Home accessories from hell – part 8
6.9.2024
Translation: Eva Francis
Beauty is famously in the eye of the beholder. These items from our decorative range, however, go far beyond the question of mere taste. Welcome to part 8 of my personal interior design nightmare.
My fellow editor Natalie Hemengül and I agree that some products in the Galaxus range are appalling, not appealing. That’s why we created the series named «Home accessories from hell». This episode’s all about design no-gos for bathrooms and home offices.
1. Toothbrush mugs with a message
«Live, Laugh, Love» on your toothbrush mug? What wall stickers are for Natalie, are toothbrush mug with pseudo-inspirational quotes for me – corniness overkill. In my opinion, if your toothbrush mug says «Sweet Home», your bathroom’s not homely, but tasteless. The same goes for inscriptions such as «Tooth Brush», which tell me what belongs in the toothbrush holder. What if I change my mind?
Toothbrush tumblers
−15%
only 4 of 5 remaining on sale
CHF12.70 was CHF14.90
Bisk Dakar
6.5 x 14 x 11 cm
The Relax Bath toothbrush mug tries very hard to give your bathroom a cosy atmosphere, but fails badly. After all, it’s just an insignificant mug with some letters on it. I literally feel forced to ignore these empty words. As if it wasn’t obvious enough that I’m in my bathroom.
2. Butterflies on the bathroom floor
Many bath mats are made of functional but not particularly decorative materials. The result? Manufacturers add «cute» motifs such as butterflies or squeaky ducks to make up for the disaster. With little to no success.
Unfortunately, bath mats are quite often used as a desperate attempt to add a maritime flair to bathrooms. But instead of doing that, they look tacky and out of place. After all, what does a dolphin, butterfly or anchor have to do with a bath tub?
3. Make-up mirrors – am I at the dentist’s?
There are several things I don’t like about cosmetic mirrors that extend and swivel: their cold, metallic look, the industrial style and the reflective chrome effect. The latter creates a disturbing reflection that reminds me of the bright light at the dentist.
Source: Ridder
Ordinary mirrors are available with attractive frames, patterns, colours and in various materials. When it comes to cosmetic mirrors, however, manufacturers seem to loose any sense of creativity and aesthetics. They’re almost exclusively made of chrome, which creates a cold, sterile atmosphere and add anything but a personal touch to bathrooms.
4. Office items behind prison bars
Whether it’s furniture or home accessories, metal grids are a no-no if you want to have a cosy home. A home office often looks bad enough thanks to clunky office chairs, screens and angular desks. There's really no need for tidy helpers to put pens and the like behind bars.
Nor do I see the point behind the structure. It is neither aesthetically pleasing nor particularly practical. Is it supposed to help me find my way around the document filing system? Or is it about better ventilation? If anyone knows more about this, I’d be grateful for clarification. All that catches my eye is the metal, which creates a cold atmosphere and empty spaces that make everything seem even more restless.
5. Fluffy faux pas
Lounge chairs that find their way into the office are often disappointing: they offer neither the comfort of a real armchair nor the functionality of an office chair. And then there are the visuals. While velvet can look quite classy in some contexts, these chairs give your office the charm of a badly aged theatre. The colours, often in shades such as royal blue or pink, combined with black plastic castors and silver chrome feet often appear overloaded and unprofessional.
Fur office chairs take it to the next level. The fur magically attracts dust and dirt and is almost impossible to clean. Instead of ending up in an interior dream, you’re guaranteed to turn your office into a decorating disaster. That’s why I prefer to stay away from it.
Here are all the previously published articles from the series:
Header image: Vinsetto
Pia Seidel
Senior Editor
Pia.Seidel@digitecgalaxus.chLike a cheerleader, I love celebrating good design and bringing you closer to everything furniture- and interior design- related. I regularly curate simple yet sophisticated interior ideas, report on trends and interview creative minds about their work.
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