As the months deepened in 2020 and most of our time was spent in our home and neighborhood, I began to sense a shift inside myself about what I wanted in my spaces, how I wanted them to feel, and what represented home + hearth to me. I began to have long conversations with my niece about these themes, and we both were feeling the same way and being drawn to the same ideas which morphed into Pinterest boards, following new Instagram accounts, and planned trips so that we could thrift together. What a delightful distraction from all the negativity in the news, the toxic election, and the palpable sadness all around. Beauty comes in as a healer and hope-bringer in the strangest of ways.
I had grown weary of the trends, the minimalistic/boho/mid-century vibe that has dominated the shelter influencer landscape for many years. I found myself drawn to spaces that were more classic, collected, cozy, and comfortable. In the fall, I watched many movies that have warm, comfortable homes as a centerpiece like You’ve Got Mail, Dan in Real Life, Father of the Bride, Cheaper by the Dozen, The Family Stone, The Holiday and on and on. I also watched movies set in the 90s and viewed them with an eye towards the spaces not the plot (like when I watched Home Alone 2 with the boys). All of these homes exuded warmth, character, a bit of clutter, charm, conviviality. None of the homes I have mentioned are perfectly staged or are models of amazing design, but most people who love these movies usually mention these houses…they are one of the characters in these films. These houses have soul.
In the midst of a time when the world is so conflicted, emotionally charged, and confounding, I found myself having no longing for spaces that were spare, with lean lines, but rooms that offer cushioning, comfort, a sense of warmth, and security. More timeless accents, items gathered from travels, framed photos of family, deep seating, less succulents and more pothos plants. I’m pulling out older, neglected items and celebrating their place in my life again. I find myself reveling in nostalgia, and my eyes dart across the thrift store shelving for pretties that remind me of the late eighties and early nineties. I think there is a longing in my heart for a time pre-Internet when life was lived slower, homes felt solidly built, and relationships grew face-to-face. I’m sure the pandemic nudged me in this direction — where the present feels upending and future unsure.
I love that as we age we can reinvent ourselves in some ways. We can change our tastes and preferences, exploring new ideas, trying on new styles for size. Is this style right for right now? What kind of home serves a life with many teens? How can I feel most at home in this season of my life? We can ask ourselves questions, be curious and open, and shift if we find that the old mindsets and preferences don’t fit anymore. I have an eye for things right now that I would have eschewed three years ago. I love allowing myself the freedom to be okay with what I loved then, and also what I love now. We are not static creatures, but are living pieces of art that reconstruct, restyle, and reshape.
May you enjoy living the questions today,
Aimee
Aimee, I am really enjoying what you are sharing! This one has me thinking! I keep coming back to it. Thank you for sharing!