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.
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.