Lovely things

I'm not buying, just looking.

While I have been barely home - and am, of course, not buying anything - I have been browsing. I spend a lot of time looking at stuff, knowing its unlikely I will buy, because it feels as though all of this feeds into the idea of my own taste. I like comparing what catches my eye with what I own; sometimes what I look at is very cohesive with what I have, sometimes it’s a reminder that I like things that wouldn’t really work with what I have and love, and sometimes it brings to my attention that I am hanging onto things I don’t love, and there is better out there. A lot of the furniture in my apartment was free, and I do objectively feel it is to my taste … but if I was replacing it, I might choose something in a very different style.

So here is some stuff that has been thrilling me recently.

This vase from Kahler! I rarely have fresh flowers in my house, a throwback to when I had cats who would eat them. I keep some dried eucalyptus leaves in a tall ribbed clear vase which is reminiscent of this one from Pols Potten, and when I have flowers I tend to just put them in a jug. In my fantasy life, I would have way more vases and jugs. I am slightly obsessed with this one from Abask but I already have a couple of beautiful under-used jugs, and given a chance would go for the crazy Kahler vase over a jug.

Several years ago, I posted a photo of a wire hanging down from the ceiling of my bedroom, and wrote: “My next project!” By “several years ago”, I mean, “over 10 years ago”, and obviously the wire is still there. I probably notice it about once every two years, and it’s unlikely I’ll ever get round to doing anything about it, but I do every so often check out desirable lampshades. It’s possible that I actually have a lampshade I love put away in storage, but whatevs.

I love this rattan lampshade I saw on Nordic Nest, my favourite browsing website. I don’t know if I love it more than this Caravane one, though. The rattan one is a much better price, but I’m sure Caravane did a much cheaper version of the brass one.

To be honest, my lighting game should be stronger. The mythical several years ago I decided I wanted the most minimal lights possible, and shoved very basic IKEA ones everywhere (black metal stand, pleated white shades) which are now boring me to death, so I am gradually trying to replace them with something more interesting. And I do love this for a table although this is my ideal: the Verner Panton flowerpot from &Tradition. I rather love this Westwing one too. I have this H&M one (I loathe H&M, but I do often check out HM Home, and their lighting suppliers are exceptional). I do love a metal lamp.

I went on to the Sezane website specifically to link to this lamp, and oh my! they really have some gorgeous new ones.

This stripy cup! And really, the whole set. I absolutely daydream about having a set of matching coffee cups, with saucers, and probably an adorable little milk jug as well, but the reality is that I drink my coffee out of a thimble-sized vessel without a handle or a saucer, and I have about a million charming little cups already, beautifully mismatched. I saw this blue Japanese crockery in David Mellow a little while ago and fell in love with it, and then found it again on Abask. The price means it’s very unlikely I will ever own any of it, but I still enjoy admiring it. And this little cup from David Mellor - I already have the dark violet one so I could see a tiny collection of these happening…

I have a fantasy of an alternative life in which I have a chic minimalist home not entirely furnished with acquired bits and pieces. Don’t get me wrong, I couldn’t live without the acquired stuff - I tend to get ridiculously attached to pieces of furniture and once I have it I find it hard to let go, especially if it has already lived a few lives. The fantasy is more how I would furnish my (fantasy) retreat. And on that note, I really love these bedside tables from Hiro. Bedside tables need to have some storage, and I love that these are open. But I also have a long-term passion for the Componibili units from Kartell; I stayed in a hotel once where they were the bedside tables, and I loved them. But I really want one for kitchen storage. Or for keeping Ella’s stuff in the living room! If only I hadn’t decided I had too much furniture and need to get rid of some, so obviously the last thing I need is more. But if I was in the market, I love these.

Thanks for reading! This particular post normally sits in my drafts and I add stuff to it as I see it (there is always some kind of Things I Like post in drafts). I had planned to publish a response to Kate Watson-Smyth’s post below because as soon as I read it I was inspired to write, but this last week has been slightly frantic, and I have the snottiest, stinkiest of stinking colds, so just looking at pretty things has been very soothing.

What three words: interiors edition