To Our Readers
Design maestro Ralph Lauren, whom we’re featuring this month, always believed that “personal style is about having a sense of who you are and what you believe in, and that can develop into self-confidence. And once you have that self-confidence, you can wear whatever you want and project something personal about who you are and how you feel”. Defining your style can be applied to how you dress up your home too. Along the way, you develop a particular taste for a certain style – are you into the classic, contemporary, modern, minimalist, colourful or zen inspired? Or perhaps you like the decor style of the Balinese, Scandinavian, Moroccan, Parisian and so on? Whatever your design style may be, it speaks volumes about your personality and what matters most to you. For instance, a Scandinavian aesthetic combines elements of functionality, natural materials and pops of colour, that everything has its own place and purpose, with a touch of whimsy and playfulness. A visitor will get the impression that the owner is practical yet inviting, calm, restrained, authentic, and a tad whimsical. Basically, a style is a guideline, a base so that you have a focus on where to start. There are no set rules when it comes to building your dream home. What matters is how it relates to the people living in it. Just take a look at the fabulous homes featured in this issue. There’s a couple that wanted to create a beautiful home they can call their own while listening to their hearts. As the lady homeowner says, “After all, we are the ones who will be spending the time here. It was therefore necessary to constantly ask ourselves: is this what we want to see
“Stick to the things you really love. An honest room is always up to date.” – Billy Baldwin, renowned New York interior decorator
in the days to come?” Living in a world that moves at such a frenetic speed, let our homes become sanctuaries that we retreat to at the end of the day, where we can feel safe, recharge, meditate, pursue a craft, or be with our loved ones. Let it be a place where we can simply be ourselves. As spring is the season of rebirth or renewal, this is a good time as any to spruce up the house and make the space more inviting, invigorating and more you.