Can we talk about appropriation of Appalachian culture for a minute?
Specifically the whole “farmhouse” look as like, a thing. I saw a metal sign in Target the other day that said “Farmhouse.” I don’t think there’s anything inherently wrong with using “farmhouse” as inspiration for a home (and there’s obviously nothing wrong with it if you actually live on a farm). I actually think the look is really beautiful. But I imagine we can all agree that giving money to a big store for a mass produced generic piece meant to imitate the look is literally textbook appropriation, especially if you’re not doing anything to support the regions where the look originates and especially especially if your politics are some of those which keep those regions poor.

I also kind of laugh, thinking about the actual farmhouses I grew up in. I wonder how some of the people who just know the look from Pinterest would feel about the raccoon that made its way into our dryer one time.

My new home is definitely not on a farm here in SoCal, though I am super excited that we have a bunch of fruit trees and raised beds ready to go, but the interior so far is pretty much just a shrine to West Virginia. It’s all from independent artists or my relatives and friends. The quilt was a wedding gift from a cousin, a combination of chicken feedsacks, my dad’s old shirts, and a quilt top my great grandma pieced. It’s a bear claw pattern for WV.

I’m not trying to be all “more authentic than thou” about it, though I know it might sound that way. I’ll admit it feels kind of nice that I get to be kind of trendy when I’m really just obsessed with my origin story.

I just really can’t wrap my head around paying money to people who pereptuate the exploitation of Appalachia to look like your house is some sterile version of one in Appalachia. If I’m being honest with myself, it bothers me that people might think they can have the beautiful parts of our culture without having, or knowing anything about, the hard parts.

A friend pointed out that the trend may at least give people an appreciation for their own heirlooms and for craftsmanship, and I see her point. Things can be good in some ways and bad in others.

Decorate your home in the way that brings you joy, but please, if your look is inspired by a culture you don’t come from, do your best to learn about and support the people from that culture in whatever way you can.

What do you think? Anyone else try to ease homesickness by surrounding themselves with things from home? What are your feelings about the rise of farmhouse chic?