Form or Function
Which is More Important?
I’ve been thinking a lot about form and function. At particular stages of life, form (designing my high school bedroom) has won and at other stages, function (college) has won. This is a dance we’ll all be doing for the rest of our lives. Currently, as a single woman living alone, I can play with form more than friends with multiple children. I don’t have to worry about children running around and getting things dirty, being tough on furniture, or coloring on wallpaper. However, there are a lot of little people in my life, so function is still important so they feel welcome in my home. And I like to carefully think through my choices so I’m not faced with a high cost item that could be useless in a few years if I’m married and growing a family. The toggle between decorating your “dream” house and it being functional, liveable, and not too precious is real. And I think it’s VERY important to think these things through.
Recently, a friend asked me for my opinion on a mudroom and playroom design for her home in London. I gave her my ideas (charging station, ventilation for those soggy London clothes, designed shoe areas, cork drawer lining to hold delicate items (ipad) in place, and folding hooks) to make these spaces as functional and pretty as possible, but also flagged a few things to stay away from with kids. Cane web front cabinets are stunning, but they are tricky with little ones. At this phase of life, kids can wreck delicate cabinets or get their fingers stuck, so they must be avoided. BUT it’s not an off limits dream, just off limits in the discussed space. It could be great in a higher up cabinet, a primary bedroom, or in an area that isn’t as heavily used as a mudroom and playroom.
If anyone needs help thinking spaces through for their current phase of life, please feel free to reach out! I’m offering design consultation services. My goal is to help you make your space as functional and pretty as possible for your current needs. I love reworking current items, playing with layout, coming up with ideas that haven’t crossed your mind, and getting you the most bang for your buck. Remember, we can have it all, but maybe not at once. I want sculptures on pedestals in my house, but that isn’t practical for me right now with little people and highly active nephews in my life, but one day I will have them!
Here are this week’s interiors finds. . .
1. Outdoor Table with Conical Base 2. The Button Knob 3. Wood Cabinet 4. Made-To-Measure Curtain Rod- Brass 5. Hand Block-Printed Cotton Sham 6. Sardine Salt and Pepper Set 7. Petal Tray Set 8. Tortoiseshell Lacquer Picture Frame 9. Hat and Coat Hook 10. Embroidered Tablecloth 11. Lily of the Valley Plate 12. Hand Block-Printed Linen Pillowcase 13. Tarang Counter Chair
14. Ruffled Glass Vase 15. Holleder Cordless Standing Lamp 16. Myrtle Coastal Beach Dark Brown Rattan Decorative Box- Set of 2 17. Liona Coffee Table 18. Bella Cabinet Handle 19. Navy Blue Striped Spiral Salad Plate 20. Ramie Woven Bamboo Blinds & Shades 21. Guenolee Courcoux Sculpture 22. "I'll Drink To That" Cocktail Napkins 23. Eye Love Pillow 24. Footed Glass Pedestal Cake Stand with Dome 25. Archie Glass Coupes (Set of 6) 26. Mother of Pearl Scalloped Dish 27. Stissing Fire Tools
28. Mini Rocker 29. Marbled Enamel Small Bowl 30. Ripple Gold-Plated Picture Frame 31. Kensley Large Coffee Table 32. Wavy Ceramic Vase x Collagerie 33. Aged Brass Dimmer Switches 34. Vintage Bookends Clam Shell Coastal Design 35. Porcelain Trinket Box 36. Rivoli Tumbler 37. Fermob Luxembourg Bar Stool 38. Florence Ottoman with Shelf 39. French Gilt Wall Lights 40. Faux Bois Log Planter 41. Candy Blue Hand-Blown Bubble Glass Tumbler (Set of 2)
Here are this week’s fashion finds. . .
1. The Phoebe Flats 2. Mid-Rise Relaxed Painter Pull-on Pant 3. The Oyster Belt Buckle 4. European Linen High Waisted Shorts 5. Lily Sandals 6. Soleil Linen Maxi Dress 7. The Flounce Set 8. Venus Caftan in Amazon 9. Maine Isle Tote 10. James Dress 11. Pois Long Kaftan
12. Striped Knit Dress with Linen 13. Vintage Gold Tone Red Lucite Eye Articulated Fish Pendant Necklace 14. Canvas Striped Tote Bag 15. ZW Collection Poplin Shirt Dress 16. Bolso Real Cestino 17. Luna Satin and Lace Top 18. Gemma Cotton Top 19. Pia Poplin Pants 20. Large Chunky Hoops 21. Frame x Sotheby's Cotton Baseball Cap 22. Suis Skirt 23. Crochet Cotton-Blend Minidress
To make things easier, I have created a ShopMy Page with all the goodies from today’s newsletter and previous newsletters. Full disclosure, I may earn a small commission from a retailer if you make a purchase through any of the affiliate links sprinkled throughout this newsletter, which helps me run this newsletter and technology associated with it. As always, if you need help finding something or need ideas for a project, feel free to reach out!
Current Obsessions
-A spread of some of the tennis WAGS. I’m a big tennis watcher and pumped for the US OPEN!
-A NY Penthouse sold for $135 million.
-Nathan Turner has a storefront in LA again!
-The Filoli Estate gardens are stunning.
-Ina Garten is on substack (if you missed the memo).
**DEAR STYLE SNACKS: If you have something you need help finding, troubleshooting, or are curious about, please leave me a comment or send me a message, and I will be sure to feature your question (with the answer) in an upcoming newsletter.**