Quote of the Day

How is it that so many of these "high-end renovations" manage to make a house look cold and uninviting.

— by cobblehiller in House of the Day: 22 Remsen Street

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Comments

That is a great quote. I wonder the same thing. I bet these interior designers live in very comfy well decorated rooms filled with their collections, mementos and photos.
The antiseptic look is really odd.

Posted by: sam at October 21, 2008 3:49 PM

well aren't the sellers, realtors and designers trying to present these houses in a generic way so as to appeal to as many people as possible? if the houses were full of personal items then it's harder for potential buyers to see themselves in those spaces.

Posted by: herenow at October 21, 2008 3:56 PM

because 'high-end' people are cold and uninviting?

Posted by: Petebklyn at October 21, 2008 4:01 PM

a blatant example of highendism there Pete!!! You should be ashamed of yourself.

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at October 21, 2008 4:13 PM

There is some truth in what petebklyn wrote.

Posted by: sam at October 21, 2008 4:15 PM

Aren't all houses cold and uninviting until you move in and make it your own?

Posted by: eyepenn at October 21, 2008 4:28 PM

It'd be difficult for decorators to set up a house that catered to everyone's tastes. Some people like cabinets full of Hummel figurines and lots of family pictures on the wall. Other people prefer to only hang a few framed photographs or pieces of artwork, and otherwise keep decoration to a minimum. I like throwing stuff out and can fit all of the things I keep out of nostalgia in a space slightly larger than a shoebox, and my fiancee's the same way. But my younger brother's house is full of knicknacks, collections, and photos of their kids. *shrug*

I think in most cases designers err on the side of sparsity so as to let the potential buyer imagine what they could fill the house with.

Posted by: cwbuecheler at October 21, 2008 4:44 PM

I thought you made these rooms sparce so you can actually see the square footage and details you are buying. Unless you hae a lot to hide, you keep it clean and organized so buyers are not distracted by personal items that can actually leave a negative impression.

Posted by: 11233 at October 21, 2008 4:51 PM

I recently sold my coop and the realtors had us remove most of the personal objects in the house. The uncluttered open space resulted in a higher sales price than I was anticipating so I think this is an important factor in selling.

Posted by: wasder at October 21, 2008 5:22 PM

Hmm, well, the comment was really more about the actual fixtures. I was looking at the bathrooms and the kitchen mostly, more than the lack of personal detail. But ok, I hear what you're saying.

Posted by: cobblehiller at October 21, 2008 6:53 PM

I think the renovations being referred to are: stainless steel appliances, travertine tile, hardwood floors, open-concept living spaces...

Even houses like brownstones and townhouses are getting the "modern" treatment to their detriment.

It's getting so that all the renovations look alike.

Posted by: i_heart_brooklyn at October 22, 2008 1:33 AM

Oh, and how could I forget granite countertops? God forbid, you want soapstone or a stainless steel integrated counter or maybe even butcher block...

Posted by: i_heart_brooklyn at October 22, 2008 1:39 AM