Beautiful Choices
October 1, 2009 by Angela Esnouf
Filed under Organising Space
“Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful”
– William Morris
This well-known quote by renowned English decorative artist, William Morris, is something of a commandment in the Professional Organising world. But for a true appreciation of how this works best, there is one necessary addition to this quote…
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Recently I asked a group of seminar attendees if they had a favourite cup. Without exception each one did, as did their partner and other family members. These favourites could be found at the front of cupboard, in regular use. Then there were the cups reserved for guests and some which were only used once or twice a year when need dictated. Finally there were those stuck at the very back of the cupboard, never used. Perhaps they were chipped or stained, or they’d been a gift from someone disagreeable or at a time which they’d rather forget.
Do you have a favourite cup? Do you use it often? Does it make you smile?
Are there cups you never use? Are they hidden at the back of the cupboard so you never have to look at them?
Back to William Morris and his wisdom. Yes, cups are useful but really, how many do you need? Having too many cups is no longer useful, it is a burden. Time to play favourites and find room for the beautiful cups.
Where else could you apply this principle?
- Pens
- Books
- Bedlinen
- Trinkets
- Friends?
What beautiful choices will you make?
When Karen told me this month’s theme, I panicked. So much choice, it was like a blank cheque. Like you, I find beauty in everything, but you hit on one of my passions – crockery! I don’t have collections of anything, but I seem to have acquired a lot of crockery that inspires me and I choose to use it all. Even when mugs get slightly chipped, if they’re favourites, I plant cress or herbs in them and keep them on the window-ledge.
I’m gutting my home at the moment and have let go of fifty years worth of possessions that no longer energise me or earn their place by being beautiful or functional or both.
Thanks!
I have so many pretty things given to me over the years. When I had children I started to put these things away so they wouldn’t be damaged but that means I don’t see them. I have started to sort through things recently and I am loving it. i find crystal that brings my nana back. I have old clocks that are grandpa. I even have a piece of twisted wire jewellery that was made by my first ever boyfriend during maths class! The items are lovely but it is the memories that make them precious to me.
Thank you for your article.
Have had a holiday house for several years that is filled with some bits and pieces that I really love and enjoy becasue they are lovely pottery and music.
But we have finally accepted that we do not use the house often enough to justtify the cost and upkeep. It is on an island in Bass strait so it is very expensive to ship things back to the mainland.
Now I was very keen to do that thinking that we would have extra linen etc plus spare whitegoods and furniture that might be useful sometime.
But having put the house on the market and having someone wanting much of what is in the house I had a real awakening. Apart from the music and pottery I really do not care about the rest of the things plus the cost of bringing them back to the mainland and then paying to store them was a foolish waste.
So with the proceeds of the sale we are going to have the new kitchen and garden room we have always wanted, plus a few other modifications to make live easisr as we get older and will invest the rest to fund future holidays that some one else will cook the meals and make th e beds etc etc etc .
Thanks Angela you are slowly but surely moving my thinkiong. The Sallies got six more bags last week and more to come.