Buy Only What You Love

We do not see things as they are. We see them as we are.

– The Talmud

I heard an interview with Gloria Steinem on NPR a while back. She was talking about her book, My Life on the Road. In her early years, Steinem traveled with her family by car throughout the U.S., living for long stretches of time out of boxes.

It wasn’t until her 50s that Gloria bought her first home – an apartment in New York City. When a close friend came to visit and saw towers of boxes in every room, she told Gloria, “You need to buy some furniture,” and offered to take her shopping.

As they ventured into one of Manhattan’s tony antique stores, her friend pulled Gloria aside and whispered in her ear, “Buy only what you fall in love with, because if the same person buys what they love, then everything will go together.”

Revere Your Eye for Beauty

Listening on my car radio, I totally connected to her story. I, too, have always advised friends and clients to only buy what they really love. But Gloria’s friend was wise. She knew that on some level, we all have a personal eye for beauty, and if we honor that eye when furnishing our homes, everything will work together.

After 30 years of helping people select items for their homes, I have repeatedly witnessed that color, shape, texture and pattern are very personal, and each of us has a unique eye for our own preferences. And the great benefit this personal eye gives us is a one-of-a-kind, often timeless home that reflects who we are.

Be True To Yourself 

I was in Crate & Barrel recently, looking for a lamp for a client’s beach house. My eye was drawn throughout the store to all the new shapes, colors and patterns C&B was displaying for the new season. After finding a lamp my client loved, I passed the glassware section of the store and remembered I was down to just a few of the cool green polka dot glasses I bought in Mexico a few years ago. But after looking closely at the many choices, I walked away empty handed. As lovely as the selection of glassware was, nothing really spoke to me. Rather than following what’s new and sparkly in the retail world, I deferred to my personal eye for beauty and decided to wait until I found glasses I truly loved.

Surround Yourself with Objects You Love

Whether it’s glasses, lamps, chairs, art, rugs or dishes, if you see something that makes your heart sing every time you look at it, chances are it will live in harmony among the other objects you have chosen for your home. Remember, it’s not just the way a home looks, it’s the way it feels. Just like notes in a symphony, each distinct object in your home will contribute to the special music of who you truly are – in your heart of hearts, your wildest dreams and your quietest moments. At the end of the day, I hope you come home to your self!

For the love of the music your symphony creates,