Some people develop a strong sense of style preference and know exactly what they think of every trend. Their home is always their own, and the fixtures and decorative items are immediately recognizable as part of an ever-evolving aesthetic made whole by the woman who cultivated it. There are men who pull this off, but they are rare, indeed.
Often, women are more inclined to be deeply affected by the physical environment. There are those women who insist that you can and should will yourself to care less about the physical environment and focus more on career, philosophy, homeschooling, or high fashion. Arguably, there is cause for the reverse in may instances: women should will themselves to care more for the physical environment.
If they do not train themselves to manage the inventory, scan thrift stores for odds and ends, wipe out the sludge at the back of the fridge, it’s likely in many families that no one will. It’s not that the husband and children cannot learn to care about these things, but they often have even less of an inclination than the woman who care little. And even that woman likely feels the oppression of piles of clutter, the irritation of misplaced miscellany, the disquiet of an ill-kept home. If she learns to care, within limits of course, she offers her family a great gift.
Where to look for inspiration? The internet provides such vast highways of images and information. So much of what is popular is also so impersonal. Stark photos of gray walls and textures arranged in trendy array can leave one feeling mystified. Either you get rid of 78% of what you own (perhaps not a bad idea for some of us) and shop at Ikea, or you stumble through high-end interiors designed for trendy people. Neither seems appealing.
Enter Deborah Needleman’s The Perfectly Imperfect Home: How to Decorate & Live Well. As one reviewer noted, “Although not a decorator herself, Needleman’s astute observations and impeccable taste (no doubt honed by looking at thousands of pictures of beautiful rooms) are as real as they are insightful.”
The most helpful aspect of the book are the cozy watercolor illustrations of interiors and design features, a kind of editorial reflection in soft-focus. Instead of harsh lighting revealing precisely how unlike yours are the homes of the wealthy sophisticates, the gentle touch of watercolor suggests outlines for you to fill in, suggestions to inspire creativity.
The watercolors are the work of artist Virginia Johnson. A clothing designer, Johnson incorporates the colors and textures of her illustrations into a luxe line of caftans, tunics, and scarves. Her training in fashion design perhaps explains the exquisite sense of texture and dimension in her simple illustrations. Though small and understated, the well-crafted rooms in Johnson’s illustrations convey a sense of atmosphere and aesthetic.
Many casual readers were disappointed that the book still offers decorating advice and does not merely affirm “come as you are”/ “do whatever” living. Granted, some of Needleman’s advice is absurd—an armchair in the bathroom?? And slicing holes in expensive rugs to run cords??—but the high quality of her insights goes hand-in-hand with a lifestyle that most of us will never experience. If you really want solely to be affirmed in what you are already doing, you need not turn to books.
Somewhat in the vein of Home Comforts, though on a much more modest scale, Needleman provides a level of decorating detail that the amateur will never need. It’s still nice to know. Come to think of it, Home Comforts also incorporated illustrations rather than photographs. There’s something so aspirational about a drawing or painting that a complete photo stymies.
For those seeking to settle into a home, the blurred edges of The Perfectly Imperfect Home offer a place to nurture curiosity and see what can be done with what you already have.
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