- A woman showed off how she had redesigned her boyfriend's apartment in a series of TikToks.
- But a lot of people weren't happy with her choices, describing her style as "sad beige."
A woman was met with unexpected criticism when she uploaded a series of TikToks showing off how she had redecorated her boyfriend's apartment.
Emma Ganzarain, from Oslo, Norway, posted several videos throughout October and November showing her renovations along with before and after photos.
The living room before the redesign had a burgundy and navy palette, featuring rugs and furniture in browns, maroons, and greys. It also had warm orange light fixtures, and what looked like a wooden floor.
In the "after" photos, all the furniture had been replaced by cream and beige versions, with new synthetic-looking floors, and a colder, white light.
The kitchen renovation showed a similar story. The black countertops and yellow-green lighting alongside some original furniture pieces, a stylish circular sink, and art had been replaced by millennial "elephant's breath" colored cabinets and a new, more traditional-shaped sink.
@emmaganzarain Svarer @Lele Do you honestly prefer the before? I loooove the after will add more colors but the base is like a fresh canvas #renovation #inspo #interior #cleangirlaesthetic #pinterest #transformation #scandistyle #oslo #herringbone
♬ miro - berlioz
One of Ganzarain's videos amassed more than 5 million views, and generated some heated responses.
Some accused Ganzarain of "stripping all the character" out of the place, saying the once warm and inviting space now seemed cold, sterile and unwelcoming.
Others described the style as "sad millennial grey" and "sad beige," saying they thought Ganzarain had put the before and after photos "in the wrong order."
"Honestly girl you took all the home and life out of that apartment," one person wrote. Another said the lighting choices had "ruined the ambience."
A TikToker, named Kash, posted her own critique of Ganzarain's style, saying she had "butchered" the apartment.
"This man had style, look how all the colors balance each other out," she said of how it had originally looked.
Kash also complimented the trinkets and decorations in the living room, saying it "gave 90s cosy vibe."
The after photos, Kash said, looked like a "doctor's office."
"This obsession with white or beige or neutral colors is not a style," she said. "A lot of y'all don't have style, y'all just have IKEA money."
@its.kashhhh #greenscreen He has styleeeee #fyp #beforeandafter #interior #minimalisthome #miamivice #90saesthetic
♬ original sound - @KASH
Ganzarain, however, showed how unbothered she was by other people's opinions in her comments.
In response to one person who said they loved the lamp in the living room, she simply said: "Hated it."
Another comment asked why she had made the rooms so "cold and sad," and she responded that she might "need some color."
Someone recommended Ganzarain bring in some more color, to which she said: "Literally have a green wall."
"Inspired by the soulless house of Kim K," one person wrote. Ganzarain responded: "True."
In one comment, Ganzarain also denied the accusations she was taking over with her designs, saying the couple made all their decisions together.
Ganzarain continued to post videos of her renovations, not caring what critics thought. She also put out a call for recommendations in a recent TikTok, asking for ways to make the place "more homey and warm."
"Change literally everything back," one person replied.