This week, I’ve been hard at work in the studio, getting it cleared out, packed up and ready to paint the ceiling, walls and floors. It’s a daunting task, considering the room is huge and there’s been a lot of stuff collected over the years. Yesterday, while I was sifting through stuff and packing it away, I came across a huge stash of design magazines, probably around 300 of them, dating back to at least 2005. Instead of taking the time to look through them, I decided to get rid of them all. I didn’t think I’d be looking at any of them again anytime soon. One of them, however, caught my attention. It was a special publication of Better Homes & Gardens, and the cover said “The Most Stunning Rooms Ever.” I remembered buying this magazine back in the day and being captivated by it. I thought the claim made on the front cover was true. So, I was curious – would these rooms still stand up to that label today? Would they look timeless or outdated? I wanted to take a look and see what you think.
When this magazine was published, it was Fall/Winter 2006. Social media was in its infancy, with Myspace being the most popular platform and Facebook still relatively new. The first iPhone was still about six months away. Back then, most of us were getting our design and decorating ideas from magazines and HGTV.
Let’s take a look at a few of the rooms. The first one starts off strong. I wouldn’t immediately think it’s outdated, and I think the wall color is still quite pretty and fresh. The only thing I’d want to change is the window treatments. Those swag things (I forget what they’re called) seem to be something from the past.
The next one looks pretty, too. It’s not my style, as the colors are too heavy and dark for me, but it doesn’t seem outdated. One thing that I noticed about many of the rooms in this magazine is that they either seem dark and heavy, or plain. This dining room is a good example of what I mean by timeless design – it would look right at home in 2023 with some minor updates.
This kitchen, though, is a different story. I remember seeing it in another publication, but with a pink color, which I loved. When I saw that it was actually red, I was disappointed. Still, if the wall color was lightened to a soft white, this kitchen would still look great today.
This sitting room is pretty, but I’m not sure if antiqued finishes on woodwork are still in style these days. I think it’s easy to understand why the white farmhouse look became so popular – it was a pushback against the dark and heavy decor of the time. This bedroom is an example of the plain category – there’s nothing to it and it doesn’t look designed. I’m not sure if it would make the cut in 2023.
The next one was a surprise to me. It’s a modern minimalist aesthetic, which I was a fan of back then, but if I looked at this picture without the name attached, I would guess it was a Vern Yip Trading Spaces room.
Overall, I think many of these rooms could fit in perfectly in 2023 with a can of white paint. Not everything needs to be white, but some things could definitely stand to be lightened and brightened a bit. The heavy curtains, animal prints and all the browns could use some updating. After looking through the magazine, I can see why the white farmhouse look was so popular – it was a reaction to the dark, heavy and overdone rooms of the time.
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