Bops & Bits

Be comfortable in your domain.  Let your space serve you well but keep you humble!

There is joy, relief, efficiency, comfort, beauty, and honesty in simplicity... -and no pressure to maintain a perfect finish on furniture!

Hi everyone, sorry it's been a while since my last post. It wasn't because my love for simple, natural, and unpretentious spaces (or things, or people) went away!

It's easy to be distracted by stuff (like dining furniture, silverware, glassware, etc) in pursuit of an enjoyable dining experience but what really matters most (and a lot harder to have) is good company. An unpretentious setting is not just OK but preferable so everyone can be themselves. Whether it's some flowers in a vase, a potted plant nearby, or a lush garden, let nature provide all the aesthetic touches.

Simple, honest, natural, functional.

It is the modest, the natural, the cozy and the comfortable that soothe our souls and make us happy -not the fancy, the luxurious, and the pretentious.  The former brings us together and the latter feeds the status quo and puts barriers between us. That's a great simple coffee table in the bottom picture!

Here are some inspiring pictures of amazing cabins in beautiful settings. Enjoy!

I'm not sure I would like to live in such isolation, but the settings are definitely great and the images offer a lot of inspiration for a simpler and more natural architecture and landscaping.

Just looking at these images is relaxing, and make no mistake, the humble setting & materials have a hand in that effect, too. It would not be as relaxing with super polished fancy stuff. Keep things simple and enjoy life!

Martha* shows us that it can be nice to let plants grow where they may, and display their natural characteristics.  No need to force them into submission, and if you do, you usually miss out on what can be more beautiful and easier to maintain. *This image is from Martha Stewart's Skylands property.

Seeking perfection is pathological and wasteful. Don't put yourself in debt and tie yourself down to jobs you don't like, just so you can have a bigger house, fancy furniture, or a brand new car. We have one life and it goes by faster than you think - try to maximize your freedom and enjoy it.

This is one of the best tree houses ever, and it's made from scrap pieces of wood. The bottom image offers more luxury but still a lot of inspiration for a simpler and more natural life.

Textiles make a room/bed/couch/etc cozier. When picking textiles go for character and simplicity, that way they'll cheer you up and help you relax.  The fancy stuff is for show and you can't really use them comfortably for fear of staining them or pulling a thread, or something.

Adirondack chairs are great!  They're simply put together, they're very comfortable, and even their iconic looks inspire a desire to relax!  Who says they're "meant" for outdoors anyway?  Might as well place them somewhere where they'll get more use! (That end table's pretty cool, too.)

Don't get sold on the idea that fancy and pricey things are more beautiful.  Most often they lack sincerity, and in places & in things (just as in people) nothing is as beautiful as the simple and the natural.