Wabi-Sabi: Embracing Imperfection
As a follow up to our post about Hygge, the Danish concept of creating joy and coziness in life's everyday moments, we wanted to talk about the Japanese philosophy of Wabi-Sabi and how it relates to interior design and everyday life.
At its core, Wabi-Sabi is the concept of accepting imperfection. Roughly translated, Wabi means rustic simplicity or understated elegance and Sabi means taking pleasure in the imperfect. It believes that beauty is imperfect, impermanent and incomplete. Its roots come from the Japanese Tea Ceremony, which is a ritual of purity and simplicity, in which the handmade bowls and utensils that are used are often irregularly shaped and worn due to use. These items are celebrated for their beauty, which comes from their deliberate imperfections and their emotional significance.
As recovering perfectionists (okay, we may be 'in recovery'), Kirsten and I are constantly reminding each other 'not to let the perfect be the enemy of the good'. This phrase has actually helped us immensely by giving us permission to put things out that may not be 'perfect' in our minds (whatever that might be!), but it moves the process along while allowing us to make improvements and tweaks over time, or sometimes just accepting it as it is.
This aesthetic is also making its way into home design, by embracing the lived-in and weathered. It is a move away from the impractical sleek images that we are bombarded with on social media, to an aesthetic that is more functional and livable.
It’s a long awaited invitation to stray from convention and expectation and instead celebrate individuality and comfort.
Dayna Isom Johnson, Canadian Living
It is also a celebration of sentimentality, embracing items whose beauty comes from their meaning rather than their austere beauty. This could mean a weathered armchair that was a family heirloom or a piece of ceramic whose beauty comes from its uniqueness and the story that it tells. It also encourages us to choose materials that weather beautifully over time such as wood, stone and metal and to choose colours that are a reflection of those seen in nature. In this way it very much aligns with the concepts behind Hygge, in the way that it promotes natural elements, colours and simplicity, and in its belief that every object in your home should be beautiful, useful or both.
medium.com
Wabi-Sabi is the antithesis to big box stores, fast fashion and mass consumption. At West Side Storeys we like to call ourselves the Mom & Pop shop in the big box world of real estate, and Wabi-Sabi embraces a lot of what we believe in and strive for - quality over quantity, true connection with our clients, relationship building, the importance of community, shopping local, waste reduction and an appreciation for the uniqueness and history of the older homes that we buy and sell.
In the end, there really is no such thing as perfection, whether it be in design, houses, or let's face it, life. So isn't the pursuit of perfection inevitably a path to unhappiness and dissatisfaction? Wabi-sabi shifts this focus to one of gratitude and appreciation for what we already have, rather than the pursuit of the next shiny new thing. This powerful shift in perspective can help us to feel more peaceful and content in the current moment and improve our quality of life.
Why not try to embrace imperfection and maybe even take it a step further and seek it out? A good exercise is to purposely choose items with obvious flaws and love and cherish them for those flaws, not despite of them. By embracing an attitude of Wabi-Sabi, you allow your home to become a true reflection of who you are and perhaps this shift in attitude will lead to an acceptance and celebration of the imperfection in all aspects of our lives....wrinkles and all ;)
Making the Most of your Outdoor Space!
gabenjenny.com
One of my favorite things about summer is dining outdoors, especially this summer! The glorious weather we have enjoyed this summer has allowed us to get out of our houses (finally!) and feel a sense of normalcy after all those months stuck inside.
Even though Labour Day is fast approaching, there is still time to take advantage of the warm weather and the chance to dine ‘al fresco’, so we pulled together some outdoor dining furniture that works well with the outdoor living themes from last month. Bring in similar pops of colour, be consistent with style, and you will have expanded your functional living space all season long.
Outdoor areas are also a great place to have some fun and experiment with your style. Boho not your thing but you've always wanted to give it a try? Decorating outside is an easy way to get out of your comfort zone! Here are some great outdoor looks inspired by some of our favorite west end Toronto neighborhoods. We hope they will inspire you to make the most of your outdoor space.
Dishes | LED Candles | Table | Chairs | Bar Cart
Dishes | LED Lanterns | Table | Chairs | Storage Cabinet
Dishes | Solar Lantern | Table | Chairs | Serving Table
Dishes | Solar Lantern | Table | Chairs | Bar Cart
We plan on taking advantage of outdoor dining as long as we can, and don’t forget you can always invest in a propane heater and extend your outdoor dining season well into the fall! Have fun with it and enjoy!
Best of the West: Toronto Dog Parks
Here is a guide to the best places to take our furry friends off leash in Toronto's west end!
There are a lot of amazing things about having a dog, but one of my favourites is that they force you to get out and walk, regardless of the weather or your mood, you just have to get out there. So we have put together a list of the best places to take your pooch to get them (and you!) some exercise, and maybe a little social interaction along the way.
High Park
The big daddy of all the off leash parks, High Park has 8.5 acres of leash free trails as well as the crown jewel, Dog Hill. Located just east of the Grenadier Restaurant, and complete with picnic tables and doggy water fountains, Dog Hill is a dog lover's delight, with dogs of every size and breed cavorting around leash-free.
Sorauren Avenue Park
Located in Roncesvalles, at Sorauren and Fermanagh, this fenced-in leash free area can be enjoyed while you take in a soccer or baseball game on one of the adjacent sports fields. Added bonus, if you are there on a Monday be sure to pop into the Sorauren Farmer's Market, which takes place every Monday from 3-7pm.
Beresford Park
This small park tucked in the middle of Bloor West Village, at Beresford & Ardagh, has a dog park frequented by the many dog lovers in the area.
Baird Park
This park is located on the east side of Keele Street at Humberside, in between High Park and The Junction. Baird Park is a small park known for its active lawn bowling club, but also features a leash-free dog park which is well used by many local residents.
Coronation Park
If you want to enjoy the lake views while walking your dog, unfortunately you will have to keep them on a leash, but if you walk east along the Martin Goodman Trail to Fort York Blvd., you can lose the leash when you hit the large, fenced-in leash-free area at Coronation Park.
Sir Casimir Gzowski Park
This park, at the foot of Windermere, is also located off the Martin Goodman Trail, and allows you to go off leash while taking advantage of some spectacular lake views. If you continue on the trail heading west, you can also let your pooch run free at Humber Bay Park West (located at the bottom of Park Lawn Road).
Colonel Samuel Smith Park
In south Etobicoke, at Lake Shore & Kipling and just south of Humber College, lies the sprawling Colonel Samuel Smith Park. This lovely park, on the shores of Lake Ontario, features an outdoor skating track, playground and of course, a leash-free dog zone.
King's Mill Park
The trails along the Humber River, that run west from the Old Mill, are another wonderful place to go for a dog walk, but leashes are required here. However, you can start or end your stroll with a trip to the leash free area in nearby King's Mill Park, which is located on the banks of the Humber, just south of Bloor Street.
Trinity Bellwoods Park
A little further east, but well worth mentioning, is beautiful Trinity Bellwoods Park. Located on the north side of Queen Street at Strachan, this 38 acre park is an oasis in the middle of bustling West Queen West, and also allows you to let your best friend roam free in their designated off leash area.
Is there something you would like featured in an upcoming "Best of the West' post, or something you think we missed? Feel free to drop us a line - we are always available to chat!
Taking the Overwhelm out of Downsizing Your Home
Some of our favourite recent clients have been those who have been downsizing from their current home to a smaller, more manageable home or condo, a family suite in a family member’s home or to a retirement residence. We love taking the time to guide these clients through this big life transition and help them to start this new chapter in their lives.
Many of these clients have been in their homes for decades and some as long as half a century. These clients endear themselves to us with their stories about how the neighbourhoods have changed, the neighbours who have come and gone, the home renovations they have undertaken and the families they have raised within the walls of these homes. We are honoured and grateful to take this journey with them and consider it a privilege to play a part in this transition.
Some of these clients are in their 70’s, their children have long left home and they are finding that they either don’t want to or can’t manage the responsibilities of maintaining a house any longer. These clients require special attention because most have not moved for many years, they often have accumulated decades worth of belongings that need to be sorted and organized, and it is common for them to feel overwhelmed by the process and all the decisions that need to be made.
However, not everyone considers downsizing later in life, some other motivating factors can be a need to reduce household expenses or pursue a simpler lifestyle, a divorce, an empty nest or the desire to reduce responsibilities in order to enjoy more financial freedom and travel. Regardless of the reason or motivation, the process is similar for everyone and requires compassion, sensitivity and proactive planning.
We take a very thoughtful approach to the downsizing process and are sensitive to the many emotional components that this transition can trigger. Dealing with items belonging to family members who have passed away, engaging grown children in the downsizing process, getting rid of sentimental items that no longer fit or serve and dealing with estates or the division of assets are just a few of the unique obstacles that we need to consider and navigate. With these things in mind, we often suggest beginning this process far in advance of the proposed move in order to avoid undue stress and overwhelm. We sit down with our clients and map out a detailed plan of how to get them from where they are to where they want to go, and implement a timeline and provide resources to help get them there.
You can find more details about how we approach the downsizing process on our downsizing services page. If downsizing is something you are considering but don’t know where to start, we would be happy to sit down with you and chat through your options. With a good plan and an experienced team behind you, downsizing doesn’t have to be overwhelming and can open you up to a world of possibilities!