Azaran on 9/3/2026 at 15:35
Quote Posted by taffernicus
well that was a good read , it addresses from observing a systemic coherency, separation of ornamentations and a functions angle. I have always been wondering about how the human brain(strating from eye to brain) perceives, how information is encoded, processes, how brain perform classification on that thing, and reacts to seeing these patterns / ornaments and able to create something new for ornamentations or patterns.
The impact of social media overuse(attention span?) and the inability to handle excessive visual stimulation is indeed concerning. It makes sense to minimize distractions to maintain focus. In my view, overstimulation also stems from the gadgets and computers we use, particularly the UI design of programs(well i got traditional or skeumorphic design vs flat design debate) , beyond mere ornamentation and color variations.
I think room lighting, especially with bulb temperatures above 5000 - 6500 Kelvin, also plays a role in keeping us awake and focused. Now people are just playing lighting, furniture arrangement, and shadows adjustment. Color or decoration (even the simplest one) should be someone's personal space identity as it can bring that space to life.
other possible factors include media-driven design trends and a shift in cultural expectations around public works, along with the perception of “unnecessary spending,” and how everything feels fast-paced now.
If architecture is like a blank canvas, the noticeable shift might be that spaces are left as they are, with white or gray walls, and the rest is filled with colors and variations in furniture and home decor that add to the blank canvas.
I often come across the terms “visual noise” or “clutter,” and these words perhaps truly represent that.
by the way finding 4000 kelvin bulb is quite impossible in my area , that's a sweet spot for a white-beige room. i realized lighting does matter. i put 2200K to 2700K for the rest (buyer remorse: i regret not buying a discounted philips wiz or ikea tradfri tuneable bulb)
To make my living space not so lifeless : I used to have a lot of teak furniture (very durable), a wardrobe with carvings (luckily I still have some of them), and several unique traditional decorative sculptures (these sculptures were thrown away simply because my family thought they were creepy). Some of the old chairs also had interesting color variations. For the new floor plan, i need to put back aforementioned things , a new colorful bean bag chairs (these seem to have been trendy before -- 3 decades ago ? ), medium-sized tapestries, floor rugs with flamboyant colors, 2 ornate wall art (maybe laser cutting for plywood would be useful here?), and a wooden console table. I plan to use terracotta paint, warm wood tones, pigeon blue, and cyan for some parts.
The carving mentioned earlier is what made me curious about woodworking (plus carving skills)
I use 2200k-2500k filament led's exclusively (they're pretty expensive, but that nice, warm lighting is worth it), except in my bedroom where I have a colour changing bulb
Inline Image:
https://i.postimg.cc/wM4rxs5V/68787875.jpgAzaran on 9/3/2026 at 15:55
Quote Posted by taffernicus
To make my living space not so lifeless : I used to have a lot of teak furniture (very durable), a wardrobe with carvings (luckily I still have some of them), and several unique traditional decorative sculptures (these sculptures were thrown away simply because my family thought they were creepy). Some of the old chairs also had interesting color variations. For the new floor plan, i need to put back aforementioned things , a new colorful bean bag chairs (these seem to have been trendy before -- 3 decades ago ? ), medium-sized tapestries, floor rugs with flamboyant colors, 2 ornate wall art (maybe laser cutting for plywood would be useful here?), and a wooden console table. I plan to use terracotta paint, warm wood tones, pigeon blue, and cyan for some parts.
The carving mentioned earlier is what made me curious about woodworking (plus carving skills)
Yeah I've seen comments on Gothic interiors online with statues too where many people today find them creepy, I don't get it lol. If I could make my place look like a 17th century Gothic manor I would, dark wood paneling and all.
Part of the minimalist trend too is obviously driven by modernist architecture, which had dominated exteriors, but home interiors still remained relatively traditional until a few years ago, when Millennial White\Gray took over.
Modernist principles are driven more by ideology than human nature and what people actually prefer. Otherwise you'd see much nicer new buildings being built all around.
heywood on 9/3/2026 at 20:15
Quote Posted by taffernicus
I know brutalism is quite divisive. I'm not an architect and I dont work as an interior designer, so I don't have the capacity to talk about it further, but there's one thing that bothers me:
A rather confusing (and quite boring and sterile !) phenomenon is how gray and white (if not one of them, then a combination or blend of the two) have taken over contemporary architecture. It feels like there's a “beige-ing” movement for some reason (quick resale? easy to paint and produce? or something else?), especially for houses.
I can't stand ending up with gray or white in every room or space. But on the other hand, I also need neutral colors to rest my eyes.
I used to think that full gray or white, without much variation, decoration, or style, exudes a sense of cheapness and cutting corners.
I quite like warm wood tones, royal navy blue, and for some parts, a touch of vivid bright colors. Besides walls, I also like these colors for furniture.
Also worth a read: (
https://hyperallergic.com/ornament-is-a-crime-in-progress/) https://hyperallergic.com/ornament-is-a-crime-in-progress/
While reading that link, it occurred to me that black and white photography, which was the serious photographer's choice at the time, doesn't do mid-century modern architecture any favors.
For example, the Starkey house shown about half-way down looks somewhat less bland when shown color from the same angle.
Inline Image:
https://www.redmc.net/arch/starkey1.jpgWalter Gropius' house, which leads off the article and is in my area, looks like a stark white box now from the outside, but inside it has a warmer, cozier feeling.
Inline Image:
https://www.redmc.net/arch/gropius1.jpgIt seems to me that mid-century modern architecture here in the US was inspired by the Bauhaus in exterior design and construction methods, but interior design was inspired by Scandinavian furniture, and either big blocky colors or prairie style use of natural wood, stone, and brick.
Current-day modern architecture seems to avoid looking natural. Like Azaran said, whitewashing everything is IN. For contrast, here's a mid-century open kitchen followed by a current-day open kitchen:
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https://www.redmc.net/arch/unknown1.jpgInline Image:
https://www.redmc.net/arch/modkitchen2.jpgEven when wood tones are used, the preference is for a uniform faux wood veneer over real wood.
Inline Image:
https://www.redmc.net/arch/modkitchen3.jpgAzaran on 9/3/2026 at 20:23
That mid century kitchen looks whimsical and interesting.
This on the other hand ... my eyes hurt just looking at it :eek:
Only redeeming quality is the dark brown floor, instead of that gray faux wood they love so much today
DuatDweller on 10/3/2026 at 21:43
Oh man the white on white, its like Windows is today bleak, flat, monotone, unappealing.
taffernicus on 15/3/2026 at 04:38
Quote Posted by heywood
While reading that link, it occurred to me that black and white photography, which was the serious photographer's choice at the time, doesn't do mid-century modern architecture any favors.
For example, the Starkey house shown about half-way down looks somewhat less bland when shown color from the same angle.
Inline Image:
https://www.redmc.net/arch/starkey1.jpgWalter Gropius' house, which leads off the article and is in my area, looks like a stark white box now from the outside, but inside it has a warmer, cozier feeling.
Inline Image:
https://www.redmc.net/arch/gropius1.jpgIt seems to me that mid-century modern architecture here in the US was inspired by the Bauhaus in exterior design and construction methods, but interior design was inspired by Scandinavian furniture, and either big blocky colors or prairie style use of natural wood, stone, and brick.
Current-day modern architecture seems to avoid looking natural. Like Azaran said, whitewashing everything is IN. For contrast, here's a mid-century open kitchen followed by a current-day open kitchen:
Inline Image:
https://www.redmc.net/arch/unknown1.jpgInline Image:
https://www.redmc.net/arch/modkitchen2.jpgEven when wood tones are used, the preference is for a uniform faux wood veneer over real wood.
Inline Image:
https://www.redmc.net/arch/modkitchen3.jpguniform faux wood veneer... Based on its appearance, does it look like a wooden slat wall or a light brown wall panel?
If the slate is too wide, it doesn't seem to fit very well
To me, it's not too bad to look at, but if it's dark brown, it's a bit ugly.
that colorful kitchen gives me positive, cheerful, and zestful vibe.
Azaran on 16/3/2026 at 14:45
I like those inner courtyards.
I think the move toward apartments, and more and more people renting has also driven the blandification trend.
When I was a kid, a house was a home, a place you selected carefully and lived in for several decades. Your happy place, your sanctuary.
Even if you didn't own it, rents were low, and you had more freedom with painting and decorating as you liked.
Nowadays for a good portion of the population, a house is just a place to stay and keep your stuff as long as you can afford it, and then move elsewhere according to the circumstances.
