I design for the senses. The eyes AND the ears. Here are just a few of my client's inspirations.
I’ve been hitting up against the heavy “shoulds”, “coulds”, and “supposed to’s” as of late. I don’t like those. They leave me feeling… exhausted.
I SHOULD be writing about interior design. I COULD be posting all kinds of pretty pictures. I’m SUPPOSED TO be interested in the ever-expanding line-up of this month’s latest and greatest.
It’s not happening.
The harder I push, the harder I struggle. My message gets distorted. My creativity withers. And so I retreat, content to bask in the silence and work on projects behind the scenes. But the struggle returns, wreaking havoc with my daily rhythm and interfering with my inspired flow. My issue?
Decorating. The word, specifically.
(toe curl)
dec·o·rate
–verb (used with object), -rat·ed, -rat·ing.
1. to furnish or adorn with something ornamental or becoming; embellish
Ornamentation… embellishment… uh huh. Do you know what that sounds like to me? Crap. Junk. Useless, meaningless bullshittery. Consumerism. Mindless trend-following. Vanity. Shallow “pretty-making”.
Blehck.
So all this tail-chasing, this spinning in place, is connected to my irrational distaste for the very definition of my chosen life’s work. A dangerous dichotomy, n’est pas?
You see, on the whole, I’m not particularly fond of the decorating industry; the constant search for this month’s shiny new thing and the “mwah” superficiality rather than a focus on the deeper correlation and interrelationship of space and well-being. And so I dip a toe in the water and wonder why I have a sudden disinterest in swimming.
Well, duh.
Part of my behind-the-scenes work has involved the refinement of my organizational coaching services (particularly popular after the Christmas season, ahem). I help clients deal with the de-construction and analysis of a space; uncovering the deeply buried, core trigger-type issues that lurk beneath the service and interfere with the unearthing of one’s true visual melody. (Heady stuff, and highly recommended before dropping some hard-earned dough on your next ‘decorating’ project.) As part of this refinement process, I’ve been reading with intense interest the evolving nature of the minimalist and simple living movements. Minimalism/materialism debate aside, Colin Wright of Exile Lifestyle does a damned fine job of articulating the philosophy in ‘Minimalism Explained’. Go on, have a read.
So while I’ve been pulling on the threads and picking at the edges of my procrastination and staccato rhythm, I’ve been allowing the silence to reveal some deeper truths about my creative work. Decorating, by and large, has always meant the addition of surface ornamentation and embellishment, rather than the subtraction of all that does not serve a purpose (beauty or otherwise). My edges fray most intensely when I cannot reconcile the two.
Thus, if it weren’t for all the negative connotations and the ongoing debate surrounding its true definition in this increasingly digital world, I would certainly define myself as a ‘minimalist’; hard stance when my profession classifies me as a decorator.
(double toe curl)
But I also have a deep and loyal affinity for my possessions (which ultimately excludes me from a large sector of the current minimalist movement). After all, my things have been through the clarifying fire of scrutiny. I have thoughtfully chosen them. And that’s at the heart of what we’re talking about here… understanding the difference between ‘ornamental embellishment’ and digging at the roots of the ‘why’ of stuff.
So, here’s how I’ve untangled the conundrum: I decorate to unearth the visual and tactile beauty as an expression of a client’s life (not as idealistic as it sounds). I decorate to increase the productivity and efficiency of a particular space. I decorate because it brings me deep and satisfying pleasure.
Just don’t call me a decorator, k?
12 Comments
Hey Erica, I too feel “a loyal affinity for my possessions” as they obviously attracted me to them. That said, I know the difference between stuff and substance. Good design provides both. KS
Agreed ~ it’s trying to wade through the constant onslaught of the “next new thing”, and the “not this, but that” trending that leaves me feeling… like it’s about the STUFF rather than the creative expression.
I vacillate between eschewing everything and guiltily gobbling up every decorating magazine and book I can get my hands on. Ahhh, the (oh-so-difficult!) hazards of the career.
I sit beside a 1923 Crosley radio. It works. Well. In this age of disposable EVERYTHING our natural quest for novelty has been hijacked by a post-war modality of employment creation. If we truly LOVED our stuff, we would design it to last. To be able to embellish it over time. Adjust to new needs. To value it, not price it.
The minimalists reflect a fringe of the population that eschew the need for aesthetic. At the opposite end of the spectrum is the “shiny new Iphone…NEED it!” demographic. The middle ground is shifting. Your gut tells you where you stand in the population distribution.
You are on the right track.
But those who love their stuff aren’t necessarily those who designed it in the first place. Our choices are often dictated by price or circumstance. For example, I don’t remember furnishing my first apartment with built-to-last stuff, primarily because I wasn’t in a position to do so at the time. The pieces I love are those that I took the time to save for; pieces that spoke to me or expressed a particular viewpoint and continue to bring me pleasure years later. That was a strategy that coloured outside the lines of industrialism and the consumer-driven “need it now” mentality. Those purchases were driven entirely by emotion (and a more mature, experienced understanding of quality).
I think it’s really easy to fall into an ‘us vs. them’ debate when it comes to the issue of stuff but we’re all guilty of it to some degree. It’s in finding what’s important to YOU, rather than where you fall on an arbitrary population scale; especially so given we live in one of the richest nations in the world.
And I don’t agree about minimalists eschewing the aesthetic. While there are certainly those who may, most of the ‘minimalists’ I’ve had the pleasure of discovering are exactly the opposite. Meaning, rather than buy a ‘cheap’ or unattractive piece, they’ll do without until they can afford exactly what they want. And it doesn’t mean going without forever, either. I most closely relate with this group… even being a designer/decorator, I went without a sofa for nearly four years after buying my first home. (That was fun. Not.)
Love a juicy debate; thanks for dropping in!
“I’m not particularly fond of the decorating industry; the constant search for this month’s shiny new thing and the ‘mwah’ superficiality rather than a focus on the deeper correlation and interrelationship of space and well-being.”
And this is why there’s so much mojo behind what you do. Because you go deep instead of just skimming the surface.
That’s where mojo comes from. The roots.
That’s also where the magic happens.
And, from where I sit, it looks like you’re cooking up tons of magic. And that rocks.
*blush* Thanks, Fabeku.
The magic comes directly from the client. I’m merely the translator.
And that’s what makes my job so freaking fantastic… soaking in languages so rich and varied, letting it roll around the tongue, and speaking their truth with fluency (in visual form).
This month’s trend be damned.
Erica-
I hear ya loud & clear. I don’t like calling myself a decorator either, but have yet to come up with an alternative that draws anything other than blank stares. I completely relate to your struggle, and have been guilty of hiding behind the scenes myself.
Not any more though. Lately, I’m giving it a go. I’m out there, flying my ‘flakey’ flag. :) I’m also been toying with ‘home philosopher’ as a term, although I have yet to test it out at a party. What do you think?
Anyway, I agree that home is essential to our well being, and should nurture and inspire us. Too many people are chronically disatisfied with where they live, and assume either “decorating” or “decluttering” will do the trick. I’m not convinced it’s an either/or answer.
My goal is to help people dig deeper, to discover at a more fundamental level what is happening in their space, and empower help them take the neccessary steps to make peace with it. And, I think one of the single greatest opportunities we have to shape our lives in a positive way is a move. When else do we get to find the right place, choose the space, and create the leverage to truly make a home all at once?
Sometimes solving problems is about the “decor”, but more often it’s about identifying conflicts of interest in a space, or clarifying its primary purpose, or staking out territory for people to pursue those activities that are most meaningful to them. Sometimes a plan of action that covers the basics can also help – even better if it is open to interpretation over time – but most important is that people accept imperfection and embrace their uniqueness. We each have a story to tell, and home is where it shows.
Too much clutter can be inhibiting, but shedding possessions at the expense of our personal history can be detrimental too. I may have a minimalist mindset and strive towards simplicity, but for me that means I’m surrounded by the stuff I love (and have chosen to keep).
Follow your gut. The ‘deeper correlation and interrelationship of space and well-being’ is the way to go.
And please, if you come up with a cocktail line/ job description/sales pitch, let me know!
Like you other readers, this post resonates with me too, Erica.
To this day I find it impossible to blog about the latest and greatest…probably a reason why my travel-based design blog doesn’t see as many comments from fellow design-decorating-loving bloggers. I see design and decorating differently (in my case, with a worldly lens that goes beyond the big sale at Homesense). And while I enjoy scrolling through a select few decorating and design blogs with images of pretty interiors and shiney new light fixtures, I, myself, cannot reproduce these types of posts.
Let’s go back for a minute here…
Years ago I found myself faced with a decision about my future career. I couldn’t see where my fine arts background was taking me, and yet I didn’t feel as though I wanted ‘out’ of such a creative field.
After much contemplation, I decided to look into interior decorating, but all the school descriptions of post-secondary courses sounded as though something was missing. I decided interior design was where I was headed, and I could decide the amount of decorating to include in the future. Design offered an opportunity to truly manipulate a space moreso than decorating. I always see decorating as an opportunity to “make the best of what you have” but implementing distractions that will either enhance or disguise certain design decsisions that were made by others.
Whereas in design, the decisions are left up to ME (for the most part, anyway).
As of now, I TRULY love the decorating aspect of my job. I love the space-planning and the design process, but the finishes and fittings really get me going. I like creating an ambiance that is not always possible with spatial planning alone. I like “choosing” my own accessories and deciding where they are placed, just like you’ve expressed.
In fact, having recently moved to a furnished rental, I am struggling with feeling comfortable in a space where the accessories and decor was chosen for me. I ended up stripping the house of ugly wall art and kitschy belongings (all stuffed in a closet) and chose a few select pieces from the store that spoke to me. I also bought giant batiks and covered the ugly upholstery. It looks messy but at least the finishes and patterns are more pleasing to me. Is this a design solution? Not really, but it’s a budget-friendly option for now.
The conclusion?
Designers are sensitive to their environments – and sometimes the missing link between a great space and an uncomfortable space is accessories…decorating! Even if it means one giant piece of abstract art…it’s still a form of “decoration” that takes the space to a new level.
I too roll my eyes when I’m referred to as a “decorator”. I have had to correct a client before to introduce me as a “designer”. Not many people even know the difference.
I have no idea why my ego is so out of control that being called a decorator stings – after all, a large part of what I do IS TO DECORATE. Perhaps I want more credit for the painstaking education? Perhaps I feel that not everyone is capable of design, whereas anyone with an opinion can be a decorator (albeit not a good one).
Blah blah blah, I’ve lost my train of thought, but I think I’m trying to say that I agree with you…though I don’t know WHY. It shouldn’t be offensive to be referred to as a decorator. And you shouldn’t feel weak for wanting to “beautify” a space without the use of gypsum and recessed lighting…sometimes a little decorating goes a long way.
Thanks for making me think about this ;)
*Tania @ Passport2Design.com
@Katharine:
Sorceress of Space?
Erm, maybe not.
This is just it. I’m frequently emotionally caught between ooo-ing and ahh-ing over the latest new ‘thing’ and have no qualms admitting I’m a magazine junkie. But I know my limits, and I’m more interested in ensuring my personal space is a timeless representation of my inner self (personal growth and subsequent aesthetic evolution aside) than I am in making sure I’m up-to-date or will receive the approval of my designer/decorator friends.
Also, environmental concerns have a major stake in this game for me… what is the global effect of all this ‘decorating’? Who is buying all this stuff? Where is their existing stuff going? An endless cycle of buy and purge, buy and purge… surely there must be a better way.
Great points Katharine.
PS – I quite like ‘Home Philosopher’. :)
@Tania:
This sounds familiar:
Ah, yes. I’ve corrected this once or twice myself. And I find this rather ironic, as most of the satisfaction of a project comes as a result of the ‘decorating’, rather than the oftentimes, unglamorous nuts and bolts of ‘design’. While I can’t speak for other creatives/artists, I’m pretty sure this is a common issue for many.
Funny how a simple word can stir up so many conflicting emotions…
@Tania-
Incorporating historic & geographic references adds so much depth to design (and/or decor), so I’m glad to have happened upon you here! I too like the decorating because it enables the expression of beauty after the strategic work is done! But for me it’s the process of helping people uncover and claim their personal aesthetic preferences that is most rewarding.
@Erica-
I’m so with you on this issue of “stuff”. I’m also overwhelmed & put off by the excess sometimes, which is why I’m so fascinated with what people already have and by what can be rescued from the past. I’m a firm believer that what is old can be brought forward into a more contemporary context, without being too cliche.
Anyway, thanks again for your thoughtfulness & candour!
Hey lady, come out of the woods sometime ;)