I hate faux everything! (vinyl, granite, hardwood, countertops)

[Chango]

Sorry, but I have to rant.


I have an extreme dislike for faux stuff. Why do we have to lived in a world full of vinyl siding with that stupid "wood grain" pattern that is nothing like real wood, pressboard everything and cultured stone with the the same identical 6 "stones" put in random patterns, among other ticky-tacky stuff? Is America really that fake and superficial?

Granted, there IS a price difference, but any "survey of world architecture" course at a university will tell you the things a culture builds will say something about what the people who built them were like. What are we telling future generations by surrounding ourselves with faux-ness?

End Rant

[plaidmom]

Totally agree.

Things made to look like things they are not tend to age poorly.

If you are going to use modern, man-made materials, at least embrace their intrinsic qualities. Example: formica countertops made to look like "granite". No one is fooled ! If you are doing formica, grow some design huevos and go for cherry red or apple green.

[MMichelle]

I understand you points. But consider buildings are now made of concrete - it was the "faux" answere to stone.

Those romantic tin ceilings common in the late 1800s and early 1900s were the "faux" answer to plaster. Only in modern times has it become popular to paint a "faux" tin ceiling copper or some other color. Around the turn of the century the tin ceilings were always painted white to look like the more expensive plaster.

Different times - different styles!
Cheers

[janetvj]

Faux finishes have been around forever. I would never agree that trompe l'oeil murals that were painted in the middle ages haven't aged well. Faux can be done well, or it can be tacky. (But then again, there's nothing wrong with tacky if that's the look you're going for).

[plaidmom]

Originally Posted by MMichelle

Those romantic tin ceilings common in the late 1800s and early 1900s were the "faux" answer to plaster. Only in modern times has it become popular to paint a "faux" tin ceiling copper or some other color. Around the turn of the century the tin ceilings were always painted white to look like the more expensive plaster.

What is interesting about the tin ceilings, is that modern old-house people embrace their tin-ness. They no longer "pretend" they are plaster.

It will be interesting to see if the homebuyers of tomorrow start to swoon over vinyl siding and "frick". Only time will tell!

[plaidmom]

Originally Posted by janetvj

Faux finishes have been around forever. I would never agree that trompe l'oeil murals that were painted in the middle ages haven't aged well.

To me murals, even the best trompe l'oeil, still always look like "paintings". So it's paint made to look like....paint. To me anyway (art major ).

[VegasGrace]

Originally Posted by MMichelle

I understand you points. But consider buildings are now made of concrete - it was the "faux" answere to stone.

Those romantic tin ceilings common in the late 1800s and early 1900s were the "faux" answer to plaster. Only in modern times has it become popular to paint a "faux" tin ceiling copper or some other color. Around the turn of the century the tin ceilings were always painted white to look like the more expensive plaster.

Different times - different styles!
Cheers

Well said! Anything that's not made out of trees (plantlife) or real rock (minerals/elements) is faux.

I like my refrigerator rather than a hole dug in the ground.

[JustJulia]

Originally Posted by Chango

Sorry, but I have to rant.


I have an extreme dislike for faux stuff. Why do we have to lived in a world full of vinyl siding with that stupid "wood grain" pattern that is nothing like real wood, pressboard everything and cultured stone with the the same identical 6 "stones" put in random patterns, among other ticky-tacky stuff? Is America really that fake and superficial?

Granted, there IS a price difference, but any "survey of world architecture" course at a university will tell you the things a culture builds will say something about what the people who built them were like. What are we telling future generations by surrounding ourselves with faux-ness?

End Rant

I agree that some faux stuff is tacky, but I see nothing wrong with a lot of man-made building materials. When we get the house re-sided, which we must do eventually because wood rots, we will get the man-made stuff with the 100-year warranty that can withstand major hailstorms and wind. When we put in a deck, we will use the recycled wood stuff that lasts forever and doesn't have to be re-sealed every year. Faux materials can be more durable and better for the environment. There aren't limitless amounts of hardwood, granite, and marble for the taking.

[bellalunatic]

Originally Posted by Chango

Sorry, but I have to rant.


I have an extreme dislike for faux stuff. Why do we have to lived in a world full of vinyl siding with that stupid "wood grain" pattern that is nothing like real wood, pressboard everything and cultured stone with the the same identical 6 "stones" put in random patterns, among other ticky-tacky stuff? Is America really that fake and superficial?

Granted, there IS a price difference, but any "survey of world architecture" course at a university will tell you the things a culture builds will say something about what the people who built them were like. What are we telling future generations by surrounding ourselves with faux-ness?

End Rant

I hear ya! And I will add to your rant:

If you purchased a home built in the 20th century in the USA, it is not, nor will it EVER be a Tuscan Villa...you can faux paint it and style it out the wazoo, but still it is not, and the fake Tuscan a la Disney world you have made inside your home, or worse, that one room inside, does NOT go with your 1960's powder blue vinyl sided ranch home on a cul de sac!

you're delusional!

[Chango]

Originally Posted by plaidmom

What is interesting about the tin ceilings, is that modern old-house people embrace their tin-ness. They no longer "pretend" they are plaster.

My understand was that tin was the "solution" to a cracking, falling down plaster ceiling. The real deal in ceiling decorations was usually molded plaster detailing.


Anyway, There are plenty of things made of modern material that I don't mind (like appliances and electrical outlets). But I'm talking about a material used to mimick another, normally natural and otherwise perfectly suitable material. My fridge looks like metal and plastic because it IS. It does not try to look like a natural material.

It's just that modern construction (and interior accoutrements) feel so plastic and empty to me. Everything is a cartoon of an idealized "something else". Nothing in home decor or design tries to stand on it's own merits, just mimic something else.

I went to walmart and the facade is a cartoon of an old fashioned main street
http://www.ksl.com/emedia/slc/1485/148555/14855540.jpg

Furniture stores only seem to sell pressboard furniture. Houses pretend to be tuscan villas or french chateaus but they do it so poorly; they are like comparing little kids dressed up as soldiers or ninjas in plastic costumes for halloween vs real soldiers and ninjas.

Is this stuff damaging to the soul? Because it hurts mine. I want to live in a REAL world, not a cheap Disneyland knockoff.

If the ultimate goal of home design is to make a pleasant place to live, why don't we do it?