Living in Style Without Losing Your Mind
Was just wandering around, jumping from tab to tab and found a comment posted by someone in the Domino Forums. She recommended a book titled Living in Style Without Losing Your Mind by Marco Pasanella which looks like a very cool read. Anxious to check it out. What caught my eye with her mention of the book was this quote from the author regarding what makes a room stylish:
If great design depends on passion, then individuality is the key. Your home has to be personal. It has to reflect who you are. Your lifestyle, your interests, your obsessions. The best-designed spaces mirror their owners, idiosyncrasies and all … True individuality comes from honesty, not “creativity.” It demands a clear appraisal of how you really live, of which things you truly value, of what mundane daily activities you especially enjoy. Cherish that creaky rocking chair? Keep it. Adore Scrabble? Make a place to play. Love to boogie? Give yourself room.
My passion is for good design, with modern methods and urban appeal, and though minimalism in some form is sought, I also feel it is absolutely important to incorporate individuality and personality into your home to make it yours.
Combining contrasting elements, whether it’s with your clothing, around your pad, in your writing - wherever, however - adds curiosity and originality creating your personal style. Making your space personalized is what makes it feel like home.
Sometimes people confuse the simplicity of modern design as lacking personality, being uninviting or even uncomfortable. However, the opposite is very much the reality in most modern spaces and often the inhabitants are quite particular about what goes into their home. It is in that particularity, the detailed and individual approach, that makes a modern space a home, and quite cozy.
February 28th, 2006 at 6:31 am
This book really is genius. I came a cross it at a book sale at work, and bought it on a whim, though I wasn’t sure how much was in it content-wise.
Well, I read the whole thing in a day. I’m a sucker for organization or design tips and this guy has great tips for those of us who are not just trying to organize but also maintain our style in our homes.
The images are great, with some really quirky things thrown in, like Chairman Mao’s bedroom, but you can really tell that all these choices really reflect the authors beliefs and approach to decorating.
I fell so lucky to have found this book, and every time I flip through it I find a solution to some home issue I’ve been mulling over.
thanks for posting the book!
February 28th, 2006 at 7:43 am
That’s great to hear! With so many design/decorating/self-help books out there it can be difficult to know which ones to zoom in on. Thanks for your feedback and congratulations on finding solutions that are useful and stylish - a true win, win!