Interior design vs. "stuff"

You may not remember this post I did on my secret desire for a clothesline.  I still don't have one, but it's on my agenda.  Here's another somewhat embarrassing secret of mine--I don't like Stuff. It can be difficult to be in the field of interior design and not like Stuff.  There's so darn much of it!  So many cute, interesting, special, antique, modernist, fluffy, meaningful, artistic, useful things in the world.  Stuff!

New York Times Style Magazine, 4/3/11

Above is the photo that might have started this little rant of mine. Everyone gets to have their own Stuff and opinions, but this is my blog and, when my beloved New York Times proclaimed that this is Style, my head just popped right off and rolled to the door.

Again, NY Times Stye Magazine

Really?

While admitting that, as a human being in the U.S.A., I enjoy the occasonal foray into Home Goods to pick up and  admire the shiny new objects, even taking some of them home with me.  It's good to have a new lamp, an updated rug, some fresh, soft sheets and pillows.  I'm not saying don't furnish your home with lovely things.  It's what I do for a living!  A beautifully made table makes my heart beat faster, a comfy leather club chair is a BFF at the end of the day.   But I think we go overboard.  Look in your closets, crawl spaces, basements and garages. We're drowning in Stuff and it's making it hard to breathe (or is that the yellow slime outside?).

As an interior designer, my goal is to help you furnish and decorate your home in a way that makes you smile when you walk through your own door.  I want you to have things that are easy to maintain, a place to put down your keys and the mail, lighting that's used thoughtfully, colors chosen to calm and inspire you, furnishings selected to serve you well--that's the kind of "stuff" that I think really is important.  But not a lot of it.  As Margaret Roach says in her new book, bask "in the quality of just enough."

Ciao,
Anne

"and I shall have some peace there" - a quick review

Just wanted to tell you all how much I'm enjoying reading this book.  I've been folloring Margaret Roach's blog for about a year.  It's fun to read about her gardens and her life.  Her photos are gorgeous and her cat is a hoot. 

But the book...oh my.  The writing is stunning.  She's going to win every prize out there.  It's thoughtful, intelligent, interesting, colorful and so descriptive that when I'm reading, I'm right there with her.  The story, in a nutshell, is that Margaret was a woman with a great job (we're talking bigwig) in NYC and a tiny, old weekend home where she gardens.  She leaves the big job behind and is now living full time in that tiny house, gardening and writing. 

This is the kind of book that I can read at night, right before bed.  It puts the busy-ness of the day out of my head.  I'm only reading a couple of pages a night because I don't want it to end. For me, that's the sign of a great book.  I often laugh out loud while reading and there's always something to think about.  Loving' it!

Ciao,

Anne

Gardens, cats, Spring, Winter (Free association)

I'm looking forward to the publication date of Margaret Roach's "And I shall have some peace there."  Margaret writes a great gardening blog, full of useful tips and beautiful pictures.  Like the one above, of her cat, Jack (with the book!).  Jack is one handsome cat.  And then there are gorgeous floral shots. Like this one:

And many, many more.  Oh, dear.  Is Spring coming?  Is it almost here?  They're calling for a little snow tonight.  Sigh.  Moan.  Groan.  Wasn't it just recently that we were complaining about what a hot summer it was?  Snap out of it!  Winter is a beautiful time of year.  I tell Grandboy that all the trees and plants are resting, getting ready for their big burst into Spring.  So it's all good.

Ciao,

Anne