This is Home [antikvár]

INTRODUCTION This is a love story about the home. It celebrates what we have. And reminds us to nurture the space that helps make our lives possible. What makes a home? It seems like a simple question but the answer is a little more complex. In many ways, homes embody how we live and see ourselves. And these spaces evolve when we focus on what makes us happy. This is sometimes easier said than done, though. It requires reflection and thoughtfiil choices, but it is a rewarding process. When we create a place that meets our needs on many levels, and expresses our character, we can enrich our lives. These ideas have emerged while working for more than ten years in the interiors industry - first as a writer, and then as a stylist and former deputy editor of a homes magazine, and more recently as a designer and shopkeeper. During this time I've seen hundreds, if not thousands, of residences -across all spectrums. What I've learnt is that when you walk into some homes they instantly feel welcoming. Not only do you want to be there but part of you doesn't want to leave. And it's not just because you enjoy the company or admire the decor - although both help - but there's something else. The space feels authentic, a genuine reflection of the person or family who lives there. Homes that have a strong sense of identity often belong to people who are thoughtful with all that they do. That's not to say you need lots of money or status to create a beautiful home. In fact, many of the homes in this book belong to people who live quiet lives. But they have been considered in their choices. And they have made decisions based on their needs and what works in their home. Because it makes them happy. It brings them contentment and joy. It makes them feel calm and comfortable. And having a home that meets their needs means that they can turn their focus onto other realms, from raising a family, building a business, developing an art practice, travelling the world, indulging a hobby or creating another home. For this book, I have travelled across four continents and seven countries, and stepped inside more than twenty residences, to see if there is some universality to the idea of home and what makes us happy in our spaces. The people on the following pages have different needs and resources but have all created authentic homes where they can enjoy both the simplest and grandest gestures oflife. Some of them have created the foundations of a home quite quickly because it was important for them to be surrounded by pieces that had meaning and brought comfort, especially when living in a city or country far removed from their own. Some have created unique and effective solutions for their space precisely because they didn't have an infinite budget. And others have allowed themselves the luxury of time - slowly and thoughtfully adding to their collections over the years - perhaps an item found while on travels or something that was saved for and happily moved from one dwelling to another. While every home in this book is a living example of a warm and genuine space, these homes also shine a light on what happens when we focus on what we value - we can create our best spaces. On page 7 are my ten foundations for creating an authentic and wholehearted space. They don't have to be followed sequentially - often the concepts overlap and reinforce one another. And just like a home, this is not a process that'ends' Homes always need to change and adapt, and the more that we engage with the process of decision-making, curating and arranging, the better we get at it. 1 hope the homes and stories in this book remind us that when we focus on what makes us happy, we can create a life of meaning. And that can begin at home. < The author Natalie Walton at work in her home In the Yarramalong Valley of NSW, Australia.