So do I. Unfortunately, I have champagne tastes on a beer budget, so I have to control myself.
There's nothing wrong with appreciating nice things. Maybe people like us help keep artisans, etc. in business. It's just the blind acquisition, or consmerism as an end in itself, that's wrong.
Unfortunately, even traditional societies fall prey to the need to keep up appearances, especially when it determines their status & choice of marriage partners. It would be nice if everyone could live simply & within his means. Alas, reality can be a different matter.
I know what you mean. My husband and I have had some very nice cars over the years but have also bought used cars - nothing ostentatious or really envy-worthy, though I did own one of the Ford Explorers when they first came on the scene and people stopped me all the time to ask about it. I loved it BTW - this was when gasoline was reasonable too.
We keep our cars til they die and we don't buy the really lux cars either. In fact, we do a lot of things very frugally - don't eat out much for instance. My husband says my food is better than most we get out anyway, so guess that's a double blessing.
I think the Lord just wants us to be smart with what we have and, as you said, not get caught up in trying to outdo other people or maybe just try to look like we have what they have. A lot of people have nice houses with absolutely nothing in them.