@@Nick_LewisI love that you are always so kind and respectful in your "roasting" videos but can be very funny, sassy and sarcastic in other videos when talking more generically.
I know! After watching Nick’s videos I think, “Hey! Maybe I can actually do this!” Instead of figuring there’s no point in trying because I know I’ll screw it up.
It's amazing how Carol's had enough style and personality that the matching couch and loveseat didn't really bother me too much, but in Sherrie's son's 'realtor staging special' it's all I can see lol
I like your reactions to actual living spaces -- they read differently than staged magazine or store arrangements, and for comments on what works or doesn't are really helpful as I look at my own spaces and rearrange things.
I like when you do this - while trends are good to know about, we really need help in our real spaces to meet the needs of our real lives. You should do more of these - even if you find the pics, showing us a better way to design the space is very helpful! Do it more often than once a year Nick!
I really like the traditional rug in the mid century living room. It looks like it is authentic to the time. People still kept their inherited antique rugs even when doing a re-decoration with the new (to mid- 20th century) modern style.
Same. Even my poor grandparents had a beautiful antique rug to go with their mismatched vintage furniture. It wasn’t called vintage back then, it was called outdated. But it looked good 🤷♀️
Yes, I had the same thought! That exact shade of green was also in my grandparents' bedroom (their house was all mid century modern) and feels very of the period. I really loved that room, honestly.
Nick, sorry if this has been suggested before, but I think it would be cool to see people's spaces after they take your advice. Roasted, before and after styles.
I love Brian's room as-is. The lamp is there for reading, curtains are needed for practical reasons, and traditional rugs absolutely were done in modernism.
I love this series it’s just that we are normal people no one can afford to buy everything perfect. You are being so helpful to pinpoint how to switch things up and be better
When you brought up the chair in Carol’s space my first thought was to switch the chair and loveseat placement! The loveseat seems to cut off the fireplace from the rest of the room, and the chair would feel much more cozy against the wall and closer to the fireplace.
Brian's green wall is absolutely gorgeous! I wouldn't have thought of using that colour but he really nailed it! I agree, he should go for it and do all of the walls.
I was actually surprised Nick didn’t suggest adding a muted yellow or tan on those other walls, since color-blocking was all the rage in MidCentury Modern (as seen in the rug suggestions he offered)...🤔
@@jenniferlynn3537I was thinking grey or greige, I get the white choice though considering the white fireplace. Idk if another color would get too busy. I think he might want to draw as little attention to the fireplace as possible, now that I'm really noticing it, it's really a massive blackhole there. I wonder if it works that makes all the difference.
I'm not a designer or anything close to it but I have to say I think Carol's cabin is super cozy, homey & great the way it is & if she did nothing with it besides finding another way to store the stuff at the bottom of the sideboard, it is still fantastic. And although I'm not a fan of Mid-century modern, I love Bob's space. I think if he also does nothing else, it still looks fantastic. Nick had gorgeous reference photos & he even went as far as putting together a mood board for each look, can you ask for more? This is probably one of my favorite Nick videos. I look forward to his videos every Saturday.
Very interesting and fun video. Thank you! Having been born and raised in the middle of the last century (ahem!) I just wanted to mention that most (all?) mid-century homes that were not designed from scratch for Architectural Digest (you know: real homes) included mixed-in items from earlier times, because furniture was well-made, not disposable, and it was normal to inherit a side-board, a china cabinet, a piano, a large rug, etc. from your parents or grandparents or even great-grandparents. If something was serviceable and not hideous (Victorian-era items tended to be HUGE, very heavy, very dark, and overwhelming in the newer, smaller homes) then you would get out the lemon oil and some polish rags, clean it up, and continue to use it mixed in with your modern purchases.
@@janicetribbiani7535 Good point & often true of other styles as well . Liberace said : " Too much of a good thing can be wonderful ! " , but then ... he never witnessed cottagecore design !! 😂
Yes! My favorite MCM spaces also have a few well loved or antique/heirloom pieces mixed in. The warmth of the wood tones, the natural blending of different eras, sturdy quality pieces with personality... And that's what I'm aiming for at my house.
Carol - re-orient your rug to align to the fire stove in the corner - that's the natural focal point. Loveseat where the chair is now facing the larger sofa against the wall at 90 to the stove. Chair where the long sofa is pulled in from wall. Round coffee table needs to go as it's the wrong shape - rectangle or oval would be fine. Nice place.
When it comes to wall color... I found that when I finally followed my heart and chose colors I was passionate about I loved coming home to them. There's nothing like coming home to colors that evoke emotions of happiness, whatever that might be for you...calming, energetic, etc.
The right colours can do so much!! Sage green is the in colour right now and I've done my bedroom in it - not because it's the go-to colour for everything but because I really like the colour anyway. And it's just so nice and relaxing and my happy place!
@@Teverellsame here! We painted our master bedroom dill weed by Benjamin Moore, a saturated-ish sage and have loved it. I have wanted a colorful relaxing bedroom for a long time and am so happy we did!
I may be roasting the roaster here… I was surprised you didn’t mention the art that was hung too high in the first 2 rooms. And that maybe some of the furniture could be pulled away from the walls to create a cozier space in some of the larger rooms. Loved that you provided alternatives. I’ll have to go back and watch your previous roasts now. I really enjoyed this as I would never do it myself without being asked to do so. Thanks for always great content.
I was thinking the same about the furniture. It seems to me that pulling the couch away from the wall and putting all the seats closer together would make the space cozier and make it easier for people to talk.
@@tamb7587 YES! Everyone’s talking about all the things wrong with the second room, but I didn’t see any of them because all I could look at was that blue thing!
Would love more of these types of vids. Learning through seeing. It is also refreshing to see people’s real homes, and not just the normal façade of unlivable “perfection”. Great work Nick!
Above anyone else I love the way you “roast“ your subscribers, Nick!💜 I have to admit I had the rug/runner in my kitchen crammed up in a corner against the under sink baseboards. So with your suggestion, I pulled that sucker out 6 inches and love it! Funny, how little things like that makes such a big difference! Thanks, Nick!
For the Montana cabin… I would skootch the loveseat away from the fireplace, so it could ‘share’ the table in the corner (at the end of the sofa). Then move the small table next to the fireplace, to be next to the ‘floating’ accent chair (anchoring it and giving it more presence). Plus giving it a surface for a drink, book, etc.
You’ve done such a great service for your subscribers. Love how you point out what they’ve done right then offered gentle suggestions on how they could improve their space. I’ve gained some great knowledge tuning in. My husband really enjoys your sense of humor too!
Love Carol's cabin. I don't like armless chairs unless they are dining chairs. They are not comfortable and people don't gravitate to them. Especially if you will be sitting there a long time.
Boob lights😂. A couple of years ago my daughter told me she was replacing her “boob” lights in her house, came with house. Yeah I looked up and with a nervous laugh realized I had actually bought and installed boob lights in our home. Yep….they are all gone. 😁😁😁 It’s ok to laugh out loud at yourself. 💖
Kitchen rug is jammed in the corner to be practical for feet comfort, of course it would look better if it was more pulled out but then your feet that stand a lot in that area would be on the bare hard floor for long periods of time 😅
I feel like Canadian roasting is better critique than some formal evaluations I’ve paid for 😂 LOVE when you do these! I think we’re painting our walls green. Thanks! More please!
I never thought of myself as a midcentury modern person, but I love Brian’s room (other than that lamp). It looked so comfy and inviting. I never would have chosen that green to go with that color scheme, but I would have been wrong 😂, because it looks beautiful. It’s really making me rethink midcentury modern.
Thanks ;) Camera angle, the Arc light is actually over the coffee table. Hate the curtains, the only thing my x left when she moved out. Nick made up my mind to change them.
YAS! Purge her from the space. Do you have a record player in the space? I saw the pictures & I immediately thought of my dad... vibing listening to his jazz records. He loved MCM too. We had these huge, wood box speakers with woven gold front covers from the late 50s he'd repaired & a reclining chair similar to yours. I always thought if money were no issue, the whole house would be styled MCM. @@1b300sd
I think the reason this mid-century design works better than most is that is isn’t just a retro recreation like so many are. The rug provides a contrast that works really well and an updated feel because it keeps the room from looking too matchy, like so many mid century rooms can look.
I have video requests for the following if you don't mind: 1.) Open shelving and mantle decor 2.) Patio decor ideas 3.) Home office decor ideas 4.) Bar decor ideas - whether it's barware for the at home bartender or how to create a unique coffee bar 5.) Coffee table decor ideas / centerpiece ideas for tables
I love the roast videos!! I also love seeing the mood boards, especially the color palettes. It can be really challenging to come up with one or two good accent colors in an existing space and it's just fun to see what you pull together.
I love these videos and would love to see them regularly! This is the perfect type of critique. The suggestions all make perfect sense, and the tone is complimentary and constructive.
Wow, I just gotta say I loved this episode so much. I feel like I got so much out of the 19min. Thank you! Can't wait to see more of these! I think the mood boards were an excellent way to have us visualize the different directions the rooms could be taken.
The Montana cabin - beautiful. I would center the dining table a bit more. And yes, Nick’s suggestion of 2 chairs opposing the loveseat would feel better and provide some definition between the living area and kitchen/dining area.
Nick, thank you so much for taking the time to make another one of these! I love all of your videos but it is so fun and so helpful to see that your advice implemented in real life. I also really appreciate the mood boards and specific recommendations.
Love the MCM room! Great job! What an amazing space that feels like it takes you right back to that era. And great job with rug size and furniture placement. Love it!
I am definitely an Art Deco and industrial person and Mid-Century is not at all my thing (or basically anything coming from the 50s, 60s and 70s) but Brian space is really great.
I love these videos. I think looking at real homes and making suggestions is really motivating versus looking at magazine spreads, which can be aspirational but unattainable.
I love these shows, and Nick does a great job. I do love that arc lamp. No one's ever hit their head on my arc lamp over the couch--although if someone stood on top of the couch, that would be a problem. These were all really good suggestions.
What a kindness for Nick to do so much work for Patrons! I thought in Carol's cabin, she might want to try to swap the small armchair and the two-seat sofa and see if that works. Also, a few more reddish accessories would look good. The builder-basic house - well, anything would help, but especially some big green plants and a more interesting rug. Speaking of rugs, an Oriental with MCM seems perfectly appropriate - my family's houses always had Persian or Chinese-style rugs with Modern (often white) furniture. In fact, if Brian put in a Modern rug, the room would feel too styled and museum-ish. But definitely the draperies need to be more tailored.
Carol, your place is gorgeous! I like pretty much all of it. I think that coffee table suits the space and preserves the size of the room really well and I like that you use the tray on the dining table for something actually useful; fresh fruit. I think pick a different, more comfortable chair and a vase of wild flowers or something on the coffee table and you're set.
In the first home, I would have the sofa face the fireplace, and put that disjointed chair on the other side of sofa so it looks out of the room, giving the room more of an open vibe while creating some more coziness vis a vis the fireplace.
I loved this video! My favorite style is MCM and really liked Bryan’s place. In addition to what Nick said, I suggest lowering the paintings, especially the one above the fireplace.
For Carole’s, I would rotate the dining table 90 deg. and swift it closer the centre of the kitchen. I feel it will help to ground the space. Also an over size pendant above it will add some drama. Just my personal opinion.
I really love these videos! In school we used case method to point out various concepts. Using examples to teach principals really helps those of us who want to learn more! Great video!
Oh please do these far more often!!!! I would LOVE to send some in to you - I live in a cottage in a village in England, built in 1780 so very different!
Man Nick! I've been watching you on my phone, and weirdly today I decided to watch on my TV ...WHAT A DIFFERENCE!!!! The production is exceptionally beautiful 😍 Thank you for your commitment to quality. I LOVE YOUR CHANNEL 💗
I could be wrong, and not sure how much it would change your comments, Nick, but I think the MCM arc lamp is actually hanging over the table, not the couch. It seems based against the side board there and coming out from the wall side, not over the couch by step or light. Probably blocks free movement around that table in that corner due to the arc, but I think your head would be safe when using the couch. :)
Love Carol’s cabin, it looks so calm & relaxing. I couldn’t help noticing her German Shepherd Dog too!!! 😍 I really enjoy watching your videos Nick. They’re always friendly, providing great advice & positive vibes. New subscriber from the UK 🥰🇬🇧
Re Carol's kitchen rug placement: as it is currently placed a person working at the sink has their entire foot on the rug. This is more stable and comfortable for working as well stress reducing on the knees, feet and legs.. Letting it "breathe" means 1/2 your foot is off it and 1/2 on when working.
I agree that in the midcentury room, all the walls should be painted green. It's a nice, soft shade that won't be overwhelming. The color sets off the wood furniture so well, being complementary to the implied red tones. The white walls, by comparison, just leave the furniture sitting asleep. I would remove the arc lamp entirely. Nick, your roasting is so wonderfully gentle, you should call it sous vide!
In the third home, the arc lamp is not over the sofa, it looks like it's at a 45 deg angle between the sofa and the sideboard. You can see that it's actually illuminating the coffee table.
A lot of people on RU-vid put a lot of effort into the stuff they say and do for viewers, and the amount of time taken to discuss and then linking ideas of furnishings that would suit the space!? It’s impressive. Idk if you have a patreon or anything but it’s the sort of thing I’d usually expect to be a reward tier (although I understand the workload for making something like this a reward is definitely high so I get not making it paid like that)
Can you do a video for renters specifically!! Maybe just talk about where to get things like peel and stick products that are actually worth it and stuff along those lines
Brian's green wall would be beautiful for the entire space. It really does stand out in a fresh and cozy way. The one thing I thought about was taking the curtains up to the ceiling. It just made the space feel a bit cut off, but it could be the treatments chosen. I love these videos, as I'm always learning so much! Thanks Nick!
I love the MCM room, and you’re so right about the lighting! It makes the space so interesting and cozy. I would totally bump my head on that arc lamp too though.😂
House #2: No to a tv above the fireplace. Put the tv where the artwork is, and move the artwork to above where the tv currently sits. The sofa should be angled, instead of jammed up against the wall it's on, so someone sitting on it can enjoy either the fireplace, or the tv from the sofa without the tv over the fireplace. Add some grand decor pieces atop the fireplace mantel. This resolves that stark blank space above where the sofa currently sits.
One thing that caught my eye in the first room was the beautiful collie. That might be a good reason to not have a rug. I have collies. 5 of them. Show dogs. I vacuum 2x a day at least, and mop each evening! No rugs here. They hold dirt and fur.
I really like Brian's cozy reading spot by the fire place. That's all I can imagine with the chair and lovely, architectural lamp. I honestly think other than swinging the arc lamp off center & painting the whole room green, the only thing I'd change is the window coverings. I'd probably opt for wooden/stained bamboo roller shades or something similar. Mini blinds just don't feel right. I love the rug and how it isn't MCM in style. It honestly makes the space feel more authentic... Like the space has evolved over time. Now, the builder grade, out of the box condo... it feels exactly like what you get from short term lease condos/corporate owned residences near me. They're meant for visiting faculty or engineers or even people who just moved to the area & want to live in the area before buying. And every unit is identical. It's obvious that the building's owner hired a firm that would typically decorate hotels and bought in bulk to save the difference. Carol's cabin... I also loved it and agree with you. I couldn't help but wonder that maybe a second larger area rug under the table would look nice & then just a small mat in front of the sink rather than a full size runner. I suspect that's why that's there. Not for decorative purposes but the functionality of saving your feet. I actually really love the washable rugs they have these days and have been seeing more people using them in their kitchens! They protect hardwood (or hide ugly tile) and provide a nice surface to stand on... just leaving about a 6in border.
@@1b300sd I think you also deserve props for not putting a tv above the fireplace. So many would… regardless of design style. I high key loathe it… so for a fella who says he doesn’t know much about designing, that was a fabulous decision.
