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New book says authenticity helps a house become a home

May 10, 2018 Leave a Comment

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Recently published, This is Home: The Art of Simple Living is a richly-illustrated interiors tome that looks at all the ingredients that turn the humble house into a warm and inviting home. Written by writer and stylist Natalie Walton, the book uses a number of inspiring real homes to illustrate her ideas.

This is home book cover

โ€œThe book was an idea that was percolating over a number of years during my work as a stylist for interiors magazines. I had visited all sorts of spaces – from highly specified architect-designed mansions to creative and quirky artist warehouse conversions, and started to question why some places felt more like a home than others. I realised that it was nothing to do with income or even where a person lived, but everything to do with how authentic the space was โ€“ that is, the homeowner was creating a place to meet their own needs, and tell their own stories rather than copying a look,โ€ says Natalie.

This Is Home kitchen pic

Natalie believes there are ten key elements required to create a home and the book covers all of them with gorgeous real-life homes to illustrate. โ€œSo many books focus on the surface concerns of an interior, but they donโ€™t consider how a place makes us feel. Thereโ€™s not much point creating a โ€˜lookโ€™ if it has no meaning for you, because you will soon become bored or frustrated with elements of it as it isnโ€™t actually meeting your needs, or part of your story,” says Natalieย who also owns the online homewares business Imprint House.

This is Home gallery wall

“Another important element was to consider the life that is lived within a home โ€“ that places where we celebrate birthdays, mark important milestones in our lives, as well as places where we want to retreat from the world, and wind down from our days. They are where we can rest our bodies, restore our minds and revive our spirits,โ€ says Natalie.

This is home plates

As for the bookโ€™s title, Natalie is keen to impress that โ€˜simple livingโ€™ isnโ€™t about minimalism. โ€œItโ€™s not about stripping your home of all possessions. Instead itโ€™s about being true to yourself, and your story. And creating a space that meets your needs โ€“ to create a place that will make you safe, secure, loved, nurtured and to become yourself, as defined by Maslowโ€™s seminal hierarchy of needs,โ€ says Natalie.

This is Home dining room

So, while itโ€™s not a new idea, Natalie is championing the idea of the authentic home, rather than a derivative one which is a valid message in times when an Insta-scroll can prove a homogenous experience. And while she has many tips to impart, she shares her top two tips for people looking to create their own unique style below.

What do you value?
Natalie believes itโ€™s important to have a clear sense of what you value when making decisions for your home. โ€œIt might be artistry, sustainability, quality or innovation, for example. When you have an idea about whatโ€™s important to you and your way of living then you will have an easy way to navigate through decision-making processes. Think about this in relation to the type of dining table you might want to buy โ€“ whatโ€™s important to you about it โ€“ that it has been handmade or that itโ€™s innovative in terms of its structure?โ€ says Natalie.

This Is Home

Tell your own story
Natalie believes Another important element is to tell your story at home. We can so easily get caught up in other peopleโ€™s stories, what their homes look like, and how they live their lives. But itโ€™s important to keep focussed on who we are, our interests, our journey and tell that story in our home. In other words, to live authentically.

This is Home plants

Photography: Chris Warnes

This Is Homeย by Natalie Walton is published by Hardie Grant Books, RRP $55, and is available in stores nationallyย and online.

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Not many friends in life fall into the unofficial Not many friends in life fall into the unofficial family category and they're a special gift. So ends three weeks with @danisteve81 who left her husband and son in the UK (I'm forever grateful they lent her to me!) to come and cheer me up and help me in the most practical ways after I spent Christmas and New Year in hospital. There were tears and I miss her so much already but how amazing to have had all that time together as adults. Such a rare treat and would never have happened without having been through something so challenging. Silver linings and all that. So many other friends have also been incredibly thoughtful and kind. There aren't many times I'd say this without cringing but I am 100% blessed!

I still cannot believe we have been friends since we were 12! 12! Are you still close with your childhood besties?
The renovation of this 80s beach shack @camillo_ho The renovation of this 80s beach shack @camillo_house is a work of art and while almost every surface was updated, the decision to keep the original slate floor was genius if you ask us. 

Owner @clarehillier__ says: "With its purple, pink, red and brown tones, the slate was the starting point for our interior palette."

Come and check out the before and afters via link in bio now and read the reno story. It's a real beauty.

And you can book it for your next holiday too!

Blair Smith Architecture @kateshanasy

#slatefloor #slatefloors #80shouse #80sbeauty #camillohouse #interiorsblog #interiorsblogger #interiorsaddict #theinteriorsaddict #jenbishop #realreno #holidayhousesofinstagram #morningtonpeninsulahomes #morningtonpeninsula #morningtonpeninsulasmallbusiness #blairgowrie #blairgowriebeach #airbnbstyle
Me and my boys ๐Ÿ’— Me and my boys ๐Ÿ’—
Just a couple of dorks who've been friends for thr Just a couple of dorks who've been friends for three decades going out for a child-free dinner ๐Ÿ’“๐Ÿ˜
Excuse me while I die of a cute attack ๐Ÿฅฐ @damia Excuse me while I die of a cute attack ๐Ÿฅฐ @damianfrancis 

This doesn't happen often these days!
Hello friends! Just thought I'd say hi. Two weeks Hello friends! Just thought I'd say hi. Two weeks since leaving hospital and I'm doing much better than I expected to be at this early stage. A long recovery road ahead but making progress in how much I can move my arm and although I drag myself through some days non-stop yawning, others I can go for a little walk or out for lunch before collapsing on the couch! I can now tie my own hair back and put on a real bra which is very exciting ๐Ÿคฃ Having my bestie here to help us with the boys, drive me places and just be brilliant positive company is the best thing I could have asked for not to mention the many Dinner Ladies vouchers from friends! Thanks for all your kind messages, cards, flowers, gifts and offers of help โค๏ธ
I definitely feel like a statistic now but hoping I definitely feel like a statistic now but hoping to raise some awareness off the back of my misfortune (and also very lucky escape).

@newsouthwaleshealth have just put out this warning about a rise in serious bacterial infections. iGAS (invasive group A streptococcus) is what caused my necrotising fasciitis and sepsis.

Apparently there's similar happening in VIC too.

It's extremely rare but very serious nonetheless so please have a read and be aware of symptoms. I've linked to the article from a button via my link in bio.

#interiorsaddict #jenbishop #necrotisingfasciitis #groupastrep #groupastreptococcus #sepsis
While new technologies continue to shape the inter While new technologies continue to shape the interior design scene, one that has been getting a fair bit of traction of late isย marble-look porcelain. A cheaper alternative to natural stone, the latest printed porcelain tile technology makes it difficult to distinguish from the real thing.

Founded by husband and wife duo Anton and Rita Bourtsev, Sydneyโ€™s @kaolintiles has a unique offering in this space with over 100 different marble-look tile designs in small and large formats.

More via link in bio now.

#porcelain #porcelaintile #porcelaintiles #largeformattiles #largeformattile #marblelooktiles #bathroomtrends2023 #interiorsaddict #theinteriorsaddict #heartyourhome #realrenovations #goldsink #brasssink #jenbishop #kaolin #kaolintiles #interiorsblog #interiorsblogger
Promise this is the last wretched hospital photo I Promise this is the last wretched hospital photo I'll post and I hope to be home and with my lippie back on by Monday. You know it's serious when I'm lipstick free, right?!

This was about a week ago in intensive care. And although my arm is still bloody sore I'm now on a normal ward and no longer attached to any drips, drains or a catheter. I've come a long way.

This has been the most physical and mental challenge of my life but I'm through the worst. I kept my arm. The doctors saved my life.

I cannot say it enough times. If you're worried about your health, don't hang around. Things can change so quickly. 

A huge thanks to my amazing husband @damianfrancis We've had the hardest year yet and our marriage has never been stronger, even if my rings did get cut off my finger in hospital ๐Ÿ˜œ

As great of a job as he is doing at home with the kids, I cannot wait to get home now. Countdown is on to a new year and a fresh start.

And I can't say enough just how overwhelmingly grateful I am to all the medical professionals involved in my care, from the @healthdirectaus nurse who sent me to Emergency to the exceptional surgeons, doctors, nurses and support staff.

Happy New Year, everyone. Remember you never know what's around the corner and this is not a dress rehearsal!

And huge thank you for all your kindness here. Has been amazing while stuck in bed.

Xxx

For those who missed it, I was unlucky enough to get necrotising fasciitis. You'll have to Google it.
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Amy Collins Walker

About Amy Collins Walker

Amy is our regular feature writer, an experienced journalist and interior stylist living in Perth, Western Australia. Find out more about her styling work at http://www.amycollinswalker.com/

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