Miss the original comment section. There's also now no link from each article to this chat forum.
No idea how to find comments on this article if there are any.
Hi! You’ll be happy to hear that we'll soon be bringing comments back to the site (for House Tours and Before & Afters in particular), with thoughtful moderation to keep things kind and constructive. We originally moved conversations here to ensure they stayed supportive and welcoming, but we’ve heard everyone’s feedback loud and clear, so changes are coming! Stay tuned 🙂
The comments are one of my favorite parts about makeovers! I want to see how they land and what people think. You might find some of your engagement drop if you remove them. I can see how it’s easy for people to be rude unnecessarily at times but design is inherently something that comes with opinions, good or bad. I am glad you’re not deleting them for good.
I prefer unvarnished opinions. If the idea is only positive comments are allowed it defeats the purpose. As to the new format, I’ve found myself scrolling past most AT content. I didn’t even realize how much I enjoyed the comments until they were gone. The few comments I received notices for in my email are usually gone. Funny that the last couple of months they are negative comments about the comment format. Critique and criticism are a part of life. As long as it’s not direct personal attacks just leave it alone.
Yay! And I totally agree that design naturally sparks opinions. Our goal with moderation isn’t to eliminate differing viewpoints, but to make sure those opinions are shared thoughtfully and respectfully so the conversation stays welcoming and aligned with our community guidelines
We absolutely agree that critique and differing opinions are part of design. While we aren't aiming for a space that's only praise, we are aiming for one rooted in support, positivity, and respect. We've read every piece of feedback that's come in since the shift, and it's actively shaping what we’re improving now. What we're trying to prevent is a pile-on of negativity. There's a meaningful difference between thoughtful critique and commentary that tips into being unkind or personal. Disagreeing with a design choice is inevitable, but doing so in a way that's constructive and respectful is the line we're holding
I think the problem arises with submissions from professionals, or people who say they are professionals, who enthuse (brag) about design choices that readers find questionable. It's my sense that the most critical comments come in response to the use of AT submissions as essentially free advertising for designers, stagers, and short-term rental units.
Hi Daniela!! Speaking of coming changes, will there soon be a way to filter thr forum duscussions? For example, if I want to look at discussions about AT stories (someone links a specific one in their discussion perhaps) how do I find those and skip the other discussions (like the ones asking for advice about a space)? I ask because I want to start a discussion about this fantastic AT article called The 10 Minute Practice That Doubles My Productivity All Year Long, but if someone else already started a discussion about it I’d rather comment on the existing one.
Thank you for bringing comments back. Like the other users here, i din't realize how much i missed them until they were gone. As an amateur design/home decor enthusiast, i enjoyed reading comments on house tours. Even those that differed from my take.
It was also fun to occasionally see the home owner themselves respond to questions or weigh in on some of the choices. Some of these details are things that add a lot of value to the discussion but are missing in the blurb about the home tour etc. Can't wait for comments to be back.
Hi @Mulva49 — Great question! The best way to see discussions by topic is to go to the discussion category pages. Right now, the forum homepage is a catch-all for ALL the latest discussion threads, but you'll notice in the nav there's a dropdown labeled "Discussions" — this will list the individual category pages. You can also use the search bar by clicking the magnifying glass icon in the upper-right corner to search for keywords. When in doubt, I suggest just posting what you'd like to discuss if you don't see the topic already appearing in the recent discussions. Our moderators can help combine discussions or point you in the right direction if there's ever duplication 😊
Thanks for sharing your perspective. We do feature a wide range of homes and projects, including those by professionals and non-professionals alike, and the intention is always inspiration and idea sharing. Everyone who shares their space is opening themselves up in a very real way, and we want the conversation around those spaces to stay thoughtful and respectful, regardless of who submitted them ❤️
Love that you're excited about homeowner participation because that's something we've been actively thinking about! Hope to see you in the comments soon 😊
This is good to hear. I too found myself just not opening the link and was about to unsubscribe totally. I did notice that people were commenting a lot on the actual Facebook post because it was too much effort to go to the forums.
