My guess is that where
@FutureCEO is coming from on all this, is that he's used to seeing the old mansions in Newport, RI, that had tons of outward details, etc. I've also seen all the mansions down there, and they are big ol' beauties--but again, those came about in the Gilded Age.
As you noted above, newer designs can also be attractive, once all the finishing touches, colors, etc. are added in, and the landscaping rounds out the complete picture.
For me, I like both the older designs (Newport) and the newer designs. What's more important is the location of where specifically designed houses are put - do they fit in with the local area, for example?
Often, "placement" is what can make or break a style.
