“I Like To Call Them Dust Collectors”: 9 Things This Interior Designer Avoids In Both His And His Client’s Homes
Your home is your kingdom, they say, so in theory, you can do with it anything you want. For some, that may mean plastic plants; for others, a “Live Laugh Love” poster hanging on the wall.
Unless you look at the pros who live by creating interiors you truly want to live, laugh, and love in (no pun intended). And if you’re into interior design, the name of Jeremiah Brent should ring not just a bell, but the whole orchestra.
This inspiring man is a creator of mindful design, a TV personality, owner of Shopatrio, and a TikToker. Boasting 137K followers, Brent’s TikTok channel is a well-curated source of interior and lifestyle tips. That includes videos where Brent names all the “Things I Would Never Buy As An Interior Designer” and they are beyond eye-opening.
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I would never buy everything completely brand new. Designs change so much and you can go into a store and curate a really beautiful life of vintage pieces, things that you find and force yourself to collect. It changes the way you look at the world and the way you find beauty.
Nevermind, I misread the post... I call bs on this one. I have a house full of used/antique/repurposed furniture but I definitely have a few new things as well. It's next to impossible to find everything second hand in a style that you want unless $ is no object....
One thing I would never buy for myself personally, is acrylic furniture. And I know it's super controversial, people like that acrylic furniture, but for me, it's always dirty. It scratches within two seconds. I feel like if I look at it, it scratches, and it's just like not smudge proof. So the kids and me, no thank you.
That's a picture of glass furniture though. Easier to clean, and pretty scratch resistant
Jeremiah Brent is a renowned interior designer and TV personality whose love of artistry and interiors first cultivated with furniture design. Since founding his design firm in 2011, Jeremiah has transformed countless homes, restaurants, and public spaces across coasts.
Jeremiah has been named to Architectural Digest’s AD100 list which showcases the top design talent creating today. In 2017, together with his husband Nate Berkus, Jeremiah Brent launched a popular American reality television series on TLC.
Written word art. Like "bless you." "The day is long, but the road is short." Whatever those things are. It stresses me out. I don't need to see that on a wall. It just feels super dated. So, bless home, but not on the wall.
There is a world between a beautiful calligraphy and a generic mass produced lettering of motivational carp.
I have a visceral reaction to plastic blinds, it stresses me out. It reminds me of my childhood, they break. We've all seen those windows where there's like a third of it missing, but you're like, "what am I gonna do? They can't see in the corner." For me, it's always drapes. It's always soft linens. And the truth is now with design you can buy really affordable window alternatives.
LED light bulbs. I know, save the comments. I know they last forever, but I am not interested in looking like I'm tanning underneath my bedside table lamp. It stresses me out and I like my house to feel like a vampire lives here. Everything is really soft glow.
This guy is clueless. LED light bulbs nowadays come in a wide range of color temperatures. Want a soft glow for the bedroom? Buy a 2700K lamp and dim it to your taste. Want natural sunlight in the living room? 4000K with plenty of lumens. Workbench? a ton of indirect lighting with a blend of 4000K and 6000K led strips or bars. By the way, the lamp in the photo is a fluo, not a LED.
Before settling on interior design, Jeremiah worked in the fashion industry. He believes these two worlds are intertwined. “Fashion is basically art that you wear while interior design is art that you live in – they are both a form of expression. They are fast and ever-changing but the beauty of it is that both industries have the ability to bookmark a stage in your life and also represent who you are; past, present or future,” he said for Rue Magazine.
Fake plants. I like to call them dust collectors, because I'm not really sure what other purpose they serve, you have to clean every leaf individually. And for me, you know, space has to evolve and change along with the seasons. And so bringing in branches and flowers and things around you really helps a home feel alive. And I understand the convenience around fake plants. I know some houses are dark. But still, for me it's a sacrifice I'm not willing to make.
Unpopular opinion here? My house has only fake plants inside (real ones are outside). I live in a tropical country. Real plants attract all kinds of bugs and insects inside. Not to mention the constant maintenance required. Dust collectors? During spring cleaning time, I just spray them with a water hose. Then let them dry for a few hours. Problem solved.
And I would never say "never" because the truth is I don't believe in rules and design's supposed to evolve as we evolve. So take some chances and don't be scared of your mistakes.
Now I'm confused - isn't this list entirely about things they would never do with their decor?
I would never buy anything online without reading the description first. I found the most beautiful chairs, vintage pristine condition, shipping out of Portugal. I was so excited. They came and they were made for children. So make sure you read the description.
So that's what I have been doing wrong! I wish I had thought of reading the description before buying that Boeing 747 that is now taking up space in the backyard (I thought I was buying a scale model)
“I think everybody deserves to live beautifully and that idea has become more attainable from brands developing beautiful products at a more affordable price point,” the interior designer told Rue Magazine. Jeremiah believes that how you dress and how you live are both a reflection of how you see yourself, “and I think that’s being discovered by people more and more.”
I would never cover up original flooring, beautiful original floors are impossible to come by. So when you can, you should refinish. You can update the color, but never recover.
And when it comes to your home, Jeremiah sees it as a particularly special place. “Your home is your opportunity to showcase not only where you have been in your life, but also who you are now and, most importantly, who you hope to become.”
Jeremiah shares advice about interior on his TikTok channel which boasts 137k followers and counting
@jeremiahbrent Anything you think I should add? #5things #interiordesigner #designtips ♬ original sound - Jeremiah Brent
@jeremiahbrent Never say never. #5things #5thingschallenge #interiordesign ♬ Everyday Another - Lionmilk
And this is what people thought of Jeremiah’s tips
Well BP thanks for this revolutionary and insightful article. If not for the brilliance of Jeremy, what would we plebs do with our homes? Buy something we like? Think before we act? Pff
We would certainly not read descriptions before ordering online ☝ So glad he taught us this!!! /s
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Just checked who this guy is. He is an actor and producer, who presents himself as an interior designer in reality TV show. Apparently his experience is limited to "renovating" his and his friends' houses. His (lack of) credentials, along with TikTok being the original source, explain very well why most of these "suggestions" are ridiculous and out of touch with reality.
I had my suspicions. I strongly suspect I would trust the decorative senses of my partner and myself more than any input from the OP. And your comment reminds me of an old advert parody where a distinguished-looking fellow intones, "I'm not a doctor but I play one on TV." Just like I can pretend to be a priest. Beware!
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JFC! if people want those things in their home because they like it or it fits their design, let them do it! those "you shouldn't do x"-lists or "somebody with one opinion would never do y"-articles are just stupid. let people do their sh*t and let them make their own experiences! i want more tolerance for "bad decisions".
Well BP thanks for this revolutionary and insightful article. If not for the brilliance of Jeremy, what would we plebs do with our homes? Buy something we like? Think before we act? Pff
We would certainly not read descriptions before ordering online ☝ So glad he taught us this!!! /s
Load More Replies... Just checked who this guy is. He is an actor and producer, who presents himself as an interior designer in reality TV show. Apparently his experience is limited to "renovating" his and his friends' houses. His (lack of) credentials, along with TikTok being the original source, explain very well why most of these "suggestions" are ridiculous and out of touch with reality.
I had my suspicions. I strongly suspect I would trust the decorative senses of my partner and myself more than any input from the OP. And your comment reminds me of an old advert parody where a distinguished-looking fellow intones, "I'm not a doctor but I play one on TV." Just like I can pretend to be a priest. Beware!
Load More Replies... JFC! if people want those things in their home because they like it or it fits their design, let them do it! those "you shouldn't do x"-lists or "somebody with one opinion would never do y"-articles are just stupid. let people do their sh*t and let them make their own experiences! i want more tolerance for "bad decisions".
