Wabi Sabi
Wikipedia defines wabi sabi as the Japanese world view centered on the acceptance of transience. Sometimes it is also described as beauty that is imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete. I think a good description of this is finding the prefect ion in imperfection. I love the concept of wabi sabi and try to incorporate it into my home all the time. I truly do believe that things can grow more beautiful over time. Maybe its the fact that a well worn item looks well loved. I love how these items have a past, a history. New furnishings from some big box store are often not very well made and are also mass-produced. Meaning that too many of these items in your home and things might look exactly like some one else’s home. This to me is boring. Age and imperfections add interest. So, although we do mix modern items in with our antiques and used finds, we do have some wabi sabi pieces in our home. I thought I would show you a few of our currently well-loved pieces.
This is our little dining table. It is very old and imperfect, but, it has so much character and personality. Even the chairs are worn-in, and mismatched!
A close-up of our perfectly imperfect table.
This is an old table with an antique frame used for the top. We use it as our living room coffee table. It has its dings and scratches, but I think that's what makes it so unique.
The mirror top of our coffee table.
Here are a few more imperfect yet gorgeous items currently in our house:
A vanity bench in our guest room.
One of two old plant stands used as bedside tables in our guest room.
A worn coke crate is hung up in our bedroom.
Guest Room. My Shabby Chic
I have always loved shabby chic. I will admit it. But, it has never fit very well into the decor I have. Needless to say, Tony does not like shabby chic. We agree on almost all decor decisions, but not that. However, we did have another spare bedroom and decided to use it as a sort of guest room. I was able to put a dresser in there and have a space where I can store my extras (curlers and make-up) and get ready for work. So, Tony let me have my shabby chic way with this room. It, as is the rest of the house, is a work in progress. But, its starting to work.
Just as you come into the guest room, you see this chair. It's too bad you can't see it in the picture, but there is a shabby blue frame hanging on the wall behind it. The little plant stand matches another being used as a bedside table. They are antiques, one from my great grandmother, the other found (how crazy!) at an antiques store.
The bed is directly in the door. Chenile bedspread, antique shadow box filled with my antique collectibles, vintage bench.
In the back corner is the only extra closet space of the house. We keep the vaccuum and things in here. The vanity is for me to get ready. I had bought it with the intention of painting it shabby white. But, now I am afraid of taking away from the piece. Any suggestions??
Make Mine Eclectic 