The Stylish House is for kindred spirits interested in making their NEST clever, stylish, warm and inviting!
Trust me, I know what the “Good Stuff” is, but the last time I checked I still wasn’t a Rockefeller descendant! When some people meet me for the first time socially they've commented “I could never have you come to my home because it isn’t up to snuff”. Or they want to visit mine to check it out, and give it the scratch and sniff test! In the food chain of life there will always be someone with less and someone with more. I appreciate a touch of whimsy and follow a healthy philosophy, which is to relax and enjoy what I have. Gaining confidence comes from doing quality work to the best of your ability, and not getting hung up on unachievable perfectionism. What good is it to create a meticulous home if you’ve driven everyone insane during the process, and accumulated a mountain of debt?
I believe you should throw that dinner party even though your table is a hand me down from your mom.
I believe there is a maturity and satisfaction that comes from saving up for a special piece that you will enjoy for many years.
I believe in creating a game plan that makes the most of what you have to make your decorating dollars stretch as far as they can.
I believe the most interesting rooms are developed over time.
What are your thoughts on authentic living?
Posted To: The Inspired Room
I sure do love this! You are an amazing human being...it shines through your blog! So glad I found you! Meme
ReplyDelete"To thine own self be true" That phrase applies
ReplyDeleteto every facet of one's life. By following that
credo, you will always be comfortable in your
life. A motto that I used when graduating from
highschool was "To each his own." Took that from
a popular song of the day...not as being selfish
but as being independent and responsible for
my life and actions. That makes one less insecure in thoughts, actions, and feelings.
It all adds up to being self confident and
reinforcing that base for life. This applies
to your home which is your personal "castle".
Whether a cottage or a mansion, it is yours
to really enjoy and share with friends.
I so agree. Most everything in my home is bouht on sale, found at consignment shope, goodwill, floor samples, or hand me downs. I treasure all of these things and have had them for years and years. They have become part of me and they make my home mine. I really don't know of much I would change if I were a Rockefeller. Hugs, Marty
ReplyDeleteHi Cathy
ReplyDeleteI think these are very wise words!! In fact when I finally had the money to buy matching sofas and matching nightstands etc I looked around and realised something was missing!! The love and effort that ones makes to create their own space over time .. it was strange.. I lost the heart!! I suspect growing up with mismatched furniture and a home lovingly put together on a shoestring is what makes a home for me.
Have a great weekend.. xx Julie
Those are such great words of wisdom! I have always had more than I needed but not as much as some ...I am just now, late in life, discovering that I should have been much more secure in myself and my ability to share my home with others. I hope that we will all take your words to heart and be generous and open with our things, our homes, our talents because what is the use of having these lovelies, unless we share them?I love your blog and am inspired over and over! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteCathy,
ReplyDeleteYou are very wise indeed...I thoroughly enjoy all my freebies, garage sale, thrift market and thrift store finds... at one time they belonged to prosperous ladies and are cast offs I adore, it amazes me what people chunk...
Oh and Cathy, my children often refer to me as Mrs. Rockefeller because over the years I have learned you don't have to be rich to enjoy the richness of life and they know when it is really cold I am going to wear......my fur!
Thank you for your sweet comment on my blog...since I have been slowing down on my blog, I can see who really supports me. You are a true friend.
Good luck with your projects this weekend!!!!
Lee
I agree with you on all accounts. I know some people truly admire me for my house and some almost dislike me because of it. My home is one of my passions, an extention of myself, and it is what I can afford. It's a place my hubby and I are comfortable in and look forward to coming home to always. You are so right about the most interesting rooms being developed over time. Most of my stuff has come from Thrift stores, found over time, except for my really big items, couch, livngrm chairs and our beds. They were all new.
ReplyDeleteWell, since my tagline for The Inspired Room proclaims my aspirations towards Authentic Living, I have lots of thoughts on that topic! Basically for me it means I can only live in a way is appropriate for me, right now. I don't have to pretend or impress, I need to be true to myself.
ReplyDeleteGreat thoughts! Thanks for sharing your link at The Inspired Room!
Love your outlook. When I was younger I thought you had to be aware of labels and buying "only the best" - I now know I was simply young and insecure! Keep things around you that make you happy - no matter where they come from!
ReplyDeleteSusan
C! I love this! You are right, of course. When we come to the end of our lives, we won't look back and regret that our design and decor wasn't perfect! I have a list of beliefs too, and you're one of them. :)
ReplyDeleteI think vintage makes for great apperances miss match gives personality
ReplyDeleteAmen Cathy!! So very true :) A few years ago when me and hubby were first married. We started out with what he had in his apartment as a single guy.. so a broken futon and an awful coffee table LOL! I LOVE a good challenge and he wasnt partial to the broken futon so now we have a cozy little place. It's warm and very inviting. Everyone just loves being here. What more could you ask for :)
ReplyDeleteCathy, what a great post. I think an authentic life will be reflected in ones decor. I love having thrift items in my home as I know they were once special to someone else who for various reasons, could'nt keep them. Now they have another home where they are cherished and appreciated.
ReplyDeleteCathy,
ReplyDeleteI love your post. I find as I get older that I long more for the type of home that I grew up in. So to me authentic living is when someone comes into your home, sits down and feels comfortable enough to put their feet up. It's all about surrounding yourself with things you love and furnishings that you have collected over time.
Sissie
I so agree with you! And you are completely right about creating a game plan to make the most of a your resources!
ReplyDeleteIt's taken me many years to learn this important lesson. I think being yourself is the best gift you can give anyone. Waiting for perfection keeps you from enjoying the life you have been given. Thanks for these very wise words!
ReplyDeleteCathy, this is a great post! I agree with you on all of your points, and you said all of it so well. laurie
ReplyDeleteI love this post! After years of trying to be someone that I am not...I have started getting to know my true self over the last few years and found out that I am a pretty cool lady...warts and all as they say. It takes lots of work to get to that point in life but I completely agree that it is SO worth it! This is my first visit to your site! Thanks for the reminder and the inspiration!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful photo to illustrate this wonderful post ;o) I would title that photo - "Relaxed elegance"! Love it! Great thoughts!
ReplyDeleteAuthentic does not have to be the picture perfect place, but the fun and memorable get-together gatherings are those spent where family and friends are welcomed with open doors and hearts, unconditionally and at all times. It's the thought of giving them the pleasure through what your home has to offer...even if the best may not happen to be Limoge or Van Gogh.
Blessings & Aloha!
(oh...also thank you so much for stopping by and for your very kind comment! I truly enjoy finding your comments. ...regarding yourquestion about the artwork that I do...depending on the details involved, it takes 3 to 4 hours to do one of them. I really try to complete an order & shipped off within a few days.) sorry for my lengthy comment here! I tried to email you back with this part, but my server was acting up! better get off to bed, it's after 1am! With work, free blog time is limited :o)
Hi There,
ReplyDeleteVery good sentiments you have. I believe that the secret to authentic living is to be comfortable in your own skin, being yourself and standing up for what you believe in. Not always an easy task in this world we live in but nevertheless important.
Love your blog site and posts. Wonderfully inspiring and beautiful.
God Bless,
Legacy Crafter
Hello :)
ReplyDeleteI think these are very wise words.
Have a great weekend.
Blessing Wilhelmiina again from finland :)
I am with you, Cathy. So spot on! My fondest memories of childhood was the many parties my parent would have. More often than not, more guests showed up than anticipated. My father would break out the saw horses and create mock tables, mama would throw a table cloth over it and viola! I don't ever recall anyone complaining they had to eat their meal on a door. ha! I just rememeber all the joy and laughter, great food, festive music, and all the love.
ReplyDeleteThank you for putting it so eloquently and to the point.
Cheers,
Tina
I agree Cathy. You have such insightful posts and I thoroughly enjoy every visit I make (frequently) to your blog. I love your pic here too!
ReplyDeleteAmen! I couldn't agree more! It is so important to stay true to YOU, not what trends and fads are. If you happen to like a trend- great, but who will be living in that house- you and your loved ones!
ReplyDeleteOh, I just love this post! Thank you so much for sharing these words. I have a tendency to drive those around me crazy trying to obtain the perfect look in my house. And I needed to be reminded of these few basics. I'm a girl living on a pastor's wife budget but with doctor's wife taste so I have to be ultra creative in copying a nice, rich look but within our means. Thanking God here for TJ Max and Marshall's! I loved your post on 10" molding in a bathroom a while back. We are about to move into an old charming 1925 house where we are gutting three bathrooms. I'm overwhelmed to say the least but your blogs has been a great inspiration to me. Thanks so much!
ReplyDeleteOh Cathy..did I ever need to stop by and read your powerful post! Your words went straight to my weary heart! Thank you for putting so much in proper perspective for me this evening! Blessings and sunshine, Terri
ReplyDeleteWell said Cathy, and just what I needed to hear as well! It's really to impossible to keep up with(and afford)to redecorate with every changing style and trend... Well that is unless of course you ARE a Rockefeller!
ReplyDeleteSince I'm not either... I really appreciate what you've said here (I'm sure my hubby will too!), and I'll be looking at my surroundings a bit more contentment now.
Thanks!!
Sherri:)
I agree Cathy.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful post.
I just want to say hello and regards.
First visit I must follow your blog,
ReplyDeleteI so agree. In France, we don't spend a lot of money with furniture and other things. We only buy what we love and we use it. Everything has history or we give them one. I am talking about my Master bedroom right now on my blog. You can tell. I don't have a lot of things. I have never done a spending spree for furniture. Also, everything has a place in my head. So i don't spend and store it.
ReplyDeletewww.lechateaudesfleurs.blogspot.com
I am looking for friends.
Hi Cathy!
ReplyDeleteOh, I love this post! You are so right - authentic living means being yourself and using the resources you have at hand! You've got to be comfortable in your own skin and your own home and that means that everyone living in the home from the smallest child to the most discerning adult must feel comfortable. Love what you had to say! Thanks for stopping by to visit. I really appreciated your sweet comments. I will be seeing you around. Take care and keep encouraging others. That's a gift!
Warmly,
Alisa
So true! I was just telling my husband today that at my age I no longer feel the need to be perfect. It feels really good not to sweat the little stuff!
ReplyDeleteThis is a great post, love your outlook! I've been in the Antique business for about 12 years, so I love to decorate with antiques and vintage items, and always love it when I can find a good deal. Have a blessed day!
ReplyDeleteDaphne
Hi Cathy! YAY!!! Someone finally said what I was always thinking!! YOur words are so true & to thy self be true! Sometimes I felt soo bad I could not buy the most expensive things for my home...Now...I only buy what I love..expensive or not! Thank you wise girl!
ReplyDeleteHugs..
Deb:)
You know what, Cathy. We had people over for our last small group with little blue pieces of painter's tape all over our house from where we had marked it up for the drywall repair guy. He had come earlier in the day to do patch work (under the first year home repair, which was a little past a year). He asked that we leave it up until he came back the next week to sand. We also had lovely white patches everywhere next to the blue tape pieces.
ReplyDeleteNow we have sanded patches everywhere on our ceilings and in some of our wall/ceiling cracks. We have small group again next Tuesday, and it's going to look just like it does now.
It's about people. I've come to that conclusion.
Authentic living to me means - no pretense.
ReplyDeleteMy best times were in my little house when my children were small and having it crammed full with family and friends playing board games.
I don't want to be alone with expensive, over the top, out to impress - stuff.
I always enjoy reading your blog and look forward to the next.
Betsy
It is said that everything in our body changes out every 7 years. That being said our tastes evolve over time also. If I were to have bought everything I wanted 20 years ago all at once I would hate it all now. Instead we have bought individual things we really love over time. So the tea table we got 20 years ago is still one of my favorite things and the sofa that is 12 is also a favorite thing, which was saved for making it all the more cherished. When we pull out the piano bench to get enough seating around the dining room table because we haven't found enough chairs that we love we make memories for our Grands. Helping them understand gratification can be delayed.
ReplyDeleteLove the new "Welcome" photo!
ReplyDeleteI believe a family that plays together - stays together and a cozy house is best of all.
ReplyDeleteHi Cathy! Just dropping by to see how you are. I miss you! Hope your world is good!
ReplyDeletehugs,
Tina
Cathy I love your philosophy and adhere to it also! Being content, for me, has taken years. I still love new things and better things but I am so thrilled with life and what I have . I am blessed beyond measure! Your blog is beautiful. And I am so happy to have found you. I am a new follower!
ReplyDeleteYVonne
A room (home) is lovingly put together over time - it isn't just "bought."
ReplyDeleteCathy, the thoughts were in my head and they just appeared on your blog! I would love to feature this post and create a link to your blog. Could you e-mail me (on my blog) and let me know if that would by okay. I think this is such an important post! It has taken me years of collecting, doing without, making do, enjoying what I have, and learning what I love to develop the "created over time" style I treasure now. I have priceless things, and priceless to me things! All mixed up and all loved.
ReplyDeleteI have never done this before, but this is such a timely and important message.
Well said!!!!!
Yvonne
Hi Cathy,
ReplyDeleteI agree completely with your philosophy! You've expressed it beautifully. I feel sad when I think of people who have no confidence in their own tastes and preferences ... and for those who think something is only special or has value if it cost them a king's ransom. It's refreshing that you, as a talented decorator, feel as you do on this topic.
Thank you for this fascinating, thought-provoking post.
Regards,
Bill
Hi Cathy, Since I have found you earlier this week I have been peeking at your blog. Beautiful and so well done. I am featuring you as SG Blog OF The Week on my sidebar! My visitors will love to visit you too!
ReplyDeleteYvonne
Hi Cathy... no need to write my thoughts about authentic living because it is like you have already read my mind! Beautifully put :)
ReplyDeleteCathy