Maison Poétique
Notes on what feels like home
“In my view, the most charming homes, whether in Paris or anywhere in the world, are a far cry from perfect. They blend layers and personal mementos. That antique chair that used to belong to a great aunt. Scents wafting from the kitchen. Things of beauty. The floor creaks just a little as you cross the hallway. That book you are reading waiting on the bedside table for your return. The most charming homes are places for their owners to find comfort and dream.”
– to quote myself in Parisienne – Secrets to Paris-Inspired Living.
My home is in one of those in-between stages at the moment. Our eldest has left the nest and our youngest is getting ready to take flight. Things are getting a little worn around the edges. There’s the question of whether to rethink where and how we live altogether or stay put and give our home some tender care and thoughtful adjustments shaped around just the two of us. (If we go with the latter, my mind is already a hive of ideas – this could be a separate post.)
But in this week’s letter, I thought I’d spare a line or two on what I always gravitate towards when it comes to home: - Distinct nooks with a sense of space around them. Furniture that can be easily moved, whether for a shoot or a passing whim. A lightness about everything. - Treasures from the past, whether antiques, vintage pieces or second-hand finds - A sofa to sink into and a bed like a cloud, layered with soft white bedding and linens. - Books in every room, whether in piles by the bed, on a side table in the living room or spilling from a bookcase. - Natural materials – beautiful, grounding and durable. - Curtains that form puddles on the floor. - Scents. Fresh linen meets coffee meets herbs. Scented candles evoking the fragrance of a fireplace in winter.
- Personal mementos, memories from a special trip or reminders of a special person. - Space that invites creativity. - Antique mirrors that are beauties in themselves but also catch and bounce light, adding new dimensions through their reflections. - Candles in every season, adding a lovely glow also on a summer’s evening. - Fresh flowers. A windowsill of geraniums in the summertime. - Generous old cupboards and cabinets for stacking away earthenware, candlesticks and other pieces. Not everything needs to be out at once. It’s lovely to pull out what draws you each season. - Walls in a soft, slightly warm pale tone. Wooden floors. - I do like a clean home but embrace signs of life. Coffee stains, shoes in the hallway, a knit strewn across a chair, traces of what’s going on in life. - Making the most of natural light. Leaving space in front of windows, noticing the play of light and shifting patterns across the room.
I wonder what makes your heart sing when it comes to home? What moods and details do you gravitate towards? “Home is where you hear love within the stillness.” – Raquel Franco With love, Rebecca