Hello!
Well it has been an interesting, often lovely but also a rather hectic first half to the summer… I have flown to and from the far North of Ontario, to our home in South Western Ontario, with little slivers of visits in the beautiful but muggy city of Toronto. I feel as though I have quite literally dined, walked, shopped and blabbed my way around the province. With all that time in transit I got to thinking a lot about what it is I wanted to say in this newsletter, how to build upon the last few. Make it fun but also informative.
Summer has absolutely gotten away from me; I blinked and it was mid-July, blinked again and here we are now, in August… I have an excellent sandal tan, several new linen dresses and freckles added to my collection, and a number of “temporary” pirate tattoos that are proving to be not so “temporary”, but I can’t quite pin down where all those endless summer days have gone, I have only a rough outline made up of meals of fresh fruit & veg, fish caught from the lake and indulging in the odd prosecco or two… I could go on at length, as we all know I like to, but I assure you this newsletter’s topic is far more interesting! I call it “introducing yourself to
your home”!
If you are warming to the idea of making your home feel more personal, of trying your hand at hanging a gallery wall, starting a collection, venturing into the world of vintage or acquiring your first piece of art, I have put together a loose list of rules that can be applied to all of the above. Start off slow, find your feet, don’t buy for the sake of buying, don’t break the bank and always try and have some fun while you are at it!
Below I have broken down the steps into little nuggets of knowledge you can take with you on your adventures in the world of interior decoration.
Start off slow
Meaning take your time, figure out what you want your home to say about you and how to best express it. Spend some time gathering inspiration. Do your research. We live in the age of instant gratification but try not to concern yourself too much with putting a whole room together in a week. The joy is in the journey. I know it sounds awfully trite, but it’s true, the finding and seeking, the dreaming up and implementing, there is a whole lot of good stuff in there!
Find you feet
The more you know, the better the results. In this case the subject is you and your family. The aim her is not to make a picture perfect, model home, but one that makes you feel joyful, energized, relaxed or whatever it is you wish your home to make you feel. So figuring out what you like or really don’t like is massively helpful in this instance.
Don’t buy for the sake of buying
This one is pretty self–explanatory, but it also includes not buying into trends, investing in quality goods and materials, think and act sustainably, aim for classics and don’t buy cheap placeholders in order to fill the space.
Don’t Break the Bank
I have come pretty close myself, but not making rent for the sake of a “must have” item is never a good buy. Good design doesn’t have to cost the earth. Some of my most meaningful pieces of art and furniture I have collected over time, sourced for next to nothing in junk shops, at yard sales, at auction and often when I travel.
Try and have some fun
This one should go without saying but if not, let me reiterate… If you are not having fun, what is the point? Try not to take it all too seriously, go in search of items that bring a smile to your face, that carry an intriguing story, items, who’s craftsmanship and materiality give you new found appreciation. It is amazing how much pleasure and amusement can come from taking on a project in unfamiliar territory, so be kind to yourselves and try and enjoy the ride. And if you get really stuck, you can always call me!
I hope you have fun taking in the collages and recipes below, as there is lots to gain inspiration from, swoon over and purchase! I do my best to support and highlight local, small, vintage and
sustainable whenever I can and hope you all enjoy!
As always, thank you for being here!
