Does anyone else follow Chris Loves Julia?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Those shingles are horrible.

That's kind of unfair, it's just a rendering, so the shingles look weird b/c they're photoshopped on.

Ok I take it back but I’m still skeptical about what appear to be shake shingles on that roof.

They’re to be a composite cedar shake iirc.

Also, these folks run a pretty successful design blog which, as far as I can tell, is their livelihood. It’s fair game to criticize their choices in the same way it's fair to criticize a novel or tv show. I say this as someone who bristles at the DCUM snark about shit shacks and decorating choices in Redfin listings. I think it’s unkind to speak about ordinary people’s real estate listings but criticism of design choices comes with the territory if you make your living as a design blogger/influencer.

+ 1

I actually do follow these people so I am familiar with the background. The OP's point was that the architects they consulted were correct: there is no way to make that house look less like a McMansion without changing the roofline.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Those shingles are horrible.

That's kind of unfair, it's just a rendering, so the shingles look weird b/c they're photoshopped on.

Ok I take it back but I’m still skeptical about what appear to be shake shingles on that roof.

They’re to be a composite cedar shake iirc.

Also, these folks run a pretty successful design blog which, as far as I can tell, is their livelihood. It’s fair game to criticize their choices in the same way it's fair to criticize a novel or tv show. I say this as someone who bristles at the DCUM snark about shit shacks and decorating choices in Redfin listings. I think it’s unkind to speak about ordinary people’s real estate listings but criticism of design choices comes with the territory if you make your living as a design blogger/influencer.

+ 1

I actually do follow these people so I am familiar with the background. The OP's point was that the architects they consulted were correct: there is no way to make that house look less like a McMansion without changing the roofline.

My understanding is that they are changing the roofline above the master bathroom. It's not crazy to have a budget that doesn't permit you to take off and replace the whole room, as long as your expectations are reasonable. They just want it to be better.

[Anonymous]

I was excited they hired studio McGee but I don’t like what they did ...but I really hate stone on a house like theirs. I do love the slopes arch massive black window though.

[Anonymous]

The real reason they have to redo the outside of the house is that it was built so poorly they have a major mold problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The real reason they have to redo the outside of the house is that it was built so poorly they have a major mold problem.

Typical of McMansions

[Anonymous]

I love that they call it a cottage. It's so out of touch.

I'm not a fan of their style at all. It's the blogger style that was created so they could use affiliate links for everything. They don't buy things because they work for their house, they only buy from companies that give them a kick back.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I love that they call it a cottage. It's so out of touch.

I'm not a fan of their style at all. It's the blogger style that was created so they could use affiliate links for everything. They don't buy things because they work for their house, they only buy from companies that give them a kick back.

Very true

Emily Henderson is a designer who even admits to this^ She used to incorporate a lot of vintage and flea market pieces in her work but stopped doing that because the swipe ups from Target or wherever are so much more lucrative.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love that they call it a cottage. It's so out of touch.

I'm not a fan of their style at all. It's the blogger style that was created so they could use affiliate links for everything. They don't buy things because they work for their house, they only buy from companies that give them a kick back.

Very true

Emily Henderson is a designer who even admits to this^ She used to incorporate a lot of vintage and flea market pieces in her work but stopped doing that because the swipe ups from Target or wherever are so much more lucrative.

And while that may mean less competition for some of us who are looking for quality pieces through secondhand channels, it doesn't introduce people to the great furniture companies we have close to home.

Young House Love has actually gone from having good furniture to junk. They had a Rowe sofa in their first home and now they pretty much buy crap from Wayfair and Amazon. Swipe up!

[Anonymous]

I loved Chris and Julia’s blog but lately feel like they are moving out of the demographic that made them popular. Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy they are thriving but I can’t relate to them anymore. My house is probably about 3,400 sqft if I include the basement and I’m a working professional and even then I can’t see myself buying some of the things they are pushing.

[Anonymous]

I have nothing against that house but it is pretty hilarious that she calls it a "cottage". It's pretty much the opposite of a cottage.

[Anonymous]

I can't get over how ugly it is.

If you have and make as much money as they supposedly do, why wouldn't you just build custom?!

[Anonymous]

When I read the comments I fell for a rendering that one of her readers did for the exterior of the house. It was nicer in my opinion. The stone on one side might be beautiful for an old house but here it falls flat and looks disjointed. I know what she’s going for but it isn’t working here. I love the back though. Studio McGee nailed it there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I love the interior of that house.

I agree the inside has good bones. Perhaps a few too many arches though. I think she went a bit too crazy with the arches in the piano room and the two that flanked the fireplace. A reader encouraged her to open up the one on the fireplace. I wish they hadn’t. I know it’s to late now but if she had closed off one of the entry’s to the Great dining hall, her house would flow a bit nicer.

[Anonymous]

I'm so glad to have conversation that's smart and not 100% snark about them. I know there are places that discuss influencers, but it's almost like you have to HATE everything they do to participate. There are times when I'm super impressed by what they do. There are times when I scratch my head.

Thank you for the great conversation!!!

[Anonymous]

Where is this located?