Saturday, May 3, 2008

Thoughts on décor

I love home design. I work for a non-profit working to end violence against women in communities of color. Work is so serious therefore I like to spend time on things that are not that serious, such as home design. I often daydream about my wants and needs for our little nest. I am not really interested in defining my style…it’s not consistent nor can it be categorized…it just is what it is. My style is not unique but it’s special to me. Sometimes I feel that people try so hard to be unique that it only becomes all about that.

I visit apartmenttherapy.com on a daily basis. I find it inspirational to see real people’s home and how they actually live. One of the reasons why I am an avid reader of apartmenttherapy is because people’s homes are not perfect-it’s not something you see in a catalogue. But I can’t stand many people’s attitude. When people start to emphasize the importance of “live in” it get’s so annoying. On apartmentthrapy, people will send photos of their homes for feedback from other readers. When a home especially looks neat and clean, many readers will complain that the home does not look “lived in” or that it’s “predictable.” A design snob’s mentality. Sorry, but I actually think that thrift store finds and Anthropologie is a fad. Yeah, I shop at those places, and I realize that enough people shop there that it does not make me unique or special.

My man and I drew a tree in our living room. It’s a project that we wanted to do together. We did it not because it’s so stylish or the artwork is so dope. We did it because we get to spend time together, support each other’s work. Some people like to present themselves based on the artwork they have on the walls, but we wanted to present ourselves through the artwork we created. It’s not about creating the best art, it’s about having fun, and doing what pleases us. It’s not about the presentation but the process that we get to engage in when creating art together. For me, that is what home décor is about. Do things that I find beautiful, practical, whatever it is that makes me comfortable. It's not about breaking new ground or proving a point. IT AIN’T THAT DEEP… oh btw, guess which bird is me?


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8 comments:

Unknown said...

hey s! it's 3am and i'm still up writing a take home exam; your blog is the perfect treat to an otherwise very long night.
i am already getting inspired by your blog to partake on some crafty projects this summer! as for the wall desgin, i think i already guessed which bird you are at the lovely aforementioned dinner party...the red one??

Eugene said...

Crafts! Home projects! My personal interest is food and cooking. I'll be paying close attention to your awesome Cambodian recipes and trying them out in my home.

questinfinite said...

i completely agree, the artwork you create representing yourself... in the truest. that's the only way.

plus, when people buy those posters and things from anthropologie, they're basically buying it for the color/look of the art, not necessarily what it means... plus a million other reproductions were made too... not so special.

anyhow, i feel ya, and i'm glad your blogging about your creations. HURRAY!!

gl said...

the posts on AT that you've showed me where people cop mad attitude to homes that don't look "eclectic" enough are booty.

if you're being eclectic for the sake of "being different" then you might as well just be the same as everyone else, because that's corny as hell.

sometimes it just is what it is.

eliaday said...

ah ha... i like to day dream about doing home projects... because mainly i aim not to have my home strewn with goldfish.

every so often i am motivated to actually do a project...

come on over to see more about my daily life as a mama...

Kay said...

i know what you mean, your style is your style and if you do follow the masses, it's what you like so what's wrong with that too and if you decide to go the path less traveled, I think that's cool too since it all comes down to personal taste. I must say a lot of my taste is similar to what I see in magazines and other peoples' homes, but I can't completely knock off an entire space b/c i would feel like a thief.

also, if you do like a poster for color/size etc. isn't that okay too?? not everything has to have meaning, as you said it ain't so deep.

anyway, is the Red birdie you?? =)

i said...

Girl I love the tree! The birds are so cute and they made me laugh :o)
I also love the yellow paint. I think that's such a great idea and you're inspiring me to start nesting again :o) First I have to get rid of stuff...

p.s. I would pin your name on the red bird.

pheak-pheak said...

CONGRATS!! YOU ALL WIN A NEW CAR for being correct. I am the red bird.