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Beth Bonini's Reviews > Still: The Slow Home
Still: The Slow Home
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Beth Bonini's review
bookshelves: furniture, houses, interior-decor, nonfiction, photography
Sep 11, 2020
bookshelves: furniture, houses, interior-decor, nonfiction, photography
I am in the process of renovating a small house in France and I find myself obsessed with interior decor books at the moment - particularly if they fall into the 'modern rustic' category, as this one does.
The homes in this book - 20 in total, in 13 different countries - differ in some ways, but there is still an aesthetic (not just in terms of looks, but also philosophy and approach) which unites them. They are all uncluttered, with lots of 'quiet' and empty space; they tend to have a neutral palette, which is restful on the eyes; they all have an emphasis on natural materials and their textures; and they all tend to feature second-hand (used, vintage) materials or local (artisan, individual) materials or both.
This book differs from most interior decor/architecture books in that there is an emphasis - through interviews with the home owners - on how the houses they have created reflect their values and their desire to live a SLOWer life. It was an inspiring and optimistic book, although it felt repetitious in places. Still, a pleasure to read and look at and be inspired by.
Living mindfully is a central tenet of the 'slow' philosophy, which encourages SLOW - Sustainable, Local, Organic, Whole - choices.
The homes in this book - 20 in total, in 13 different countries - differ in some ways, but there is still an aesthetic (not just in terms of looks, but also philosophy and approach) which unites them. They are all uncluttered, with lots of 'quiet' and empty space; they tend to have a neutral palette, which is restful on the eyes; they all have an emphasis on natural materials and their textures; and they all tend to feature second-hand (used, vintage) materials or local (artisan, individual) materials or both.
This book differs from most interior decor/architecture books in that there is an emphasis - through interviews with the home owners - on how the houses they have created reflect their values and their desire to live a SLOWer life. It was an inspiring and optimistic book, although it felt repetitious in places. Still, a pleasure to read and look at and be inspired by.
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Reading Progress
September 2, 2020
–
Started Reading
September 11, 2020
– Shelved
September 11, 2020
– Shelved as:
furniture
September 11, 2020
– Shelved as:
houses
September 11, 2020
– Shelved as:
interior-decor
September 11, 2020
– Shelved as:
nonfiction
September 11, 2020
– Shelved as:
photography
September 11, 2020
–
Finished Reading
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Carolyn
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Sep 12, 2020 12:15PM
Well, I love all those things - natural materials and textures, rustic and vintage - as well as the SLOW philosophy. While I admire the look of the neutral monochrome palette of whites, beiges, grays, and wood tones, I'm afraid I can't live that way. I definitely have more color in my palette, so not sure whether this book would be one I'd gravitate to. I think I first shied away from the ever present white upholstery as the mother of boys and a household with pets. Like the look, but can't live that way. So exciting about the renovation of the house in France!
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Thanks, Carolyn. I sign on the house tomorrow and then the demolition begins. I can't wait to get to the 'fun' part.I agree that I love the restful look of the neutral palette, but could never live in such a restrained and monochrome way myself. I am very attracted to the idea of using as many second-hand and natural materials as possible, though.
