Home is our emotional heartland – a place to restore our balance. Home is your corner of the world. Time to be slow, time to dream, time to read. One of the biggest luxuries in modern life is unscheduled, uncommitted time. Defend it fiercely and value it. It’s not wasted. Your brain needs it to come up with new ideas. These phrases are penned by Ilse Crawford, the founder of the British Elle Decoration and design connoisseur par excellence. She wrote these lines back in 1997 for her book ‘Sensual Home’ and they seem to be more valid nowadays than ever before!
Truth be told I wasn’t familiar with the book until I read THIS article by my London based friend Tina. I was intrigued and ordered the book shortly after. You know that my concept and life motto is that we all need to add more happiness to our homes. If you are not happy at home, where will you be?
The notion of happiness is a very personal one. But no matter what happiness means to you, it will always involve your emotions and your senses. Pay attention to your senses when you are at home. What makes you happy? A certain sight? A specific scent? The haptic in your abode? The audible cues when you walk bare feet over your wooden floor? Most probably it is a mix that speaks to all your senses and makes this not only a visible but rather ‘feelable’ notion of home and happiness.
Reading this book means experiencing your home with all senses at the same time. A few days ago I received a 100% natural beeswax handmade candle. This was the right moment to light it for the very first time and take in the delicate odour of a product coming from the nature, put in shape by human hands and lit to make my home feel warm and cosy. This resonated perfectly with the book speaking of a home detox and the importance of purifying the air we breathe and thinking of natural odorants and purifiers rather than those artificial air fragrances.
The book takes you on a sensual journey with the mission to liberate your senses. It not only speaks of smelling but also of hearing, comfort and textures, touching, the sight, light and shade and taste. Reading chapter by chapter I started looking for those cues with my senses more consciously than ever before. Styles come and go, but beneath them all are fundamentals that speak to our senses and trigger emotions in us. It is more than there is to see!
A big thank you to Amy from Apidae Candles for the wonderful natural beeswax candle in a Weck jar. Check out her handmade candles in Weck jars, sake cups, wine bottles and more. Oh, and feel the happiness in your home!
Happy Friday!
16 Comments
Textures, colours, smells, even the voices of people we live with – I think in short it’s a “feeling” that makes me feel comfortable and secure at home. A big part of that are pieces that remind me of loved ones (inherited furniture from my grandparents), plants to bring some nature inside and books for the mind – I guess it’s the balance of all things put together which make a home different yet special to every person… Ok, I’ll have to get the book, it sounds intriguing and I’m now curious to know more. Have a lovely weekend xo
Beautiful post! Thank you for the mention.
I knew you would like Ilse’s writing. Wait till you have the pleasure of visiting or staying in one of her interiors. You’ll be smitten forever! Don’t say I didn’t warn you:-)
Happy, sensual weekend my friend!
in your life ,soon or a later you will get the same point of view as author of sensual home :)) I like my rooftop apartment but I will love my house in a place where old apple trees grow :)) and my blog is just about experiece of living closer to nature …greetings::)))
Living closer to nature is a wonderful approach! Have a happy weekend!
Oh my goodness…I’ve had this book forever (like maybe 10 years)?! I love it…did they re-issue it?
Yes, I think my issue is from 2007 – still a classic, right?
Sounds like an interesting book. Must get it myself. I’m very sensitive especially to fragrances so I always have incense burners on, scented candles etc. I love the packaging of your beeswax candle. Simple yet special. Enjoy your weekend Igor!
Merci Louise, have a happy weekend too!
Love this post Igor and you should definitely be writing more in this way 😉 Great to see you expressing yourself. I’m a big Ilse fan & had the honour of meeting her once. I was so nervous but she was completely down to earth. I believe in all that she says and stands for (even if I don’t always enjoy her interiors).
Feeling the happiness in my home too 🙂
Happy weekend x
Love this! Senses are such an important part of me making my home a “home”. Have a beautiful weekend, Igor! xo
This candle looks gorgeous, I love natural products! Happy weekend! /maria x
The opening words from the book are beautiful and I find the entire post beautifully written. This home philosophy is to my liking. I just realised when reading it that there are so many places in my home that I love so that’s probably the reason why I keep moving between spaces.
This is obviously a book I need to add to my wish list but right now I’m going to enjoy reading the latest issue of British Homes & Gardens with my coffee. I’m a little garden obsessed these days 😉
Have a wonderful weekend!
Lieber Igor
Was für ein schönes Posting. Und jaaaaahaaaa, morgens beim Aufstehen mit den Füssen den Holzboden berührer, WUNDERBAR.
Fröhlichen Samstag
die Baumhausfee
Looks very sensual…
I’m not sure how sensual is my home…
Love Apidae candles!!
never actually seen the book – will look out for it! No matter where or what our home is, there is always a space for candles and flowers.