Endings are Also Beginnings

Authenticity One of the most challenging feats of design is authenticity. Authenticity is the quality of being genuine or real. Authenticity in design is about making the choices that please you and that fit the personality you want to portray. The choices we make in designing our living spaces represent who we are and how we want people who visit our homes to see us. The furniture we choose, the color palettes we gravitate toward, and even the dominant shape themes we use say something about how we approach the world. For example, I tend to prefer masculine shapes over feminine shapes. I like clean lines and dark tones, but to soften up the hard edges, I like to add greenery or flowers. Authenticity can’t be achieved by a quick run through a big box store grabbing every piece of decor that might work in your space. It happens over time. It happens through collections and for me, that’s a lot of vintage pieces with an aged patina. My collections lean toward faith based pieces such as crucifixes and Christ statuaries. An authentic design doesn’t necessarily try to match any single recognized movement, such as farmhouse modern, traditional or minimalism. You may find that the elements that match your personality also fit neatly within a specific design scheme, but at its most extreme, authentic design may be a mash-up of design elements. Don’t feel like you have to embrace any one trend. Or that you should choose styles that seem chic and current, but end up making you feel like a visitor in your own home. Your decorating choices should always say “this is me/ this is us.”