Hey, have you heard of this show, Fixer Upper? It's about an adorable couple in Waco, Texas (woo hoo, my home state!) who take the "ugliest house on the prettiest street" to fix up?

I'm kidding, of course. We ALL know, and likely, love the show. It has single-handedly put #shiplap into our vernacular.

Shiplap has certainly been around for ages, but with the popularity of Fixer Upper, along with an overall rustic-chic design style, shiplap is well...EVERYWHERE.

I have to be honest. I love a good, authentic finish, but when something gains so much popularity that it seems ubiquitous, I start to give it the 'ol side-eye. I'm careful about recommending something very trendy to a client, as I hope to develop timeless design for myself and my clients. But what if an uber-popular element also happens to be something you love and it's appropriate for the space? How do you use a trendy design element in a way that's still very personal?

First thing's first - the architecture needs to make it legitimate. That's not to say you can only use shiplap in a farmhouse-style home -au contraire, mon frere! In a classic or modern farmhouse style, you might adhere to a more traditional look of white planks with some rough-hewn beams.

But someone with a contemporary home can also dabble with "the lap" in a less predictable application like this streamlined version with a charcoal stain.

I personally love the unexpectedness of using shiplap in a dark color in a bathroom or powder room. It seems refined, but not stuffy.

The bottom line to consider is: if you love it, it will work. Just be sure to take major cues from the style of your home to help you develop your own take on a trend.