Interior Critique

Yesterday, I read a post over at Walnut Grey (do check it out, it's a very nice place to be) about the disappointment toward an interior despite its beautiful exterior.  And guess what?  I shared in that disappointment today.

This is The House on the Bluffs by Taylor Smyth Architects.  I came across it on Freshome.  Isn't it gorgeous?  There sat the owner's childhood home and they rebuilt this house a top the original foundation.  How romantic! It was built to let in a maximum amount of light and it sits on the shore line of Lake Ontario.  Glorious.  But then inside ... I don't know.

The interior architecture is wonderful, a direct reflection of the house's structure - but the decor scheme, the feeling, lacks for me.  I really don't like that picture above the fireplace.  It disturbs me somehow. The colours I think are right ... nice complementary to all the green outside, maybe a little less pink, more orange. And maybe not a painting or picture but something with dimension and structure?  The couch is ok.  The coffee table is good. Love the fireplace.  But still, it lacks something.  Maybe a rug?

It's hard to tell from pictures like this ... you don't know if they are a good representation of reality.  Certainly the place was styled - and maybe its original state evokes the right vibe.  I don't know.  But compared to the outside, the wow factor is decreased by 50%.

Like I said, the interior structure is great.  All those windows, nothing you put on the walls could compete with that view, and it's great that the view become part of the interior. That's awesome actually.  But look at the dining room.  How disappointing, right? Is it just me?  How about some Tom Dixon pendants over a different table with different chairs?  I'm bored.

This is nice. Thanks again mainly to the fundamentals of this home. But why aren't the stairs wood?

all images via Freshome

The bathroom on the other hand, is the bomb! I love the floors, the open shower, the tiles, all that light, while maintaining privacy.  Love it.

Maybe I'd feel differently about this had I not seen the exterior.  Actually I probably would have kept on scrolling and maybe pinned the bathroom.  And again, it's not that it's repulsive - far from.  The interior scheme just really lacks something for me.  Minus the view and the windows, it doesn't look like much fun, it doesn't give me any kind of feeling.  It's blank. Maybe it's not finished?  But I'm just judging from the pictures available.

Gosh, I feel so harsh today ;)

 

ps. I  would still hire Taylor Smyth Architects in a heartbeat, though ;) In my opinion, the house itself is breathtaking.