sutherland shire – The Interiors Addict

How to create your own Wabi Sabi interior

By Jodie Carter

If you haven’t heard of Wabi Sabi before, in simple terms it is translated from Japanese into ‘a beauty of things imperfect, impermanent and incomplete… a beauty of things modest and humble… a beauty of things unconventional”. Originally, the words Wabi Sabi were not used together as they do have quite different meanings. Wabi has come to mean simple, unmaterialistic, humble and in tune with nature. Whereas Sabi means ‘The bloom of time’ such as that beautiful patina of weathered grey wood or aged copper. Nowadays people just use them as one and the term is quite well known around the world.

Image from homelife.com.au: Cherry Cottage in Tasmania – Photography by Jared Fowler

I truly believe this is a valid concept for our times. As we become more aware of the environment and sustainability of our planet, then Wabi Sabi becomes even more important. Not only is it better for our planet to embrace some of our existing pieces but it is quite on trend in interiors today. You will find well known designers and stylists such as Sibella Court successfully using aged items in their designs to great effect.

Wabi Sabi is not actually a design style as such – but rather a mindset of a commitment to using and embracing the less than perfect. Living modestly and learning to be happy with what you have.

Image from homelife.com.au: Wentworth Falls Cottage – photography by Sharyn Cairns

Therefore it doesn’t really matter if you’re looking to create an industrial feel, a loft style apartment or a Hamptons retreat, the Wabi Sabi mindset is an additional tool that is not only good for the environment, its good for your soul and your back pocket.

Real rooms: blending old and new in a Californian bungalow

Interior designer Jodie Carter helped her client tie together the old part of her house (Californian bungalow) with a more modern extension. The client wanted an overall look which was elegant, classic, comfortable, homely and simple, with a bit of wow factor!

“I don’t think Freda could have imagined in her wildest dreams how incredible her lounge room could look,” said Jodie, who is based in the NSW Sutherland Shire. “I had a vision for it right from the start in my head.” Like all good decorators, Jodie had to persuade her client to let go of some things she didn’t want to, and be brave enough to try others. “Small things like gently convincing her that the existing side table and lamp she had would not work in the new room, talking her into having a set of real butterflies on the wall and also the placement of the artworks one above the other either side of the lounge. She wasn’t too sure about that either!”