things a bit. ON one occasion, I made mine look more like a forest, on another more like the sea. Etc.
Looove this video!! I think we all like to see what each other’s places look like, it gives us a chance to see what we do and don’t like. That helps us to curate our own spaces! I hope that makes sense.
It's really hard to get rid of things you inherit from loved relatives.
I know - there is an emotional attachment. It also needs to reflect you though, which may or may not include those items.
If I don’t absolutely love the way it looks, I’ll pack it up and put it in my attic. It can still be passed down to my kids, but it’s not in my way as I design my space.
I also inherited a mid century teak buffet, it could almost have been made yesterday (except for the workmanship) it's a beautiful piece of wood, and I keep all the dinnerware in it. Plus I use all the dinnersets... I love eating off 100 + year old plates and drinking tea from the cups, my grandparents and parents never used the "Good China" except at christmas...what a waste.
Absolutely. Sometimes they can be modernized with reupholstering if that’s reasonable/desirable, or they can be accessorized differently and given air to breathe. If they’re not as crammed together, given a calmer/brighter wall as a backdrop, and some more modern accessories like curtains and rugs, the furniture won’t feel as locked in the time period 😊
I watched this video with enthusiasm. Standing out to me is that none of the participants succumbed to the urge of making, and hanging, a pizza pan clock on their wall. Bravo everyone. 👏
My apartment is a boring beige box. Keeps guests from wearing out their welcome. Since there's nothing interesting for them to poke through😁
My home is my style of cosy, and I just don’t invite the guests 😂😂
Yes!!! The 2nd one is heavy. Paint or lighten stain on kitchen cabinets maybe order a couple cabinet doors with glass on them❤😊
Yes! Good idea for the kitchen cabinet & showing off good china pieces.
For Jay I think he would enjoy Caroline Winkler's YT channel since she loves vintage and mixing styles like Nick suggested. :)
Jay, you have some amazing art! I would encourage you to research some of them. Looks like one or two may be dutch masters rather valuable. Check the backs of them carefully for artist notes, dates and info handwritten. Also the lead crystal in cabinet is lovely.
I LOVE Jay's space!! I'm not saying it couldn't improve but I think he's done a good job to start already.
I second this! It was such a refreshing, interesting change from all the same-same of Pinterest
@@MrCS647 totally! I really loved the commitment to personality and I felt like everything actually did compliment each other, and all of it was made of REAL WOOD 💖💖💖💖!! I think what he needed for that final polished touch was just flow; but idk if the space was large enough to effectively make that happen. For example, I think, he could achieve that by having storage that is a much lower profile, like shallow built-in, real wood bookcases with beautiful moulding and glass doors for display, and possibly suspended a ways off of the floor so that the eye feels the room has more space. But again, it would be ashame to lose any of those beautiful traditional china display cabinets.
Thanks, Dana, for putting yourself out there. ❤
I like Nick’s suggestion of moving your bed to the opposite wall out of the path of the door. I don’t know if I’d move my desk as well. That way you could have an upholstered chair/reading nook in the corner where he moved your desk and a side table to serve double duty as a night stand between the chair and your bed.
Also, I have no problem with your art pieces, I just wouldn’t hang them over the bed. They don’t have room around them there to feel special.
I would consider hanging them apart, say over you desk area or in the reading nook and on the two walls of the corner of the room (not right in the corner, but near the corner so they look like they’re together but with some space around them).
I agree with all the rest Nick advised. Best wishes!
Jay got a sightly more animated roast, but I think it is because he has some MAJOR potential for a really cool place.
Great video. I love Bobby's. Thanks for sharing, all!
BTW., Bobby, RE: the library wall, one of the things I do in my place that really works for me in terms of... emotional response, atmosphere... is I never hang art above the frame of the door/window. VIsually it just feels calmer to me.
I would look for more cohesive bookshelves, either as a unit or made to measure. There's nothing wrong with books (I love having my books out on show) but the type of shelving they're housed in can make such a difference to how cohesive a space feels.
11:04 to 11:12 The natural light flowing into Bobby’s house is beautiful😄
For jay, I feel like a great place to start with minimal cost would be to paint the space a crisp white that is slightly warmer, and then update most of the simple fabrics in the space- curtains, pillows, table placemats, and lamp shades. The furniture is gorgeous and I feel like these things would do a lot to broaden and lighten the space as well as make it more contemporary.
love this omg! its so inspirational!!!
For the vintage dish set- perhaps keep a couple of pieces and sell/ gift the rest or pass them on to other relatives. I feel like each family member who wants to could display a cup, saucer, and plate, for example, without being burdened with an entire collection which consumes a whole hutch.
This is more of a light browning than a roast, which is great. So cool that folks are willing to send in their photos.
I also would mention of the heritage stuff- furniture you can’t imagine getting rid of it for sentimental reasons maybe just reimagining it to a style that suits you. That way you honor the person that gave it to you but you actually love living with it into the furniture. Especially artwork, remat or reframe can be your best friend and make the artwork current.
I like the color of the walls in Dana's room. I think the only issue there is there isn't enough variation in the color intensity. If she added some of that green but in a brighter/darker shade, maybe in a lamp shade, some artwork, and a throw and/or pillow on her bed, it would look wonderful. Also that artwork above her headboard is the wrong size for that area; it's much too close to the ceiling. Move that to over the desk so it can be lowered, and add something bright and horizontal over the headboard.
Agreed! Jay, your things are beautiful! Nik's tweeks are genius as always ❤❤❤🎉❤❤❤
Please so more of these. They are sooooo helpful. Love the show. Thank you!!!!
For Dana, maybe consider a rug under the bed, it helps to ground it in the space and it helps it not feel like it’s just kinda floating there. Contrasting nightstands might help too, but if you’re short on space the rug might be easier. And I don’t think there’s anything wrong with putting a rug over carpet!! Just maybe not a super thick plushy one.
Nick you are a very kind human being! So I will try to write my comments with that spirit 😉
For Dana: moving the furniture around if possible, the headboard and desk are the same white and read plain. Contrast with textiles even in your desk chair, change the size of the art, also a plant will liven your space.
For Jay: I think the issue is not so much the furniture per se, but the excesive amount of decoration, including patterns of the minicurtains under the kitchen. You can edit SLOWLY and feel the space, for example taking out everything above the cabinets. Or take all ornaments out and put back SLOWLY what you like and also feel it. Def change the curtains or at least the way they are hanged, and the minicurtains are easy to change for a plain or small print cloth.
For Bobby: the art of the living room is the wrong size and too high. Also add contrast with some lighter textiles to giv e movement to the space. On the bedroom: edit the bookcase wall, specially all the small things above. I love plants, but I think that is not the right place for them cause they don´t have their own space to look nice, maybe move them?
I love these videos! Glad to see another one and I hope you make more!
on the other hand of the taking family's stuff. I have nothing of my grandparents stuff, and I buy mostly from facebook marketplace and so many times I've been told, 'This was my grandmothers, but we just don't have room for it" one woman was worried that we were furniture flippers, but no, I might not have my grandmother's stuff but I have A grandmother's stuff and I kind of treasure it for the fact that someone before me was proud of it, even though I never knew them.
This was hopefully meant to make those who have to sell their family's furniture feel better because hey, they may actually really appreciate it the way your grandma did too!
I love when you do these videos with viewers’ homes. Your suggestions are always valid and interesting. More please!
Dana, your space is so calm, pretty and restful. Totally makes sense for a bedroom! Sometimes, "cohesive" can turn into "samey" if we don't prioritise a little contrast. In order to keep that really serene feel, some natural fibres and materials would go a long, long way and provide that pop of difference. Honestly, the family of colours you've chosen are some of my favourites. They might just need a boost in saturation!
Jay, I would feel so happy and cosy in your space. I love that you've leaned into the tradish! I think Nick is right in that adding a few updated items could enliven the space a little. I also think some fun DIY could do something for you because if you've inhereted so much, you may want to personalise your space. Take a look at the TH-cam channel, Reissued. If you're into being artistic, you'll get some fun ideas for sure.
Bobby, your place is gorgeous. I would apply the restraint you've shown in your living room to the TV wall/library in your bedroom. Lots of lovely trinkets to spread around the room. Some of those frames would look so good accompanying the ship over your bed!
You were very sweet to your inquirers and your advise was spot on. Problem is will Jay have the nerve to move a lot of that stuff out so he can move some fresh stuff in? Reupholstering can work out fantastic to freshen things. I am bothered by bedrooms with tiny "night lights" you couldn't read by if you wanted to - dimmable wall lamps saved my bedroom.
Born/raised a few miles from Pleasanton. Had to laugh. SF is always better spring/fall. Go in October.
These are my favorite videos! Thank you Nick ❤
I love your examples of mixing styles for submission #3 - I really like Caroline Winkler's video on how to find your design style and how she says don't focus on picking one style - pick a few adjectives like 3-5 to describe how you want your space to feel and then make your choices within those categories - that really helped me. Thanks for all the beautiful examples and advice Nick!
I love these!!! More please!! I learn a lot by seeing actual people's spaces since so much of the internet is so curated.
I absolutely love these "roasting" videos! I wish you'd do more. I learn so much from them.
For Dana, I think a darker rug to ground the room would help. Something navy with some other colour pattern ( ie pink or the seafoam) will also add an opportunity to add another contrast colour to add contrast.
This was fantastic! A great watch and thank you for linking the inspo items - you've helped me solve a window treatment problem! Sending appreciation for your wonderful insight and helpful feedback, from Sunny England 🙂
I do love these! I love seeing people’s real homes and hearing your gentle advice for them. (I love your sassy advice too, but it’s nice to mix it up with the gentler advice sometimes too).
I love the roasting videos! I found you because I have absolutely no interior decorating sense at all. And like others have said, I stayed for the snark. What you do here is kind candor, which enables us to all learn and be entertained. I still have crown molding, doors and window trim to put on my home, but then I will be submitting my space to be "roasted" as well!
The first bedroom,
Rosebushes under the apple Trees, ca. 1905 and Pear Tree #1
by Gustav Klimt in stretched canvas 24x24 for over the bed
Lake Attersee, Klimt, 1901 canvas print ( not framed) and make a french ribbon bulletin board for behind the desk, texture and colours.
Klimt anything is a winner.
Lovely suggestions!
MCM mixes so well with traditional because that’s how people used to decorate back then! They had thier older antiques (or just stuff from 20+ years prior) and mixed it with the contemporary trendy stuff and made it work. I always think back to my grandparents houses, how they had a mixture of both in old pictures while my parents were growing up and it felt cohesive
Comment for Dana: Pusheen and panda bear. You’re speaking to my heart 💜 I feel like a blanket draped over the foot of the bed in a statement color like a saturated sea foam or blue with some coordinating pillows could go a long way. I also think bolder artwork would help… even a chunkier frame on the piece you have if you love it.
Comment for Jay: I love the wood paneling and brick fireplace. They often end up painted over and loose so much of their charm. I think Nick is absolutely right about removing the heavy drapery. I think some simple sheers would really lighten the place up as well as provide a place to bring in some saturated color. I think a really pretty deep shade of what’s on the couch could be nice with some brass hardware. I’ll be honest, I’d also go with a cohesive color palette and theme throughout the space. The kitchen doesn’t need the fruit themes, particularly since it’s all one open space. You could add in some nostalgic kitch with some mushroom canisters for coffee/tea/cookies whatever. That would also tie in with the 70s dining set. How is the top of the set? Is it in good shape? Letting it stand alone without the table cloth would lighten the space some too. I’m also curious with the artwork, is it the artwork you love or the frames… or both? I also want to reiterate what Nick said… showcase what you love. When there’s lots of things in one space, it’s hard to see what you’re looking at and appreciate the individual items. I think this is particularly true for the fireplace mantle and the cabinet tops.
Comment for Bobby: The coverlet on the bed is so lovely and the window nook with the plants and the chair… I feel the vibes. The tv wall is losing me though. I can’t help but feel like one stack of barrister bookcases would feel far more cohesive. Each individual cubby feels very disjointed. And I say this as someone who adores books.
Adding Panel Moldings to the walls all throughout my Home is the next big frontier for me as I continue onward in my Decor journey. I so appreciate how much you brought up Wall Moldings and the various types of them in this video. Your insights are always endearingly stated. Thanks, Nick. 🖤
Thank you Nick for this master class in giving constructive feedback!
Yay!! Thank you I missed these. Can’t wait to see your new set up.
I use my grandmother’s tea cart as a bedside table. A chest of drawers in my dining area provides storage for my mother,’s silver which l use and live, tablecloths etc. I love my solid walnut dining room table and chairs…reupholstered in apple green chenille. I have weeded out and kept the good stuff. Gave to friends if they admired something, donated the rest.
Bobby's plant needs some love😊❤️some of those shelves need closed doors, i put mirrors on my cabinet doors and 16:11 mullions over it. They look like glass - removing the weight- and reflecting the light❤
For Bobby, I also love MCM. You have some great pieces. But when Nick showed your bedroom, it just looked a little junky. The boat mobile hanging in the middle of the wall over your bed-what if you moved it to hang over your night stand. I love the asymmetry of MCM design and that could make the boat feel special vs random.
With the bookcases, again, what if you moved all the separate pieces together to look more like one piece of furniture and arranged your art around your tv (which I’d hang on the wall) above a straight line of shelving underneath (at a height of 3/4 up the wall).
You have some gorgeous plants there too, so maybe move one or two and some of the art over to the side where your bed is.
I’d take the cloth down from behind the bed and use some of your art above your bed for the interest factor that Nick referred to as a feature wall. The cloth looks makeshift vs feature. I think you’d get more of the uncluttered, red 😅Ned nature of the MCM that you have in your living room by visually decluttering your bedroom.
Thanks for putting yourself out there!❤
This is one of my favorite things you do. I can’t believe it’s been a year since your last.
Hi, Jay, reframe your wall art! Replace lace tablecloth with placemats. Replace drapes with Roman shade. Slipcover sofa.