The so called style gurus often demand that we undergo a form of de-narration, a term coined by novelist Dougls Coupland to describe a state of modern flawlessness achieved by banishing all references to your untidy personal story. It was American decor editor Karen Fisher for Cosmopolitan who declared 'Home decorating is the most personal path to self expression next to making love'. I couldn't agree more. Your home isn't about the right rug, or designer chair it's about self-expression, fantasy and identity.
I read in a glossy interiors magazine the other day an editor talking about wabi sabi the Japenese art of finding beauty in imperfection. Wabi sabi is a way of being that champions the simple, slow and uncluttered and reveres authenticity above all else. In the home wabi sabi inspires a kind of warm minimalism that celebrates the human rather than the machine, things that resonate with the maker's touch, things with soul. It's not so a decorating 'look' as a mind set.
After reading this I thought finally the revelution is beginning! The design world is focusing back to why we need a chair and how we are going to use it and they are considering why it's important to have product that we can pass down to our children. However after flicking through the pages of the magazine all I saw was interiors that said 'admire but please don't touch'.
I want to make one thing clear I am not saying we should be slobby or grubby but we should have confidence in the things we love. A frayed, old cushion that you have had since you were a child on a made bed is perfection in my eyes.
When we flick through the pages of glossies and even follow blogs we often feel pushed to use our homes as public exhibits of our perfect selves. NO! Stop this way of thinking and have a little 70's punk rock attitude and say F**K You! It's time to say to those who are dictating to us "this is me and this is who I am". It's people like photographer Annabel Mehran who remind us that we don't all live in the same decor palace but the meaning of home can be similar. Love your home and the space you live in.
All pictures by Annabel Mehran
