Materials worth waiting for.
Hello friend,
As gas, food, and clothing prices steadily increase, how do we cope? Many of us are evaluating this question with the same sense of necessity as our foremothers in ages past. This is also an interesting topic in interior design, because designers, in general, aren’t known for frugality or minimalism. So why am I bringing it up? Because I believe that both traits can help guide our purchases in our homes.
A client’s guest house, furnished with vintage furniture, wool rugs, and the same care as the main home. Photography by Mali Azima.
“The difference between style and fashion is quality.” Giorgio Armani
Here are a few questions to begin to understand what is worthy of your home.
1-Will this item last 15-20 years with regular maintenance and cleaning? This litmus test is so simple when you answer honestly and do a little research.
2-Does this item express my authentic style? If I think it does, do I already own a version of it?
3-Do I have a perfect spot for this item? Take some time to figure it out.
4-Are there some other things that I should do to my home before bringing in an item like this? For example, with an interior design project, we usually “prep the canvas” first by thoroughly cleaning, painting, and doing any handy work required before installing the furnishings. These steps are critical to creating a home that looks and feels ready for a beautiful transformation.
5-Is this item I’m coveting made from materials that have been around for generations? For example- wool, wood, linen, cotton, glass, stone, or porcelain…you get the picture.
A deeply saturated wool rug lays the foundation for this client’s living room. Photography by Christina Wedge.
Can I answer “yes” to all of these questions? If so, that is probably a great purchase; it may take some time to save for this type of item. That time spent intentionally saving also makes the purchase feel even more special. It slows my roll, which not only saves me money but is also more sustainable for my lifestyle and for the environment.
We were able to reupholster these beautiful dining chairs and reuse the table and buffet. Bonus for linen curtains, wool rug, and the beautiful collection of artwork. Photography by Mali Azima.
“Be a yardstick of quality. Some people aren’t used to an environment where excellence is expected.” Steve Jobs
So what are some of the main items worth the wait in your home? A few items at the top of my list that are worth the wait include hand-knotted wool rugs, linen sheets, hardwood floors, vintage wood furniture, and well-made upholstery. These items are typically more expensive than their cheaper counterparts: polypropylene rugs, plastic-made sheets, luxury vinyl planks, veneer over particle board, and fast upholstery (similar to fast fashion, which is made by people in terrible working conditions who are paid very little). Most of these less expensive items are made from plastic or oil-based products and usually end up broken or worn, in a landfill, or donated within 5 years. And if it is made from plastic or petroleum products, it will be in a landfill for longer than we will be alive! We already know this, but we need to slow down our purchasing enough to truly consider these factors and find special items that are natural, handmade, and will last through pets, kids, and life.
This solid wood walnut kitchen will stand the test of time. Photography by Christina Wedge.
The first thing that comes to mind regarding my own home is when we redid our hardwood floors about 15 years ago. Our little 1920’s bungalow had original wood floors, carpet upstairs, and grey ceramic tiles in the kitchen. We had a decision to make: the carpet and tiles were ugly, worn, and frankly, beyond repair. Even though it was more expensive, we removed both and installed hardwood floors. Then we refinished all the old floors to make them look new and integrate them with the new ones. We did not need to remove the original wood floors. As a matter of fact, our wood floor installer said we probably still have one or two more refinishes on our over-100-year-old floors!
During spring cleaning this year, I finally sent my rugs off to be professionally washed. One rug was given to us by Ed’s parents, so I know it is well over 50 years old. I also found our kitchen Persian runner at a church yard sale a dozen years ago. Hand-knotted wool rugs are my passion-I love them. My mom even asked if I got a new rug after cleaning. “Nope, this is the same rug that you have seen in my living room for the past 10 years”. Isn’t that cool? It was not inexpensive to clean these rugs; they submerge the rugs, remove all the dirt, spot-clean, and then lay everything in the sun to dry. It is a fairly labor-intensive process, so the price reflects that. I felt like everything looked so fresh after this cleaning, and I did not purchase anything new.
This living room has a mix of old and new materials, all high quality. Photography by Christina Wedge.
Most of the furnishings in my house are vintage. Many of them are mid-century pieces that we found locally at City Issue, The Modernist, or Westside Modern in Atlanta. My husband Ed also has a superpower for finding cool vintage pieces online. Over the years, he found our dining chairs and table (which have lasted through when our kids were small) and my favorite green sofa. These decisions take time, but they are surprisingly free of regret or the need for replacement, some even after decades. Some items that we buy are new, like the sectional we lounge on to watch tv, or the drink tables and bookshelves that support our comfort. However, these items are well-made and use high-quality materials. The sectional can be reupholstered in 10 years, and the little tables are made of metal, stone, and glass. I have not always made these quality decisions, but you don’t actually see those mistakes in my house. Mainly because they eventually looked terrible and needed replacing!
“Women who have understood fashion and style have known it’s not about more pieces. It’s about having the right pieces and having the pieces that are of great quality and look like you know what you are doing.” Meghan Markle
I think that we can find comfort in the quest for quality. I believe that it also saves money in the long run. Pausing, saving a few more dollars, and waiting until it is the right time is good for my budget and, in a small way, even the world.
Next week, Ed and I are heading to Vienna and Budapest with our best friends. I am excited to share our adventures with you! Stay tuned, and if you have any advice on these two historical spots, please email me at stephanie@balancedesignatlanta.com. Looking forward to it!
Thank you,
Stephanie