Why do some homes make you feel instantly comfortable as soon as you walk through the front door?
And why do some homeowners have that innate ability to create lived-in spaces that feel so authentic and true to their personalities? These are questions author, designer, stylist and shopkeeper Natalie Walton, addresses in her first book, This is Home.
With over 10 year’s experience in the interiors industry as a stylist and deputy editor of a homes magazine, Natalie is well placed to reflect on the elements of homes that can have more than just an aesthetic impact on the lives of the occupants and their guests.
Before you write it off as another high-brow design tome, it’s heartening to discover that a big budget isn’t always necessary to create the spaces she works with and writes about. Natalie says, “…many of the homes in this book belong to people who live quiet lives. But they have been considered in their choices”.
This is Home offers a glimpse into over 15 simple yet stunning abodes from around the world and is overflowing with inspirational imagery and storytelling. Natalie offers practical advice throughout the book, which is divided into three sections: Create, Live and Nurture. Referring often to the significance of value-guided decision making, she simplifies the whole ‘making a home’ process which can seem so daunting to us lay folk.
With an emphasis on the virtues of patience and trust, this book made me think about the importance of slowing down, honouring my own style and ignoring the trends. Natalie advises readers that “few spaces look their best when first finished – they benefit from the layers that come with life”.
I could not love this sentiment more. I look around me and notice the items in my home that I cherish because of the time or place they represent in my life and the memories they evoke. And then there are the spaces and the blank walls that I have not yet filled. I’m okay with these spaces for now. Maybe they don’t need to be filled at all? Time will tell.
Buy your copy of This is Home: The Art of Simple Living here.
