If you’ve been reading my blog for a while, you might be thinking, “Maria’s saying the same thing AGAIN.” And you’d be right.
The funny thing about timeless design is that it’s repetitive. There aren’t a gazillion different ways to create a timeless home.
Maria’s Timeless Warm Neutral Kitchen
Trends change. The principles don’t.
I’ve been teaching the same colour and decorating principles since I started this blog in 2008 because they still work. In fact, they work even better at the end of a trend cycle.
I recently met a follower who has been reading my blog since the beginning. Her daughter grew up during that time because I’ve been writing this blog for 18 years–eeeeek! Because I don’t have children I don’t count like that but it made me feel old, haha.
But think about those colourful tile bathrooms from the 1950s and ’60s. People don’t work that hard to preserve them simply because they’re old. They preserve them because they have charm, character, and a timeless quality that’s worth decorating around. They update the wallpaper, lighting, mirror, and decorating, but they leave the tile because it still belongs.
Now what about the white kitchen?
For years, everyone declared the white kitchen “over.” But timeless white kitchens never went out of style (below).
What people got tired of were the cookie-cutter imitations that forgot all the details that made the originals timeless. (below).
One of my readers reminded me of that this week. Five years ago, we planned a timeless renovation for her kitchen. When they recently sold their home, they received four offers on the first day, all above asking. That sale fell through through no fault of their own, so they listed it again.
Four more offers. Again, all above asking.
That doesn’t surprise me at all.
When buyers have spent all weekend walking through homes filled with the trends that are already feeling tired and overdone, walking into a beautifully designed, timeless kitchen feels like a breath of fresh air. Instead of adding “replace the kitchen” to their renovation budget, they can simply move in and start living.
That’s the difference between trendy and timeless.
And it’s exactly why my advice hasn’t changed much in the past 18 years. In today’s video I’m showing you how 5 current trends fit into the conversation about timelessness, or don’t.
Related posts:
First Rule of Design; Boring Now Equals Timeless Later
Second Rule of Design: Waiting Now Equals Beautiful Later
It’s often the “trendy” hardware that really makes a bathroom or kitchen dated.
Maria, you are so good at selecting the right hardware to stand the test of time!
I cannot find the link to download the 50 ways to decorate/update with black and white.
I would like to find that link, too.
It’s in the description of the video, but I can’t get it to work. The link opens but there’s no place to download it? I’d love the guide too.
mariakillam.com/52-timeless-ideas/
This is one of your best videos ever with great advice!!!!
This is one of your best videos ever with great advice!
Dear Maria, I could not agree with you more. My mother’s kitchen is 50 yrs old and still looks like a beautiful farmhouse style with custom walnut cabinets, wood beams on the bead board ceiling, and a limestone rock fireplace. Even her original color scheme from SW bicentennial collection still looks timeless. Quality and craftsmanship never goes out of style.