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April 9, 2010

It’s all about the Wabi-Sabi

This past Wednesday, I attended a fantastic information session presented by Pittsburgh Paints. The topic was PPG 2010/2011 Colour Trends. Being the total colour fanatic that I am, I was excited to see the beautiful palettes that designer and colour expert Janice Lindsay shared with us. But I was even more enthralled when she talked about Wabi-Sabi.

What’s Wabi-Sabi?? It’s not that insanely hot green sushi topping that could clear an elephant’s sinuses. Wabi-Sabi is a Japanese concept from the 14th century. It’s a belief in the beauty of humble or handmade things. Beauty is in the flawed and imperfect, not the perfect.

bark bssf wabi sabi poetic home

Value is in the creativity, not the cost.

tonya-goodwin-refresh-agency poetic home

Age adds Wabi-Sabi (good news for those of us who aren’t 20 anymore!!). Antiques hold Wabi-Sabi.

antiques asli-tunca-trouvais-com-5

The concept of Wabi-Sabi is what today’s biggest trend is all about — going back to basics. More and more, we’re looking for goods that are manufactured locally, are simple, and require less processing.

wabi sabi hidden in france

We’re embracing a new type of luxury that focuses on the experience and the internal.

bath

fireplace decorology

We feel a need for play and to be creative and productive (hmmmm, looks destructive to me!!)

dog table decorology

earrings yalos

Many of us upcycle, turning the disposable into the desirable. The flaws in an upcycled piece tell a story and add value.

bench wooowyk celine

If you love well-worn furniture, making old things new again, bringing nature into your home, and using creativity to decorate your home, you may have been following the Wasi-Sabi trend without even knowing it :-)

Wabi-sabi skonahem Wabi-sabi skona hem

My friend Lisa wrote a great post about Wabi-Sabi on her blog, Lisa Goulet Design. Be sure to check it out for more info and pics :-)

But before you go, make sure you enter our Empowering Giveaway to win an original abstract painting by Matt LeBlanc and help the fight against cancer.

I’ll tell you all about the PPG 2010/2011 Colour Trends next week.

Have a great weekend!!

sig new

12 comments:

Karla @ KERRISDALE DESIGN blog said...

oooh love these colours and images Kelly! And I AM a sucker for old and patinaed ...Maybe I've got Wabi-Sabi and I didn't even know it :) Thanks for introducing this concept...sounds like an interesting seminar!

Karla

Donna @ Paisley and Perspective said...

Great post Kelly. Although the seminar was the first time I'd heard of wabi-sabi, I feel like I've known about it for years :)!

Have a great weekend!

Lisa said...

Hey! This is too funny I just posted about wabi-sabi as well and then I'd thought I'd take a look at other posts and I saw yours. You found some great photos I think we have a few the same.

Cheers, Lisa

Laura Trevey said...

What a wonderful post!
I love the saying, "Value is in the creativity, not the cost".

xoxo Laura

Linda @ theLENNOXX said...

Kelly, what a fantastic post! This is why the blog world is so much fun; you learn so much fun stuff like Wabi-Sabi!

Tammy@InStitches said...

I love this concept, it's my new "explanation" when things don't turn out perfect.

Fifi Flowers said...

LOVELY images... LOVE the dog chewing the furniture... very cute!!!

Its So Very Cheri said...

I love it alllllll!!!

I moved my blog to www.itssoverycheri.com and would love to have you guys come over and follow me at the new site.

Cheri

Susan said...

I didn't even know there was a name for it. Out of the loop, now in the loop.

I love the aged worn look especially in cottage or country homes. The sail boats out of driftwood and the first one with the vases really caught my attention, as did the pooch chewing on the table. How cute.

cheers
Susan

Nancy@marcusdesign said...

I love the photos in this post Kelly! Very pretty, I never new the actual term 'Wabi-Sabi', but the concept is wonderful. Everything looking perfect can be quite pretentious, it is so great to mix 'perfect' pieces with natural, handmade, worn pieces. The contrast between these is also a big trend right now!

margie said...

kelly these are fabulous. i love every single shot!! having just finished moving, hello condo life, i am ready to start rearranging the place!!

Tricia - Avolli said...

I couldn't agree more! It is the pieces marked by a good and useful life that give depth and interest to rooms.

My best,
Tricia - Avolli

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