Naff things in other people's houses (Tongue in Cheek)

[pinkpapaya]

I know that it is a question of each to his own etc but what do you find naff in other people's homes? I was invited round to neighbour's today to gawp at their new gas barbecue that is the size of a Challenger tank. They were terribly proud of it and the husband was lovingly caressing it whilst the wife was squealing in anticipation of all the hot sausage her man was going to serve her! All I could think was 'Why? Why? Why?' What do you find naff in other people's homes and why?

@Zzelda

Saunas Loads of shingle instead of grass Partly plastered brick walls that just look as if they ran out of plaster Half timbered interior walls

I admit that I would have a sauna if I could find a Scandinavian hunk to thrash me with birch twigs afterwards

@didireallysaythat

Wicker hearts hanging from cupboard handles. Just why?

I don't like them either, but both kids have bought me them for Mother's Day, and it'd feel mean not to display them somewhere.

(They're hanging from a chair in my bedroom where visitors won't see them)

I absolutely love lots of family photos though!

@HeronLanyon

In the interest of balance because everyone who likes the above things (and they are popular) stays quiet - Loads of dusty old books Old wooden furniture Abstract art Clutter Gardens full of plants and messy Lots of colour Pretentious wicker/marble/cast iron things and overpriced foody things. Etc

You would HATE my house �

For the balance, the majority of dislikes here are sneering at popular (working class) taste. That which is affordable and appeals to the masses.

I wonder if sneering at working class people will ever stop (not light hearted).

BTW, I was woken this morning by the sound of what I thought was distant thunder but no. It was the sound of Jeff and his wife rolling 'the Rhino' to the middle of their paved area and there has been much toing and froing so it looks like it is going to get its inaugural run today! Yakitori BBQ value packs are go! If only they too were endangered species....

Leather sofas,
Inappropriately large televisions,
Black "gloss" kitchens,
Soda stream machines

Cream walls

Cottage gardens

Guilty as charged! We also have dusty books and a massive vinyl and CD collection.

Love a cottage garden. Beautiful.

My parents next door neighbours have these weird fake green plant ball things hanging outside their house. They’re studded with startlingly pink fake flowers which makes them look like gigantic coronaviruses. Not the best look……..

@Cattenberg

Nude photos of the householders, as wall art Pedestal mats around the toilets, to soak up mis-aimed wee Collections of sentimental plates (sorry Auntie)

Oh, God. I just had a flashback to childhood.

Our neighbour was a retired photographer, and an entire wall in their front room was filled with photographs of his wife in various stages of undress. I remember being fascinated/appalled in equal measure by a huge picture of her in stilettos and barely there lingerie bent at the waist picking up jewellery from the floor. I had no idea whether to look at them or not! I mean, they've been put up so people see them, presumably? But when the subject is standing next to you? Do you comment? Pretend you haven't noticed?!

I don't see how any garden can be "naff" if it is natural. Can nature be naff?

Plastic windows
Kitchen islands with stools - so uncomfortable!

Guilty!!
Black gloss kitchen (already installed when we bought the house)
Vertical blinds ( " " )
Silk flowers (my choice)
Wooden furniture
Dusty books
Slightly overgrown garden (ongoing project - getting there)
Large screen tv
Designated dressing room

WeatherwaxLives Stop! You are giving me ideas!

Nice to see the style police out in force this morning

Watched Location Location Location last night. Beautiful large semi in a great area that was painted entirely in grey inside and out. The windows frames were grey, the huge drive was entirely paved in grey. The carpets and kitchen were grey. If Kirsty hadn’t been wearing her usual jaunty frock I’d have thought my tv was on the blink. Depressing as fuck. Must be like living in a rain cloud. The only splash of colour was the astroturfed back garden .

Disclaimer:- my house is bright, a bit cluttered and nothing really matches so defo not to everyone’s taste either!

I can't bear matchy matchy interiors that make rooms look like something out of the Next catalogue. Canvases from family photos, especially wedding photos. Interiors that have been styled within an inch of themselves for Instagram. Rooms that are all grey; walls, carpet, sofa, curtains.

@Crispynoodle

Disclaimer: as well as the retro stuff I have: I wicker heart Very dusty books A completely overgrown garden with very real ivy that I try very hard to stop growing up the walls Rugs and cushions everywhere Hobby paraphernalia everywhere And (the shame of it) A large original abstract canvas above my bath!!! Am enjoying this thread find it lighthearted

Are you me? Do I have another personality that I don't know about?

Shabby chic is fine along as it doesn't look fake and contrived. Take one old painted chest of drawers, chuck a football at it a few times and knock a corner off voila. As for family photos I have lots, no huge ones. I use stand up individual frames in lots of different styles and shapes on a sideboard. I find a lot of them in antique shops. Never hung on the wall. They can then be regrouped so the relative visiting is at the front.
I collect antique occult artefacts so my house looks like the witchcraft museum. It freaks a lot of people out.

One of them tv cabinets purely to store DVDS in.

@Wanttocry

I hate vertical blinds as well, and we have some. They were left by the previous owners and we just haven’t got round to thinking what else could go there instead.

A friend of mine just installed an outdoor tv, so her toddler can now watch peppa pig in the garden. Not sure whether it counts as naff but I really pity the neighbours.

I really pity the poor child. How ☹️.

@Babymamamama

Twiggy shit aka dead branches in a vase. I remember it was much hated on mumsnet a fair few years ago so I always have a little smile to myself when I spot it nowadays although it’s thankfully rare now.

I've got that, it camouflages a fault in the plastering that is obvious through wallpaper. When we eventually get replastered it will go, until then it is better than what it disguises.

@Shehasadiamondinthesky

Shabby chic is fine along as it doesn't look fake and contrived. Take one old painted chest of drawers, chuck a football at it a few times and knock a corner off voila. As for family photos I have lots, no huge ones. I use stand up individual frames in lots of different styles and shapes on a sideboard. I find a lot of them in antique shops. Never hung on the wall. They can then be regrouped so the relative visiting is at the front. I collect antique occult artefacts so my house looks like the witchcraft museum. It freaks a lot of people out.

I've got the mad collection of mismatched photo frames with family photos, sideboard houses them and I swap them round. Got told of by GS this week as I have 3 kids and 6 GC there and his dad is missing. Must have another rearrange.

Tables and chairs
Fridge freezers
A shower
Sheds
Floorboards
Children

Have we had this one yet? Badly and obviously done DIY (invariably done by a man).
I remember when I was a kid, our neighbour had a massive spiral spring lovingly attached to his garden gate. You took your life in your hands every time you opened the gate, it was that strong. God knows where he got it from and why he thought it was appropriate. I didn't have the vocabulary for it then, but even as a kid I knew it was naff.