A new year always starts with the best intentions and a resolve for self-improvement. For many (myself included), that means promises to exercise more and eat better – but I’ve also turned my attention to interior resolutions for my home.
A home detox is at the top of my to-do list, so I’m taking the advice of Japanese tidiness expert Marie Kondo who says you should discard anything that does not “spark joy”. At first, questioning whether objects were “sparking joy” seemed amusing. But as I empty out the crockery cupboard and find myself sitting amongst stacks of retired dinnerware, I find it an effective method of elimination.
With the mission to rid my home of joyless objects well underway, goal number two is to “buy less and buy well”. This phrase cropped up a few times when we asked some of our contributors what they were committing to in 2015 – you can read their answers on page 117. Credit really has to be given to William Morris for the concept, who penned the words: “Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful”.
With the busy nature of life, there has never been a greater need for your home to be a place of calm, with space for relaxation. For some, calm means a minimalist interior with pared-back furnishings in a neutral palette – as seen in the rooftop apartment of Leah and Darius Taylor, who live and breathe the ethos of their store The Minimalist (page 58). Others, such as our cover homeowners Sean and Marianne Falconer, find peace surrounded by an eclectic array of old and new objects, inherited and collected over time. You can see the home that they lovingly renovated themselves on page 46.
Whether it be renovating, decorating or planning your dream home, we encourage you to spend time thinking about what you love, and how you can create an environment that will reflect that, so you too can create a haven to come home to this year.
Alice Lines
Editor
@lineslikes
