Looking through old photos the other day, my friends and I were commenting how unstylish we looked.
Our heavy eyeliner, indie sleaze haircuts and vintage threads were cool at the time (I swear) but they’re not yet deemed worthy of reappropriation by the zoomers.
I stand by those looks even as my current outfits bear little resemblance to my old charity shop finds, ratty converse and skinny jeans.
But, had I commissioned a full home renovation back in 2004, I might still be stuck with more than just photographs of my questionable 19-year-old tastes.
Major home décor projects — the ones in which you change layouts, build in storage and pick hard finishes for floors, worktops and bathrooms — are a huge investment of both time and money.
You’d have to be pretty dedicated to staying on-trend to undertake more than a handful in a lifetime.
Which is what fascinates me about the current vogue for outlandish interiors exemplified by the work of architects such as Office S&M, who have shared their renovation tips in this issue.
What’s most surprising is how sober their advice is compared to their aesthetic.
They’re all about using what you’ve got, doing more with less and climate change-resistant layouts.
Less surprising is their ethos of designing for personal joy over future profit.
I couldn’t be more of an advocate for decorating to please yourself and welcome this new attitude wholeheartedly.
I’m just desperate to press fast-forward to see how these projects stand the test of time.
