Curious you didn't mention wood flooring (the real stuff). I'm staying in 97 year-old house with beautiful original oak flooring, while (as part of a reno) my own house is having it's 35 year-old oak flooring refinished. It's reusable for generations, develops even more character with normal wear, and has that barely perceptible give that's often not a death sentence for a sturdy casserole dish.
my own home so I don’t want to overpay for an on-trend finish that I won’t keep. But newer appliances by some companies like Bosch or LG are highly functional and durable.
I’m in the process of cleaning out/fixing up my late parents home in obx. The decision on flooring is paralyzing me. Yes, I need to rip out the 30 year old carpet but the realtor recommended LVP looks just awful. She says most of the new beach house owners/investors here are installing it and she wants me to paint the old pine trim and beams white. All seems so sterile -I feel like I’m erasing their home and what this whole area used to be. I guess LVP is just a symptom of what’s happening here overall.
I'm conflicted on appliances - on the one hand, newer ones tend to be much more energy and water efficient to operate. On the other hand, is that operational advantage enough to offset the cost of replacing appliances more frequently because they are (for the most part) not built to be repaired the way they were a few decades ago?
At any rate, totally agree on stainless steel. Our kitchen appliances are "stainless" (courtesy of a "flip" circa 2011) and they show every fingerprint or drip of water. What a misnomer.
I love laminate countertops! They’re easy to clean, a good surface for rolling out baked goods, and are pretty durable. But they’re also relatively DIY friendly to make. The only specialty tool needed is a trim router, but it’s basically just the laminate surface glued to plywood. You can’t make your own granite or marble!
Definitely could do without most of the modern, smart chip integrations, plastic parts, etc. Prefer the old and built to last 25 or 30 years. Marble vs formica? Both have pros and cons. Formica scratches easier and in my experience burns easier. Can be better to maintain tho! Solid Surface is a good low maintenance option.
I repaired a GE washer dryer set and got 25 years out of it. I replaced a valve and the drum suspension for the dryer, and eventually had to swap out the analog controller.
But it was a perfect set, lots of capacity in a small space and no control panel, just a single knob.
I also have three cars, all of which are over 175k, all from the early 2000s. Modern but pre-touchscreen.
The touchscreen is the touch of death, because you are beholden to the manufacturer for updates in the best case and continuous connection and subscription in the worst.
I'm generally in the same camp as you. I also prefer Formica countertops over stone, and older appliances (which were both more functional and lasted longer) over newer. I also find most modern home design trends unappealing. Whenever I see those "before and after" home renovation pictures, I almost always prefer the "before" look. There's a boring, soulless sameness to the kind of designs pushed on most home-improvement shows.
As Amanda Mull said in this recent Atlantic piece...
...I'm firmly opposed to chasing trends with an eye for the resale value of the home. My wife and I are currently looking for a new home; when we find it, we plan to live there long-term. As a result, we'll decorate it the way we like it, not the way some hypothetical future buyer would prefer.
Hmmm, this topic is like discussing religion... It really comes down to personal preference and I think fundamentally reflects one's inner personality traits. For me, I like quality materials that are practical and durable and tend towards a traditional look. Two examples: cementitious siding (eg Hardie Board) over wood clapboards because they last a long time and hold paint well, and Corian or quartz counter tops over natural stone or formica because they are very durable and easy to clean. Often there is a slightly higher up front cost, but not always and the longer term hard and soft costs are usually lower. Also, your example of internet connected appliances is on point as much of that is solutions looking for problems (ie marketing BS). I'm not against technology (embedded or otherwise) when it has a practical use, I just eschew the gratuitous use of technology for technologies sake. BTW, I'm not a luddite by any means having worked at in the software development world for a long time. I general, I would much rather pay more for something (really any physical goods) well made that will last a long time that cheap throw away crap. But then again. I'm the kind of guy who downcycles everything until it has no further use and have no interest in fashion trends, and have been that way my whole life.
Sheet vinyl floors are very easy to gouge and will curl at the edges and seams if not installed properly. LVP isn’t as prone to those two issues. Doesn’t mean I’m a fan (I despise the grey LVP that is so popular right now), but definitely two improvements made over sheet vinyl. Real linoleum will last a really long time, is very durable and is still affordable. Tile is not only easier to break, it’s also cold and harder to care for-those pesky grout lines! My number one preference is, and always will be, real hardwood, but that definitely isn’t a budget option.
I’ve had laminate counters and I’ve had stone. I MUCH prefer the stone. Laminate is easier to scratch and burn. It’s also prone to buckling around sinks as the fiberboard it’s typically installed on does not like water. Better budget options are butcher block and concrete.
With appliances I’m with you all the way. Simpler is better! I do not need a refrigerator to remind me to buy milk, I just need it to keep my milk cold!!
I feel like I am with you when it comes to a 10-year-old functional appliance, but not a 40-year-old "happens to still work" appliance.
When it comes to finishes and fixtures overall, we have similar discussions about different "new" materials all the time. There's contractor-grade stuff that is awful, there's old materials that are worn or ugly, there's "luxury" stuff that you see all over IG and blogs that has the same sterile lack-of-taste aspects, and then there are quality materials that, as long as you don't go to the extent of pursing fake authenticity that you become a parody of a designer/decorator, are tasteful and last a long time and are probably the best materials to use (but they're never cheap and they're also not attention-getting enough to be bragged about in mansion tour photosets). The trendy stuff is rarely the best stuff, it's usually trendy because people who lack taste desire to spend money on it & show it off.
That opens up a different discussion: where do you go to read reliable information about materials and design, if the major design mags and websites are not doing a very good job of it?
Couldn't agree more! We just moved into a house with finishes and appliances anywhere from the 70s to the 90s, because it was all we could afford. I was convinced we'd soon want to remodel a lot of it, but after living in it for a few months, I am so attached to our Formica countertops and old appliances. Best of all..our house doesn't look like anyone else's! It has character. And no, that doesn't have to mean real wood floors and design from a seemingly very specific era.
Curious you didn't mention wood flooring (the real stuff). I'm staying in 97 year-old house with beautiful original oak flooring, while (as part of a reno) my own house is having it's 35 year-old oak flooring refinished. It's reusable for generations, develops even more character with normal wear, and has that barely perceptible give that's often not a death sentence for a sturdy casserole dish.
Depends! In general I want to customize
my own home so I don’t want to overpay for an on-trend finish that I won’t keep. But newer appliances by some companies like Bosch or LG are highly functional and durable.
I’m in the process of cleaning out/fixing up my late parents home in obx. The decision on flooring is paralyzing me. Yes, I need to rip out the 30 year old carpet but the realtor recommended LVP looks just awful. She says most of the new beach house owners/investors here are installing it and she wants me to paint the old pine trim and beams white. All seems so sterile -I feel like I’m erasing their home and what this whole area used to be. I guess LVP is just a symptom of what’s happening here overall.
I'm conflicted on appliances - on the one hand, newer ones tend to be much more energy and water efficient to operate. On the other hand, is that operational advantage enough to offset the cost of replacing appliances more frequently because they are (for the most part) not built to be repaired the way they were a few decades ago?
At any rate, totally agree on stainless steel. Our kitchen appliances are "stainless" (courtesy of a "flip" circa 2011) and they show every fingerprint or drip of water. What a misnomer.
Mostly agree. I think fashion can be "overdone" particularly when, as you describe so well, durability and practical issues are compromised.
I love laminate countertops! They’re easy to clean, a good surface for rolling out baked goods, and are pretty durable. But they’re also relatively DIY friendly to make. The only specialty tool needed is a trim router, but it’s basically just the laminate surface glued to plywood. You can’t make your own granite or marble!
Definitely could do without most of the modern, smart chip integrations, plastic parts, etc. Prefer the old and built to last 25 or 30 years. Marble vs formica? Both have pros and cons. Formica scratches easier and in my experience burns easier. Can be better to maintain tho! Solid Surface is a good low maintenance option.
I repaired a GE washer dryer set and got 25 years out of it. I replaced a valve and the drum suspension for the dryer, and eventually had to swap out the analog controller.
But it was a perfect set, lots of capacity in a small space and no control panel, just a single knob.
I also have three cars, all of which are over 175k, all from the early 2000s. Modern but pre-touchscreen.
The touchscreen is the touch of death, because you are beholden to the manufacturer for updates in the best case and continuous connection and subscription in the worst.
I'm generally in the same camp as you. I also prefer Formica countertops over stone, and older appliances (which were both more functional and lasted longer) over newer. I also find most modern home design trends unappealing. Whenever I see those "before and after" home renovation pictures, I almost always prefer the "before" look. There's a boring, soulless sameness to the kind of designs pushed on most home-improvement shows.
As Amanda Mull said in this recent Atlantic piece...
https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2022/11/lifestyle-media-home-improvement-trends-obsession/672168/
...I'm firmly opposed to chasing trends with an eye for the resale value of the home. My wife and I are currently looking for a new home; when we find it, we plan to live there long-term. As a result, we'll decorate it the way we like it, not the way some hypothetical future buyer would prefer.
Hmmm, this topic is like discussing religion... It really comes down to personal preference and I think fundamentally reflects one's inner personality traits. For me, I like quality materials that are practical and durable and tend towards a traditional look. Two examples: cementitious siding (eg Hardie Board) over wood clapboards because they last a long time and hold paint well, and Corian or quartz counter tops over natural stone or formica because they are very durable and easy to clean. Often there is a slightly higher up front cost, but not always and the longer term hard and soft costs are usually lower. Also, your example of internet connected appliances is on point as much of that is solutions looking for problems (ie marketing BS). I'm not against technology (embedded or otherwise) when it has a practical use, I just eschew the gratuitous use of technology for technologies sake. BTW, I'm not a luddite by any means having worked at in the software development world for a long time. I general, I would much rather pay more for something (really any physical goods) well made that will last a long time that cheap throw away crap. But then again. I'm the kind of guy who downcycles everything until it has no further use and have no interest in fashion trends, and have been that way my whole life.
Sheet vinyl floors are very easy to gouge and will curl at the edges and seams if not installed properly. LVP isn’t as prone to those two issues. Doesn’t mean I’m a fan (I despise the grey LVP that is so popular right now), but definitely two improvements made over sheet vinyl. Real linoleum will last a really long time, is very durable and is still affordable. Tile is not only easier to break, it’s also cold and harder to care for-those pesky grout lines! My number one preference is, and always will be, real hardwood, but that definitely isn’t a budget option.
I’ve had laminate counters and I’ve had stone. I MUCH prefer the stone. Laminate is easier to scratch and burn. It’s also prone to buckling around sinks as the fiberboard it’s typically installed on does not like water. Better budget options are butcher block and concrete.
With appliances I’m with you all the way. Simpler is better! I do not need a refrigerator to remind me to buy milk, I just need it to keep my milk cold!!
Agreed 100%. Functional mechanical appliances that are simple and reliable are my jam, as are my ugly countertops.
I feel like I am with you when it comes to a 10-year-old functional appliance, but not a 40-year-old "happens to still work" appliance.
When it comes to finishes and fixtures overall, we have similar discussions about different "new" materials all the time. There's contractor-grade stuff that is awful, there's old materials that are worn or ugly, there's "luxury" stuff that you see all over IG and blogs that has the same sterile lack-of-taste aspects, and then there are quality materials that, as long as you don't go to the extent of pursing fake authenticity that you become a parody of a designer/decorator, are tasteful and last a long time and are probably the best materials to use (but they're never cheap and they're also not attention-getting enough to be bragged about in mansion tour photosets). The trendy stuff is rarely the best stuff, it's usually trendy because people who lack taste desire to spend money on it & show it off.
That opens up a different discussion: where do you go to read reliable information about materials and design, if the major design mags and websites are not doing a very good job of it?
I disagree on sheet vinyl flooring. I'm an appraiser and have seen many horrible examples of sheet vinyl. Ugly stuff.
I agree completely about appliances. I don't want a connected appliance with bad security that can be hacked easily by some bad guy.
Couldn't agree more! We just moved into a house with finishes and appliances anywhere from the 70s to the 90s, because it was all we could afford. I was convinced we'd soon want to remodel a lot of it, but after living in it for a few months, I am so attached to our Formica countertops and old appliances. Best of all..our house doesn't look like anyone else's! It has character. And no, that doesn't have to mean real wood floors and design from a seemingly very specific era.