OP- thank you all! We are thinking about making sure that floor color is darker than the current look, may still do a putty kitchen but will do it in a simple way. Probably skip the smaller tonal tiles. The exterior of the home is a warm grey/taupe brick with black accents. It's not traditional or modern- somewhere in between. Windows are black paned.

Anonymous wrote:This is OP- thanks all. I realize that there will of course be no way to completely avoid this, but I’m wondering if there are any specific things you see in houses that you might like now, but that you think will put a very specific timestamp on the house? Here are an example of a few things I like, but that I want to be careful about…
Putty colored kitchen cabinets
Matte Black hardware
Very very lightly stained wood floors
Small rectangular tonal tiles

I think all of these things will date your home

Anonymous wrote:This is OP- thanks all. I realize that there will of course be no way to completely avoid this, but I’m wondering if there are any specific things you see in houses that you might like now, but that you think will put a very specific timestamp on the house? Here are an example of a few things I like, but that I want to be careful about…
Putty colored kitchen cabinets
Matte Black hardware
Very very lightly stained wood floors
Small rectangular tonal tiles

The hardware you shouldn’t stress about for a second.

The floors I wouldn’t worry about either, personally, as long as you plan to be in the house at least a decade.

The cabinets are good in putty, just make sure the profile matches the rest of the house. Like you don’t want a colonial house with six panel doors and crown molding everywhere and then flat or flat shaker cabinets. That’s going to age poorly. But if it’s a “modern farmhouse,” well, you have to just embrace that.

The tile is a little trickier. But tile is very hard to please everyone so get what you like. Of course if it matches the house! Lol.

I’d look at decorator books from 10-50 years ago. If it’s dated and you love it, you will probably always love it. Build a house in *your* style, whatever that is.

Anonymous wrote:This is OP- thanks all. I realize that there will of course be no way to completely avoid this, but I’m wondering if there are any specific things you see in houses that you might like now, but that you think will put a very specific timestamp on the house? Here are an example of a few things I like, but that I want to be careful about…
Putty colored kitchen cabinets
Matte Black hardware
Very very lightly stained wood floors
Small rectangular tonal tiles

Well these are all very trendy. Maybe putty cabinets less so. But also, what’s the point of designing a house you don’t love?

What will the outside of the house look like - I feel like all the arts & craft style houses will start to look very dated in 10 years - especially ones built by cheaper outfits that go up quickly like DCG .... they seem like they will be torn down in 20 years

This is OP- thanks all. I realize that there will of course be no way to completely avoid this, but I’m wondering if there are any specific things you see in houses that you might like now, but that you think will put a very specific timestamp on the house? Here are an example of a few things I like, but that I want to be careful about…
Putty colored kitchen cabinets
Matte Black hardware
Very very lightly stained wood floors
Small rectangular tonal tiles

No cavernous first floor. Rooms need walls.

Anonymous wrote:This is harder than you think. Ever watch a period movie from the 70's and think, "they don't look like people from the Elizabethan era, they look like people from the 70's!"?

Do you think? I can’t think of anything like that.

Well except Dirty Dancing but obviously the dancers were supposed to look 80’s.

I can’t tell when Barry Lyndon was made, I don’t think?

Make the inside match the outside, use natural and local materials where possible.


All buildings have a style and a period. Some just work better than others. No one says they love a building because they can’t tell when its from.

This is harder than you think. Ever watch a period movie from the 70's and think, "they don't look like people from the Elizabethan era, they look like people from the 70's!"?

Simple everything is best. If given two or more options, pick the least ornate.

That said, there are always going to be things that date a house. Like, even in a classic white kitchen, the cabinet door style or hardware can date the room.

No nickel fixtures, that's a modern look.

Medium brown wood floors
Polished chrome or nickel fixtures
Simple moulding
No black and white exterior

We are looking at a new construction home. It's currently framed but if we pursue it we would be able to customize most of the interior. As much as possible, I'd like to avoid making the home too "2024" and want it to feel timeless. We tend to like a more contemporary feel but I don't want to get too wrapped up in trends. What are things you would avoid and/or ensure to make the home feel timeless?