It is no secret that my design aesthetic is not minimalist.
I enjoy being surrounded by stuff - stuff that reminds me of friends and family, stuff I find beautiful or interesting, and stuff that helps me function on a daily basis.
Admittedly, some of the functional stuff is not in the same category as stuff I find beautiful.
And some of the stuff I find beautiful is not stuff others find beautiful. I'm quite OK with that at this point in my life.
I do not have to justify why I find an object beautiful. Sometimes, I am not quite sure myself.
I bought a non-working clock for a few dollars in a thrift store, simply because I liked the look of it. It does not function, and I wish it did. But, I bought it, and will put it somewhere...maybe in my upcoming front bedroom revision.
If I buy a non-working clock for it's beauty alone, I am not a minimalist.
Still, I find myself seeking a simpler lifestyle and cleaner, more pared-down surroundings.
While I enjoy a few "modern" clean-lined items here and there for contrast, I love a traditional style best of all.
I even enjoy very fancy decorative items in the same way I enjoy the mod, simple lines; for contrast.
So as I go room by room, paring down, cleaning out, moving furniture and decorative items around...I have a plan.
I do not think the plan is apparent to anyone but me. And sometimes, even I feel as If I am feeling my way as I go.
I am perfectly fine with not knowing exactly where I will end up. I have a plan, but I am not married to it. I can change direction when a .27c mirror excites me.
I can change when a color excites me.
This is my life. This is my house. I want to feel happy, peaceful, comfortable when I pull in my driveway.
And yet...I do not want to be bound by it.
I do not want the joy I get from rearranging and changing things in this house to be more important than people and experiences with them.
I do not want to be upset when an item breaks.
I want a friendly, cozy home where a klutz and small children can gather and enjoy time together without anxiety.
So, do you think a would-be hoarder can pare down enough to live in a simple but still cozy home?
I do. I have been moving in that direction for 2 years now.
Yes, I am still buying things. And I am getting rid of things.
I am changing pretty much every room in the house. It is a big job...exhausting sometimes.
Here are a few things that I have learned about myself in the past three years:
I still enjoy very light, neutral spaces best of all.
Sometimes I like to add color to my neutral rooms.
I like combining styles for an eclectic mix.
I enjoy seasonal changes.
I prefer painted finishes to wood most of the time.
I prefer vintage to new almost always.
I prefer clean lines, though not entirely modern lines.
Color is very important to me.
Shapes are very important to me.
I am not a ruffles and bows girl.
I do not enjoy sewing.
I prefer REAL old stuff to vintage-style stuff.
I prefer natural materials.
I prefer real original art - it does not have to cost much.
I rebel against trends.
I prefer my decor to "make sense." No kitchen stuff in my bedroom.
I fear getting rid of something and regretting it.
I still like (and use) some things from my college apartment.
I am old enough to not care much if anyone else likes what I like.
I want to find the perfect place for me - somewhere between minimalist-doesn't care about stuff at all-sell everything and travel and demi-hoarder-sees potential in practically everything. I want a less is more life.
Thank you for bearing with me through this personal style design rant!
Word for the Day:
Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds!
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Possibly Linking With:
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Sunday
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Nifty Thrifty Sunday
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Sundays at Home
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Monday
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Mod Mix Monday
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Make it Pretty Monday
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Tuesday
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Vintage Inspiration Tuesday
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Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
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The
Scoop
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Wednesday
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Wow Us Wednesday
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What’s it Wednesday
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Cottage Style Party
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Drop it or Swap it
Party
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Thursday
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Under $100 Link Party
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Creative Inspirations
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Share Your Cup Thursday
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Friday
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Feathered Nest Friday
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Furniture Feature
Friday
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Frugal Friday
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Junkin’ Joe
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Saturday
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Party Junk
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Show and Tell Saturday
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5 comments:
this post is all about a gal who knows what she likes and how to get it:)
I love all the shapes and forms in these photos. I also love your thoughts. I empathize.
I could just about copy and paste this, haha! (not in the stealing your content way, in the "about sums me up" way!)I do enjoy sewing. Though I tend to hate obligatory sewing. I'd add my version of the list, "afraid of not buying something and seriously regretting it". Our Goodwill had an old picnic basket for a long, long time. I kept considering it, but in an effort to be wise, and not buy something that size without a specific spot in mind, I didn't buy it. Finally, I realized the perfect use and place for it, but of course it had sold. *sigh* Lesson learned. I even have an awesome husband who says, "Are you going to kick yourself later if you don't get it? Then get it!" If only I had listened. You find so many amazingly wonderful, beautiful things, it is difficult to simplify when one is a bit of a hoarder, hahaha!
I am so with you on all this!! This could have been written for me! Lovely post!!
I will bet the soapbox you are standing on is vintage and distressed! I must do something right with my eclectic mix of mostly old and vintage and rusty and junky = people love to come here! My brother and I were discussing our junk-filled homes this weekend and discovered we have always since we were born been surrounded by old stuff. We wondered if we could actually live in a modern structure - completely clean and sterile with all the furniture boxed in from Ikea. The answer was NO!
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