Have we lost the ability to make our homes comfortable and cosy?

I've given up explaining. It just shows how we, British, have completely lost the art of making houses look welcoming. No one even understands the concept.

It is so much more than just having a nice tidy living room . What the picture of the old house living room had, which obviously is not something you would expect to see now, When I looked at that picture, it immediately had people in it, from the period, a family enjoying Christmas. Theyw ere instantly there.

Far too many modern interiors seem to have been designed to be looked at and not lived in.

I think MOnica liked the 50s room Callistemon. Even though we know it’s staged. Or perhaps I still don’t understand her … I’ve given up trying,

Staceyann

I’m always amused by the terms used in magazines to describe trendy ‘new’ home styles - like these from House Beautiful -

Staceyann my SisIL had one of those cane chairs in the 1950s!!!

There's nothing new in fashion trends. 😁

Norah

Is this what some call cosy?

Oh Dear!

It was a joke!

As hollysteers said she didn’t mean her photo of the 40s house to be taken too seriously! 😁

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I’m always amused by the terms used in magazines to describe trendy ‘new’ home styles - like these from House Beautiful -

My DH and SIL have been slowly doing up their first home together. Despite being the daughter of of someone who loves a bit of 'flummery' (her words!) she has very definite ideas about her own decor and has hard floors, window blinds and bare light bulbs. Her sofa is leather...... but wait, there may be a floor rug .
I hate going over to babysit because it's so 'cold'. In fact I'd much rather volunteer to have DG overnight at ours even with the probable night time disturbance and early start!

Is this what some call cosy?

Oh Dear!

Fashions come and go and at the moment the trend it for clean cut, mono tone. Or maybe with blasts of bright colour. My home has a lot of beige, cream etc. It's what i like but I really think that it is now getting to look a bit dated. Not that I intend to do anything about it!

Our house is not modern by Rightmove standards.

It is a 1960s house, so we have 1960s furniture, no shutters but plain net curtain in our windows.

The carpet in our living room is the original patterned 1960s carpet. The carpet is so good after all these years (60+), I am so reluctant to replace it. Terracotta tiles in our porchway.

I don’t like grey but I do like off white for walls.

I will be replacing all the internal doors soon and they will not be white or light oak like those in Rightmove but dark walnut colour to match the existing doors and the internal porch door will be white with 1960s patterned glass to match the double door to our living room. I love old stuff.

If we were to move home, it will be a 1930s bungalow rendered white. I will style the bungalow after the single storey black and white colonial bungalow in Far East with British Colonial décor.

Thank you, Doodledog.

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Three different views of the music room. I hope it is a welcoming space.

That sounds lovely, Musicgirl, and I'm guessing from your username that it will be a perfect fit for you

We have just moved house for the first time in 26 years. The previous owners were a similar age to us and the decor reflects this. Neutral colours throughout, which means that our pictures and bits and pieces fit very well. We were in the fortunate position of being able to do some alterations before we moved in. It has a big kitchen but there was no proper space for a washing machine and tumble dryer. We also have two acoustic pianos and a digital one as well as various other musical instruments (semi-retired piano, violin and viola teacher and accompanist). There was a double garage so the main body was converted to a music room and library) with two doors leading to the part behind the garage doors. One half has been converted to a utility/laundry room and the other half is used for storage. I am thrilled with it.

paddyann54

doodledog I think everyone has a different idea of what a home looks like ...I certainly wouldn't want things strewn aross the room.there might be books or paperwork on the sideboard or things on the stairs to take up but they dont stay there .
I dont understand what Monica means because comfort to me is a bright,clean reasonably tidy space.If someone arrives here without warning,as happens often,I can open my doors and let them in without moving "things" off chairs or floors.
Thats not a cosy house in the old picture upthread ,its untidy and dated

I don't think that was M0nica's choice, paddyann!
As hollysteers said paddyann54 I didn’t mean my photo of the 40s house to be taken too seriously! 😁

Actually, I think it is more of a 1940s house than 1950s. It's someone's idea of what a 1950s sitting room looked like.

The picture of that room would have got my mother making us tidy up before tea, getting out the duster, polish and hoover and ordering a new suite, carpet, getting out the Singer sewing machine to make new curtains.

Oh - and a new fireplace and a modern radiogram 😁

If our house was in the centre of the town I would like to live in, there would be no way in the world we ever would have been able to afford it.
Eventually we hope to downsize to a smaller house or apartment there, but I don’t feel ready yet.

Monica that photo is a stage set. It’s in a museum somewhere, I don’t have the details.

paddyann54

doodledog I think everyone has a different idea of what a home looks like ...I certainly wouldn't want things strewn aross the room.there might be books or paperwork on the sideboard or things on the stairs to take up but they dont stay there .
I dont understand what Monica means because comfort to me is a bright,clean reasonably tidy space.If someone arrives here without warning,as happens often,I can open my doors and let them in without moving "things" off chairs or floors.
Thats not a cosy house in the old picture upthread ,its untidy and dated

I agree that everyone has different ideas. I don't want things strewn all over the place either - are you confusing me with someone else?

My post was about location versus the house itself, in response to someone saying the same thing.

Oops 50s house.

*paddyann54 I didn’t mean my photo of the 40s house to be taken too seriously! 😁 I just came across it whilst reading this thread. I don’t think anyone seriously wants to live like that now…

I think it's sad that, on a thread about "House and Homes" we have to have the standard "My opinion is better than yours" culture wars headline.

It is interesting to hear what makes a house a home for each individual, but it so often seems to be set out as a competition.

doodledog I think everyone has a different idea of what a home looks like ...I certainly wouldn't want things strewn aross the room.there might be books or paperwork on the sideboard or things on the stairs to take up but they dont stay there .
I dont understand what Monica means because comfort to me is a bright,clean reasonably tidy space.If someone arrives here without warning,as happens often,I can open my doors and let them in without moving "things" off chairs or floors.
Thats not a cosy house in the old picture upthread ,its untidy and dated

I quite like a browse through estate agents' websites - which is a bit strange, because I've never moved house. Not once. I still live in the house in which I was born and grew up - which has been in my family for several generations. I find I can admire houses of various styles and designs and picture myself living in them, although I can't see us ever moving from here.

A friend of mine has a lovely bungalow. It is large and very well-appointed, but it is on the outskirts of a grotty town, and there are no amenities nearby, so she has to take the car to go anywhere. Because of the lack of amenities she rarely sees the neighbours (everyone goes out in their cars) and it is a lonely place to live.

The same bungalow in the centre of a pleasanter town would cost a fortune. I love her house, but wouldn't swap it for mine, which is very conveniently located and has a lot going on around it.

I agree that location is very important. It has to be a combination of the right house and the right place. I’m lucky to have achieved that here. I see some lovely houses on RM, but the location has ruled them out for me. I love peace and quiet, no near neighbours.

Farzanah, I’m not sure I agree. I’m not keen on the village we live in, we bought this house twenty years ago to be nearer to one of our children’s schools, our intention was to stay here for four years, and then move again.
I would love to pick up this house and move it, but every time we consider moving, we decide we would have a lot of difficulty finding one we like as much as this one.