These seem more like individual pet peeves than any specific design trend that should go away. There are a few that should be used in limited instances and some that are over used, but that does not mean that they are bad. For example, stainless steel appliances by themselves are very functional items, but pairing them with granite has become a bit cliché. Granite as a counter surface is a very functional material with its own pros and cons, and if that is what somewhat wants, great. But, there are also many other quality options from which to choose such as stone, solid surface, wood, stainless steel, concrete and others. Bright colors can be effective, but they also can be overused with too many or too much in one space. That does not mean that they should go away. Open floor plan design, for the most part, is here to stay. If that is not your thing, either build your own home (don't be surprised if you try to sell it later and it won't command as high a price as a similar home with an open floor plan layout), or find an older home from when doing an open floor plan was not readily possible with standard construction techniques and/or was socially uncommon. I have personally never been a fan of animals being mounted to a wall, although I have seen some pretty cool art that includes animal skulls. That being said, don't put it in your home if you don't like it and if you do, go ahead. This can really be said for any of the style/aesthetic comments. Go with what you like, just be consistent and complete. I get the signage issue, but I would say this is mostly a case of over doing it. Chalk board paint can be very functional as well as serve families with small kids. I treat this like the bright colors, great in limited use, but don't overdo it. Food as decor, great for photos and that is about it. Painting old furniture and then distressing it, this makes sense if the furniture would otherwise get tossed or the existing surface is in bad shape. It can also serve to lighten a space up. I definitely do not criticize this method if it repurposes and/or extends the life of a piece of furniture. A TV over the mantel, this totally depends on the layout of the room and the size of the TV. It is not appropriate for every space, but definitely does make sense for some spaces. The key is knowing how to find the best viewing location. Focus on furniture orientation, size of room and viewing distance from TV, viewing angles, window location and circulation paths to determine the appropriate location for a flat panel in a room.