A few years back, when I was getting ready to sell my home of 15 years, my mother lamented– “But you have created such an oasis of calm and peace here. How can you even think of leaving it?”
I replied, “I have that calm and peace within. I carry it with me. I can recreate it anywhere.
That said, the past year has not been calm or peaceful. But I still carry those feelings within me. And it is time to recreate it here.
As I have written before, I love the location of this apartment in a walkable city. I love being on the second floor up in the tree canopy. We are three blocks from the Metro train, which my son takes to school.
What I do not love is that the building manager smokes cigarettes in his workshop in the basement and the hallways smell like an ashtray. Also, the lady in the apartment below me is hard of hearing and in the evening I can hear her TV blaring. Ever the minimalist, I have solved two problems with one appliance: the air purifier. It cleans the air and the white noise of the fan cancels out the TV noise.
So how do we create “serene?” First we declutter. Then we clean. Then we add some nature elements.
As a sometime renter, I have noted that most folks do not have the same standards for cleanliness that I do. To be fair, none of my roommates or husbands did either. So, I have always understood that cleaning to my standards was a beauty requirement that I needed, but others have not. No judgement. I’m just taking care of my own needs here.
I’m not going to lie to you, this was a significant time investment. But I had recently attended an art show with a friend and we both loved a particular piece that had been created with a 24″ x 18″ piece of paper and a sewing needle. The needle had been used to poke holes in the handmade paper in a complex and beautiful pattern. I estimate that it took hundreds of hours of human labor to create.
And I asked myself, “What beautiful thing do I want to create this week?” And the answer was, “A serene home.”
You may see more serene home post in the coming weeks as I manifest that calm and peace from my heart to the apartment.
Quaker Stylist 
That WOOD!! So very beautiful. My own experience of restoring wood objects is that it’s a process restorative to the self.
And the FROG!! There’s no sense of scale, but he looks weighty, princely and grounded.
“True simplicity consists not in the use of particular forms, but
in foregoing overindulgence, in maintaining humility of spirit and
in keeping the material surroundings of our lives directly serviceable to necessary ends,
even though those surroundings may be characterized by grace, symmetry and beauty.”
NYM Faith & Practice
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Oh Lou– “…even though those surroundings may be characterized by grace, symmetry and beauty.” Well, yeah! Because keeping things simple and honest and clean leads to a particular kind of beauty. Glitter is not required!
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I love your simple, three-step process for creating a serene home. I know you’re not saying it’s easy, but it’s simple.
The artwork you describe sounds awesome!
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It is from this artist and show….https://www.artforum.com/print/previews/201907/zarina-atlas-of-her-world-80584
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Thanks for the link. I looked her up, what wonderful, textural, monochromatic art pieces!
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We are very blessed in StL to have access to world class art. There is a travelling Gauguin show at the main art museum right now.
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I love all of this!
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I second Elizabeth’s comment. And I can’t wait to read more about this.
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I am in love with this new serie. Very much looking forward to the upcoming posts. Inspiring! Exactly what I am looking for by following this blog. Thanks Fawn!
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Thanks for the encouragement!
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