(Photo: Tonya Goodwin, via Poetic Home)
Ryan and I are book hoarders. Our shelves are filling up fast. As part of our recovery plan, we finally signed up for library cards last night. One book that jumped out at me was The Wabi-Sabi House – The Japanese Art of Imperfect Beauty by Robyn Griggs Lawrence. I had never heard the term “wabi-sabi” before. Then today I saw this article on apartment therapy. Apparently the magazine Sköna Hem just did a feature on the concept a few months ago.
Wabi has to do with humility and simplicity while sabi refers to beauty in the natural flow of time. It is “underplayed and modest, the kind of quiet, undeclared beauty that waits patiently to be discovered”.
It’s a whole philosophy and way of life. This may seem incredibly shallow, but I’m just happy that I never have to use the phrase “shabby-chic” ever again.
Check it out on Amazon:
I can appreciate that. There’s “shabby-chic” and then there’s “wabi-sabi.” I took a quiz once to discover my home decorating style and it said I was a cottage something or other. I felt a little misunderstood because there’s more to it, and an understanding of simplicity and beauty. Not that I base my style on what the internet tells me.
Hey, Britt: Thanks so much for the shout-out about my book! It’s such a treat to see others discovering wabi-sabi…and one of the first things I always tell people is that it’s not shabby chic…there’s much more depth to it than that. It does seem like the time is ripe for more and more of us to take up this way of life. (Awesome photo, by the way!)
das nice. I love soft grey walls with pops of colour. you’re nice too. I like you and the pretty things you put on here. you’re pretty.
This is interesting. Wabi Sabi. I just finished reading “Slow is Beautiful” by Cecile Andrews – this seems to be at least borne of the same cultural movement as the “slow” movement. The book really just validated my current lifestyle. It made me feel okay about not accomplishing anything. I spend time with friends and read. Today I hung out with Ian, tried to pick up a cheque from a photo shoot I did last week, and then listened to the entire Mother Mother discography. I’m a slow guru.