Fabulous Finds Friday

Welcome to Friday!

Last week, I introduced the lifestyle concept.  Monday, I told you part of my blog style was inspired by Wim Pauwels’ books.  Tuesday, we discussed the concept of restraint in our lifestyles and in our homes.  Thursday, I related the concept of restraint to entertaining/hospitality and showed you some simple centerpieces.

So that brings me to my first Fabulous Finds Friday. Any guesses what I might be talking about? If you guessed something related to lifestyle, you’re correct! And since all the concepts of timeless living and timeless design really do relate to each other, this is also a hint at what I’ll be talking about next week.

If you haven’t discovered DWELL magazine yet, you must check it out. In my opinion, they are the leaders in discussing how and why a home works for how its owners live. Their photographs show more than just pretty spaces, too: they show how the owners live in their homes. Because that’s what it’s really all about: how we live in our homes. So I want to show you an article from their current issue, because not only is the home a wonderful architectural specimen, but it was created with the owners’ lifestyle as its central focus.

Southern California residents of Japanese heritage, these owners had few demands for the architect, but it became a modern translation of traditional Japanese architecture. Tatami mats that traditionally dictate the size and dimensions of rooms in Japanese houses were used as the basis for the main dining area. Honoring the tradition of removing shoes at the door, a comfortable bench nook offers a place to sit upon entering the home. The couple desired a home in which each space was used and “highly livable”, and the open concept and multiple purposes for each room have met that goal. Read the full article and see the image slideshow here: http://www.dwell.com/articles/The-Hidden-Fortress.html

Another home that focused equally on lifestyle and architectural history and theory is this one, also featured in DWELL. You will note that the architecture of this home also created some new lifestyle changes. This article is short, but read the captions beside the photos for more information: http://www.dwell.com/articles/Packed-Naturally.html

And because I can’t help myself, New York Times published this article on a vacation home in Nova Scotia: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/07/garden/a-nova-scotia-cottage-that-reflects-the-landscape-on-location.html?_r=1 It introduces other traits of timeless design: vernacular vocabulary, environmental sensitivity, and importance of architecture.

Next week on Must-Read Monday: more about the importance of architecture in timeless interior design!