Comfort Addict

{Georgian home by Gil Schafer}
First of all, I want to say "thank you" to Things That Inspire for the kind mention on her blog. Without trying to sound cliche, her blog is truly inspiring and is one of my regular reads. Yesterday Things that Inspire published another thought provoking post that considers the definition of a McMansion. Once again it sparked a lively conversation that you don't want to miss.
Secondly, I want to clarify a point from my last post. Just because something is considered a 2000's trend, it does not make it bad it just means that it may not popular in the design world 10 years from now. Many of the elements we have incorporated into our decor over the past decade are quite beautiful and that is precisely why we like them! If there were no "trends" we would all be living in museums today.
That said, a home full of solely trendy decor is a vapid and soulless one. It is so important to mix in the old with the new and to incorporate things that are truly meaningful to you such as collections and family heirlooms. In the end, what makes a house a home is it's unique reflection of those who live there.
All of these posts on trends got thinking about building and design elements that are truly timeless. As I mentioned in my last post, almost everything looks dated eventually but I came up with a short list of things that in my opinion seem to stand the test of time. As I began to gather images to illustrate this post I found it ironic that many of the rooms had more than one "timeless" element to them.
Traditional Architecture
{Gil Schafer home}
Traditional architecture is something that will never go out of style. While it's forms may vary from one region of the country to another, a historically proportioned house is timeless. Many argue that traditional floor plans are unfriendly to today's mode of living and while this may be partially true there are many classically trained architects out there who are building new and restoring old homes to meet the needs of the modern family while at the same time staying true to the historic form.
{photo from University of Virginia Rotunda designed by Thomas Jefferson}
White Upholstered Pieces
{Mark Hampton room via Architectural Digest}
White and off white upholstered chairs and sofas are the "little black dress" of interior design. They are timeless, versatile and go with just about anything. You can change and update their look easily with throw pillows and surrounding accessories. If you look back through shelter magazines from past decades you will see many different styles and varieties of upholstered pieces that have come and gone. It is the classically lined white sofa and chair that have stood the test of time.
{Gerrie Bremermann via Southern Accents}
As someone with young children knows, white furniture is not practical. Slipcovers and indoor outdoor/fabrics help make it possible for those with pets and families to incorporate this design element into their homes. I am planning to use an off-white linen Sunbrella indoor/outdoor fabric to upholster my living room sofas.
{Peter Dunham living room}
Antiques
{image from Gerrie Bremermann's New Orleans shop via All the Best blog}
It almost goes without saying, but antiques will last a lifetime and look beautiful through every passing trend. Gerrie Bremermann, a New Orleans designer encourages young clients to save up and invest in one antique at a time so that in 20 years they have a lovely collection of valuable antiques. Antiques can, and should, be paired with less expensive "of the moment" accessories to keep them looking interesting and fresh.
{Jacques Grange Paris Apartment via Trouvias}
{Albert Hadley's Connecticut Home via Style Court}
Blue and White Chinese Porcelain
{Aerin Lauder's Hampton's home via Elle Decor}
Actually a subset of antiques, blue and white porcelain just never seems to go out of favor. Blue and white wares give a space a fresh that look is always en vogue.
{James and Whitney Fairchild home via House and Garden 2004}
{Oscar de la Renta's dining room table 1971 via style court}
Creamy White Walls
{Givenchy's home via The Givenchy Style}
Paint color trends come and go over the years. Yesterday's warm beiges have given way to today's cooler grays. Blues and greens are "in" and reds are not as popular at the moment. Color palettes change frequently and fortunately paint is the cheapest and easiest way to update a room.
{White House from Jackie Kennedy Era via Architectural Digest}
Creamy white walls however never seem to be out of style. If you notice, many of the rooms featured above have light colored walls. Joni at Cote de Texas is not a big fan of white walls. She likens them to a face without makeup. If a room is architecturally less than superb and the room lacks sufficient color and flair in it's accessories, a creamy white wall will look bare and boring. Fill a cream colored room with beautiful antiques and fabulous fabrics and it looks elegant and inviting.
{Emma Jane Pilkington's dining room via Farrow and Ball's The Art of Color}
I would love for you to weigh in on the subject. In your opinion, what design elements stand the test of time?

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