Whimsy

Life would be tragic if it weren’t funny

– Stephen Hawking

Stephen Hawking, the brilliant physicist, had one goal: to completely understand the universe. I wish the good Professor could have been here this week to explain to us mere mortals how our world sometimes goes so terribly wrong. But humans have one thing in our favor, and that’s our ability to balance tragedy with perspective and humor. We are being sustained by cute and often hilarious videos alongside stories of extraordinary kindness, generosity and creativity. Life can still be magical, sometimes when you least expect it.

For my daily dose of fantasy, which I find essential these days, I reached back to a blog I did a few years ago about the joyfulness of injecting whimsy into home design. This seems like a good time to share it again, and if it brings a smile or lifts a spirit, we can toast Mr. Hawking.

Whimsy is lots of different things, and one fundamental characteristic is unexpected. For example, my old, funky Mexican dining table has been layered with gobs of different colors of paint through the years. It’s surrounded by a mix of vintage chairs – some with cracked blue leather seats and others with pink, gold and green leopard print slipcover dresses with ball fringe dangling from their skirts. A fat fluted red column sits in the corner and an old rusted iron cross pulls the eye to the garden beyond.

The Puppeteer

The Puppeteer is a colorful crazy sculpture with a whiskered blue fox peeking from his hat

In the middle of this capricious mash-up of texture, pattern, shape and color is The Puppeteer – a colorful glazed ceramic sculpture of this crazy guy with a whiskered blue fox peaking from his hat. His right arm wraps around a fanciful replica of the earth shaped like a fishbowl, while an orange and yellow striped puppet perches on his left hand. He’s whimsical and mysterious at the same time. To my eye he looks French, although he was created by California artist Gary Dinnen.

The out-of-the-box sculpture has moved with me through the years, and now sits on a 1932 once elegant black piano that desperately needs refinishing. This unlikely duo sparks joy whenever I pass by, and never ceases to incite conversation when friends walk through the door.

The above photo taken in my previous home and garden demonstrates several of the avenues that lead to creating a whimsical feeling in any room in your home. Here are a few of my favorites:

Juxtaposition

Color ties these whimsical juxtaposed elements together
Color ties these whimsical juxtaposed elements together

Pairing unlikely artwork, fabric, shape and scale can create a whimsical feeling. The contrast of this delicate antique mural with softly curving hills paired with the straight vertical and horizontal lines of the drapery fabric is unanticipated. Throw in the small contemporary geometric table and lamp, juxtaposed to the mural and over-scaled chaise longue, and just looking at this corner vignette makes you feel good.

Pattern

I have always found checkerboard patterns that are ancient and contemporary at the same time to be intriguing. Whether I spot them layered on stone in a majestic European cathedral, or dancing on a wall beside an old bathtub in Santa Fe, checkerboard never fails to make me happy. Perfectly shaped squares in highly contrasting colors repeating on a wall, in a fabric or in a painting invoke an element of playfulness. This once tired bathroom in a hundred-year-old adobe was brought back to life with the crisp contrast of blue and white handmade checkerboard tiles installed behind a vintage clawfoot tub.

A playful checkerboard wall perks up this old bathtub
A playful checkerboard wall perks up this old bathtub

Color

An unexpected combination of red and gold surprises the eye
An unexpected combination of red and gold surprises the eye

Using color in unpredictable ways can create eye-opening appeal in any area of a room. This offbeat half-red, half-gold chair and ottoman would be right at home in Alice’s Wonderland. The enormous curved arms and bold hoofed feet might entice you to sit down and wait for the Mad Hatter to come around the corner.

Shape

Curious shapes in abrupt places can often trigger a good laugh. This rotund, jocular pig greets all those who enter through a family room next to the kitchen island. His commanding presence never ceases to entice giggles from the kids. Mr. Pig’s disproportional body, head and hooves give him a mischievous demeanor, as if he is the ordained keeper of the gate and lord of the manor.

The comical and mischievous Mr. Pig
The comical and mischievous Mr. Pig

Texture

A combination of textures creates whimsy
A combination of textures creates whimsy

An engaging entry table combines unusual textures, including beloved artists Carl and Marie Dern’s eccentric bronze lamp emulating a knotted tree branch. Raggedy torn pieces of handmade paper create the amber-colored ball with swaths of cotton on top. Tiny buttons hang by heavy thread from the bottom of the shade which lights a rustic pressed tin mirror and frame attached to the wall. A tiny papier mâché sculpture peeks from behind a glossy emerald green flower pot displaying large and small green leaves and orange, yellow and gold flowers of all shapes, sizes and textures.

Whimsical Objects

Fairy in the garden
Fairy in the garden

Standalone fanciful objects can stop guests in their tracks as they pause to take in the magic of the moment at first glance. This outdoor sitting area with four big, boxy chairs and round table appears fairly typical in today’s backyard – with one exception. The fairy holding a wand in her right hand and kicking up her flower-bedecked left foot looks joyful and carefree playing in the lawn. Who could resist a closer look?

I continue to enjoy whimsy throughout the seasons as I dress up The Puppeteer and piano with strands of dried marigolds in fall, red holly berries in winter, and bouquets of daffodils and orange tulips in the spring and summer. This precocious display of nature’s crazy rustic textures reflected in the graceful albeit beat-up black piano somehow makes me smile gratefully just to be alive, regardless of the state of this imperfect world. Thank you for the reminder, Mr. Hawking.

I dress up the Puppeteer on the piano with nature from the season

Whimsically yours,

Linda Applewhite's signature
Whimsical painting of Toby
Showing 13 comments
  • Gail Oliver
    Reply

    I love reading your inspirational views!

  • Donna Buehler
    Reply

    FUN living requires whimsy!!!!

  • Sherry Temple
    Reply

    Thank you for the whimsy to brighten my day in these troubled times!

  • Lynn
    Reply

    What a joyful orchestration of whimsy, Linda! I finished your post with a big smile on my face and a commitment to embrace more whimsy in my life, my house, and my garden – thank you for the inspiration!

  • Yvonne Danelle Carpenter
    Reply

    MY FAVORITE——-“TOBY”!. ANYONE WHO HAS A BELOVED PET WOULD ADORE THIS.

  • Joan Von Weien
    Reply

    Love this take on the bright side of our life at this moment! Color, pattern, iconic cheer pieces are what we can sprinkle in, along with reality….:

    I am reminded of what I can bring to this moment! Thank you for this energy.

  • Kay Criley
    Reply

    I must find a whimsical garden fairy for my postage-stamp garden❣️ Thank you, Linda, for your inspiration😘 Kay

  • Kirby Kendrick
    Reply

    I especially love the whimsical sculptures greeting us as we walk in the door. Right off the bat we’re smiling!

  • Jean Bennett
    Reply

    What a happy and inviting place!! Who wouldn’t be able to smile and giggle in such whimsical spaces? There’s nothing like nature, color and art to brighten our days 🙂 Thank you, Linda, for sharing these amazing photos, you inspire me yet again!! 🙂
    Jean

  • Jeri Muhich (was Lacy long ago)
    Reply

    Love how you so joyfully express yourself! I remember when…..

  • Barbara S Allen
    Reply

    I like the garden fairy, too. I’ll have to keep my eyes open to find one for myself. Thanks for the inspiration.

  • Jenny Duffy
    Reply

    I am so glad you are finding peace of mind and and joy. I think we are all doing our best to hang in (because it sure is a bumpy ride right now);). May I ask about the painting behind the fantoche? I love the vivid “blue” color!

  • Jenny Duffy
    Reply

    …and I love how you have recognized the “blue” color in the sly fox next to the painting. Oh Linda, your eye is always delightful.

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