I just adore the Magic of beginnings.
As we say here in Italy: Andiamo? Shall we?
In this Youtube episode, Homeworthy features the Parisian home of Tatiana de Nicolay. For thirty glorious minutes we discover a home that I find to be eclectic and absolutely delightful. We enter a world where a menagerie of objects give shape to every room -- creating a home that is abundant in personality. This episode left me energized and buzzing with ideas on how to curate a home:
How to Design a Home in One Step
1. WORK WITH WHAT YOU HAVE
Don't underestimate your space.
So what if you don't have floor to ceiling windows? Or a panoramic view of Central Park. You know what you do have: four walls, a ceiling and a floor. And do you know what that spells to me: POTENTIAL. When it comes down to it everything is just a matter of beginning. So let's begin. Say with that empty wall space above your bed's headboard. That vast space just inviting you to act. We can do color. Farrow & Ball's Templeton Pink lets us escape into the coziest of English cottages. We can go for texture. Framing your wall with vintage cornices (vintage frames) in all different shapes, sizes and finishes. This is one of my personal favs btw. We can add light. One glorious sconce sourced from the local brocante nestled overhead immediately sets the mood. I totally get that it can be overwhelming when deciding where to begin, that's why I am suggesting you start here: take a look at what you have. It's funny because the moment we focus on the end result and how different it looks from what we have now the beginning feels hard and heavy. So heavy sometimes procrastination joins the party. I am saying it doesn't have to be. There's something to be said about embracing what's there and letting each wall, each room, each space, develop on its own. Start with sowing a seed in one spot (like what we did above the headboard) and then another and then another and just see how the rest of the room blossoms. Tatiana made a fantastic point in this video regarding how to put a space together, one I whole heartedly agree with -- let it all fall into place. There is no rush, this is no race. It's your home, it's your space, you set the pace. And the funny thing about approaching designing a home with this delicious sense of ease is that you realize that a) you have everything you need to start b) if you have the ability to start you sure can finish.
JUICY DESIGN IDEAS I AM TAKING WITH ME FROM HOMEWORTHY
x TATIANA DE NICOLAY:
1. Bring the outdoors in. The use of green (happens to be my favorite color too) - the color of nature - throughout the home to bring that life energy inside was so Good!
2. Reupholstering preloved sofas and giving them a second life is another reason I love vintage shopping. Nothing goes to waste and now you have a piece in your home that is truly one of a kind. I have nothing against IKEA but I must say I dream in color....
3. Oh, how I love a fabulously thought through tablescape! Tatiana's just had me saying "Can I come over?" Her dining table set for entertaining is marvelous. I love the placement of the grande Belgian vases with those tall + lively branches placed at the heads of the tables so communication and an enchanting Marie-Antoinette-esque soirée can still be had!
4. The fountain in the bathroom ! I mean say less.
5. The plants on the wall consoles in the bedroom! Fresh and fun. I have my fingers crossed and hands ready to find some wall consoles during my next brocante outings. Galileo get ready!