I love trends. They keep fashion and home decor exciting. An “on trend” piece can bring a space to the here and now or an outfit from mediocre to modern. But I definitely have a love/hate relationship with the idea of everyone having the same thing at the same time. I’ve kind of coined my love for new things as a draw to what’s just peaking it’s head out from behind the curtain. She’s not in the spotlight yet, but you know as soon as she enters stage right everyone’s going to be entranced for the rest of the act and buying her CD in the gift shop after the show.
I love the fresh feeling of a brand new trend. What I don’t like is the old, tired, been-in-every-home-around-the-block or internet trend, and this kind of creates and internal struggle within me. I want to be forward thinking, but I also don’t want to be trendy. I want to stay true to my style, but I don’t want to have what everyone else has.
Enter the Parson chairs I picked up for a whopping $12. From the get-go I had animal print in mind. Ally’s put mine to shame, but I knew mine could look great in the print because the style is the same. I bought the chairs while we were in our first house, and we didn’t really have space for them, so I just held on to them all this time my husband loves when I do that. As soon as we got this house I knew they would make great captain’s chairs in the dining room. But they could also be office chairs too. Or remove the castors and they can go about anywhere. I still had the leopard print in mind because every room can use a little animal print but as the space started to come together I got nervous about the mix. Dark walls, an oriental rug and now leopard chairs, these had all become trends…it felt a little trendy.
Kat says
I know exactly what you mean about loving trends but hating to be trendy! I'm in the same boat. I'm also in the I-love-leopard-print boat, especially that lovely Jamil Natural (total scalamandre leopard look-alike!). I used it to make a headboard, and had the same, "Oh dang, am I being too trendy?" fear. I'm actually going through it right now (I made the headboard two years ago), so this post is so timely for me! I think I'm with you – it's a gorgeous print, it's classic, and I love it. So who cares if it's trendy? It won't be trendy in a few years, but I'll still love it! Your chairs are gorgeous, and I love everything about your dining room! It's the dining room of my dreams!
themakerista@gmail.com says
Ooh, a headboard would be fabulous! Thanks, Kat!
Whitney Shortt says
A headboard would be stinking awesome! I've always loved leopard print too and try to incorporate it some small way in my wardrobe and home. I think it's moved on from being a trend to being a classic. 😉
Arielle says
I love experimenting with trends to expand my style, but I know it's gone too far if I ever feel like I look like I'm trying to hard, or not looking like myself. It's also a bit scarier to test out trends at home, since it's a bit more of an investment than clothing. That said, animal print is totally a classic, and I think your style is always so you that it never looks trendy or trying too hard.
themakerista@gmail.com says
Thanks, Arielle! You're definitely right!
Hollie Rich says
I have always loved herringbone, but once chevron got out of control, I wondered if I could ever love herringbone again. The answer is yes, but it has to truly be herringbone.
You strike me as someone who does a good job of balancing the now with the classic and the edgy. That's a win in my book.
themakerista@gmail.com says
I am the same way with chevron! I love herringbone or a variation of the chevron – flame stitch is a favorite – but I can hardly stand the generic pattern now!
Hollie Rich says
I have always loved herringbone, but once chevron got out of control, I wondered if I could ever love herringbone again. The answer is yes, but it has to truly be herringbone.
You strike me as someone who does a good job of balancing the now with the classic and the edgy. That's a win in my book.
Holly Young says
They look great in your space Gwen, good thing you held onto them this long. My husband also loves when I hoard furniture…not!
themakerista@gmail.com says
Ha! Glad I'm not the only one. 😉
FROM THE RIGHT BANK says
Thanks for the shoutout, Gwen! The chair and your room look fabulous! I feel the same way about trends. Do what you love, I say! xo
tnic says
I am the same as well, and yes, my husband just loves my hoarding! What you need is a family who are also hoarders and who own rentals, including a storage unit. It's sooo convenient! Even my brother loves furniture and we purge into the family storage unit when we can't bear to part with something, or haven't figured out what to do with it yet. Waiting for us to move to a bigger house and sitting in the hopper…my husband's grandma's old-ladyish chairs that painted and reupholstered (color?) could sell in an instant on Rachel Ashwell's Shabby. Chic site. I also have an old camel back couch there that I want to cover in smoky gray or a jewel tone. Things I love regardless of trend: a brick wall in a house/apartment, the color chartreuse (right now as an accent but in the past as a wall color) and almost any green, wood floors, rattan, natural wood dining room tables, subway tiles!. One thing I am concerned I am too trendy on (but in my defense, I painted it when I didn't know it was all over the internet): greige. I love greige colors and the softer warm grays that are popular right now. I didn't always, but it is pleasing to my eye. For now? Not sure!
Judy says
I am so very jealous of your storage options. I can’t get my car in the garage and that is not a good thing for the paint on my car. I miss basements as we don’t have them here in Southern California.
themakerista@gmail.com says
I definitely don’t know how people do it without them!
Albertina M. Cisneros says
This is my constant inner struggle. I want my home to be different than what is trending…. But I'm in love with that tiger print and chair and would do exactly the same thing you have done!! I have been thinking I need x benches in this fabric and will eventually pull the trigger. No matter how you slice these are classics!! Love them in your dining room!!! Xx
stacie hansen says
The room is gorg!!! The print on the chair is perfection. sometimes they are close but just not the right shade or paws are too big etc. What is the source? I would love some pillows. Thanks for your site.
themakerista@gmail.com says
Stacie, it's linked up in the text under $30 fabric. Hope that helps, thanks for reading!
Dominique DeLaney says
I love our leopard chairs too and don't think I will ever get tired of them! Yours look beautiful!!!
Leslie Reese says
Leopard print has been my favorite color since I was about four. I consider it a neutral. I have a definite dislike for the mass-produced look.
@marialyondudzik says
I hear ya on the trends but this leopard print has been around forever so you can’t go wrong 🙂 I too did a parsons bench in Jamil and I adore it. It looks so fresh in a light room, a dark room, or a blush room. It also goes with so many different prints and is so kid friendly. Ps I got my parsons bench for $20…love a great score!
themakerista@gmail.com says
Great find! You’re right, I could put these chairs in any room in my house and absolutely love them every time!