#1. TAKE IT SLOW
I’m shining the light in this first month of 2023 on taking it SLOW. This doesn’t mean kicking back and not getting things done. Au contraire! What if one of your new year commitments is GO SLOW TO GET HIGH? Because when you take the time to make considered decisions about what you buy and how you renovate and decorate, you get to truly feel good.
So how does this slow home revolution work? It starts with kindness and care - valuing your creative self expression and putting people and planet first. It means ‘being more Vivienne’. As with fashion and food, there’s an inherent uplift in buying less, choosing well and making it yourself.
Here’s a few ideas to get you started:
Consider a sustainable paint brand - try Edward Bulmer, Francesca’s Paint, Graphenstone, Little Greene (who also reformulate their left over paint) and Yes Colours, who all have exciting colour ranges.
Use surplus or second hand textiles for your soft furnishings - Haines Collection has a changing collection of beautiful end of roll fabrics saved from landfill or visit a local antiques fair for pretty lace tablecloths or patterned throws which you can repurpose as curtains. Try The Winter Decorative Fair which returns to Battersea Park on 24-29 January or Newark Antiques Fair on 9 and 10 February.
Choose a forever piece crafted from waste - The Meltingpot Table by Dirk van der Kooij is one of my all time favourite investment pieces. Or how about this cool Bit stool by Normann Copenhagen which can double up as a side table or these beautiful coasters, hand made by Weez and Merl here in Brighton.
Buy second hand and vintage - the beauty of this approach is that you add a creative uniqueness to the feeling of your home, where every piece tells a story. I’ll be searching far and wide for you, adding original pieces to my VINTAGE COLLECTION each month, so if you’re looking for something special, drop me a line.
I’m excited to see how the design industry is stepping up again this year. The theme taking centre stage at Maison & Objet in Paris this month is ‘Take Care’. The January 2023 edition “promises to vibrate at the frequency of rising collective consciousness”. Totally here for that!
I’ll share my favourite moments from Paris and more design tips in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, if you’re feeling a refresh - a new colour palette, the need to declutter and reorganise, revamping a spare room or you’re embarking on a full renovation - I’m here for you. Book a free initial call with me to chat through the brief. Can’t wait to hear from you.
With love,
KimX
January 2023