Is Modern Interior Design Losing All Personality?! (We need to have an HONEST Chat...)

[@mrphoenixgrey]

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[@brianbattle4432]

I love a historic exterior with a historic interior decorated with classic iconic modern furniture. The juxtaposition of intricate crown moldings with an Egg Chair is stunning in my opinion.

[@Cherrysmith2809]

Me too. My favorite juxtaposition is the I.M. Pei glass pyramid atrium roofs in the courtyard of The Louvre. And modern iconic furniture it classic buildings.

[@Lightice1]

The opposite can work quite well, as well. Generally speaking, modern architecture looks best when it's juxtaposed with organic elements: living plants, soft fabrics, textured art and most of all, colour. The clean lines make a good, neutral backdrop to personality that they themselves lack.

[@tamaramartin4015]

i love old money and new money, but my reality is more "what money" 🤪

[@JClover2]

Right?? Beggars can't be choosers 😄 I'll take ANY money

[@tamaramartin4015]

@@JClover2 Things are getting so crazy expensive that pretty soon, a lot of folks will only be able to afford the welcome mat

[@23kensie]

Contemporary lines can be calming and easier to clean but too much feels boring and empty

[@kathys3412]

I love the older styles. My dream home would be done with Edwardian details. The deep dark wood trim around everything, a huge library, the mouldings and mullions.. just love it

[@AndYourLittleDog]

Same feels but Second Empire has my heart... mansards make me swoon

[@akinyiomer4589]

Yes absolutely. My heart is more inclined towards contemporary, or more accurately transitional, 60% of the time but that's because I like the feel and atmosphere of semi-modern landscaping & open atria. HOWEVER I would very happily go near-maximalist Edwardian because again I love the sumptuous colours, the ornamentation and the feel of *design purpose*. In all the intricate mosaics for the front patio, richly-curved wooden staircases, arched walkways and wide or wide bay windows. What modern-day builders fail to realise is that whilst the contemporary matrix is so flexible in terms of configuration, you have to actively have a creative spirit and imbue love into the design when you're building. Hence why the nicest contemporary buildings tend to be expensive mansions with tons of outdoor gardens almost blended into the interiors. Because the designers were full of *intention* , not just building cubes. But the more & more construction looks like assembly-line products, the more divorced architects & construction companies will be from aesthetics. And they also *loathe* allowing room in their budget to make things mildly pretty, they're so brutalist when paring back costs it only leaves the ultra-wealthy who can afford over-the-top California aesthetics. When actually with just maybe 5-10% of budget here and there, you can make arched windows instead of blocks. Or mosaic garden courtyards or introduce patterned stonework or other sculputural ornamentations into really modern buildings. Y'know, visual identity. Instead of another straight line and clean, sheer wall.

[@evanor1296]

The pictures of contemporary with all the windows looks like a doll house :) Old money looks really impressive and gives me a respect to all the work that was done to achieve it. And gives a little scare of how hard the place must be to maintain New money looks clean and if over done cold and empty

[@MmaMohau]

I’m all for old money. The more details the better. ❤

[@kathrynmiele]

Contemporary here. And California style also includes an emphasis on outdoor living.

[@lolomar]

I think a mix of both is the most beautiful

[@nh9877]

I’m somewhere in the middle. I can’t handle an ultra maximalist environment as it feels like overload; neither can I relax in the super modern room which always seems to lack character and warmth. I want a room that is both relaxing, charming, and loved. BTW, I’ve just started really binging your videos. Two things: 1. I love your viewpoint and how you present it without being insulting. Whether I agree or disagree, you present your opinion with charm and kindness. 2. You strongly marry both the aesthetic with function in all of your presentations. It isn’t enough that a space be beautiful; it must also be functional. I wish more designers internalized this. Thank you! I very much enjoy all your videos!

[@hayleyelise7144]

Really interesting take on regional and contemporary architectural styles! I’m a former civil engineer and current designer myself from the NYC area, and I definitely agree that newer builds feel more sterile, plain, and devoid of intricate and ornate details and ornamentation. I just moved into a brand-new apartment building, and literally everything is cold and white, with flat base-boards, chrome fixtures, and no molding. It’s certainly a design challenge to imbue these spaces with warmth and personality by bringing in varied materials, textures, and patterns. I think the intention for these spaces was to create a blank-slate of sorts, where potential buyers and renters could envision their own style without the architecture dictating how they should decorate. I guess that makes monetary sense, but in trying to appeal to everyone with the blandest spaces possible, you end up creating nothing memorable or interesting. It’s kind of the unfortunate dichotomy you have to contend with in this area; do you want a nice, new building with no architectural details, or a gorgeous older build with period elements that may be a bit broken down or bug-infested? I just wish we didn’t have to choose, and that modern builders would be willing to take risks and spend more on being elaborate and visually distinct.

[@akask6458]

I think its more about the costs - Developers want to keep costs down and make a profit. They build what is cheapest to them and what they can get away with. They dont get rewarded in "buyer satisfaction". They care about cost per square ft/meter. We as buyers dont have much choice but to take what is available. At least here in London UK

[@deborahmichele]

I think you're being kind in assuming developers/builders want to give buyers a blank slate. It's all about saving $$$$$$$

[@fishercourt]

Does your landlord allow you to renovate your whole apartment by knocking down walls, replacing appliances and installing expensive wallpaper in every single space? The reason I’m asking is because I know I see so many content creators who literally renovate their apartments using so much money and I wonder if the landlords of those apartments get a profit from the content creators? I know in my past apartments landlords would not allow anyone to even put a nail in the wall. Painting and wallpaper was not allowed either. I don’t understand why landlords allow these content creators to paint and make gallery walls with nails. Please let me know.

[@karlaschmid8757]

I suppose that very few people have the money to hire the few existing artisans who could actually re-create the old money buildings.

[@McPorkyCheese]

“Modern design these days is super boring….. and honestly it looks like shit” LMAO this is why I come here.

[@dhuhaal243]

I agree with you regarding modern design. Most people do not know themselves and this is reflected in the extent of their selection. You see them resorting to imitation and you see their homes devoid of their souls. I like your taste in interiors .

[@ddhqj2023]

I like the 'exploding blocks' but I hate mile high ceilings which so many of them are burdened with. Exploding blocks that aren't too big, incorporate lots of natural textures of wood and stone and with amazing lush gardens and colour everywhere! - fabulous!

[@lovejones92]

I’m so happy to see this video. Hi new subscriber here 🙋🏾‍♀️. While I like the modern look, much like you said it doesn’t have personality and I personally think it makes a home look so sterile that I wonder if you can even call it a home. Architecturally they’re beautiful, but almost as if you’re looking at a museum.

[@JohnMcLovin-xq3qg]

I like both old and new money contemporary style but when they are taken to the extreme, that's when problems pop up. For NY old money style, if there's too much detail it starts to look tacky. The same for super modern contemporary, where there's too much glass, etc. it becomes super cold and uninviting.

[@mrphoenixgrey]

Couldn’t agree more! There has to be a seamless blend of the styles in any setting for it to feel right

[@JohnMcLovin-xq3qg]

@@mrphoenixgrey 😊😊

[@oltedders]

Are these modern homes all outside show and nothing but white boxes inside whose walls only define a space? Is there a single wall of glass on one side of the boring "open plan" living room/ dining/ kitchen, with every other room in the house a traditional box? That's not good design. That's just being lazy. Any middle school art student could come up with that design.

[@erum.m]

This. We have so much gilded/gold traditional, carved furniture used in my country that modern is like a breath of fresh air. So everything depends on where you are. At the end of the day, we cycle through things as we get bored of one...then on to the other.

[@vaderladyl]

Tacky is in the eye of the beholder, to me.

[@bmwmpower8655]

I think the preponderance of contemporary architecture and design really stems out of it being cheaper and easier. In the 1950's commercial and residential buildings got built with modern styling in a more "production line" since there was massive demand for space and housing post WWII and things had to get built quickly. There wasn't the time or resources to do housing with carved wood, millwork, cabinetry with detail, exteriors with articulation and different materials. A lot of this has carried over the years and made its way into interior design. You can just go into an IKEA and pretty much every table, lighting fixture, decor item pretty much goes with anything else. You don't have to give too much thought when designing for modern/contemporary architecture vs designing to a traditional or transitional aesthetic. In California there are several tract home developments from the 1950s done in the mid-century modern style however the construction quality (very thin walls, poorly insulated, slab on grade construction) is actually pretty poor, reflecting the need to build housing fast at the time. Of course today, there is such a strong demand for materials such as glass that modern architecture is no longer as "cheap" as it once was. I wonder if this will cause the pendulum to swing more toward the traditional/transitional style

[@KatieB33]

Please keep venting! I honestly have stopped watching other folks ideas because you simply make sense.

[@donkelly4718]

I for one ABSOLUTELY LOOOOVE contemporary design....precisely because it is so clean lined and unadorned and "devoid of personality" and "cold", which is a complete 180 from the craving of the ornate and overdecorated tendency I had as recently as a year or less ago, lol.

[@-N0V4-]

I've always been a fan of contemporary, not because of the simplicity but how much it allows experimentation with texture

[@tescherman3048]

Great subject! However there's so much to unpack here that it's practically useless in a brief YT comment section to have a conversation about these issues. Because the answer to these kinds of questions is always both "yes" and "no" and for differing reasons. In the simplest of terms, you just have to ask if any design is harmonious, thoughtful and intentional. If it evokes formality or informality. If it's cohesive and has a particular point of view and if that view resonates with someone or leaves them indifferent. Evaluating these requires an eye for design and how forms convey meaning and emotion. Absent of that meaning, design devolves into styles and, worse, trends.

[@julzm7067]

A couple of decades ago I bought a late 1970s fixer-upper. The seller was a real estate agent and flipped it by painting the walls and trim beige and putting out a for sale sign. It was so ugly I wanted to cry. I stopped at the DIY box store right after closing and bought primer paint and a sledge hammer. First job was taking down the cabinets over the kitchen peninsula that blocked the sight lines. Next I took off all the cheap, dark wood cabinet doors so I could prime and paint them white with a sprayer in the garage. The bathrooms I did black and white, they remind me of my grandmother's house in New England, classic and timeless The fireplace was the victim of the sledge hammer, field stone was replaced with split-faced white marble ledger stone. Color and imagination go a long way to add personality, beige and gray suck out all the life. Greige?! No wonder so many need anti depressant meds.

[@Nihilistictendencies1]

I love contemporary. Smooth clean lines calm me and bonus; it's easier to clean. I absolutely respect and appreciate old money detail and think it's beautiful, but it's just not for me.

[@mrphoenixgrey]

I do too! I think the perfect style manages to blend the two, but I haven’t seen anyone do is successfully in my opinion yet

[@DebbieMiller-u2c]

Native CA, 27 years in NC, 6 years in AZ, now in Missouri. Saying this to say I've seen a variety of architecture. I lean toward more historical or unique designs using wood, stone, and metal. Modern albeit wowing at times, too starched for comfort.

[@madelinerene6805]

I'm very eclectic. My apartment has a mixture... contemporary, traditional, mid century modern, and even art deco...a little bit of each, and to me, it's very cohesive. I am constantly getting compliments and requests to assist others in decorating. I could never go full contemporary! Yuck! I prefer an old style, but a mixture of many design choices within the older style.

[@yagirlchoco20]

As an architect going into interior design soon this video is super interesting. Especially the exploding boxes, because that's really accurate to what we do in 3d programs while designing new buildings! It is often a critique I heard in school that being too dependent on 3d programs whilst ignoring old mediums often leads to this box-esque design. Something that I wholeheartedly agree with to be honest since a lot of students would pay a lot of attention to the whole picture (as often we didn't have time for going into more details while doing school work) rather than doing small details. This is quite an oversimplification but it's still along those lines. Meanwhile while working irl a lot of times there is a contractor and we have to put out designs quickly or simple designs that could be altered if anything unexpected were to happen. A lot of factors go into play as to why we as architects make boxes. Some are trends, time management, contractors and other things as well are to be taken into consideration. This is interesting indeed!

[@limonade2684]

There are many excellent architects and few customers, who are willing to pay contemporary AND good design. Boxes are just cheap.

[@rventura101699rv]

design depends on where you live. I think tropical coastal homes need to be cleaner, cement. glass, stone and modern because its easier to clean, manage, and these materials tend to stand up to the harsher conditions. Same goes for dessert living.

[@jayemowrey1416]

Oh my votes for Old world home with the moldings and the wall moldings crown moldings, tall windows... Beautiful arches between the kitchen and the dining room the dining room and the living room..heavy doors...real character!. Big problem in these homes is there's no closets ...

[@marylut6077]

Because you asked, Empty Nester, I look for single floor aging in place home, I love architectural details but mix of simple and detailed furnishings. Contemporary fireplace, 10’ ceilings, 8’ tall doors, shaker wall paneling in 1 space, interesting ceiling in other spaces (ie tray, wood beams, skylight, paneled, coffered, etc but not cathedral), LR bay window, tilt-in or casement windows without grilles, thick crown and baseboards and window/door casing, 4’ wide oak hardwood floors with satin matte finish. Floor plan with 2 car garage, mud/laundry room, entry hall with coat closet, 1 great room with kitchen (eased edge granite counter and natural maple slab-style cab fronts, and European hardware and contemporary faucet), 2 en suites with dressing room, a 3rd BR, a bonus room for exercise and 2nd TV, and screen porch. Modular sectional, swivel side chairs, Persian wool rug, MCM DR teak table with self-storing leaves, mix throughout home of window solar shades or linen drapes, Louis XVI French country oval-back upholstered DR chairs, Eames loungers, Euro-style ceiling lights and sconces, platform beds with upholstered headboards and drawers underneath, traditional nightstands with drawer and shelf, bespoke table lamps, mix of artwork (contemporary watercolors, b/w sketches, traditional oil paintings).

[@Tra_C]

I'm picturing as I'm reading and just wow!😅 You have great taste.

[@maureenmurphy7817]

Hello, Christopher Grey, I have no real visual sense, but I enjoy viewing your videos and learning about how you approach living spaces, and the way you think deeply about the deeper questions of what is "home." Best regards, Maureen M.

[@jayemowrey1416]

I did see one of those big box modern West Coast homes, that had crown molding in it and they had wall molding, and they had beadboard.....this actually helped make the place a little warmer and cozier....

[@ruthmcdowell8125]

I am somewhere in the middle. Love clean lines of modern but need colour and transitional pieces. I love the original art we have purchased (not especially expensive) over many years but favourite view is the mature trees in our backyard.

[@mayangirl2012]

This video is A+++++...I agree with you..OLD MONEY style is the best..I am not a big fan of living in a BOX style home...is like having a meal that has no flavor....Great video.

[@mrphoenixgrey]

There’s so much more depth and personality in that style that has endless possibilities

[@hagun6535]

I admit I'm more contemporary, with Frank Lloyd Wright influences

[@hollyherndon2971]

California is quite diverse in every way, including architecture and design. The design you're talking about is more LA / OC oriented. San Francisco is known for its old Victorian architecture. Berkeley is known for its arts and crafts design (Julia Morgan and others). There's also a ton of Spanish revival all over this state.

[@youdeservethis]

I lived in less than a 450 sq ft place in Paris with my ex. Small, but lots of detail. I live in a one bedroom now, but I have a lot of traditional details. I love modern, but you need a lot of money to make it with quality ingredients so it doesn't look cheap.

[@irmoladyinred]

You know I love blending them both together. Architectural details in the build and contemporary furniture, lighting and art.

[@marilynm4190]

I’m loving the look of your bedding in this video. I need to see more. Must get in your bedroom!! 👀

[@SparkleInMoonlight]

I agree with everything you said here 100 %. I find the contemporary architecture is often (not always) pretty sterile - without interesting details showing true craftsmanship and without any consideration for people that are supposed to live there. I strongly believe that a place should be welcoming and friendly, where people enjoy spending time. These shiny concrete boxes feel to me like an office space, not like a true home

[@msjigglypuff09]

It's nice doing a video from your home!

[@jodigreenwood5272]

My home exterior is one everyone has seen a million times. My situation somewhere around lower to middle middle class. I live in a nice little village just outside of Brantford ON. If I had a ton of money I'd buy an older home with all original high wooden baseboard, crown moulding, a winding staircase, ceiling medallions and so on. I love antiques and would enjoy shopping for period pieces. I want quality, authenticity, richness of spirit and beauty. I'll take quality, handmade, artisan, craftmanship anyday over even the priciest machined piece. Showing off wealth should not be the goal at all no matter your style. Class doesn't show-off, it exudes. It has taste and refinement. I do my best within my budget to make my world beautiful. A thing of beauty is a joy forever.

[@skyler1201]

I really appreciate contemporary but for me Old money all the way. Love my french antiques I actually use and live with. More videos on small spaces.

[@Coromi1]

I love art nouveau buildings. It makes me happy to see them. And I love art nouveau staircases and moulding. I like the professional look and the calm of partly modern interiors, though.

[@jeannineterese1037]

You look wonderful in that lighting! Slay👍

[@BB-re8mw]

❤I like both styles...but if it's an ornate home I want to see simpler furnishings...either solid color, mabe a stripe, upholstery or clean lines...or both. In modern homes the design must be consistent with the interior...maybe 1 piece that is incongrous if you love it. I live in a mid mod, borderline bauhaus borderline brutalist highrise condo in Detroit... my interior mirrors that aesthetic. I like when someo e builds a home that is differnt from the rest of the block...it adds interest....unless it is a historic neighborhood...then hands off! ❤

[@dkirk5814]

Interesting direction from your interior design videos. I'm team traditional. I value solid structures that stand the test of time, that have timeless and tasteful aesthetics.

[@cjtoler9726]

I definitely love the more contemporary style. However, I prefer to have add some other elements (for me art deco added in really adds some interest and personality). I do tire of the contemporary boxes. They all start to look the same after awhile. I love your videos!

[@hagun6535]

Also love the venting

[@X1Archangel]

Hey Phoenix, can you do a part two to this video on what blending the two styles together would look like potentially with visual examples?

[@deskubrir]

Nothing like a brownstone townhouse, specially in the Upper East Side with contemporary (not antique) interior design. That would be my dream home.

[@susanmckim6637]

I’m somewhere between old money exteriors/interiors and contemporary. Not the modern box homes. Love an old money home with updated features.

[@Philipk65]

Old money aesthetics with new money conveniences. That's what works for me.

[@B-Th-Change]

My favorite era is Art Deco (and art nouveau) I think there’s a lot of people that find some of the old money examples to be a little bit gawdy. It’s very busy. I think modern style is more of a reflection of the fact that we live in a very busy world and people are looking for soothing lines and simplicity. I think I would like to see a balance between complex textures and finishes and smooth, clean architecture. I think that’s where I would draw on the impact of art deco or the consistent flowing form of nouveau to try to capture that in a contemporary setting. I feel like contemporary can be artistic and intricate and timeless if you do it right. But I absolutely respect older architecture.

[@olgastanford6813]

Genuinely, I think a lot of modern interior design is just lazy. The real estate prices are so ridiculous right now, and the demand so far outpaces supply, that the general sense among the builders and the sellers seems to be “Why bother? They’ll buy it anyway!” I am a tried and true American Craftsman/Continental Art Nouveau girlie. I live in D.C. area, and it blows my mind that new construction sells for just as much as well-maintained older homes. We were fortunate to buy into the market here last year (it honestly felt like begging sellers to take our money), and if we’re ever in a position to upsize our 2014 townhome, I’m buying a house made between 1900s and 1920s and staying there until emergency services carries me out on the stretcher to my final destination. 😂

[@The_Smith]

And Sundays are right again! Tough question on what in the room I'm sitting in is the first thing that grabs my attention . . . if only one thing it would have to be a pair of old Queen Anne (I think) type stained glass windows circa 1920s that I basically designed an addition around. (second would be my wood stove with the big glass door). I live in small town SK, and an old section of the town, and my block is interesting archetecturaly because there is a mix of houses on it that span a hundred + years of design. And I think because it is so varied that nothing glaringly stands out? As for the totaly out of character to the nieghbourhood house . . . I think it may be that both the builder and the owner are mentaly lazy and don't want to put the effort in? and budgets too, time is money after all.

[@kathrynmiele]

Bottom line for me is being able to easily access an outdoor space…regardless of old or new style. And living in California makes that possible for most of the year.

[@willmulligan2216]

Daddy ❤…favor please…what is your favorite home sent…candles…etc

[@Cherrysmith2809]

I love it all. There are valid, organic reasons why architecture is different in different regions. I embrace it all, but yes, attention should be paid to the neighborhood. Will your house improve the neighborhood or detract from it. It should be in scale and speak to the other houses.

[@sandistroud7305]

Growing up in Chicago I always loved the brown stone apartments. I wish I could afford one now.

[@marylut6077]

Agree, developers are focusing on apartment buildings, and they all look alike in Richmond Va

[@ApricusInaros]

Hi DD. I would like to live in a house like the Hernandez House from 1973. Love this style of organic architecture

[@anthonypecorara]

I definitely live in the middle somewhere (does that make me style vers?). I appreciate clean lines, but I also like things to have some kind of story to it.

[@WomanRoaring]

I’m from silicone valley. The majority of the homes are mid century homes, the ones you’re showing are what you’d see in the LA area when it comes to newer built homes. Now a lot of people will change the interiors but the homes themselves are still mid century. A lot of the tech people buy slightly bigger regular homes because the areas they’re living in were pretty crowded before it was turned into a to Silicon Valley. Go on google maps and look at the street view, you’re going to see pretty normal homes. Even in San Francisco, they buy existing Victorian homes, they tend to leave the exteriors alone other than painting or restoring them. Look around Belmont, Stanford, Palo alto (not east lol, just palo alto), atherton, Saratoga, Campbell, those are cities near San Jose and San Francisco where a lot of ultra rich live. The homes are older and have college vibes, Tudor, colonial, mid century, Roman revival, it’s rare to see ultra modern in the area. Now new office buildings is different but even then they’re never as cool as tv shows make them look.

[@cassidee1473]

New money modern doesn't have leaks, creaks or a Rosemary's Baby.

[@vaderladyl]

Still looks boring.

[@sp-bl1sl]

Neither does a mall or an amazon distribution center.

[@savannahbannon]

The ghosts in my house must be nice because I’ve never even seen them😂. 138 year old brick Victorian. She’s beautiful, ghosts and all.

[@marylut6077]

Because you asked, the contemporary or farmhouse or McMansion exteriors do not appeal to me. I love looking at old charming homes but I choose my own home on floor p,an and interior architecture rather than the exterior design.

[@PB-Trinity]

I personally despise modernist architecture to my very core. It is boring with no personality and just plain ugly in more and more cases. I strongly defend a return to all the kinds of post industiral revolution traditionnal styles in architecture made between 1850 and 1950 (Beaux Arts, Art Nouveau, Art Deco...). As for interior design it really depends on people personnal tastes. You can make combinations of different eras. I personally love Art Deco but I blend a few key pieces of it with a larger amount of more minimalist and modern, industrial style elements.

[@mrphoenixgrey]

Agreed! I have always had a love and fascination for Art Deco style and want to build a home with that level of detail. 😍

[@patrickmurray3724]

My house is an 1100 sq ft ranch built in 1970 stained black. The basic structure is almost completely original. its not a large house but it has good features like big windows, nice closets, and the original built-in plywood kitchen. It sits in massive gardens with mature trees and shrubbery. I have added two greenhouses off the back, one off the dining area and one off the master. I have been collecting furniture, lighting, and art since the 70s, mostly 20th century furniture from 1900 through 1970s. My style is very eclectic, not boring, and well edited. I am not a big fan of the furniture that has been designed in the last 25 years. I like contemporary architecture but lean more toward Art Deco. I don't know how a couple could live in anything smaller than this. 700 sq ft ? Ah, no!

[@Mers3av1ew]

Best video you’ve ever made 👌

[@janelis7]

Please help me with my new house. I have 90’s style orangey hardwood floors. I can’t afford to restrain them right now. What can I do with the wall colors and room decor so that it is contemporary? I like contemporary, modern organic aesthetic.

[@juliadonaldson6943]

I'm not a fan of either style so I guess it's good I am not rich. I wonder how you feel about mid century modern. When I was a kid growing up in Silicon Valley they had an entire neighborhood of Eichler homes that I liked.

[@barbaraeaton9266]

I love all the details and architecture. I would feel fake in a contemporary home. They are okay to look at but where's the style, personality of the people living there.

[@upperclass1287]

I think it's all about context and respecting the history of the area in which you reside. If you live in Charleston, SC , it is low key disrespectful to not pay homage (in some way) to the traditional style of that region. However, if you are in Dubai or Palm Springs, it would be strange and forced to build a Cape Cod or a Georgian style home. Side note: These 'contemporary" homes are beginning to look awfully Post Modern. And that makes my stomach hurt.

[@blackorchid0000]

I live in a gorgeous area of rows of Edwardian homes full of details, that when they build a modern one in between it does ruin the whole look of the road. I do prefer an old home full of antiques.

[@hildaovalle1455]

I am in total agreement with what you have said in terms of architecture without personality. NYC use to build the most beautiful structures even if they were a mile high. Look at the Chrysler building, look at the Empire State Building, long lasting beauty. Look at the gorgeous Victorian homes in some parts of Brooklyn , the gorgeous homes throughout Long Island, etc. I live in California and it’s either what they think is Mediterranean or the cold boxes replacing all of the old and beautiful homes of Beverly Hills. Go to Dubai, they copied Beverly Hills boxes. Yes, I have heard that a lot of important people are discussing this issue and it is no wonder. It’s boredom smacking you on the face. I don’t know if you have seen what’s happening in the Netherlands for a while now. Same thing but, now they are looking back and rescuing the wonderful aspects of traditional architecture to incorporate into new residential areas. There’s a reason why classical styles never go out of fashion and give us a sense of comfort that can last through thousands of years. No, the glass boxes, big or small, short or tall do not do it for me. I just don’t know how they could be designed to be different and endure the aesthetics of time. I don’t know if they will ever bring back that “awe” related to new architectural structures. I’m definitely for “Old Money.”

[@yourconnection9303]

I prefer contemporary, without going to the extreme like in the photos of the glass houses and interior, as well as cookie cut style buildings. Old money style is also very nice, but not my choice to live in.

[@MarkSmith-yv8yt]

New money , clean lines, Modern look...Less is more for me...

[@lucasjames5187]

Yeah putting out a message of emptiness can be very depressing.

[@debbydhill]

I like a lot of different styles, I let the house dictate the style within. I prefer contemporary.

[@MerryWidow420]

The west coast was made for Art Deco.

[@rockshot100]

The modern and almost brutalist styles are usually foreboding and impersonal. WHO could relate to such a space? One never feels comfortable in a modern boardroom or doctor's office waiting room. Seems like they don't consider this when designing. The old money style is often just too much detail, but I have seen them a little paired down and they appeal to me. The modern is too much like a public building, so it is hard to ever feel "at home". As you stated, this style could be made to feel more ergonomically human with more texture and natural materials. These you show are too extreme one way or the other. Both styles can be beautiful if done carefully, or mindful of each style's pitfalls. Thereby possible to create a balance. Old money could loose less décor and have more negative space where the eye could rest. Modern needs more connection to human scale, more natural elements and finishes, generally more personality. Less loud and glitzy. Spaces that are 2 or more times bigger than need be are also off-putting to me. Nothing worse than a living room with an echo. Function follows form usually in these; designed to bedazzle a magazine page rather than convenience and comfort of the resident. Even a loud and hilarious person can be boring/tedious after a while.

[@lordpuppyrd7989]

Im a mix of practical and simplicity so modern it is. But preferrably not too cold and stark. I don't like a lot of detail because I hate dusting and cleaning unneccesary things and too much detail can be too busy visually for me. Im def not a minimalist though. Function above all else.

[@helenetaito-jensen9604]

Could be cost and time. All those extra details take time and money to create, two commodities most people don't have these days. Decorative detailing also take extra time and resources to upkeep, again time and money.

[@tomasdiaz4892]

I absolutely hate those ultra modern designs, they are cold, boring and lack of soul. I know that everyone has different tastes but this is absolutely a NO from me

[@LaanaAriesCreativeConcepts]

I can appreciate both. I would love to live in a new contemporary box. But I have small kids I really feel that the examples I’ve seen don’t look approachable. They put me in mind of that one room you weren’t allowed to go in because your parents wanted it to be perfect for company. Philadelphia is becoming a great example the cookie cutter modern black and gray boxes. And it just looks flat. I prefer prewar brick brownstones. Something with some individuality.

[@akinyiomer4589]

As so many of your intelligent commentators have pointed out, I think there's been a confluence of factors post- WWII that has slowly contributed to the depressing state of modern residential architecture & interior design trends. I heavily agree with the fact that construction companies tend to favour "box style" construction because it's quite frankly cheaper and easier for them to do modular everything. Added to this I think there's also pressure to pull every potential penny of profit - as a result artisanal *anything*, which takes *time* and good materials, is not seen as worthwhile in the budget. I think this also goes double if you're in a country with a severe housing affordability crisis (US, CAN, UK, AUS & NZ etc). There's barely any regard in giving future homeowners enough physical space in most new developments, leave alone thinking about stuff like beauty. Unfortunately this relegation of creative craftsmanship to the back-burner has led over the decades to a decimation in the population of skilled craftsmen. I mean makes sense right? Their services haven't been valued for decades so their creative industries suffered as a result. Take for example master furniture makers: before you probs had to apprentice a good few years learning how to work with and sculpt wood, textiles and metals depending on the specialty. Then mass-production innovation came along which could create semi-sturdy furniture from weaker materials at paces *must* faster than a millworker or cabinet maker for half the price. I understand from a business/economics point of view why that happened. But it now means there are only a few surviving companies today who even have those artisan skills, and for economic reasons most operate within the high-luxury price-range meaning the vast majority of ppl will never be able to afford their work and don't even know what's possible design-wise. Tbh it's quite damning that maybe since the 1950s, I can't name or place a building design style that's emblematic of our era. It's like every 3-4 generations era-defining art styles got created (Gothic, Georgian, Edwardian, American Colonial, Mid-century Modern) but it's like we don't even know how to do that anymore. Maybe that's also why you get people trying to do modern-day "old style" detailing via DIY quick-fixes: slatted wood on walls, that modern-Tudor wall texture thing. Just a yearning for any type of visual identity. To be honest I would *love* for intentional visual design & identity to make a comeback into regular building construction, and it not just be a preserve of California mega-mansions. As to how to do that when there's so many barriers in place? I don't know. Maybe it can only ever be revived on a small-scale with passionate firms who care about visual identity but IDK.

[@alisongardener4654]

Modern Interior Design - like trying to personalise the living quarters on a Star Trek set. Yuck

[@lollygag489]

I like the idea of referencing historical features from the surrounding neighborhood in a contemporary new home design, but I don’t know what this would look like. Can you share some examples? I recently bought a 1913 craftsman home and would love to consider this when upgrading different areas of the house (especially interior!)

[@marylut6077]

Inherited items that are beautiful make me feel happy and lucky

[@watervillegangmember]

Many contemporary homes look and feel like office spaces or a hospital to me.

[@StayPositiveInformed]

I like the Spanish style houses

[@phylliskepler3470]

We live in a “Florida Cracker”home. I love a house that Flows with a good layout and unique details. I vote for old money

[@r-e_mii]

New builds looks exactly the same everywhere & im not against that, i like symmetry but its a bit odd.

[@marylut6077]

Phoenix, are you distinguishing between architecture and furnishings? Even small rooms benefit from detail or simplicity. Too much architectural or furnishings detail in small room can overwhelm

[@deborahkeene9434]

Couldn't agree more. These cream/white interior spaces drive me crazy. Who wants to live in a bowl of oatmeal? Make it stop!!! I don't even want to visit homes like these. So impractical. Regarding exteriors, I always choose to live in historic neighborhoods because of the diverse housing stock. Tudors, arts & craft, Victorian, Dutch colonial...you name it. I like the curves. The surprises. Today's homes are likely quicker to construct with the redundant sharp angles. But, too boring.

[@rolliepollie831]

I think it depends on the quality of modern home There’s definitely a type of modern home that feels very cookie cutter. But overall I def prefer modern versus traditional, especially over the style most of the New York homes you showed have

[@Anticrap-b1e]

The worst one I came across is in Ft Lauderdale Fl. It was the typical white box with floor to ceiling glass, not a mansion, it was on a main drag and faced a canal ( waterfront? Haha) anyway these places have no backyards and the back faced the back of the neighbors home… all that to say that the Canal view off the street was the best view. So what did the architect or homeowner showcase? Well the curtains on the massive floor to ceiling room was open and there, front and center was the BATHROOM! Yes a lone white porcelain Tub sat directly in front of the glass wall! It had the best view from the house! Somewhere to the side I imagine was the shi ahemm, Toilet. The incredible idiocy of that is beyond comprehension! I mean it’s not as if you will ever be able to enjoy the view ( again, it was directly on a rd with the canal across the rd). 😂😂😂

[@fishercourt]

I have a question about ladies who falsely label themselves “professional interior designers” when they have zero experience or education. The only thing that they all have in common is that they all worked until they started having kids, then they stopped working and became a stay at home mom. While they are bored with their own choice to stay at home, they decide that they want to decorate the home as a side gig. The problem is that most of these ladies lack any real skills or education necessary to become an interior designer. However, they brag about their home’s expensive brands of textiles and wallpaper. They brag about their unique items they got while on their many travels. This type of false information that is being spread that any person who decorates his or her home is an interior designer.

[@Stess-ky4gn]

I'm contemporary, mid century/post modern is best, but some times brutalism is OK. What I don't like is all the windows. As to no personality, they all look the same, I could say the same for the for the victorian styles you like. All the decor is being repeated over and over. That is what makes it a style.

[@GAZMAN2002]

The more of interior design videos I watch the more I release not every item in your home has to look like it should be in a magazine and doesn't have to be multi purpose or you are not doing it wrong if the lighting isn't right. These videos are possibly to help inspire but don't get trapped trying to push for more and more. You don't need to spend all this money to impress anyone

[@juliemorrison3450]

I feel that contemporary homes are very cold and alienating. They look great in magazines and movies, but I would not want to come home to one after a hard day. I also believe that they will not age well, and people will want to tear them down in about 20 yrs.