Archive for February, 2010
Letting go of stuff: What I learned from a bench
After months of inner wrangling, I finally decided to sell my beloved bench. The buyer will pick it up tomorrow. It wasn’t easy for me to make that decision so as an incentive I told myself I’d do something fun in Japan with the money.
The bench had been collecting dust in our bedroom for a couple of years because we didn’t use it. I tried to convince myself that I could make it work in my studio but, alas, the bench didn’t serve any purpose other than to be pretty (well I could sit on it obviously, but I never do). And in my minimalist world, being pretty isn’t enough. Things have to be useful too; and if they aren’t used, they aren’t useful. Period.
So what did I learn from this?
Minimalism isn’t about the stuff. Well, not in essence anyway. Let me explain. Minimalism is a state of mind. It’s much more and much more powerful than decluttering your home. It’s a choice that comes from within; the behaviour (ie decluttering, buying less, etc.) will come naturally. For me, it’s choosing inner peace over chaos, eliminating the unnecessary to make room for what’s important for me, choosing moments and experiences over stuff, experimenting over having. Minimalism isn’t about getting rid of stuff for the sake of getting rid of stuff and having an uncluttered home. I tend to forget that sometimes, when I focus too much on the stuff instead of focusing on the vision I want for my life, which is essentially inner peace and fun life experiences. Sure the bench didn’t prevent me from having both, but it didn’t add anything to my life either. Once I realized that, it was easier to let go of it.
Just because it’s pretty doesn’t mean I have to have it. Ok, I admit it. I’m a sucker for good design. And my home is full of pretty things bought just for display and/or that are still waiting to be used. I used to have a shoe and bag problem – not to the point of getting into debt (I have a very low tolerance to debt – I hate owing money) but when I saw something I liked, I couldn’t help but buy it. The image of Gollum and the Ring comes to mind. Yeah I know, not pretty, but deep inside, aren’t we all a bit like him when we covet something? :) I also seem to have an obsession with pillows and vessels, like glasses, bowls and vases. I’m happy to say I’m getting better at keeping my spending urges in check. I’m learning to appreciate the creativity that went into the beautiful things that surround me without feeling the need to own them.
Spending money on stuff means limiting my life experiences (and no, shopping doesn’t count as a life experience). It’s obvious, yet a lot of us tend to forget it. Since most of us have limited financial resources, we need to make the most of our money, which means making choices. I’d been wanting to visit Japan for years but I thought I couldn’t afford it. In 2009, I decided to stop dreaming and to add a trip to Japan to my goals for 2010, even if that meant postponing the remodel of our half bath or being on a shopping ban for a year. Funny thing is, I got a great deal and the trip will cost us much less than I originally thought. Before you say you can’t afford that trip you’ve always wanted to do, look at the money you’re spending on furniture, clothes, shoes, car accessories, etc. Also, save, but not so much that it will cost you a good life. Saving for tomorrow is wise but tomorrow may never come so have fun with your money :)
Yes, it took me all that reasoning to realize the bench had to go. And I may or may not have changed my mind twice or three times before deciding to sell it for good. But sometimes looking good isn’t enough. The bench learned it at its expense.
Art wall: my visual ode to women
I hung only four of my drawings to avoid cluttering the wall: a portrait of Marilyn Monroe in her younger days (I was a huge huge fan as a teenager), an autoportrait (me at the age of 5 – looking tough and all) inspired by a picture with my brothers, and 2 female nude drawings. All drawings were done in my late teenager years/early twenties. There are a lot more drawings in my files, but I chose the ones that had a very special meaning for me. I mostly draw women because I’m inspired by their beauty and grace, no matter their shape or size. Seriously women are awesome and that’s a scientific fact.
Anyways… the first floor is coming together nicely, but some corners are still a work in progress (hence the strategically cropped pictures). I’m hoping to finish everything by the end of March, before leaving for Japan, so there will definitely be more posts on décor and house renovation projects. Home decor/Interior design lovers/stalkers, rejoice!
Here are close-up shots of the drawings. Nothing Leonardo da Vinci-worthy, but with hindsight I think I kicked butt for a 17-20 year old. Cocky? Me? Believe me, I wasn’t that self-confident back in the day.
Let’s pretend it’s Spring
After spending a couple of hours applying the second coat of black paint to “my art wall”, I’m so thirsty for colour. I love this picture I took last Winter. It screams happy!
The art wall is done but it’s nighttime already and I far prefer pictures taken in daylight, so I’ll snap a few pictures tomorrow to share with you all. Thanks for taking the time to visit my blog and have a great week!
Back to black
Hi everyone! Thank you for all your nice comments re: my new studio. You sure know how to make compliments haha.
Anyways, remember my drawings I wanted to hang in my studio? (note: the big one below isn’t by me unfortunately. It’s a drawing by the very talented French comics artist Enki Bilal).
I found the perfect spot for them in my studio – on a wall where I’ll get to enjoy them everyday. See the black wall on the following picture? It’s a nice break from all the white, isn’t it? It’s perfect with the white Ribba frames from Ikea. I can’t wait to show you how great the framed drawings look against the black wall ! It still needs a second coat though so you’ll have to wait a few days before seeing the final result. If you’re curious, the black color is Behr “Beluga” (flat).
The following picture shows the other side of the room. Nothing special going on there. I just like the combination of black, white and wood in this picture, and wanted to share it with you.
Studio: details
Here’s what my studio looks like with natural light. There was too much light, so I had to close the blinds a bit. My studio is my private oasis, and it reflects exactly who I am.
If you remember my previous mood board, I had something totally different in mind, but I think my vision lacked direction. Then I fell in love with the desk while perusing a store I’d never been to, and everything became clear. Actually, the room design is inspired by it. As you know, it was a splurge. I balked more than a little when I saw the price tag, but hey, after all, why work hard if you can’t even enjoy a little bit the fruits of your labor? So I bought the desk – which is very unusual of me. Believe it or not, I’m a frugal person (people who personally know me need not comment on my expensive tastes haha). However, in my value system, pleasure comes before frugality. I don’t mind buying expensive objects (provided that I need them and I can afford them, of course).And seriously, I spend most of my day at my desk. I might as well work on a desk that inspires me.
As for the desk placement, I knew I didn’t want it to face a wall (I’d feel like a student doing her homework) and I didn’t want to sit with my back to the door or the window (for some reason, it feels like someone is watching me from behind).
Furniture wise, I didn’t want my studio to be cluttered but I knew I needed a desk, a couple of shelves for my favorite books (I did a major purge and only kept the books I would honestly read again), and a piece of furniture for the office supplies (I used an existing TV credenza we had in the living room -it’s Ikea Torsby- but never really used since we don’t watch tv). I also need to get 2 chairs for client meetings, a file cabinet and a drawing table (which I will buy used).
(Sorry, looks crooked, doesn’t it? The room is small so I have to make acrobatic stunts to take a picture of a complete wall – but the shelves in my studio are straight.)
I would also love a small bergère chair (upholstered in a modern fabric) and a map drawer (for my drawings) if money and space permit. I initially wanted a daybed but decided against it when I splurged on the desk. Absolutely no regrets!
The only things I bought specifically for the studio redesign were the desk (biggest splurge), 2 Ikea Lack shelves, a few Ikea frames, a bunch of tulips and a bonsaï (from Ikea). Everything else I already had.
You can see on the following pictures that the wall behind me is blank. I want to add more art in the future. I love how austere and serene it looks though, so I might keep it that way for a while.
Now, some of you may be wondering why I chose white (Behr Ultra Pure White) for the walls. Well, it isn’t just an aesthetics thing. As an artist, I spend my days playing with colors and I need the room to be a blank canvas because it helps me to focus better. Never underestimate the power of white. Paired with the right eye candy, it can bring the space to life.
Here are some detail shots of my favorite things in the studio:
My mouse pad designed by Agatha Ruiz de la Prada (I have a thing for hearts and pink – which is weird because I’m definitely not a girly girl):
Colored pencils I was given for my 21st birthday (a long time ago) while I was living in the US:
Things that remind me of my birth country (Madagascar): a bonsaï (Ikea) that looks like a baobab (gigantic tree that can reach many thousands of years old, according to some people) and a wood sculpture of a young woman holding a jar of water (which I bought in Madagascar during a roadtrip with my family about 10 years ago).
A tin box of Chupa Chups lollipops I bought in Paris during my last trip to France. It reminds me of my childhood (plus I’m a sucker for great packaging):
Yellow tulips and my prized YSL poster from the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Montréal. The poster is very special to me. I bought it right before I quit my corporate job. I wasn’t feeling great that day, and thought a visit to the MBAM would cheer me up. When I saw this poster, I instantly felt better and I could clearly see what I needed to change in my life. I decided to buy it as a reminder of that fateful day.
… and last but not least, a picture of my brothers and me at my grandmother’s when we were kids. We played bare foot on the red laterite soil, and had to clean our dirty feet in the garden while one of our uncles or aunts held the garden hose. Good times.
That’s about it. My life in a nutshell. I hope you enjoyed reading this post. I had fun putting it together.
If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment or send me an email at hasinafr[at]hotmail[dot]com.
