Home improvements you find tacky

KKkitty

Widdershins wrote: »

Dita Von Teese is fond of taxidermy.
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/VWGskxpdjWo/maxresdefault.jpg

Not to my taste at all. Don't see the point in them.

Widdershins

meeeeh wrote: »

That looks cool.

A lot of things can look well if you know how to style them. I don't have the skills.

I like quirky houses and I have no problem with ethical taxidermy. I.e if the animal was not killed for that purpose. I wouldn't go out of my way for it though.
I'm not sure if it's a swan or an ostrich?

Widdershins

Aglomerado wrote: »

Back in the 80s there was a house near where I was growing up where a taxidermist lived.
His house had a large picture window looking out onto the street. In which there was a full sized DEER.

I know a taxidermist. She got a visit from a social worker ( in relation to her children's safety, I guess) because someone had reported her and said her house is ''full of dead animals''. That was one way to put it.

Aglomerado

My aunt married a man my family didn't approve of (drinker, wife beater etc.) but he wheedled his way into their good books by developing an interest in huntin', shootin', fishin' all that sort of stuff.

Resulting in their tiny council house living room being stuffed to the gills with stuffed animals of all sorts in glass cases. Creepy as hell.

"What's that? I've sat on something? JESUS IT'S A FOX!!!"

Cokezero

Satin/shiny bedsheets. Carpets in bathrooms.

Mountainsandh

Crystal too.
It'd be fine in a mansion, or Victorian house, or castle.
I'm in a cottagey house, and crystal would look so bad, no matter what way I tried to present it. So I sold or gave away all the crystal bowls, lamps, etc... that I got for my wedding. I didn't like the idea of getting rid of wedding presents, but realistically there was no way I was going to expose any of it ever in my place. I kept the whisky tumblers and other glasses though, they have a use.

KKkitty

Cokezero wrote: »

Satin/shiny bedsheets. Carpets in bathrooms.

I got a satin duvet cover and matching pillowcases. They slid all over the bed if you moved them at all. Not practical. What's people's opinions on bath mats. I'm not talking about the toilet mat just the bath mat itself.

HeidiHeidi

KKkitty wrote: »

I got a satin duvet cover and matching pillowcases. They slid all over the bed if you moved them at all. Not practical. What's people's opinions on bath mats. I'm not talking about the toilet mat just the bath mat itself.

Wouldn't be without it - the tiles in my bathroom are in bits and I'd cut my foot if I didn't have it!

Toilet mats - eeuuwwwww!

KKkitty

HeidiHeidi wrote: »

Wouldn't be without it - the tiles in my bathroom are in bits and I'd cut my foot if I didn't have it!

Toilet mats - eeuuwwwww!

Toilet mats are horrible but I have flooring that is cold no matter what so stepping out onto it after bathing is a no no for me. It's a bit slippy too so the bath mat is essential.

KKkitty

KKkitty wrote: »

I got a satin duvet cover and matching pillowcases. They slid all over the bed if you moved them at all. Not practical. What's people's opinions on bath mats. I'm not talking about the toilet mat just the bath mat itself.

I have a nice thick cotton bath mat in my bathroom, lovely in the mornings to stand on. It's a neutral plain color similar to the tile, I can't stand the textured/patterned ones.

It's a yes from me, from a comfort point of view as well as a practical (stops me sliding on the tile when I'm out of the shower).

KKkitty

Candie wrote: »

I have a nice thick cotton bath mat in my bathroom, lovely in the mornings to stand on. It's a neutral plain color similar to the tile, I can't stand the textured/patterned ones.

It's a yes from me, from a comfort point of view as well as a practical (stops me sliding on the tile when I'm out of the shower).

Whether they look tacky or not they are a necessity. Anyone have the toilet roll covers back in the day?

Mountainsandh

KKkitty wrote: »

I got a satin duvet cover and matching pillowcases. They slid all over the bed if you moved them at all. Not practical. What's people's opinions on bath mats. I'm not talking about the toilet mat just the bath mat itself.

https://youtu.be/kEmlmuA_0NI

I have a bath mat ... and a toilet mat :o:o

Bath mat is non negotiable, for safety and comfort.

I hate the toilet mat, but I wash it often. I've a 9 year old boy. It's the mat or the floor, and I find it easier to throw the mat into the wash than constantly mopping.

I rotate with one that is plain and that I tolerate, and one set that has several colours in big stripes (all in the colour scheme but still) and that I loathe. I'm gonna throw it away I swear. As soon as I remember to replace it.

I actually love the toilet roll covers, some of them are so ... interesting ! But I don't have one, and I wouldn't put one in my bathroom.

meeeeh

You need floor mats. However bath mats are a death trap. We got mats and the only time I fell in bath was when bath mat wasn't secured properly and it slipped when I was getting into bath.

cbreeze

Zaph wrote: »

Dado rails. The fcukers who owned the house before us put one in the living room, along with different types of wallpaper above and below and a border thrown in for good measure. The wallpaper was the first thing to go after buying the house, but pulling out the dado rail would probably damage the wall, so it's painted the same colour as the rest of the room (which actually camouflaged it quite well, my wife didn't notice it until about two years after she moved in ). Plus they put cornices in every bloody room in the house and a huge plaster rose in the middle of the living room ceiling. What the fcuk was wrong with those people???

Ah, sounds like the sad little corner where taste crawled into and died - hope its better now!

up for anything

meeeeh wrote: »

However bath maths are a death trap.

I can relate. The last time I said the five times tables in the bath it nearly killed me.

meeeeh

up for anything wrote: »

I can relate. The last time I said the five times tables in the bath it nearly killed me.

Lol

I spelled it right once. Anyway I amended the post, this one is to ridiculous to leave it unchanged even in the name of historical accuracy.

JackTaylorFan

TVs on walls

(sorry, if already mentioned, but too lazy to read all comments)

stevek93

JackTaylorFan wrote: »

TVs on walls

(sorry, if already mentioned, but too lazy to read all comments)

I have to disagree, it can save a lot of space.

JackTaylorFan

stevek93 wrote: »

I have to disagree, it can save a lot of space.

A lot of evil things have been done in the quest for space.

Mountainsandh

JackTaylorFan wrote: »

A lot of evil things have been done in the quest for space.

True. I could never give up that fight though !
I would sell my soul to the devil for more space.

milehip

Space is overated IMO, the more space yoiu have the more worthless junk you accumalate.

JackTaylorFan

milehip wrote: »

Space is overated IMO, the more space yoiu have the more worthless junk you accumalate.

I think you'll find your argument eats itself

foxy farmer

Mountainsandh wrote: »

True. I could never give up that fight though !
I would sell my soul to the devil for more space.

You can't bate a bit of room even if it's only in the bed

JackTaylorFan

Mountainsandh wrote: »

True. I could never give up that fight though !
I would sell my soul to the devil for more space.

Next you'll be annexing a small eastern European nation

superglue

Been to a house with carpet in the bathroom, which was as naff as it was disgusting. When I heard they were doing up the bathroom I thought, "fair play, they're coming to their senses".

They painted the walls and stuck in a new carpet. Takes all sorts, eh?

Mountainsandh

Space is overated IMO, the more space yoiu have the more worthless junk you accumalate.

It's true too though.
It's like the Holy Grail, but worse.

So much junk.
It's even worse when you don't buy the junk, when it's gifted junk, like at Christmas.
The children's Irish Granny deposits junk in my place all the time. Every time she turns up with more junk my heart sinks a little. I know it's very ungrateful of me but there's only so much a house can take.

JackTaylorFan

Mountainsandh wrote: »

It's true too though.
It's like the Holy Grail, but worse.

So much junk.
It's even worse when you don't buy the junk, when it's gifted junk, like at Christmas.
The children's Irish Granny deposits junk in my place all the time. Every time she turns up with more junk my heart sinks a little. I know it's very ungrateful of me but there's only so much a house can take.

But the person's argument is space is overrated - so why are they so bothered by junk stealing their space?

JackTaylorFan

superglue wrote: »

Been to a house with carpet in the bathroom, which was as naff as it was discgusting. When I heard they were doing up the bathroom I thought, "fair play, they're coming to their senses".

They painted the walls and stuck in a new carpet. Takes all sorts, eh?

Carpet in the bathroom... Ick!

DEFTLEFTHAND

Garden ornaments and fountains in small gardens.

B00!

The overly feminine bed nonsense... The gauzy boudoir canopies that puddle in a hot mess... or even the 'romantic' mosquito netting that 'drape softly encircling the bed'. Would drive me nuts trying to keep it out of the way to get in and out of bed. Makes no sense - beds are for rest, not some fashion novelty ya have to fiddle with. But I am not a girly girl, so it doesn't appeal (then again I can't imagine any man would find that appealing to mess with either).

Also the too many pillows on bed trend a few years back. Sure, stack them all on the floor when you go to bed then trip on them in the dark, no thanks.

JackTaylorFan

JackTaylorFan wrote: »

TVs on walls

(sorry, if already mentioned, but too lazy to read all comments)

Nothing wrong with a TV on the wall as long as it is mounted at the correct height, which would be the same as if it was on a stand, not over a fireplace or some other "optimised for standing" viewing position.

Cokezero

Kitchen islands in small kitchens just for the sake of having an island, making the place cramped. Perfect for large spaces but not in a small space!

B00!

Cokezero wrote: »

Kitchen islands in small kitchens just for the sake of having an island, making the place cramped. Perfect for large spaces but not in a small space!

I get where you're coming from, it looks and feels cramped (with more than one person working away)... But as a bread baker and pasta maker (living in a cramped quarters) an open island is ideal for mixing, kneading, cutting and proofing; or even to be used as a buffet for entertaining...

Perhaps a roll-away butcher-block that could be moved to a corner when not in use might accommodate a more open feel... An island is useful for so many things - the pic you sent looks like it would be great to cook with kiddos. But I do understand your point, it is rather cramped.

iguana

Deleted User wrote: »

Nothing wrong with a TV on the wall as long as it is mounted at the correct height, which would be the same as if it was on a stand, not over a fireplace or some other "optimised for standing" viewing position.

I always wonder if people with their TV over the fireplace have permanently cricked necks. It's such an unergonomic position. It can't do the TVs much good either. My chimney breast gets so warm when the fire is lit that even 8-9 hours after the fire has gone out the surround is still warm to the touch. It's lovely for keeping the house warm as it's like a giant storage heater but it would destroy a TV mounted on it.

Mountainsandh

JackTaylorFan wrote: »

But the person's argument is space is overrated - so why are they so bothered by junk stealing their space?

Because deep down they still really love space
Maybe they like the idea of space, but then reality takes over and it gets filled with junk. That's always what happens in my house no matter what home improvement. So the reality is that the more space you have, the more it gets filled, and so, it's overrated, or useless in the end.

I don't like the minimalist look either mind you.
Now there's something that has the potential to become tacky, in a more complex way. What I mean is, some minimalist places "that mean it" look good, like that's what the owners are really into. Other places simply look like the corridors in co council offices, but in your house.

JackTaylorFan

iguana wrote: »

I always wonder if people with their TV over the fireplace have permanently cricked necks. It's such an unergonomic position. It can't do the TVs much good either. My chimney breast gets so warm when the fire is lit that even 8-9 hours after the fire has gone out the surround is still warm to the touch. It's lovely for keeping the house warm as it's like a giant storage heater but it would destroy a TV mounted on it.

Oh my god! TV over fireplace - that is the epitome of tackiness

JackTaylorFan

Mountainsandh wrote: »

Because deep down they still really love space
Maybe they like the idea of space, but then reality takes over and it gets filled with junk. That's always what happens in my house no matter what home improvement. So the reality is that the more space you have, the more it gets filled, and so, it's overrated, or useless in the end.

I don't like the minimalist look either mind you.
Now there's something that has the potential to become tacky, in a more complex way. What I mean is, some minimalist places "that mean it" look good, like that's what the owners are really into. Other places simply look like the corridors in co council offices, but in your house.

I have lived with a hoarder... I value space.

Conor Bourke

Interior design (I use that term very loosely) as opposed to structural changes but this stuff makes my eyes bleed.

milehip

JackTaylorFan wrote: »

I think you'll find your argument eats itself

More like the junk eats the space.

Widdershins

Cornelius Crow wrote: »

Interior design (I use that term very loosely) as opposed to structural changes but this stuff makes my eyes bleed.

Whoa Interiors.

whisky_galore

Half arsed extensions and dormer windows retrofitted into older houses that look like they were fired together by amateurs.

Fake Roman columns and pediments on ho-hum houses.

Painted red brick houses.

Grottos with virgin mary statues.

'Busy' gardens with fcuk loads of tacky ornaments.

Sofas with a gazillion cushions so you have nowhere to sit without firing some of them off.

Net curtains.

Most kinds of patterned wallpaper that give off the 'little old lady lives here' vibe.

Holy pictures with spooky 'moving' eyes and sacred heart lamps.

B00!

Themes gone :eek: wild. You like the sea? A bit of the nautical makes sense, but when people start encrusting everything in sight with seashells, it's time to see a therapist. Put the shell down before the house look like it's throwing up the Little Mermaid's castle.

Also, do not paint rocks (they don't like it).

Things (lamps, boxes, frames) and natures wonders (rocks, shells, sand) have their own structural integrity.
No need to over-embellish or form them into kitchy crafts, it diminishes their natural beauty.

Mountainsandh

I get the over-doing a theme Boo, but I actually like some of the crafts/transformation things.
Can be very very kitschy alright, but sometimes, in small doses, I like it. There's something very folk-sy about it. It's like in the area where I live, people exhibit the best quartz rocks they find on top of piers, in the garden, by the front door... it's naive, and lovely imo.

There's a shell cottage in Dungarvan, these places are fascinating I think. People pushing their quirkiness to a point where it's not ridiculous anymore, it's interesting.
http://www.rte.ie/archives/2016/1011/823113-shell-cottage-in-dungarvan/

I knew a man (RIP) whose cottage was unbelievable. It was like he set out to make it as kitsch as possible, except he just thought it was beautiful and interesting.
His garden was full of gnomes and statues, with mad hedges that wrapped around his cottage door. Every time I visited, he proudly turned on the water fountain, you should have seen the glint in his eye. The doors inside the cottage were all "fake wood" decorated, you know the thing you do with a comb sort of implement. His Mum had done every single door like that. She had also painted the old iron fireplaces decorations (the grand garlands of flowers) in gold, over white. He had hundreds (really) of ornaments. He tried to have pairs. The 2 dogs (http://bbandghome.com/images/F61579.jpg), and anything that he thought beautiful, lots of china, crystal, metal, plastic. He had plastic pound shop frames from the 80s with the original display pictures inside, of models with perms. He had little Christmas baubles, the shiny metal ones, all hanging up in rows along the ceiling beams (very low ceiling !). He had a pair of intercoms that someone gave him, he put one on one side of the big open fireplace, and the other one on the other side.
This man was like a magpie.
His cottage was more a museum, than a house you live in, but he loved it and lived in it. He loved people visiting and admiring his work too.
Anyway, of course these are not places you or me could live in, but it's just to illustrate how I like the folk-sy appropriation of anything and everything, magpie style. Within reason

Occasionally you still come across the folly that is stone cladding. Modern stuff in stand alone builds is a world apart, my favourites are the mid terrace houses that look like they've been slotted in by aliens:

miezekatze

I hate shaker style kitchens, I think they look so tacky!

It's been mentioned before, but pine doors/furniture/anything looks horrible and cheap.

Gravel driveways.. looks OK if it's a long driveway up to a grand house, but not really outside your 3-bed semi. The stones usually end up all over the footpath etc too.

Massive leather sofas and armchairs or other really bulky furniture just doesn't look well in a small house with small rooms.

'Upcycled' 'shabby chic' furniture painted in pastel shades and made to look old.

lawred2

miezekatze wrote: »

I hate shaker style kitchens, I think they look so tacky!

It's been mentioned before, but pine doors/furniture/anything looks horrible and cheap.

Gravel driveways.. looks OK if it's a long driveway up to a grand house, but not really outside your 3-bed semi. The stones usually end up all over the footpath etc too.

Massive leather sofas and armchairs or other really bulky furniture just doesn't look well in a small house with small rooms.

'Upcycled' 'shabby chic' furniture painted in pastel shades and made to look old.

On board with most of that.

However Shaker style kitchens in the right house are a long way from tacky.

Candie

Candie wrote: »

Occasionally you still come across the folly that is stone cladding. Modern stuff in stand alone builds is a world apart, my favourites are the mid terrace houses that look like they've been slotted in by aliens:

That one looks like it killed the neighbourhood.
It even includes the awful window replacement that destroys the look of the property.

lawred2

[Deleted User] wrote: »

That one looks like it killed the neighbourhood.
It even includes the awful window replacement that destroys the look of the property.

Was grand until the did the window

freshpopcorn

lawred2 wrote: »

On board with most of that.

However Shaker style kitchens in the right house are a long way from tacky.

I'd agree with that I've seen very modern kitchen in old style houses and they look terrible!

B00!

Thank you for the thoughtful reply and lovely perspective Mountainsandh.