The other day my son and I were sitting together watching Chopped when a car commercial came on for the new 2016 version of whatever model of car it was. “They already have 2016 cars Mom?” , he asked. “It’s just now 2015!”
And so began a lively discussion on the science behind advertising along with explaining how mommy’s car might just seem old and outdated but it was actually WAY better than those brand new 2016 cars because it’s paid for. 😉
Just like those new car models seem to come at us as soon as we’ve adjusted to the last one, every time a new year rolls around it brings with it a whole new list of design trends accompanied by the list of ones that have now been deemed outdated by ‘them’. You know ‘them’, right? The ones who are that mysterious ‘they’ and you can never quite figure out who ‘they’ are but you are quite certain that ‘they’ don’t actually exist in your reality.
As soon as the clock struck twelve and we rang in 2015, social media was flooded with articles declaring what was ‘out’ and what was ‘in’. I read several of those articles but then had to stop because it was making me feel like I might as well just tear down my house and start all over. 😉
One of the items ‘they’ referenced as being horribly outdated was the kitchen desk. Say what?
First of all, the whole idea of a desk being outdated cracks me up. It’s a desk.
Secondly, we have a desk in our kitchen and I cannot imagine what I would do without it. Frankly, it is one of the most hardworking, yet probably the most underappreciated, spaces in our home.
It’s part homework station, phone charging station, laptop holder and general hub of our home.
Of course, once evening rolls around, this is how it really looks.
A truly real-life beautiful mess, right? 🙂
Now, I know that ‘they’ have to come out with those lists every year to justify ‘their’ existence as leaders in the industry. If ‘they’ don’t establish the trends then what on earth would we do?
Well, I’ll tell you what we would do. First, we would appreciate the fact that we even have a home, just as it is.
Then, we would create spaces that work for US. Not for THEM. And we would do them with OUR budgets, not THEIRS.
If you hate the idea of a desk in the kitchen, by all means, rip it out and put in a wine fridge or extra cupboards or a recliner with a built in refrigerator for that matter. Whatever floats your boat. We won’t judge!
But, as for me and my house, our kitchen desk is staying put.
It might get a fresh coat of paint soon though! 😉
P.S. Our friend Shannon from AKA Design wrote an AWESOME article about Design Trends and we highly encourage you reading it if this topic hits close to home!
PREACH it, sister!!
I love my kitchen desk, well actually, it is in the sunroom adjacent to the kitchen, but then again the sunroom was originally the breakfast room!….I do not pay much attention to the trends…I feel the kitchen desk is an integral part of the kitchen and home…and I love yours!
Love this. Trends schmends, keep and have what you love always. 🙂 I hope you shared at my Thursday hop. You can link up through Sat midnight) xo
I decided to get off the “trend wagon” a few years ago. Trends are never ending – just ways for “them” to get us to spend more money, always wanting the newest trend. I started thinking of my mom and how she lived – as a product of the depression; she made do with what she had. As a result, my brother and I now have treasured items that have been in our family all our lives – and I wouldn’t trade that for all the trends in the world. Great post here!
Mary
If I had a desk in my kitchen it would definitely stay. I put one in the breakfast area, so that is second best for me. Love your, so keep it.
If a trend strikes my fancy, I may indulge. If not, I don’t. I’m a retired designer and my training was always “function first”. I also enjoy classic décor. That means what works in your home, is attractive to you and you enjoy for whatever reason – go for it! I just love you guys!
I have missed the kitchen desk from my previous home so many times. I had cubbyholes above and nice cabinets and it was functional and super cute. Our current home is smaller (empty nesters) but newer and more custom. But, I really hope to have a kitchen desk again. Yours looks great. Love your home.
I’m truly surprised at the interest in the kitchen desk–I NEVER designed a kitchen that had one. No one wanted it! Either because they had a dedicated office or the kitchen footprint was too small to lose valuable cabinets and counters!
I never had one of my own to try out and know first-hand if I’d like it or not, but those I know who do have one treat it like a dumping ground and it always looks awful.
Interesting dialog!
Catherine
So funny I had to read this one! I have a desk in my very outdated kitchen…yet we painted the cabinets white to make it much prettier. I actually hate the desk and we never use it. I keep thinking maybe if we add a really cute industrial style chair over there it will make it much more trendy. Not quite sure what to do with it…but I say if you use it who cares if they consider it outdated. We just never use ours…I would totally appreciate more cabinet space.
Deb
I’ve decided that what’s “out” for 2015 should be lists of what’s out for 2015, lol! I personally love a desk in the kitchen…very practical for the electronics charging, homework, Bill paying, you name it. I can’t imagine a desk in the busiest room in the house ever being outdated. After having said that, we did take ours out a few years ago because it was small and I really needed more counter and storage space. I do miss it though! Jane
I hadn’t heard that, but then the trends change so fast, who can keep up. When I renovated my kitchen the designer wanted to put one in. Noooo! I thought it would just be a catch all, as Catherine said earlier. Plus, I have an office. But…if you use your desk a lot and you want to be in the hub, you should have a desk. It’s all about individual likes, needs and wants.
In a house we built quite a few years ago we added a desk just off the kitchen. It was great, but in our current house we ripped it out in order to gain a more open concept. I don’t have space to store a bunch of desk junk which is a challenge at times, but I wouldn’t give up the openness we have now to have it back.
Our kitchen in our new house (new to us) is too small for a desk, but I wish I had one so I could sit at it and clip coupons, write my grocery shopping list, go thru my recipes and organize them. I don’t like cluttering up the kitchen table with coupons or recipes
I just wish I had space for a kitchen desk!! And yes, I would probably paint it…
I don’t believe that kitchen desks are “out”. Kitchens are the hub of most homes, especially those with school age children. In our last home we had a desk in the kitchen and I loved it. I thought of it as my mini office. It was a great place to organize all of the paper coming into our house that I was responsible for. We now live in a house that will not support a kitchen desk. Believe me, I’ve thought of every way possible to make it work and this kitchen is just too small. So for now, I have a small desk that sits just off of the kitchen and it works. Love your blog and keep up the good work!