Apropos of nothing: One of the wildest degradations of meaning in the last few decades is "luxury."
"Luxury" homes have the same appointments as everyone else's, by and large due to for-profit home-building. There is zero artisan involvement in, like.
Anything.
And Minimalism! The complete victory of Minimalism, which means engineered and machine-finished materials EVERYWHERE. Glass, laminate, steel. Again: The same materials used in everyone else's homes. But LESS of it. So they CHARGE YOU MORE.
Wild.
Compare Carson Mansion, built in 1886, to a modern estate.
Even if you don't dig Victorian architecture, you have to admit there is MUCH more artisan involvement in Carson.
Whereas the La Jolla house has plaster, engineered wood, and concrete. Way cheaper. And we're conditioned to accept it.
I’ve been thinking recently about how luxury goods aren’t luxurious anymore. You know what’s cheap for car companies to do? Put hvac controls in the touchscreen! Way cheaper than using physical knobs. But somehow that’s seen as futuristic when it’s literally more difficult to use!
