I prefer a closed concept kitchen, because I enjoy cooking. It’s very difficult for the majority people who actually make meals from scratch to keep up an open concept kitchen, because they make the whole living area look gross unless they are kept 100% clean all the time. I also just don’t want to see my kitchen in my main living space, as I like the look of spaces designated for on purpose.
You brought up an excellent point about over-renovating a home to turn it into something it was never designed to be. If you have to gut and knock down everything maybe you need to find a different home.
Bless you a million times over for standing up for the integrity of old houses!!!!! I live in a historic district and I'm so often depressed to see new owners inflict trends on our Victorians - especially the mullets. Turning something lovely into a Frankenstein's collage of crap. That breaks my heart every time.
Neighbors took down walls, wanting open concept because someone else had done it...a couple with one child. The neighbors had 3 children, and then her mother moved in with them as well. My neighbor thought she'd lose her mind...no where to go to be alone except her bedroom. Life style needs to be seriously considered. I appreciate my multiple rooms, areas designated for various use.
I gave a comment on an other channel what told you what you better not can do in your house. One point was mass produced art. First, I agree with that. Second, I got a mass produced picture from my mom and shortly after she died unexpectedly. So, I keep the picture. I framed it and it hangs above the kitchen table. It makes me happy when I look at it. I miss my mom more than I can say, but she is still with me when I look at that picture. It is the story behind the picture that makes it special. And that is what makes a house into a home. At first sight you think: Oh awful, a mass produced picture, but for me it is a valuable possession. Irma from the Netherlands
Backwards books are my personal pet peeve- I am a former librarian! I want to see your books- it shows me who you are, your interests and your personality. I have never understood the fake books for show either (Tom Ford or Chanel or whatever). And please don't paint wood or stone or brick as I will not be buying your home when you decide to sell. Another reason to go with a professional! Thank you Garrett! 😍😊❤️🥰☺️☀️🦩🌴
So glad you speak of the “all white” overly, overly done (and boring) trend. Also, adore how you work with people’s vision, even if it’s not your own, & bring it to life in an elevated way. You are also one of the few designers who doesn’t expect that everything must be costly in order to be stylish. You’re one of a kind. A gem 💎
I think that books that are NOT backwards and are books that have been read and loved, is the best type of decor in the home. It shows the owner’s personality and their love of reading. It’s a statement of who the people who live here are. It shows their interests and hobbies. So much better than BLANK books that mean nothing at all. Great video Garrett as always you are a wealth of information and so much fun to listen too. ❤🤗🇨🇦
I LOVE books but my house is for me to enjoy and I don’t enjoy looking at an ugly book binding or cover no matter how much I enjoyed reading the book 🤷♀️ so I have no problem turning them around if it looks better to me. I don’t display my books to impress others. I think a lot of times the books that people display in their homes aren’t even books they’ve read, so backwards or not, there’s no guarantee about what it means.
Thank you Garrett for saying what others wouldn’t dare say! There’s so much boring design out there that people believe they need to copy, room to room. It takes time to find your own personal style but it’s so worth it! Love your channel.
Another exceptional video that perfectly showcases the difference between a trained designer and an influencer who can only work within their own aesthetic. I especially loved the point you made about the need for tension in a space and would love a whole video on that topic. Thanks again, and I do wish I could make it to the show within the first hour. 😢
😮all backwards books together may not appeal to some but interacting some backwards books 📕 with others gives texture … if the title is not relevant then it makes sense…. The linen and pages add depth to the area which creates visual interest…. Not for everyone but can enhance a room…..
There is nothing worse than seeing painted antique furniture. There's only a finite amount of antiques and when a trend fades, painted antique furniture (or any painted antiques) will not be recognized as such and will end up in landfills. This is how we lost a lot of 17th and 18th century antiques in the 1970's when the trend was hot, and now we see history repeating itself as we are losing 19th and early 20th century furniture at an astonishing rate.
I thoroughly agree with you. I hate to see fine furniture and beautiful wood painted. However, I have seen furniture that was beyond repair that was restored to use by painting it.
"A house will tell you what it wants." 16:10 100% agree with that - I have experienced it many times. I agree it's very possible to stay in alignment with what a house naturally is yet make it your own.
I'm trying to get my partner to see the light and keep the kitchen a bit closed. I used a noren (curtain) to good effect blocking the upper half of the sightline in my old place. He's aspirationally anti-clutter but stacks dishes in the sink by default (I'm a bit sloppier but I like an empty sink and load the dishwasher as I go), and I see how this isn't going to work with an open kitchen, but he's not there yet.
My kitchen dining room combo requires walking through a doorway (slightly larger than an average doorway, but not by much) to get into. Since the entire room is 200 sq feet, I like keeping it with 4 walls because it allows for more cabinets.
All the houses on our block are either natural stone, brick or stucco. We are the only house that isn’t white as everyone has painted the low maintenance materials. They are all custom homes but now must have followed the trend and I would never buy a home that would require more upkeep than needed especially since it costs thousands of dollars to repaint.
I agree 100% about not painting things that don't need to be painted. A while ago I saw a RUclipsr suggest "updating" a fireplace by spraypainting the brass trim black. In the process, she converted a durable, timeless material to a fragile painted surface that will be vulnerable to damage and will need to be repainted again and again, and the damage is irreversible because she had to rough up the smooth brass so the paint would adhere.
I painted my 2 story fireplace using Romabio limewash! It was a fake peach colored stone from the 70s. I absolutely love it. I believe there are exceptions to the suggestion of not painting stone or brick. Great video!
As an avid bibliophile, I HATE backwards books! How would you find a specific book? Turning books backwards is design for design sake. I truly believe that design should enhance your daily life - your life should not adapt to design, design adapts to your life.
Oh Garrett, this is the most important the thing you have ever said , to me anyway. "Got to have like that off moment. Something that is giving us some sort of contrast some sort of interest. Some sort of tension within the space that created something that feels natural and looks beautiful." I would love a video dedicated to these little moments. I'm a visual person so I need to see what you mean by this intriguing statement.
Someone told me years ago that a room should have some thing ugly and some thing pink, and I’ve never forgotten that. my living room has a very ugly painting in it which I adore and a book on the coffee table has a pink cover. Small thing, but to me it’s that little bit of quirk that makes it work.
I think the backwards books and white covered books trends came from staging. As a stager, you want to keep buyers moving and thinking about the house--not dallying at a bookcase and wondering about the current owners. You also remove religious, political, personal items, and family photos/diplomas/awards/etc.
The worst thing about the “open concept” kitchen is that you lose 1/2 of your upper kitchen cabinetry storage. As someone who loves to cook, that kitchen storage is way too valuable to me.
I love this energy Garrett!💛 I love white but I hate all white, for me white is a Perfect caneva to make everythings shine (wooden furniture, beautiful wall art, beautiful design, our precious, sentimental objects). I will never understand how we can have a white couch either, in our homes we live, we put joy and happiness there, but these are things that are sometimes messy. I'd rather live than worry about a stain on a white sofa. I love your advice, your work, versus a lot on YT that it is only promoting their Amazon shop. You mention being us, putting our touch on it, if I could like this video 100x, I would. I am inspired by several things, but for me it is essential that it resembles me and that it is "my own touch", it is at home I do not live in a magazine. You deserve a huge community full of real people, who are there for the right reasons, the right advice, your energy. I sincerely believe that people who seem to watch TV shopping spend time and their community gets tired and leaves, for real and inspiring people like you 💛🇨🇦
I agree but we need more of the subscribers watching within the first hour so as to impress the RUclips algorithm so it pushes it out further on RUclips.
I have a lot of dark brown, but I have accented with black objects, as well as with darker shades of other colours. I just love the moodiness it gives off, as well as a 'cocoon' feeling. And books! How I love seeing other people's nicely displayed collections. It really gives a home personality. Unfortunately, due to severe allergies, I can't display mine (and I donate most of mine due to that reason). My husband went to visit relatives that had a mostly white house. He couldn't wait to get out. He said he felt so uncomfortable, like he couldn't touch anything or sit anywhere in fear of messing something up. I always love your videos, Garrett. You never fail to educate, while entertaining us all, big-time! One thing though- when you were talking about how there are times you should just leave a house be, and not be trying to reno/change things that shouldn't/can't be, I was surprised you didn't use that old saying, being the loving dog owner you are - sometimes you've just got to let sleeping dogs lie! 😊 ❤
Love our Fearless Leader Garrett! I have white walls and pretty much gray or “pickled” flooring. So, I chose an area rug with teal, gold, purple in it, and some really nice teal/turquoise furniture with a beige leather Stressless chair. I mixed new things with some really nice things my mother and her sisters had. It works for me and my tons of books and rock collection. I think some people copy a design they like to the letter because they don’t trust their own style. You have to TRY things. It can be as simple as a colored throw or pillows. I very much dislike painted brick or stone. I have never really seen it work well. You don’t have to take out an entire wall, sometimes. Keep the receipts on the pillows, throws, and other decor. Take a chance, and if you don’t like it, return it! Your home should reflect YOU! You have to be comfortable in it. (I need to learn that some people are just “beige” people. It’s not for me, but. . . )
Great video Garrett! I have to agree with each point. I love getting ideas but not copies. I had a house that one room was crazy! The painted the walls like blood red with black trim, window treatments, floors and fireplace. I had to change it ASAP! Before I even decide what I was doing in the rest of the house I had to fix it. I could have painted the some fireplace white but I used my paint samples of different browns and sponged it. It ended up looking like the original then I worked with that. I never understood the backward books or wood beads!
There was a RUclipsr "decorator" suggesting book cases were not for books. The few books she allowed had to be stacked horizontally . I donate many of my books however, some have a special meaning or I use for reference. I love color in my home and I do treasure decor I have brought home when I travel or have collected over the years. I can't stand the rooms without personality.
I love your take on remodels. HAVE to consider the structure, vibe and personality of your home. I esp in older homes. I have a MCM home. Ive had contractors wanting to rip out walls and try to make my home something it is not. I love my floor plan. It is very functional. Doesn’t matter if it’s just me and my husband, or two other families staying with us. The house functions well in either scenario
Hello 👋 I’ve never lived in an open concept home but now that I own my own home and had the opportunity to remodel it fit our family living style we just made large entry ways leading from room to room so it’s the best of both open yet separate at the same time and I love that for me 😊
I watched some other ,,Designers".....but You are the most honest, helpful, more tasteful and personally agreable.....There is No Style more chic... than Garrett-chic!!!Chapeau!!!
Oh Garrett i just love you!!! Today was especially entertaining!! I love " gotta have some stank on it" And of course i agree.!! Perfect Garret. Thanks♥️
Thanks so much! Also, thank you for supporting our channel growth by watching the video within the first hour after it was posted on RUclips. Means allot to me!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
What about 70's paneling? I've always hated it anyway but our new house has wood beams, wood-look laminate flooring and doors and trim in very similar tones. I really want to paint the paneling to break that up and also brighten the room because it's very dark and the windows don't let in much light.
I get why people tend to paint over those huge stone fireplaces that look stuck in the 70s. I personally prefer to see some sort of lime-wash or German schmear; something that lightens it up but still allows some of the natural stone to show. I think completely painting over them looks kind of unnatural.
0:50 I'm trying to be more compassionate about painting trim after the new house. It's a cat hoarding restoration project and we could have either spun wheels replacing all the trim entirely to be rid of the stink and achieved nothing else during the time it took, or have me seal them with shellac and Emerald while our pros kept the project momentum going elsewhere. We did not do this lightly. And while I'm at it, having smelled all the things the house has to offer, cats should not be taken into the home lightly either.
Thank you so much 😀 I post every Thursday at 1pm and Sundays at 10am Pacific Time. Please take a moment to support the channel by subscribing if you haven’t already, and kindly put bell notifications on so you don’t miss any of my videos. 🤗🤗🤗
Garrett, I love watching you because you are so real and truthful. I really appreciate you addressing the boring copy-cat designs. I understand not having your own vision but your home should look like your home. I’ve noticed that even content creators lately are shopping and placing the exact same items in their homes. Yawn!
A house will tell you what it wants 💯 agree!!! Im using a paint color that isnt a personal favorite but its what the house wants. Guess what....the house was right
All so true! Anyone know if it’s worth it/possible to remove paint from brick?? Recently bought a house and they unfortunately painted the 2 beautiful brick fireplaces 😭
I don’t mind brick per se, but over the concept of people taking these ugly monstrous fireplaces of ugly brick and rock and just painting them. Great, now it looks like a giant white iceberg. 😂
A white limewash fireplace beats a fake peach stone one from the 70s in my book! Sorry, there are some exceptions when painting stone and brick makes an improvement/update 😊
I recently painted an upstairs bathroom white from its previous darker color. This bathroom was not getting new hardware, yoyr bathtub/ shower update. It has a maple (veneer) cabinet and newer flooring. I found a way to bring black, white, gray, and that maple color into the room with accessories and other ways to relate all colors together. I am resisting painting any of my cabinetry. I don't love it anymore, but I don't hate it either. It does feel dated, but replacing it is not where we want to spend our money. Like you said, it's better to find something and some way to relate to it. In our case, I hope replacing countertops and door and drawer hardware will do the trick. Good video.
Pleasure as always listening to your video. Couldn't agree more with the just decor statement. I do t know if you are familiar with the william morris philosophy of have nothing in your house that you don't believe to be beautiful or know to be useful, sage advice I believe.
Thanks so much! Very kind of you. Please join us in helping the channel grow more by watching and commenting whenever possible within the first hour of a video being posted. That’s what the algorithm looks for. My videos go live Thursdays at 1pm and Sundays at 10am Pacific Time. 🤗🤗🤗
Great video. I collect antiques. I would never paint a single one. I love the wood. Rehabers are killing the antiques. Sand it down and re-varnish. That is truly rehabing. Also, closed spaces are so fun and cozy. I have a 1964 Florida rancher. I love creating all the different spaces. Some people think I am crazy with more than one or two types of flooring. I have about five. 😲I love the character of it. Each room has its own concept but the style is the same throughout the house. My style. I mix old with new. My house is my story. I need to declutter though. I collect way too much stuff. I love your style.
Only good thing about open concept is it makes the house look bigger. My dog is part husky. She's smart, so she is super aware of when the best time is too attempt to steal food from my kitchen. We ended up putting a half door up to keep her out. All white is hard to keep clean...no, impossible. As a minimalist, nothing is just a....everything serves a purpose. That sounded weird.
Another great video…. Sorry I missed several weeks….. as always I am binge watching…. I am setting a timer on my phone lol so I take my break on Thursday and not get there in the first hour….. you are so talented and respectful… I enjoy watching your videos…. Thanks for sharing ❤️
Yay! Thanks so much. I appreciate your support. We picked Thursdays at 1pm and Sundays at 10am Pacific Time so hopefully it works most of the time for you and everyone. 🤗🤗🤗
Absolutely! I interact with people around the world. All the available times you see are already in your time zone unless you have a VPN turned on when booking. If so just turn it off while booking. Refresh and then go to intro.co/garrettlechic and book your virtual consultation. You will even have a page during the booking process to list questions or outline what you’d like to discuss. I know you’ve been part of our subscriber family for quite a while. I would love to do a virtual consultation with you and provide my assistance.🤗
Firm rule for painting (furniture mostly). If it’s cheap, beaten up and has no unique features in terms of woodwork, meh, go for it. I painted a £30 sideboard after filling in a few dents and cracks, looks much better in black than the original orangey pine. My dressings table, that was a couple of hundred, has beautiful little detail is in the wood, even though there are a few signs of aging, the table’s over 100 years old, it’s meant to!
For me the worst trend of all is shabby chic, because it so soo cheesy and when I see beautiful vintage or antique furniture being destroyed with paint I become very nervous, especially consudering that I like to restore them with shellac. For example I have just restored a nice art deco home bar using shellac
So excited! Love to see a new post from you Humble video topic request, how in the world do you hone in your furniture style/shop for furniture? Personally i know if i like someone's room but idk how a given piece of furniture is gonna work in my space. I appreciate your prev videos on scale, style, function. But i guess i need some help with form lol!
I understand, but there are so many possibilities and variables. It’s hard to make a video like that. I could probably help you much more quickly on that subject via a virtual consultation. I’d be happy to assist by seeing your space and discussing things customized to you specifically that would make you happy aesthetically and functionally in your home. Bookings can be made at intro.co/garrettlechic and the times you see available are already in your time zone as long as you don’t have your phone or computer VPN on.😁😁😁
I have a ranch style house, the kitchen and living room are in the front , the bedrooms and bathrooms are in the back. Unfortunately, the way it is set up. I have to have the kitchen and living room as an open concept otherwise it would be too crowded. However, someday I wish it wasn’t like that.
Yay! Awesome! Welcome to the channel. It’s great to have you as a part of our very valued subscriber family! Videos are posted Thursdays at 1pm and Sundays at 10am Pacific Time. 😊😊😊
What WONDERFUL energy!!!! You always brighten my day . . . and my home. Love to Garrett! xxx (PS. I did log on late today -doggie not feeling well . . .)
Ooooh wee, Garrett went for the jugular today😂… respectfully. He’s just teaching but I’m glad the shoe doesn’t fit… at least today 😂 I just love him🖤🩶💙🩵🤍 Layer your colors, peeps. This video gave me the giggles, ok I’m done.
Good Morning Garrett, What a common sense infusing vlog. So valid at every point. I never knew about this book style of facing other way, ridiculous. Thanks for enlightening the upcoming interior students about the art of drawing the vision and not everything on computers. Technology should be used for assistance not the only way of learning something. Thankyou for the vlog today enjoy your weekend🥰
Open concept kills me. Every damn new build I work on is open concept - big, small, all of them. I couldn't do it. I need spacial definition. HGTV addicts have ruined a lot of beautiful homes.
Books: Styling with books bothers me. Candles and beads and vases on stacked books just shouts pretension to me. I want to put everything away. It doesn't seem to belong there on a coffee table artfully arranged. Books on a shelf in a library or laying on a table but not with decor piled on them. No.
Recently found you, you're SPOT tf ON with everything, your delivery is awesome, you crack me up and I'm in love. #Subscribed Yeah I didn't even know backwards books was a thing. I don't feel like I could trust a person who would do something like that. 😂
Yay! Thank you! Welcome to the channel. It’s great to have you as a part of our very valued subscriber family. I post videos on Thursdays at 1pm and Sundays at 10am Pacific Time. 🤗🤗🤗
Absolutely! Please feel free to book a virtual consultation with me at intro.co/garrettlechic and I’d love to see the space, discuss it with you and come up with a plan that makes you happy from an aesthetic and functional perspective. Please note the available appointment times you see are in your time zone already as long as your VPN is off when you are on my booking site.
Everybody needs garret! Please subscribe guys! I love him! Your support means a lot
Thanks so much for your wonderful comment! I truly appreciate you and our entire subscriber family!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I prefer a closed concept kitchen, because I enjoy cooking. It’s very difficult for the majority people who actually make meals from scratch to keep up an open concept kitchen, because they make the whole living area look gross unless they are kept 100% clean all the time. I also just don’t want to see my kitchen in my main living space, as I like the look of spaces designated for on purpose.
Who like to cook knows tha when you cook the kitchen is a mess, so prefer a closed kitchen, who just use microwave prefer the open one
I agree! Also, I don't want the smell of the fish I just cooked permeating the entire house.
Thanks for sharing!
I love this comment and whole heartedly agree! @@user-bf3pc2qd9s
I totally agree! This has always been why I don’t like the open concept. I don’t want you to see a mess from the front door.
Backward books? That's like making your friends face a wall!!!
You brought up an excellent point about over-renovating a home to turn it into something it was never designed to be. If you have to gut and knock down everything maybe you need to find a different home.
Bless you a million times over for standing up for the integrity of old houses!!!!! I live in a historic district and I'm so often depressed to see new owners inflict trends on our Victorians - especially the mullets. Turning something lovely into a Frankenstein's collage of crap. That breaks my heart every time.
Neighbors took down walls, wanting open concept because someone else had done it...a couple with one child. The neighbors had 3 children, and then her mother moved in with them as well. My neighbor thought she'd lose her mind...no where to go to be alone except her bedroom. Life style needs to be seriously considered. I appreciate my multiple rooms, areas designated for various use.
I gave a comment on an other channel what told you what you better not can do in your house. One point was mass produced art. First, I agree with that. Second, I got a mass produced picture from my mom and shortly after she died unexpectedly. So, I keep the picture. I framed it and it hangs above the kitchen table. It makes me happy when I look at it. I miss my mom more than I can say, but she is still with me when I look at that picture. It is the story behind the picture that makes it special. And that is what makes a house into a home. At first sight you think: Oh awful, a mass produced picture, but for me it is a valuable possession. Irma from the Netherlands
The picture of your mom is not a mass product because it is personal and unique.
❤❤❤
Backwards books are my personal pet peeve- I am a former librarian! I want to see your books- it shows me who you are, your interests and your personality. I have never understood the fake books for show either (Tom Ford or Chanel or whatever). And please don't paint wood or stone or brick as I will not be buying your home when you decide to sell. Another reason to go with a professional! Thank you Garrett! 😍😊❤️🥰☺️☀️🦩🌴
I'm team: take the book covers on!
So glad you speak of the “all white” overly, overly done (and boring) trend. Also, adore how you work with people’s vision, even if it’s not your own, & bring it to life in an elevated way. You are also one of the few designers who doesn’t expect that everything must be costly in order to be stylish. You’re one of a kind. A gem 💎
Thank you much! I appreciate your support in watching the video within the first hour of it being posted on RUclips. It helps us grow!!!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I think that books that are NOT backwards and are books that have been read and loved, is the best type of decor in the home. It shows the owner’s personality and their love of reading. It’s a statement of who the people who live here are. It shows their interests and hobbies. So much better than BLANK books that mean nothing at all. Great video Garrett as always you are a wealth of information and so much fun to listen too. ❤🤗🇨🇦
Thanks so much! Glad you enjoyed.
I LOVE books but my house is for me to enjoy and I don’t enjoy looking at an ugly book binding or cover no matter how much I enjoyed reading the book 🤷♀️ so I have no problem turning them around if it looks better to me. I don’t display my books to impress others. I think a lot of times the books that people display in their homes aren’t even books they’ve read, so backwards or not, there’s no guarantee about what it means.
Thank you Garrett for saying what others wouldn’t dare say! There’s so much boring design out there that people believe they need to copy, room to room. It takes time to find your own personal style but it’s so worth it! Love your channel.
Thanks so much!
Another exceptional video that perfectly showcases the difference between a trained designer and an influencer who can only work within their own aesthetic. I especially loved the point you made about the need for tension in a space and would love a whole video on that topic. Thanks again, and I do wish I could make it to the show within the first hour. 😢
Also, the books in my home I've either read or I'm about to read. I love books so I really hate those fake cardboard ones people use for decor.
Backwards books are a great way to advertise your own ignorance.
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😂🤣😂🥲🥲😂🤣
😂😂😂😂😂😂
😮all backwards books together may not appeal to some but interacting some backwards books 📕 with others gives texture … if the title is not relevant then it makes sense…. The linen and pages add depth to the area which creates visual interest…. Not for everyone but can enhance a room…..
Love how proud you are of your education! Bravo! It shows!! 🎉
There is nothing worse than seeing painted antique furniture. There's only a finite amount of antiques and when a trend fades, painted antique furniture (or any painted antiques) will not be recognized as such and will end up in landfills. This is how we lost a lot of 17th and 18th century antiques in the 1970's when the trend was hot, and now we see history repeating itself as we are losing 19th and early 20th century furniture at an astonishing rate.
I thoroughly agree with you. I hate to see fine furniture and beautiful wood painted. However, I have seen furniture that was beyond repair that was restored to use by painting it.
"A house will tell you what it wants." 16:10 100% agree with that - I have experienced it many times. I agree it's very possible to stay in alignment with what a house naturally is yet make it your own.
Love hearing your expertise on all subjects, which is only second to your personality. : )
Wow, thank you!
Agree - open concept isn't always great. I find it much easier to decorate our current place, which has separate rooms.
I'm trying to get my partner to see the light and keep the kitchen a bit closed. I used a noren (curtain) to good effect blocking the upper half of the sightline in my old place. He's aspirationally anti-clutter but stacks dishes in the sink by default (I'm a bit sloppier but I like an empty sink and load the dishwasher as I go), and I see how this isn't going to work with an open kitchen, but he's not there yet.
My kitchen dining room combo requires walking through a doorway (slightly larger than an average doorway, but not by much) to get into. Since the entire room is 200 sq feet, I like keeping it with 4 walls because it allows for more cabinets.
Thanks for sharing!
All the houses on our block are either natural stone, brick or stucco. We are the only house that isn’t white as everyone has painted the low maintenance materials. They are all custom homes but now must have followed the trend and I would never buy a home that would require more upkeep than needed especially since it costs thousands of dollars to repaint.
I agree 100% about not painting things that don't need to be painted. A while ago I saw a RUclipsr suggest "updating" a fireplace by spraypainting the brass trim black. In the process, she converted a durable, timeless material to a fragile painted surface that will be vulnerable to damage and will need to be repainted again and again, and the damage is irreversible because she had to rough up the smooth brass so the paint would adhere.
I painted my 2 story fireplace using Romabio limewash! It was a fake peach colored stone from the 70s. I absolutely love it. I believe there are exceptions to the suggestion of not painting stone or brick. Great video!
There usually are exceptions. Glad you are enjoying the result.
Just stripped four layers of paint off my kitchen island!! Can’t wait to get it finished.
As an avid bibliophile, I HATE backwards books! How would you find a specific book? Turning books backwards is design for design sake. I truly believe that design should enhance your daily life - your life should not adapt to design, design adapts to your life.
Oh Garrett, this is the most important the thing you have ever said , to me anyway.
"Got to have like that off moment. Something that is giving us some sort of contrast some sort of interest. Some sort of tension within the space that created something that feels natural and looks beautiful."
I would love a video dedicated to these little moments. I'm a visual person so I need to see what you mean by this intriguing statement.
Someone told me years ago that a room should have some thing ugly and some thing pink, and I’ve never forgotten that. my living room has a very ugly painting in it which I adore and a book on the coffee table has a pink cover. Small thing, but to me it’s that little bit of quirk that makes it work.
Oh yes I love this too!
Thanks for watching and sharing!
I think the backwards books and white covered books trends came from staging. As a stager, you want to keep buyers moving and thinking about the house--not dallying at a bookcase and wondering about the current owners. You also remove religious, political, personal items, and
family photos/diplomas/awards/etc.
I'm not crazy about our open floor house. There's no privacy. All it takes is someone watching TV and the whole house has to hear it. Not a fan.
The worst thing about the “open concept” kitchen is that you lose 1/2 of your upper kitchen cabinetry storage. As someone who loves to cook, that kitchen storage is way too valuable to me.
I love this energy Garrett!💛 I love white but I hate all white, for me white is a Perfect caneva to make everythings shine (wooden furniture, beautiful wall art, beautiful design, our precious, sentimental objects).
I will never understand how we can have a white couch either, in our homes we live, we put joy and happiness there, but these are things that are sometimes messy. I'd rather live than worry about a stain on a white sofa.
I love your advice, your work, versus a lot on YT that it is only promoting their Amazon shop. You mention being us, putting our touch on it, if I could like this video 100x, I would. I am inspired by several things, but for me it is essential that it resembles me and that it is "my own touch", it is at home I do not live in a magazine.
You deserve a huge community full of real people, who are there for the right reasons, the right advice, your energy. I sincerely believe that people who seem to watch TV shopping spend time and their community gets tired and leaves, for real and inspiring people like you 💛🇨🇦
I agree but we need more of the subscribers watching within the first hour so as to impress the RUclips algorithm so it pushes it out further on RUclips.
Thank you for telling us a little bit about your education and what you learned for your expertise. Very interesting.
My pleasure! I really enjoy sharing what I’ve learned getting a college degree in interior design plus in general over the past decade.
As always, a very clever video. Let´s just leave the walls, a home doesn´t look or become bigger if you tear down the walls.
I have a lot of dark brown, but I have accented with black objects, as well as with darker shades of other colours. I just love the moodiness it gives off, as well as a 'cocoon' feeling.
And books! How I love seeing other people's nicely displayed collections. It really gives a home personality. Unfortunately, due to severe allergies, I can't display mine (and I donate most of mine due to that reason).
My husband went to visit relatives that had a mostly white house. He couldn't wait to get out. He said he felt so uncomfortable, like he couldn't touch anything or sit anywhere in fear of messing something up.
I always love your videos, Garrett. You never fail to educate, while entertaining us all, big-time!
One thing though- when you were talking about how there are times you should just leave a house be, and not be trying to reno/change things that shouldn't/can't be, I was surprised you didn't use that old saying, being the loving dog owner you are - sometimes you've just got to let sleeping dogs lie! 😊 ❤
Love our Fearless Leader Garrett! I have white walls and pretty much gray or “pickled” flooring. So, I chose an area rug with teal, gold, purple in it, and some really nice teal/turquoise furniture with a beige leather Stressless chair. I mixed new things with some really nice things my mother and her sisters had. It works for me and my tons of books and rock collection. I think some people copy a design they like to the letter because they don’t trust their own style. You have to TRY things. It can be as simple as a colored throw or pillows. I very much dislike painted brick or stone. I have never really seen it work well. You don’t have to take out an entire wall, sometimes. Keep the receipts on the pillows, throws, and other decor. Take a chance, and if you don’t like it, return it! Your home should reflect YOU! You have to be comfortable in it. (I need to learn that some people are just “beige” people. It’s not for me, but. . . )
Great video Garrett! I have to agree with each point. I love getting ideas but not copies.
I had a house that one room was crazy! The painted the walls like blood red with black trim, window treatments, floors and fireplace. I had to change it ASAP! Before I even decide what I was doing in the rest of the house I had to fix it. I could have painted the some fireplace white but I used my paint samples of different browns and sponged it. It ended up looking like the original then I worked with that.
I never understood the backward books or wood beads!
I can't stand when people copy. I always think they can't think for themselves. Love the beautiful cream scarf Garrett. Love from Australia.
There was a RUclipsr "decorator" suggesting book cases were not for books. The few books she allowed had to be stacked horizontally . I donate many of my books however, some have a special meaning or I use for reference. I love color in my home and I do treasure decor I have brought home when I travel or have collected over the years. I can't stand the rooms without personality.
I love your take on remodels. HAVE to consider the structure, vibe and personality of your home. I esp in older homes. I have a MCM home. Ive had contractors wanting to rip out walls and try to make my home something it is not. I love my floor plan. It is very functional. Doesn’t matter if it’s just me and my husband, or two other families staying with us. The house functions well in either scenario
Hello 👋 I’ve never lived in an open concept home but now that I own my own home and had the opportunity to remodel it fit our family living style we just made large entry ways leading from room to room so it’s the best of both open yet separate at the same time and I love that for me 😊
I watched some other ,,Designers".....but You are the most honest, helpful, more tasteful and personally agreable.....There is No Style more chic... than Garrett-chic!!!Chapeau!!!
Wow, thank you!
Really appreciate your authentic confidence. Best cream color that I have seen behind you. Love it❤
Thanks so much! It’s listed in the description section in case you want to test or have it.
This was so refreshing and spot on.
This all needed to be said - I so agree! Thanks Garrett!
Thank Heavens !!
Someone who finally tells it like it is - except for the Dewy Decimal System !!!! 😂😂😂
Love that you encourage us to be REAL and creative. Authenticity is beautiful! I want to know you not a mass produced piece of trendy art.
Oh Garrett i just love you!!! Today was especially entertaining!! I love " gotta have some stank on it" And of course i agree.!! Perfect Garret. Thanks♥️
Thanks so much! Also, thank you for supporting our channel growth by watching the video within the first hour after it was posted on RUclips. Means allot to me!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I like the open kitchen to family room because I can watch the grandkids while I cook…whole house open concept is not cool.
Plagiarism is as one dimensional and unmoored in home design as in school papers. Thank you for calling it out.
Absolutely! Authenticity is everything.
What about 70's paneling? I've always hated it anyway but our new house has wood beams, wood-look laminate flooring and doors and trim in very similar tones. I really want to paint the paneling to break that up and also brighten the room because it's very dark and the windows don't let in much light.
I get why people tend to paint over those huge stone fireplaces that look stuck in the 70s. I personally prefer to see some sort of lime-wash or German schmear; something that lightens it up but still allows some of the natural stone to show. I think completely painting over them looks kind of unnatural.
0:50 I'm trying to be more compassionate about painting trim after the new house. It's a cat hoarding restoration project and we could have either spun wheels replacing all the trim entirely to be rid of the stink and achieved nothing else during the time it took, or have me seal them with shellac and Emerald while our pros kept the project momentum going elsewhere. We did not do this lightly. And while I'm at it, having smelled all the things the house has to offer, cats should not be taken into the home lightly either.
Understood! Thanks for sharing.
Oh YES why take something with no maintenance and paint it so you have to clean/maintain a painted surface!
Agreed!
You are sooo smart and entertaining. Happy to see ya again dear man😊
Thank you so much 😀 I post every Thursday at 1pm and Sundays at 10am Pacific Time. Please take a moment to support the channel by subscribing if you haven’t already, and kindly put bell notifications on so you don’t miss any of my videos. 🤗🤗🤗
Great video, Garrett. Thank you especially for No 1 and 2.
Glad you liked it!
Garrett, I love watching you because you are so real and truthful. I really appreciate you addressing the boring copy-cat designs. I understand not having your own vision but your home should look like your home. I’ve noticed that even content creators lately are shopping and placing the exact same items in their homes. Yawn!
Thank you so much!
A house will tell you what it wants 💯 agree!!!
Im using a paint color that isnt a personal favorite but its what the house wants. Guess what....the house was right
All so true! Anyone know if it’s worth it/possible to remove paint from brick?? Recently bought a house and they unfortunately painted the 2 beautiful brick fireplaces 😭
Backwards books are just a little weird
I have to disagree. They are a GREAT deal weird.
@@MaryJo-bz5dl lol
😂😂😂”scratched from looking at it”🤣🤣🤣
One of your best videos, Garrett! Bravo!!👏 👏👏
Thanks! 😃
I don’t mind brick per se, but over the concept of people taking these ugly monstrous fireplaces of ugly brick and rock and just painting them. Great, now it looks like a giant white iceberg. 😂
😂😂😂
A white limewash fireplace beats a fake peach stone one from the 70s in my book! Sorry, there are some exceptions when painting stone and brick makes an improvement/update 😊
I recently painted an upstairs bathroom white from its previous darker color. This bathroom was not getting new hardware, yoyr bathtub/ shower update. It has a maple (veneer) cabinet and newer flooring. I found a way to bring black, white, gray, and that maple color into the room with accessories and other ways to relate all colors together. I am resisting painting any of my cabinetry. I don't love it anymore, but I don't hate it either. It does feel dated, but replacing it is not where we want to spend our money. Like you said, it's better to find something and some way to relate to it. In our case, I hope replacing countertops and door and drawer hardware will do the trick. Good video.
Pleasure as always listening to your video. Couldn't agree more with the just decor statement. I do t know if you are familiar with the william morris philosophy of have nothing in your house that you don't believe to be beautiful or know to be useful, sage advice I believe.
Love all this! Thank you!!
You always give me such great advice & you always make me laugh 😊😊😊 Thanks Garrett
In total agreement.
I love your genuine forward style 🤩🤩🤩 keeps me entertain 😂
Thanks so much! Very kind of you. Please join us in helping the channel grow more by watching and commenting whenever possible within the first hour of a video being posted. That’s what the algorithm looks for. My videos go live Thursdays at 1pm and Sundays at 10am Pacific Time. 🤗🤗🤗
Great video. I collect antiques. I would never paint a single one. I love the wood. Rehabers are killing the antiques. Sand it down and re-varnish. That is truly rehabing. Also, closed spaces are so fun and cozy. I have a 1964 Florida rancher. I love creating all the different spaces. Some people think I am crazy with more than one or two types of flooring. I have about five. 😲I love the character of it. Each room has its own concept but the style is the same throughout the house. My style. I mix old with new. My house is my story. I need to declutter though. I collect way too much stuff. I love your style.
Thanks so much much! I appreciate your support. We post videos on Thursdays at 1pm and Sundays at 10am Pacific Time.
I painted my 1960's yellow brick fireplace. It was dingy and stained even after being cleaned. No regrets.
Always enlightening!
Thank you!
Only good thing about open concept is it makes the house look bigger. My dog is part husky. She's smart, so she is super aware of when the best time is too attempt to steal food from my kitchen. We ended up putting a half door up to keep her out. All white is hard to keep clean...no, impossible. As a minimalist, nothing is just a....everything serves a purpose. That sounded weird.
Thanks for sharing!
I didn't know this thing about backward books. Why would you do that?
I LOVED my consults and found your advise saved me money!
Happy to help! I love working with you Mavis!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Another great video…. Sorry I missed several weeks….. as always I am binge watching…. I am setting a timer on my phone lol so I take my break on Thursday and not get there in the first hour….. you are so talented and respectful… I enjoy watching your videos…. Thanks for sharing ❤️
Yay! Thanks so much. I appreciate your support. We picked Thursdays at 1pm and Sundays at 10am Pacific Time so hopefully it works most of the time for you and everyone. 🤗🤗🤗
Hi Garrett do you interact in consultation with people in Australia?❤
Absolutely! I interact with people around the world. All the available times you see are already in your time zone unless you have a VPN turned on when booking. If so just turn it off while booking. Refresh and then go to intro.co/garrettlechic and book your virtual consultation. You will even have a page during the booking process to list questions or outline what you’d like to discuss. I know you’ve been part of our subscriber family for quite a while. I would love to do a virtual consultation with you and provide my assistance.🤗
Firm rule for painting (furniture mostly). If it’s cheap, beaten up and has no unique features in terms of woodwork, meh, go for it. I painted a £30 sideboard after filling in a few dents and cracks, looks much better in black than the original orangey pine. My dressings table, that was a couple of hundred, has beautiful little detail is in the wood, even though there are a few signs of aging, the table’s over 100 years old, it’s meant to!
For me the worst trend of all is shabby chic, because it so soo cheesy and when I see beautiful vintage or antique furniture being destroyed with paint I become very nervous, especially consudering that I like to restore them with shellac. For example I have just restored a nice art deco home bar using shellac
thank you ! you make this fun!!
My pleasure!
Keepin' it real!
So excited! Love to see a new post from you
Humble video topic request, how in the world do you hone in your furniture style/shop for furniture? Personally i know if i like someone's room but idk how a given piece of furniture is gonna work in my space. I appreciate your prev videos on scale, style, function. But i guess i need some help with form lol!
I understand, but there are so many possibilities and variables. It’s hard to make a video like that. I could probably help you much more quickly on that subject via a virtual consultation. I’d be happy to assist by seeing your space and discussing things customized to you specifically that would make you happy aesthetically and functionally in your home. Bookings can be made at intro.co/garrettlechic and the times you see available are already in your time zone as long as you don’t have your phone or computer VPN on.😁😁😁
I have a ranch style house, the kitchen and living room are in the front , the bedrooms and bathrooms are in the back. Unfortunately, the way it is set up. I have to have the kitchen and living room as an open concept otherwise it would be too crowded. However, someday I wish it wasn’t like that.
I could detect your head starting to explode on this video. You made very good points!
I waited to see if you would bring up backwards books!!!! Yes!!!! Just terrible! Lmao!
Instantly subscribing now 😂📚✨
Yay! Awesome! Welcome to the channel. It’s great to have you as a part of our very valued subscriber family! Videos are posted Thursdays at 1pm and Sundays at 10am Pacific Time. 😊😊😊
Nice! 💗 Sounds good!
Is my neighbors!!! I'm sending them your video!😜
Deal! Thanks so much. New subscriber!
What WONDERFUL energy!!!! You always brighten my day . . . and my home. Love to Garrett! xxx (PS. I did log on late today -doggie not feeling well . . .)
😔😔😔
Great video!
Creative personally drawn book.
Ooooh wee, Garrett went for the jugular today😂… respectfully. He’s just teaching but I’m glad the shoe doesn’t fit… at least today 😂 I just love him🖤🩶💙🩵🤍 Layer your colors, peeps. This video gave me the giggles, ok I’m done.
I don't care for painted bricks or painting wood furniture.
Good Morning Garrett,
What a common sense infusing vlog. So valid at every point. I never knew about this book style of facing other way, ridiculous.
Thanks for enlightening the upcoming interior students about the art of drawing the vision and not everything on computers. Technology should be used for assistance not the only way of learning something.
Thankyou for the vlog today enjoy your weekend🥰
I’m glad you enjoyed the video! I’ll be back on Sunday. Enjoy the rest of your week.
@@GarrettLeChic 🤗🥰sure see you then..xx
Open concept kills me. Every damn new build I work on is open concept - big, small, all of them. I couldn't do it. I need spacial definition. HGTV addicts have ruined a lot of beautiful homes.
Hi Garrett. You give the best suggestions. Funny I always thought the backward books were weird.
Glad you like them! Thanks so much.
Books: Styling with books bothers me. Candles and beads and vases on stacked books just shouts pretension to me. I want to put everything away. It doesn't seem to belong there on a coffee table artfully arranged. Books on a shelf in a library or laying on a table but not with decor piled on them. No.
I couldn't agree more about the paint. I am so often horrified
I know! It can often be disastrous.
Sorry I was sleeping when you posted, Garrett!💔
I hate backwards books too. I read my books. I organize by subject. I want to see the titles so I know what I want to read.
Recently found you, you're SPOT tf ON with everything, your delivery is awesome, you crack me up and I'm in love. #Subscribed Yeah I didn't even know backwards books was a thing. I don't feel like I could trust a person who would do something like that. 😂
Yay! Thank you! Welcome to the channel. It’s great to have you as a part of our very valued subscriber family. I post videos on Thursdays at 1pm and Sundays at 10am Pacific Time.
🤗🤗🤗
@@GarrettLeChic Thank you🥰🥰🥰
Go all BLUE!
I love blue! My sofa was white. I re-upholstered it in ink blue velvet. Next, I want to re-upholster my side chairs in blue. 😊
@@louisefromNY I have a blue velvet living room set and adore it! Just wish it didn’t horde my cats hair.
Garrett! As always, you are so funny! Yes, I’ll try try try to give you some personality! ❤ Thank you 😊
Aww! Thanks so much.
I would love some tips for a small balcony interior😊😊😊😊
Absolutely! Please feel free to book a virtual consultation with me at intro.co/garrettlechic and I’d love to see the space, discuss it with you and come up with a plan that makes you happy from an aesthetic and functional perspective. Please note the available appointment times you see are in your time zone already as long as your VPN is off when you are on my booking site.
MDF is fair game lol
True!😁😁😁