(my dining room, photographed by Matthew Mead)
The deep thoughts were flying today.
I am going to have a very large yard sale very soon: as in, sell anything and everything I don't truly love. Although our home is not yet sold, I am preparing for that day and going through each and every cupboard, drawer, and bookshelf and purging. My new criteria for each item is, "Do I want to pack it?" and more often than not, the answer is no.
Over a cup of coffee today, I told my husband, "You are going to be so surprised by how much I will get rid of." He stared back at me with a dubious grin, though I am fairly certain there was a glint of true hope in his eyes.
Later, while digging through the trunk at the end of my bed, I came across my collection of prints and paintings that I have been slowly acquiring via Etsy. Saving them for my next house, I envision a fun and quirky art wall, not-so-strategically hung to reflect my growing desire for spontaneity in decorating.
Which got me to thinking how admitting to an obsession/desire for decorating can sometimes get you pegged as, perhaps, a bit shallow. As in, sure, we all want our homes to look nice but do we really want to admit that it is a passion?
Then I went and checked my email, answering those that required direct attention, then casually filtering through my junk email folder. And then one caught my eye: it was from Cobi Ladner's Club Cobi newsletter.
Cobi Ladner was the genius editor of Canadian House and Home for many years but resigned from her position several years ago, much to my dismay. As much as I loved (and still love!) the beautiful photos and stories in its pages, I loved her editor's letter even more. Every word was genuine, interesting, and always filled with personality and tales of her home and her insights, rather than fluff. Cobi is no snob, and even flirted with the whole decorator vs designer debate with aplomb and her typical down-to-earth style. Can you tell I love Cobi?
Anyway, as I read her letter I was struck by a quote she shared (from design icon Iris Apfel):
"Self expression is the most important thing in life. If you don't have self expression you're all bottled up and you choke!"
And it is true. Everyone has a need for expression. Some write, paint, design, decorate, garden, compete, dance, sing, exercise, Tweet, blog, comment on others' blogs, etc. We all seem to have a need to express ourselves, to be heard, even if it is in a quiet way.
Which brings me back to my deep thought of the day: Will I be able to exercise restraint in my new home? Create a blank canvas, selecting furnishings, fabrics, and decor after long, thoughtful deliberation? Or will the empty spaces on the wall call out to me...begging me to fill them quickly so the house will feel like home? Will I be able to feel at home in a restrained environment? Will such a place feel homey (or homely, as the Brits like to say it!)...or barren?
Time will tell. As I am discovering lately on many levels, the need for patience is being imposed upon me. Certain things are beyond my control and I must wait to see how they unfold.
I wonder what Cobi would say?
