The Inspired Home: Interiors of Deep Beauty

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by Karen Lehrman Bloch

foreward by Donna Karan

order by country: (us) ~ (fr) ~(uk) ~ (de) ~ (ca) ~ (it) ~ (es) 

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by Karen Lehrman Bloch

I felt safe, far more at peace than I had in months.  

As I stood on the wooden deck of the house, 

looking out into miles and miles of steadfast branches, 

I had one persistent thought:  "I am on sacred ground."  

-excerpt La Formentera

The Woodland Refuge of Juan Montoya 

by Karen Lehrman Bloch

Peruse previous posts:

{here}

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and  

        {here}:

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b a l a n c e

The key to good design 

—and a life well-lived.

linenandlavender.blogspot.com

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Flower Power

No design element, no matter how extravagant,

can rival a simple vase of fresh flowers.

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image via Art et Décoration Magazine

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Design Daily - The X factor

The X factor:  That intangible "something" that makes a person, place or thing special or intriguing.

In design, restraint is often the most essential element in achieving the drama and intrigue we seek.

A bare wall, an uncluttered tabletop

—a stage for light and shadow to play out their dramatic roles. 

linen & lavender

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Principles of Feng Shui

"To enhance your ability to move forward, move twenty-seven objects in your home which have not been moved in the last year."  —Louis Sagar

Zona Home by Louis Sagar

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As I contemplate doing this, I realize that even with the renovation going on, there are still items I place in a specific position and there are still ways that I do things, clean things, arrange things.  I'm going to see if I can identify areas of my life that are currently on auto-pilot...those objects and routines that I could shift -even if just a little bit.

Whether or not you "believe" in Feng Shui, let's all try a little experiment, shall we?  Move 27 objects -not sure why 27 but then again, why not?   So let's move exactly 27 items and report back any differences you notice in the next month.

If you decide to try this with me, be sure to report back in a week or so and we'll compare notes.  In fact, let's make this really fun...Everyone who participates will be eligible for a copy of Zona Home or Feng Shui Your Life — your choice. 

Here's the plan:

Move the 27 items this week and I'll ask everybody to report in on items they've moved and any immediate shifts or issues with the change or changes that have arisen.   (e.g. I'll wager your family will have an opinion about one or more of the changes.)   All comments on October 11th will be eligible for the first drawing. 

Then, we'll do a follow-up one month after where everyone can share any life shifts they have experienced  thus far.  By the way, I recommend keeping a daily journal if you can...even if it is only a few lines a night.  It will help you tune in to things you may not notice otherwise.

We'll do a second drawing from the comments made on that post where that winner will also have their choice of receiving Zona Home or Feng Shui Your Life. 

Sound good?   Great.  You have your mission then.  Now get out there soldier.  

Go forth.  Shift.  Observe.    Move that chi!

linen & lavender

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Feng Shui Your Life by Jayme Barrett

(click image to go to the Feng Shui section

of the emporium)

update:  2nd Edition of Feng Shui Your Life {here}

Update:  The significance of the number 27 is addressed in a reader's review of the book "27 Things to Feng Shui Your Home". 

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click book image for link to the Kindle edition.

"If you want to change your life, move 27 things in your home" is an ancient Chinese proverb which tells how to open your home and your life to efficiency, enjoyment and fulfillment.

I've read other Feng Shui books and have even tried to incorporate some of the techniques into my home and workspace, but this book spoke to ME more than any of the others. Author Tisha Morris has found a way to successfully combine the ancient art of spatial design known as Feng Shui with a contemporary lifestyle of clutter, excess and the routine of daily life in 2010. The reader is able to do more than just imagine the benefits of open spaces and energy flow, the reader has practical solutions for achieving maximum return.

Morris is a certified life coach, Feng Shui consultant, and energy healer. She explains the necessary actions and desired effects in plain talk and has taken the mystery out of why and how we can accomplish greater tranquility and satisfaction. One explanation that immediately gave me that "aha!" feeling was the significance of the number "27"; "In numerology the number 27 holds the energy of the number nine (2+7=9), which relates to completion. And with every completion awaits a new beginning..."

27 Things to Feng Shui Your Home should definitely be on your To-Be-Read list; as a matter of fact, I would make just one change to the helpful checklist at the back of the book - add Step One: "Read this book." ~Chelle Cordero, (reader review, 27 Things to Feng Shui Your Home via Amazon)

See comments below...

  

One can never have too many...

...at least that's what it says in my book. 

 ;)

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Céramiques, Pichon

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Postcards are intriguing to me because people are confined to such a limited space for their message. Much like when you know very little of another's language and are reduced to just the basics. You are forced to reduce your communication -everything you wish to express to another person- to just a few lines of text.

This snippet, this brief peek into another person's life makes for a bit of a mystery leaving one much room for musing...

What was their story? Were they young or old? Were they in love and pining for the other? ...Maybe taking the opportunity while afar to express feelings not as easily conveyed in person?...

 

-excerpt from "Paris is mad!" - Read full post (here)

Clodagh

Clodagh

"A space cannot be truly beautiful unless it functions in harmony with who we are.  It's about pleasure:  discovering what pleases us, creating an environment that will celebrate those qualities and sustain us."  -Clodagh

Your Home, Your Sanctuary

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Total Design 

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The art of shaving

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Shaving bowl, designed to rest in the palm of your hand...

Made from genuine horn exclusively for Classic Shaving 

by a small family-owned business in France.

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After JamesXVI (check out his blog here), commented on the bathroom vanity (above) featured in Friday's post , I immediately imagined various male grooming accoutrement added to the display- I could just see a man's old-fashioned shaving brush and razor alongside a bottle of Côté Bastide's "Amber" or "Fig" Eau de Toilette (Fig is a favorite I personally wear.)   

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Solingen straight blade, horn handle from

Classic Shaving

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 Truefitt and Hill

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In my internet travels, I ran across this beautiful 

antique men's grooming kit (Spain, 18th Century)

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Red gilt-decorated morocco over wooden board book-form box, lettered "Arte de Remoza" on spine, silver clasps and catches, hinged to reveal inner carved compartments containing 4 steel straight-razors with tortoise-shell handles, a tortoise-shell and silver-bound mirror, a tortoise-shell and silver comb, scissors, scent bottle and strop. Provenance: purchased from Emil Offenbacher, 7 April 1962.   Sold at Christie's for $3150

. . .

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Ephemeral, Côté Bastide

As the famous William Morris quote goes:  

"If you want a golden rule that will fit everything, this is it:   Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful."

I might amend that to:  . . .to be useful or AND believe to be beautiful.  —Why not aim to meet both criteria in every object possible?  

Thoughtfully consider those useful items around your home- is there a beautiful alternative that could function just as well?
 

In our rushed, convenience-oriented world we have created, we may have to remind ourselves that there could be an alternative to those items we look at and use every day.   

For the last few decades, consumerism so quickly expanded and our quest to mass produce was so blinding, it seems we just recently woke up and started questioning all the excess.  We are finally starting to question the wisdom of all those disposable items lining our shelves and the excessive packaging that is such a part of our modern day existence.

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Note Fraiche/Fresh Note by Côté Bastide

Not only is it a question of what is good for our planet,  it is a question of what is good for our spirit.  Whether we are aware of it consciously or not: 

"What surrounds us either uplifts, inspires and energizes us or bogs us down, overwhelms us and depletes us." 

So today I challenge you to take a tour of your home.  Try to imagine you are visiting it for the first time and see if there is anywhere you can shave a bit of the excess.  Pretend you are an archaeologist unearthing evidence to ascertain how a people lived and what objects were important to their existence.  From this perspective, what do you notice about the everyday items on display and stored there?  What story do they tell you about how that person must have lived?  What do the objects tell you about their experience -their quality of life? 

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Fleurs Blances/White Flowers by Côté Bastide

I'm challenging myself in this matter, too.  As I've written about previously, I do try to edit my possessions on a regular basis (see Breathing Room) and I try to eliminate as much commercial packaging as possible (see Thinking Outside the Box ) That said, there's always room for improvement and nothing can highlight this as well as living through a renovation... 

Argan, Côté Bastide                               (10)

In February, we began a complete remodel of our kitchen with new flooring and radiant heat throughout which meant that the front half of our house somehow had to be re-located to the back half of our house while all that work is accomplished.  Then, of course, in a few weeks time we will be completely flipping the contents of the house once again when they finish the front half and begin working on the back.  (Suffice it to say, this shines a spotlight on any excess in your life as no other exercise can.  gulp.)

Figuer/Fig, Côté Bastide

Renovations aside- any organizing expert will tell you, don't attempt a major overhaul of your life all at once.  It's too daunting.  Instead, set a goal of assessing one area each day or a couple of days each week.  




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For instance, take a few minutes one day and look at the line-up of products in your shower.  Is it a display of beautiful bottles and loofahs and sponges. . . "spa-like" and inviting?  Or could it use some sprucing up?  Could you get rid of some (or all) of the commercial packaging greeting you every day and instead transfer your shampoo, conditioner and other necessity items to jars and dispensers that make you feel pampered and inspired each time you see them?  

French Empire Bath Cabinet by Restoration Hardware

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Ambre/Amber, Côté Bastide

It may take stepping out of our usual mode of thinking about things, but once you set your mind to it, you will see many opportunities to enhance your environment that cost virtually nothing and will reward you every day.  

. . .

As an aside:  In researching for this post, there appears (to me) to be quite a deficit in the selection of beautiful, elegant razors for women.  Another tidbit I found interesting is that it seems there are varying opinions about whether there is and/or should be any difference between a man's and a woman's razor from a purely functional perspective.  (Some believe it is just a marketing ploy: they claim that a woman's razor doesn't need to be designed any different from a man's.)

Personally, I use what is marketed as a man's razor and I find the "men's" options above to be aesthetically pleasing for a woman and would be happy to own any one of them myself.  However, I did find it surprising that the luxury design market isn't catering more to women in this regard.  Where are all the tortoise shell handled women's razors?

I'd venture to say that the average woman shaves more square inches per year than most men (yes?!), yet I found site after site devoted solely to men's products and "the art" of men's shaving.  The few sites where women's shaving was represented, just one or two quality shavers were offered.  And not nearly as attractive as the men's options, in my opinion. 

In fact, (stepping up on soap box and donning critic's hat) when a manufacturer did make a concentrated effort to market to women, the offerings were most often plastic or pink or plastic and pink!  I won't mention names, but one site's campaign strategy actually featured scantily clad girls in garters, heels and bows on their derrieres!  —Seriously, guys?!)

Hmmm.  I find it hard to believe in this day and age,  -surely manufacturers are more aware than that. There must be  sophisticated designs  out there I've missed.  -I'll continue my research.  In the meantime, I have readers from all over the world, so let me know, will you? –Are you privy to something we Americans aren't?  Has the rest of the world been holding out on us?!   First bidets and now this?! 

Razor History - Interesting trivia on the invention of the razor and subsequent improvements over the years.

More interesting facts and 
images of  antique grooming and travel kits

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Baudelaire - Shaving products and advice (for men).  Browse the rest of their site for Provence Santé Soaps (love their Vervain fragrance) and a variety of products for bath and shower.

images:
1&3-Classic Shaving 
2-Côte Maisons  
4&5-Truefitt and Hill 
6-Christie's
7,8,9,10,11,13-Côté Bastide
14-Rasor de Rêve 
12&15-Restoration Hardware

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Pharmacy Wall Mount Cabinet, Restoration Hardware

You might also like:  Thinking Outside the Box

(This will take you to the updated version on linenlavenderlife.com.)

see our new site:
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