I can't overemphasize how important it is to make you interior your own. It can't all come from a store or a magazine. You need to get your hands dirty. You can wear little white gloves if you don't like getting your actual hands dirty, but you must put them to work. I'm inclined to be a little worried about someone who needs gloves, but it's more important that you are taking action and I can't criticize you for that. If you need the gloves to get going, fine, go for it. As for where you get those cute little gloves I have no idea, you're on your own there. Start making things and I will promise not to disparage. It doesn't matter so much how you get there only that you arrive safely. I will say one more thing and drop the issue of the gloves for good. Getting your hands dirty can be a part of the process and if you are afraid of that part you might want to question your levels of commitment and dedication.
Okay, with these images today I want to focus your thoughts on how you can make things (call it art or whatever you like) and those things can be both practical and beautiful. Things that look good and things that are functional are not exclusive. Ideally you can make all of your functional things look good. Doing so will again require work on your part since it's really impossible that all of your functional things can look good straight from the store. These are two great examples of how you can get started.
I'm sure you're aware that most book covers are lousy. If you have an area where your books are in view remaking those covers is a almost mandatory in managing your interior. It's a lot of work and I'll admit that even I haven't gone all the way with this one, but you really don't need to do every book. Start with one. Then do another. Then do another and you'll have three. And keep going. You could do one a week. Or one every other odd numbered day in each odd numbered month. Here's a tip: focus your attention on the spines- the front and back covers can be blank if the books remain stacked.
It is possible to get well designed books, in fact, I would advise that you stop buying poorly designed books and look to buy more well designed books. Get the ugly ones from the library and buy the cute ones with the intent of displaying them.
Don't forget to get creative with the book stops. If you live near some trees you can chop one down and have lots of dividers on your shelves and have plenty left over to give as gifts to your tree loving (or hating) friends. Also think about other uses for that tree before you turn it into 54,000 book stops.
Next up is a bag. It is of course useful. I don't think I need to talk in length about how bags can be useful. What you should notice here is how this bag is hung. Bags need a place. It's easy to throw them on a chair or table, which can look good, but not always, and not with every bag. You need a variety of techniques for dealing with where you put your bags so I've decided to focus on one of the lesser known. This bag is hung from a nail. That's all you need. Put a nail in the wall. How easy right? The important part is that it's hung in a way which lets you know to stop and look at it. It should demand that. Many bags like attention. This one certainly does. Look at it. Such cachet. While not the focus of this particular post, you should know that the actual bag is critical. And I advocate making (or at least altering) the bag yourself.
Everything I've covered here will take practice. You don't jump ahead to making fantastic things like these examples right away. What you need to do first is slowly begin to change your thinking. Here's how I would start. Rather than immediately assuming things need to be bought ask yourself if you could make them. For the ugly things (if they are screamingly hideous and you don't use them just throw them out) you already own ask yourself if you could alter them. As you get started making and altering, work into it slowly. Don't try to tackle every project and skill at once. Give each the attention it needs to be learned and executed properly. As your skills and confidence grow you will quickly be able to personalize almost everything you buy. Very few people get this far, but it's really not too difficult once you really get started. Be persistent. Now put on your gloves and get to work.
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