home decor I don't think you should buy & why

Hi hi! Missed you guys ✨

This week I was feeling a bit judgmental so I'm running through home decor that I really really *really* don't like. I'm specifically talking about mass produced products that I frequently see people buy at big box stores. The reason I don't like these things basically comes down to the fact that they just feel super inauthentic, unoriginal, or generally lacking any legitimate personality or character. I really feel like these pieces just ruin the vibe of any interior they're in.

What do we say? Do we agree? Let me know your thoughts - & sorry in advance if you own any of these thing lol

Love u see u next week !!

xx nd

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design consultations:

pinterest: noahdanielstudio

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0:00 intro
0:34 general thoughts
3:30 "imperfect" ceramics
5:18 classical busts
6:57 word art
10:07 faux antique rugs
12:24 fin

[truthisnthate]

I’m one of those “cool ceramic artists” you referenced and I am endlessly dismayed by the plethora of mass produced “hand made” fakes with their reactive glazes, wavy rims and wabi sabi imperfections. So I just want to thank you for expressing your appreciation for authentically crafted ceramics and the important role they can play in the home.

[helena-emdo]

hey Noah! Historian here. love your videos and i agree that those fake busts are so tacky. Just a note on their origin: greek statues were colored BUT during the 19th century, white plaster busts of greek statues were widely popular, for example used as models for art schools and in line with the general obsession with greece during the neoclassical / greek revival period (this may well have been before we rediscovered that greek statues were in fact painted). You can find the 19th century plaster busts on places like first dibs for crazy prices like 2k$ upwards lol. So white plaster busts are kind of a historical artifact in and of themselves and definitely a collector's item! that being said, the fake ones from cb2 still look cheap af, no matter what they're trying to imitate, lol.

[jillianl]

love the video! as an academic (phd student in art history) I find the mass-produced antiquities/faux-distressed rug thing so fascinating. in the 18th century there was a huge "cult of ruins, " meaning an obsession with ancient things "artfully" destroyed by nature and it became a fashion (esp. in england) to have newly manufactured items made to appear old and worn. in 1903, Alois Riegl published an article about monuments, where he theorized that "age value" (meaning the pleasure we get from old things, especially when that age is evident on its surface) is always trumped by "newness value" in the eyes of the masses, since only an educated few appreciate an object's historic relevance. Today, more people are educated in history (or are at least aware that history should be valued), but newness is also still highly valued, which is why we get these strange clashes of mass-produced new objects that gesture towards the past

[thefinalreader]

Noah, I love your videos. They really help me understand how to improve my space and nail down what was bothering me about it.
However, I'm on the fence about the ceramics and rugs point. As a 20 year old living alone thats part of a volunteering program (gap year) and has NO money, I really love eating out of my affordable imperfect looking ceramics. It just adds that little bit of joy in my day.
Same things for rugs. I love looking at my IKEA rug that has a 'vintage' pattern on it (not distressed looking, that is a bit weird to me), it cosys up my space and honestly really adds to the design in a space where I'm not allowed to change much.

If I ever have the money, of course I'd love to buy from local artists. But as long as I don't, I don't see a reason to sacrifice my joy for an ideology ( even if i don't disagree with the ideology itself ). Definitely as long as it looks good and I'm aware of what it is.

Edit: typo

[alexanderrizo_]

Typography art that says “Live, love, laugh” are the one's that get me the most.

[JonasSalvador]

Love your videos. Opposite to his one I’d also love to see some items you actually do like and consider good things to buy from the big box stores like IKEA.

[lillianbarker]

Honesty is the best policy. There is so much real art available. Enjoy it.

[auuddiiiii]

Of all the design content I consume on this platform, your channel is by far my favorite. Thanks, Noah! 🙂

[journie_]

it’s interesting to think about how a lot of vintage things we like today were once mass produced in their day. i wonder if 30 years from now things like rae dunn mugs will become sought after vintage pieces 😂

[jonnil]

I agree with all your points, but im also kinda guilty of some 😃. Getting actually hand made ceramics gets really expensive and im to scared to eat food in those ones I do have, gotta fill up my cupboard with some cheaper bowls.

[charles]

Love hearing your thoughts, and especially the reasons why. I'm really vibing with the distaste for inauthentic decor. I remember finding plastic succulents for sale that were sloppily glued into a wood "pot" with rocks also glued around it. I about flipped over the display. Fake plants are bad enough, but fake succulents? Come on, they're like the easiest thing to keep alive.🙄

Anyways, can't wait for part 2!

PS: headed out to an antique store on my lunch break to buy this cute, ceramic pitcher I saw yesterday. I couldn't stop thinking about it, and watching this def encouraged me to invest in it.

[fromstardust.]

I think it's ok to like the look of a Roman or Greek bust in your space and it's not tacky if it's using authentic or natural materials like stone or even concrete (I'm biased because i have a concrete David bust that's also a planter). It's like having a poster of a Monet painting, while that's clearly not the real thing it doesn't scream cheap replica or fake, it just shows me that person really admires the art of the old masters and it brings them joy to be able to look at it on their walls everyday.
I also think it's totally legit to prefer the colorless marble bust aesthetic even while knowing that historically they were brightly colored. I personally would not like them as much if they were ever "restored" to their color versions. I think the clean white marble emphasizes the amazing sculptural skills so much better, the missing arms or noses adds to the beauty--it's really the same as why some people prefer the old furniture to brand new furniture, they like the patina and story and aesthetic over the new.

[bertol]

I really like bringing ceramics and stuff from trips - we bought some beautiful little bowls in Taormina, some little plates in Naples, and beautiful vintage plates in a secondhand in Stockholm. I really like those pieces as we use them almost everyday. Also fun activity to do is make your own! I lately gifted my fiance ceramics course and it was awesome.

[bellabellabelladonna]

I have a metal bust of Beethoven (but not a classical style one) and I LOVE it. No idea if it was mass produced, but it was my dad’s and it makes me so happy seeing it.

Also love that all my ceramic that looks handmade…genuinely is. Bought from the artist herself who lives five minutes from my home in the country. And my art is mostly made by my incredible artist aunt or prints by Maurice Sendak that I inherited from my dad too.

Because everything else in my house is absolutely on your list of “no no’s”, ha, but in my defence I built the house a year ago and didn’t get much choice in most of the fixtures. Over time I will update the floors to be genuine hardwood etc. just doing it but by bit.

[irenelopezmartin]

I get the rug thing because it is obvious that they are mass produced, but if you have to check the bottom of a plate or vase to check if it's from zara home or if it is hand-made because you literally can't tell the difference and you've been sooo close to buy it... then do. No one is gonna know, and you loved that piece just before knowing it was not "authenticly hand-made"!!! I think the focus should not be "authenticity" but 1. is someone trying to scam you? 2. are you paying way too much for a mass produced good? 3. do you want to support your local artists or fucking Zara? 4. are the people producing that good fairly compensated, are their salaries and work conditions good? 5. am I creating demand for products that are wasteful and whose production and transportation is contaminating? 6. can I have something similar in a more ethical way? Etc. And I'm saying this because hand-made ceramics are usually quite pricey (which is a good thing! quality materials are expensive and people need to be fairly compensated for their work!) and not affordable for the majority of the people, and we shouldn't have to choose between true authentic pricey hand-made items or clearly mass produced items. If they are bought in an ethical way (charity shops, vintage...), then who cares!

[eleonoredespomeys-anselme]

We noticed you were gone for a week! Happy to see you back, looking forward to more Friday videos ❤

[justaghorl]

first thing i read was the caption saying "This week I was feeling a bit judgmental" and i hit like. immediately. because yassss

[pollykent]

Absolutely agree about the rugs. We have a number of unique handmade rugs in our house and they ARE relatively affordable. I would encourage you to make a video about how to decide WHICH rug. I have learned by trial and error. Avoid fringe, for starters, because it gets caught in the vacuum. I saw on some other channel that in a small space use a rug that is similar in tone to the wood floor. I used that wisdom to help figure out which patterned handmade rug to buy for a small hallway at our back door and someone said to me recently "it looks like it belongs there." Really, for me, there could be no greater compliment.

[bigbade]

I noticed you didn’t post last week since I’ve really been enjoying your regular posts. Your videos have really got me thinking more critically about interior design. Even though sometimes I feel personally attacked by your opinions, you always have good reasons behind them. So thank you!

[HeyMontre]

Oh, I DEFINITELY was looking for your Friday post, but we all get busy so no worries! Love your content sm.