Recently I have been talking a lot about the importance of finding your own personal style and of infusing your home with the things that make you and your loved ones happy. I personally believe that home should be a place where you feel absolutely wonderful, calm, and at peace. It should be a place where you rejuvenate and regroup so that you can take on the outside world. It should be a place you share with your friends and loved ones. However, aiming for perfection in your home and in your life will make any of this near impossible. If you have children, grandchildren, pets or rowdy friends, having a so called “perfect” home will be near impossible. It will likely rarely look like it belongs in the pages in of a magazine. But that shouldn’t stop you from loving it. Your perfect home is never going to be perfect. If it is perfect, it means you aren’t really living in it and using it the way it is intended to. You, your kids and your friends should be allowed to make messes and to enjoy doing so without fear or worry.
Designing your home for real life living is not as hard as some might think. It can still look amazing, it can be full of personality (hopefully your personality) and it can at times look like it belongs in the pages of magazine. It takes some planning and well thought out solutions that really get to the heart of how you want and need to use your home. It requires some real understanding of your own personality, style, rhythm and daily routine. Most importantly, it requires an ability to accept imperfection, a willingness to try and fail and let yourself be creative.
I wanted to share a few photos of perfectly imperfect homes that showcase the personality of the owners and look and feel lived it. And guess what, they are worthy of a spread in a magazine at the same time.
A fun breakfast area by Ricky Snyder (www.rickysnyder.com) courtesy of houzz.com (http://www.houzz.com/photos/6657024/My-Houzz–Jeanie-Engelbach-eclectic-dining-room-new-york)
A very colorful and personality filled living room by JBM Designs LLC (www.jbmdesigns.com) courtesy of houzz.com (http://www.houzz.com/photos/715583/JBM-DESIGNS-LLC-eclectic-family-room-baltimore)
A warm, inviting room by Going to the Roost (www.goingtotheroost.com) courtesy of houzz.com (http://www.houzz.com/photos/1370300/Santa-Ynez-farmhouse-living-room-santa-barbara)
