A Soulless Aesthetic Is Erasing Our Local Identity
In recent years, we have seen charming local establishments renovated for the worse in Northeast Ohio, and I can no longer stand by and watch from afar without chiming in. Beautiful, charming local businesses stripped of their character by what I like to call the "soulless aesthetic.” Countless shops have fallen to this epidemic. Malley’s, Mitchell’s, Melt, Peppers. All stripped of their charm, stripped of their identity, trying to mold into a modern aesthetic that no one is looking for.
As an interior designer, I realize that this is more than just a designer’s issue. It is society’s issue. I truly think it stems from the constant race to be relevant rather than real. I know it is hard as an interior designer to advocate for your designs and fight for what you want through budget cuts and construction costs. Trust me, I have been there. I know it is hard for ownership and developers in this time of economic uncertainty. Especially for small business owners, because people are just trying to get by. However, as designers, we need to stick up for our character and our culture. We need to make sure we are not giving up the parts of us that make us unique.
Some might say we need to chill, who cares? Who has the time to worry about silly things like this? Interior design isn't silly. It is what you are surrounded by 24/7, all day, every day. It is your home, it is your workplace, it is your local restaurant, it is your business. It is everywhere. And it has an effect on your mental health whether you think it does or not. No one wants to live out their life in soulless, LED bright-white-light rooms.
Please, for the love of God, if you are looking to renovate your space, PLEASE do not strip the character from it. Take a step back, ask yourself does it truly need a complete renovation? Can we update some of the finishes or refresh and enhance the space while keeping some of the original character? Take design cues from your history, the surrounding architecture, your business, your story, your personality, your customers. Don't sacrifice your uniqueness for conformity. There is so much to take design inspiration from.
Let me be clear, I love a contemporary modern aesthetic. This is very different from the “soulless aesthetic.” When modern design is done with true intention, it can be beautiful and feel right. But for Christ’s sake, a historic landmark ice cream parlor established in the ’30s is not one of those places.
