A design critique of Becky, from The Sorry Girls, Toronto home! REMEMBER -- DESIGN CRITIQUE ONLY : - ) Link to Becky's full home tour: • my thrifted 70's mid c... STUFF wasselpa?h... www.paigewassel.com www.architecturaldigest.com/s...
You could definitely appreciate the sorry girls channel, but idk if you'd necessarily like all their content. Becky is one of the original sorry girls + Kelsey. They have a team and have added a 3rd sorry girl since starting their channel. Been watching sorry girls since they first started so this was fun to see pop up! Becky's STYLE is mid century and 70s - not her HOUSE. I feel like Rachel, the new sorry girl, is closer to your style.
The episode where Becky redoes her stairwell and puts up the wallpaper and gallery wall is a fun one. Theirs was the first of the RU-vid diy channels I found during quarantine, and while I don't like a lot of their style, it is entertaining and informative to watch them. It also opened up this whole world of RU-vid content, including your channel, so I'm not mad about it. I must say, though, that I really am not a fan of Becky's backsplash and exhaust hood. It is too cutesy and too sparse, simultaneously. But this was a fun mashup of some of my favorite RU-vidrs! Thanks!
@@moonbeeps Paige has great insight and adds helpful suggestions in her reviews, even when they are polar opposite of her taste. Her critique is for people trying to better encapsulate their style, or to consider a different perspective. People want her reviews whether it's a positive one where she LOVES the home or not.
I think she’s usually more critical because many of the people she critiques are celebrities with insane budgets and the ability to renovate or select the perfect piece in for a room, so the criticism is more about their personal taste because they have no limits to what they could buy/do to the house. Becky’s home is an evolving project she’s been working on over time and while you can see a lot of seventies styling in the house right now, there’s still some boho that is clearly not Paige’s style haha
One thing I will say, is Becky loves clutter. Every surface is decorated somehow. I personally think Becky designs other peoples spaces better than her own, but I also think Becky really loves her home and IMO that’s what matters. My home isn’t for everyone and there is a lot of stuff I do in my home design I would never do in anyones elses
As a Sorry Girls fan myself, I know Becky is heavily influenced by 70s/mid century design. Her home is probably just a basic Toronto home that she decorated to be her interpretation of mid century. You're not going to find any authentic architecture unfortunately. They are also a DIY channel by nature so it's going to feel very personal and lived in but I think that's totally fine.
Great points Rene, I also am a fan of theirs and I know the kitchen granite top was part of the house and she didn't want to renovate it as they are all about sustainable living, which is a big part of why I like them so much.
I think you would equally like and dislike the sorry girls, I follow them and really enjoy their content but I would say for me personally the design choices are about 50/50 hit or miss.
The Sorry Girls were part of the og DIY youtubers back in the day, and even though they have improved over the years, I feel they still lack an understanding of scale, balance, and how the eye travels through a space; resulting in rooms and houses that feels a bit disjointed, too trend based, and quite cluttered. For example; the backsplash and the kitchen counter are awkwardly too close in scale and colors, and are both quite busy and clash with each other, not in a good way. I agreed with your critique and I always enjoy your videos!
Perfect way to describe it! I know she didn't want to spend the money to change the counters but then she could have changed the color of the backsplash she was doing instead.
@@striketochill yes totally! Pull a color from the granit and do a simple monochrome tile in that color, or if you do a pattern/texture make it bigger scale so it doesn't fight with the granit!
I personally find the sorry girls so hit and miss - I love their individual DIYs but I find there is always something off about the way they pull a room together. Plus, in the last couple of years they have gotten increasingly trendy which just does not seem to fit with they way they also push sustainability - i.e. they will thrift something but "upcycle" it into something that no one will want in 2 years time because its already out of date. Becky's home is probably the most cohesive space they've showcased, and the most similar to your taste, so if you were lukewarm on that I wouldn't recommend their other videos.
I stopped watching when they made a number of dangerous choices over a short period of time. Just a sign of how views matter to them more than careful planning and research.
I agree with you on that sustainability thing. Besides being boring when a channel tries to tell you how to be this or that it's very hypocritical of them. They use tons of materials to throw them away afterwards just for the sake of making views, both of them NEVER used one outfit twice in the history of the channel and when it's about making their own homes it's ok to buy (or get it from article) a brand new couch
I audibly gasped when I saw you were doing this video cause I was like “oh no Paige will not like the sorry girls!” I would be interested for you to look at Kelsey’s house tour because her style is slightly more mature.
I personally would love to see you review some homes from Never Too Small! It’d be a middle ground between ideal and realistic... and it’d also be interesting to get more of your tips on decorating a small but practical space. :)
Ohh yeeessss!! I adore Never Too Small!! It makes me wish I was good enough at math to study architecture ha. They recently added this video and I struggled to find something wrong or I didn't like. The entire thing is just brilliant ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-sO4w2lwq-EY.html
Nothing fully came together in this home for me. There were pieces that I enjoy, mostly the light fixtures, but in no way would I walk into this home and think “mid century”.
I do not share Becky's style but I do think part of the reason is not entirely hitting the mark style-wise is bc the Sorry Girls channel and personalities have stayed in the "budget friendly" zone. They've also really embraced sustainable practices. So yeah, there's some 70's curtains by an Article sofa on a generic rug with a coffee-table that doesn't go style-wise but is in too good shape and is too practical to replace. That's very representative of their philosophy. It's just an entirely different type of content than celebrity home tours or famous designers walking you through their massive renovations. And it's nice to see reviews of the various types of designers.
@@Lynsey17 ironically, buying cheaper and trendier pieces isn’t more sustainable or necessarily cheaper than investing in higher end pieces, as evidenced by Becky’s chronic redecorating. I am a fan of the channel (the girls are lovely people) and I appreciate that they’ve kept with average-ish budgets since they’re average-ish people but they’re really only sustainable when their sponsor tells them to be. The only reason Becky has her old article sofa and boring table is because they haven’t sent her a new one.
I'm surprised she didn't talk about the ceiling wallpaper to the basement. Unless she changed it, it was vintage wallpaper that she found and really loved.
Girl we’ve been waaaitttinnggg for this one! I agree with all of your critiques. The lights upstairs are cool. And ultimately the house is a bit cluttered and has a lot of boho influences not very many authentic mid century influences in the decor choices. It’s truly just more boho leaning.
I think the quantity of stuff is ok especially as a Boho Eclectic style goes,but it definitely reads as Boho Eclectic with touches of MCM not MCM as main style. She has always been very Boho in her style.
Her living room is so dark, cluttered and ‘heavy’ that it feels oppressive. The heavy curtains with the oversized leather couch, large wood pieces and decor on every surface doesn’t give your eye anywhere to rest. It ends up making the space feel cramped and messy, when she clearly put in a lot of time to style it. If she simply took away some textures (less faux fur and heavy knit) and had pieces that were sized appropriately for the space, I think it would work better. The only room I liked was the upstairs closet/spare room.
I feel like you would really appreciate chriiissstttine’s channel! She doesn’t do them that frequently anymore, but she has quite a few home tours of friends/mutual friends that are nice to watch
So, the house is in Toronto and based on the size/layout/location I can almost guarantee it was built around the 1930's (as many, many Toronto houses were). Most of these homes in Toronto are pretty hit or miss re: original architectural features. It depends on how much they've been renovated and I know from watching her series Becky's kept anything she could that had any character, which unfortunately wasn't much. The kitchen was a very early 2000's red-stained cabinet mess, I don't love her version but it's a significant improvement. A couple things: 1) I know that at least one of the reasons her storage closet by the dining table is a sliding barn door is bc of space issues - not much room for a door to swing open but a nice stretch of wall to hang the hardware is at least the proper functional use of that style. 2) The first bedroom in the basement she says in the video they haven't really touched so the wallpaper/paint was there already. 3) She did a video about the wallpaper on her stairs. I'm pretty sure it's vintage wallpaper.
@@ffiggy It would be a great solution, but as you say involved to install and having had one that came off the rails, hard to repair. Really I think the barn doors here are the best solution and attractive with the black paint.
Yeah sure, but the GLASS barn door (instead of solid) is an odd choice when using it for a storage/pantry area, unless that area stays super organized and visually appealing. I think that was the point of the critique.
@@justRoRo Ah yes, glass.... I didn't pick that up and I'm a little anal about are organized inside cabinets so that wouldn't have been a deal breaker for me. But for others, sure.
That last room in the basement was done for a video in which different RU-vidr friends picked out each element independently and Becky had to make it all work together in one design. They also have a video where she installs the staircase ceiling wallpaper.
I don’t get how people don’t understand this!! the time period of mid century is literally in the name “mid” as in middle as in the the time period around the 50s.
Is a rental, a rental home especially if is the first house where you move in is the place where you make a lot of mistakes and especially your taste and style evolves. She bought a house that she’s still renovating and the vibe is totally different and of course you can tell her house is more cohesive and more mature. I find the comments quite harsh and unfair honestly.
Also super funny you mentioned motel makeover, because they are huge fans of the Sorry Girls who were invited to the opening and pictured in the last episode of the show. I’m pretty sure their project manager featured on the channel
Yeah, that color, and the Santa Fe-style faux fireplace was just painfully bad. Paige got it right. She misused the good pieces she has, and compounded problems which apparently existed. Amateurs.
@@rosezingleman5007 I mean I have to admit that I was underwhelmed by both Becky and Kelsey’s homes, but I think it’s because it does feel amateurish, and they’ve been doing this now for a long time
Im a fan of the Sorry Girls! I even met Kelsey in person once. I will say that they are amazing to start designing your house on a budget because of all of diys, thrifting and simple approach to decor. I wouldn’t do or follow every diy or design aesthetic that they show, but it’s a great first step!
I haven't watched a ton of Sorry Girls, but I've seen a few. I think they are inspiring in that they do their own renovations that require trips to home depot and stuff. That part of DIY is interesting to me. Taste and design is kinda separate, though. I take what I need from each video I watch. I feel satisfied if I get one idea for what to do with a space- it doesn't have to completely be my taste.
I think Paige would appreciate their earlier work over their current stuff. Before Covid and the making over if their new office and Kelsy's home. The original DIY content is still absolute gold.
This was hilarious to watch! You’d hate the sorry girls videos, I enjoyed them when I was young, but they’re very 2010/trendy. And their makeovers are always a bit off, really not your vibe
I haven’t watched the Sorry Girls either. I loved seeing someone’s real home that wasn’t done by a professional designer. I knew there would be pieces that weren’t perfectly matched together just like most people! Great idea Paige!
This was as kind as you could be! The whole misunderstanding 70s and mid-century really irks me (they are different design periods). It also seems like such a strong style if it’s not your true, underlining style. This is definitely a trend for her and replacing all of that furniture sounds time consuming.
Dude I have been watching them for years and I have been WAITING for you to review them. They aren't my style but I like the way they approach DIY's, it gives me ideas.
I am a huge fan of The Sorry Girls, they are so talented and inspiring. As you said so well Paige, that home is a well lived in, middle class place from a hard working lady with a limited budget. Personally, I prefer those reviews over the rich and famous who never clean or organize themselves. Thank you so much for picking a Canadian home ;)
This authentic home is refreshing to see. Like many homes, including my own, it's important to tame the clutter and let the style shine. Don't get rid of things, but instead rotate things and freshen a space.
If you want relatable home tours, I would recommend taking a look at the"apartment + home tours" playlist on chrissstttiiine's channel. She has posted some of her spaces, but she has also shown some friends spaces. I love them.
It's like your in my head and speaking my thoughts! I 100% agree with your input. Wish I could afford to have you interior design my home. You get me! 😂
I don't like how the disco ball is against the curtain like that. It should be in the middle of the room. Though that room doesn't suit a disco ball. I like the idea of a disco ball but it needs the right room and colour scheme.
I’ve been watching the sorry girls for years and some things I love, some things I don’t! But at the end of the day they’re real people doing things on a budget + being eco-friendly so they can be a really good inspiration!!
There's no wrong way to style your house, so I'm not sure I understand the goal of this video. Is your taste superior because someone decided it is, or because of some sort of education/ extended experience? Not that either of those things justify criticism of someone's home on the internet.
You should have a look at the channel 'never too small' some of the homes they feature are really unique (though some do feel quite cold/empty) and have a lot of interesting space saving ideas, but designed by actual architects that have a more elevated taste level. It's one of my faves.
I think you're gonna be disappointed when you see the DIY of the chest drawer in her bedroom. It's not a bunch of actual tiny drawers, just the look of it. 2 visual drawers = 1 actual drawer. It's an Ikea MALM if I remember correctly, with added hardware for the look only. Not functionality.
OMG I had just muttered “that dining room looks so cluttered with that glass table. You can see all the mess through the glass”, then you muttered the same thing! Great minds think alike!
Glass dining tables are so noisy - you can't put anything on them without a coaster etc. pointless IMO. And also gets really dirty-looking real fast. Tell me a place you would put a glass table?
I think the thing about vintage decor that feels cheesy is that it became popular to accessorize your home with vintage pieces. It feels inauthentic because it's vintage pieces (working or not working) that are probably just sitting around being accessories. Vintage items were typically made pretty durably, so it feels wrong to have it just sitting in your house to make it look cute. I think to have vintage items in your house they have to a) be authentic and B) actually be used. If you're going to put the money and potentially maintenance into a vintage typewriter, you should actually use it. Same with books, clothes, furniture, etc. That being said, I do really love the Sorry Girls and typically love most of the projects they do.
With the exception of books, I would have to disagree with you. Everyday vintage items like cameras, telephones, electric fans, and typewriters were at one time so beautifully crafted, I don’t think it’s fake or cheesy to use them solely as decor. They’re truly works of art. If you *can* use them, great. If not, or you don’t want to put wear and tear on them, I think it’s wonderful to have them around if you find them pleasurable to look at. If I collected books, I wouldn’t take out my oldest, most valuable editions for reading; I’d buy paperbacks so I can get pizza 🍕 and coffee ☕️ stains all over them and feel no pain. 😊
I watch the sorry girls for a long time now. Becky was really into boho back in the days but her style changed more into 70s. Seeing in her dressing room. What I like about the sorry girls is that their so likable as well as their diys are always really affordable and accessible for normal people.
I would love to see you, Paige, do a make-over. Have watched a few of your ‘critiques’ and think it would be fun and interesting to see what you would do to a space.
The Sorry Girls do a lot of DIY and thrifting. The focus recently has been on their office space. Probably my favorite room that either of them have done is Kelsey’s kitchen. She was stuck with some green elements she couldn’t change right away. I can just picture myself in that kitchen at the banquette With that oval marble bistro table. It just looks really nice kitchen mini update that cost hardly anything.
So happy you watched Becky’s house tour!! If you were to watch another video I would do their loft tour. It’s their office work space and might gives you a bit of a look into a bunch of other designs they’ve done
I think she tends to gravitate to trends. She’s into 70s, mid-century, but then also boho. She seems to remake her space for content for their channel.
Right? Whenever they are grasping for content they redo their homes. Obviously no one can afford to do high end upgrades multiple times a year so it ends up looking cheap.
I appreciate your fair assessment of Becky’s space. Yes you should watch them just for fun or just for more design to critique. It’s either hit or miss with them and that’s why they are great! They are just girls on a budget who like to diy and thrift….that’s why so many relate to them
I need Paige to start offering design consultations 😂 anytime I look for something for my home I always think would Paige Wassel think this is too trendy?
What irks me about the kitchen is that the counter tops and the stone of the backsplash are cool toned but the grout and cabinets/walls are warm toned! They clash!!
Just a note! Sometimes those foam ceiling boards like those in her basement were made with asbestos products (if they are from 1970s or before) so testing before taking them down is important!
You really put into words how I feel about glass tabels! For the longest time I kind couldn't figure out why I don't like them but it's because of the clutter underneath and behind them. I honestly think that a nice wooden tabel, maybe in a medium shade, would work perfectly fine in that dining area
I don’t know anything about these sorry girls but I agree with what you are saying in this video Paige! Idk I also just feel like everything feels messy and could be put together better.. just a personal style opinion.
Also - if you haven't checked out the My Sweet Digs series, it would be awesome to hear your take on those homes! I loved that series because it felt like I was visiting a friend's (not celebrity's) home.
Your reviews are truly the best. I’d love to hear your take on DIY Danie’s place or see more subscriber reviews to get more inspiration from “real people”.
We had a turn-of-the-century typewriter growing up. My mom threw it away. She never appreciated ‘things’ no matter how old they were. If it were in my possession now it would be on my desk whether I used it or not. I also like vintage fans and telephones. I have two vintage replica rotary phones (one that Pottery Barn used to sell) which I *do* use. 🗣📞 I grew up with rotary phones and had one at my first office job, along with a typewriter (no computer), huge metal desk, and upholstered metal swivel chair. 😁
Same here. In my sixties now. I get the nostalgia but I worked so hard in my youth that it would be like feeling warm and fuzzy about your old prison cell, lol.
Because you pointed out the glass doors on the storage closet, and the dresser with a lot of drawers, I’m wondering if you’ve ever heard of the cutter bug organization storage. It’s about how to cater to people’s natural organizing styles. You touch on practicality fairly often so I think that the clutter bug method might provide some insight on storage based design.
The sorry girls are pretty awesome, it's kinda funny, a few things you said she addressed the why in the video. I definitely think you would enjoy her style. Would love to see you review more of her styling!
All the low low tables and shelves and stuff placed on the floor and lamps mounted at the knee were so confusing to me. I had to do a double take a few times because I didn’t understand the scale of the space it makes her look 1.5 times her height
I've never really liked disco balls, personally, but I have an affection for taking objects that are usually interpreted as immature or aesthetically trite and kind of committing to them and giving them pride of place, as a kind of re-evaluation.
The house looks so filled with small stuff that I cannot actually "see" anything. it's exhausting. I would not find this home relaxing at all and I hate glass tabletops. There is not a crotch on the planet that I want to look at while I dine. The backyard looks great though!
I really love your blouse and it suits you just great. Very respectfull design critique. We can feel most of this design is not your style but you succeeded in underlining the ideas that you appreciated anyway. Thank you !
You should really keep going with their channel - there's the "loft" office videos and then Kelsey's home renovations. Would love to see your take on those!
I think the reason why typewriters and vintage cameras don't feel like decor, is because they are inherently NOT decor. They are tools. It just feels disingenuous, because it gives off the impression that the person living with this is faking being "creative" or "quirky", when in reality it's just useless stuff to them.
One of the other girls, Kelsey, just finished a complete renovation of her house, and did a tour of it pretty recently, you should check out and critique that! I like your perspective on their style, as I feel like they create and decorate to trends for the most part. Given that you talk a lot about pieces that withstand passing trends, its interesting to take a trendy space and revise it slightly to make it more workable and well-styled in the long term
The thing I love about the sorry girls is how hit and miss their designs are, it makes them feel more human to me? Like my DIYS go south half the time and so do theirs, it’s a relatable DIY channel. Like beckys poop brown bathroom, is it the right choice? No, but was she trying to do a thing and it didn’t pan out exactly the way she expected? yeah! And is she sticking by it? Yeah! And I kinda like that. Also I really agree with a lot paiges assessment here.
I thought the first shots in the kitchen was the "before", but I do love a lot of her individual pieces. I especially love the midcentury pieces. Overall not my style but it would definitely be a comfortable friend's home to spend time in.
Your critique was fair and balanced. Their whole style is an amalgamation of just stuff in the guise of design. Everything they do is some version of that sad salmon color of the bedroom feature wall or a drab green. Again, excellent critique.
I kind of feel like this is the evolution of someone who had a lot of urban outfitter pieces in their dorm room. I can just see this woman walking through a thrift store, seeing a cool piece and feeling that she has to buy and display it regardless of if it really makes her space better. It just doesn't feel very grown up. I get that she is a maximalist but one can also have a much sleeker look in the style that she likes.
