Spring is just around the corner here in Melbourne and with that comes an avalanche of books being published in time for the gift giving seasons that will follow.
On the weekend I spent a few hours in the studio with the intention to tidy and restyle the shelves but as it so frequently happens I found myself leafing through magazines, and books getting giddy with ideas for our renovation. There are a few books that I pop back to time and time again so I thought I would share them with you today.
The Art of Simple by Eleanor Ozich.
I love this book. It makes me feel serene just looking at it. I found it super inspiring, not only by the way of recipes and practical decluttering tips, but its beautiful photography of real spaces inside Eleanor’s home which she shares with small children!
This is Eleanor’s third book where she embraces her quest to cherish life’s simple pleasures. She moved with her family to the outskirts of the city. She also includes instructions for making natural beauty products and household cleaners, which promise to cost you less and be kinder to you and the environment. Brace yourself, she has one of the nicest laundry baskets ever which resulted in my spending hours online trying to find the same one (hint: search for french market basket with leather handles).
The Scandinavian Home by Niki Brantmark.
I am a huge fan of Niki’s blog, My Scandinavian Home, and when this book can out in 2017 I just had to gift it to myself.
Scandinavian homes are renowned for their distinctive style and attention to the simple, form and function. Home owners are inspired by light (they enjoy an abundance of it in the Summer and very little of it in Winter). This book is a collection of beautiful homes and Niki takes us through the subtle changes of urban loving to country homes to rural retreats.
The Kinfolk Home by Nathan Williams.
You need to be sitting with a tasty beverage in hand and a candle flickering beside you to read this book. It’s an inspiring read with a peek into 35 different homes to show case slow living at its best. Each of the homes and the residents inside share their principles of simplifying their lives, reclaiming leisure time and cultivating a community. The photography is second to none and if I could live inside a book, it would be this one!
It’s Beautiful Here by Megan Morton.
I attended one of Megan’s Styling Masterclasses last year and it changed my life.
I sat with her for a day and was so inspired by the joy, passion and spirit of her that I promptly went home (well I didn’t really, I stayed and chatted to her for a while after the class) and drew up a plan of what TDC could be. If you get the chance, I whole heartedly encourage you to attend one of her classes, not only for the amazing wealth of information Megan shares, but just for the joy of spending a day with one of the happiest people I have met. But be warned, she’ll ask you some hard questions about your goals and dreams and will press you for an answer.
If you can’t get along to a workshop, then definitely buy/borrow/read Megan’s books. It’s not often that books sound like their author in real life, but these gems do. Not only are all of Megan’s books beautifully photographed but the tips and insights shared by Megan are invaluable.
It’s Beautiful Here is packed with homes that make your heart skip along with the stories of the people who live there. It’s so different in interior style to all of the books mentioned earlier in this blog post, but it is deliciously inspiring so I just had to include it.
Enjoy!