I think this image is a personal test to be fair, and part of a set ofcourse, and also one of the better artists in this vein. This style of heavy postwork was popularised by the Ronen/Benoit/guthrie/evermotion etc, as a practical solution, when the raw renders look so dull. Vray/corona/arnold etc. can produce some pretty dull renders so they bleach the hell out of them, add heavy dof, abberation etc. Its a style based around convenience, which removes most of the play-of-light, and because its become a standard formulaic style which is easy to copy, the resulting images are very derivative.
![Image](http://i4.minus.com/ibpsOcL4k4mA5S.png)
Vray3 image by Benoit
CG'ing existing spaces (most of these type of images are worked up from existing reference spaces) is fair enough as a learning excercise, but I dont see the need to mimic the postwork of others, or for there to be any standard CG style.
I think this look is an internet driven craze, there are lots of interent phenomenon/fashions which make me scratch my head, like fixie bikes for instance (they are a deathtrap).
IMO CG for most residential interiors isnt needed, It makes much more sense for larger more important spaces like art-galleries or swish office lobbies, something where the space&light of the architecture are the main focus.