At least I spent some time on researching the different magazines (ie wasted half a day on the magazines' websites and blogs) so that I could find one magazine that wouldn't drive me mad with its fussy childless coordinated wallpapers and divans. I realised that what I want is an interior design mag that looks like an Ikea catalogue - something that admits most people want their seating to face the television and kids own more than one toy each. I settled for Real Living mag, which gives Ikea and Spotlight pos-mens and is a bit more attainable than those mags that worship Alessi and, I don't know, whatever other overpriced designers I'm not cool enough to have heard of. And happily, the edition I bought is out of date today so there'll be a brand new one for me to buy as soon as I find another $6.95 down the back of the couch!
Anywho, the current issue is all about Eclectic, which I've decided is my thing. Nothing has to match and you can mix in questionable hard rubbish finds with last year's Ikea markdowns. It's individual and yooneek. But upon careful browsing of the magazine I found there are rules to eclecticism - four essentials that a home must have to be truly individual and eclectic. I've counted how many times each of these essentials appear in separate features of this single issue.
1. Anglophilia - four appearances
It doesn't matter how far removed the Anglo-Celtics are from your heritage, decorating your home with a misappropriated Union Jack or quaint WWII slogan adds instant cache. It's pop, it's retro! And far less risk of cultural insensitivity than decorating in an Asian theme when you can't even pronounce your favourite dish in the Thai takeaway menu. Just make sure you know the difference between a Union Jack, St George's Cross, Britain, the United Kingdom and England. Nothing more embarrassing than referring to your Union Jack wall art as 'the English flag'.
2. Bus & Tram Scrolls - four appearances
Trams are in, hurrah for me. Being a more attainable magazine Real Living features screenprints of public transport destination scrolls rather than recommending you shell out thousands for the real thing. If you want to find out who's making screenprinted tram scrolls rather than fiddly appliqued tram cushions you'll have to buy the mag - I'm not going to use my own blog to promote my more successful competitors.
3. Wooden Letters - five appearances
Spell out your driving force by writing it on the wall. Although you might want to think twice about nailing 'Subtlety' to your mantlepiece. Even cooler than full words is the first initials of the house's residents (in mismatched distressed colours and sizes, of course) or one large random letter in your favourite vintage typeface. Putting WTFLOL or FIGJAM on the wall probably isn't considered eclectic.
4. Blackboard paint - four appearances
Very practical. I'm not being sarcastic. Although given the fact that blackboard paint only featured in the homes without children, I'm thinking it's less about giving littlies an acceptable creative outlet and more the contemporary version of Joey & Chandler's Magna Doodle message board. Kids' stuff in an adult home - quirky and cool. Kids' stuff in a family home - you'd better pack that away before someone notices you procreated.
I hope my Sunday cynicism doesn't lead you to believe I dislike all these things, or think less of people who have them. I want blackboard paint when we buy a house - but it'll be for the kids. Our loungeroom has a Transport for London poster but that's because my hubby's British and we used to live there. I'm envious of people who can put this kind of stuff together out of an internal sense of style rather than grabbing at whatever's in this month's magazine or style blog. But the idea of buying individuality is a big turn-off.
A side note - interestingly, all the blog posts I borrowed images from (click the images to view original sources) are from 2008-09. I guess that goes to show Real Living's idea of eclectic really is retro.
6 comments:
"Although you might want to think twice about nailing 'Subtlety' to your mantlepiece."
Oh, that cracked me up! Love the post.
Aren't big letters around the house and chalkboard paint fads of the early 00s? What comes around goes around, but I'm thinking those two are a bit too familiar to be considered new trends again.
(We happen to have train and London-themed stuff in our house, but that's because Paul's an ex train enthusiast and we went to London in '05.)
Great post Jen!
I spent far too long this morning over a cup of tea flipping through the design*sponge before/after posts .. I love these. Wish I had enough time to finish decorating Nash street!
Ha Ha I'd love to walk into someone's house and see WTFLOL on the wall!
I had chalkboard paint in the kitchen in 2003. I think that fad might be over Real Living.
You're so on the money. You make me laugh!
I was subscribed to Real Living for about a year, but after 3 issues it was evident that 'real' was not really part of the agenda. Sadly, that was after I'd bought the blackboard paint. It's been a total waste of space. Luckily I have my 'words' of inspiration (DIE DIE DIE, and YOU BORE ME) to keep me enthused in my quest for individuality, along side my 'Keep Clam and Carry Bong' poster.
Hehe so true. My style is certainly eclectic too (because nothing matches). But you have me pegged too Mrs.
I have 3/4 of the checklist checked and I admit I love my chalkboard pantry door, anything British (reminds me of my Dad and Grandparents), and there might be a letter or 2 floating around (from Lincraft, not of the vintage variety). My house doesn't look like a RL photo though. I have too much junk.
Have fun nesting with your magazines. (I think we are due around the same time- Septemberish?)
Just reading through Sept's copy of Better Home's and Gardens, and they have a flea market style article, and guess what they have...
union jack cushions & station signs..
no blackboard paint but they do have some polar fleece covered letters!!
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