Balancing a hobby with styling
You think you know the people in your life pretty well, right? Their likes, dislikes and even favourite colours. But, sometimes that perception of a friend can be completely blasted into oblivion the moment you walk into their homes.
Here’s an example: your work colleague is having a little party and has invited all staff to their home. Now, you know this person, let’s call him Fred, loves his car – the V8 Holden Commodore. You know Fred collects memorabilia and treats his car like it’s made from gold. However, nothing could have prepared you for the onslaught of Holden paraphernalia on entering his home. From framed posters posing as ‘art’ on the wall, model cars, kitschy ashtrays, tea towels and EVEN the linen, it was as if Holden had vomited all over the house. Where did Fred go wrong?
When it goes completely wrong
Now, the example might be a little extreme, but sometimes, people’s hobbies dominate or rather completely overtake the styling of a home. I have seen this phenomenon in many homes, and sometimes it is subtle. Often it extends from a favourite colour (think everything purple!) or a favourite city (we’ve all been in a Francophile’s home and seen the Eiffel tower invade every nook and cranny). Usually, it starts off on a small scale, but slowly creeps in over the years and then one day you wake up on the set of Star Wars. When you wake up to a life-sized cardboard cut-out of wookie in your bedroom, you know you’ve gone too far!
Scale it back
Style, they say, is a second-cousin to class. So the message here is to keep it classy! I’m not saying you need to hock all your collectibles on Ebay, but to scale back. Here’s an example of getting it right. A friend of mine is a cocktail aficionado and loves vintage liquor posters. We all know how alluring bottles of alcohol can be (the colours, the shapes, the sizes) but instead of displaying bottles in an out-dated cabinet, she has decorated her home with beautifully framed posters of her favourite spirits. Her passion for creating cocktails is tastefully expressed without it being forced down your throat. Not only are these posters works of art, but she has stayed true to her hobby.
Striking the right balance
The most important thing about styling your home is to be completely comfortable in your space. There’s no point in buying and placing pieces in your house ‘for show’. Homes are meant to be lived in – so if your precious, priceless objet d’art could be shattered by a roaming toddler, then pack it away. Incorporating a hobby into your home can be achieved by balancing this passion with regular items (or pieces your partner likes). If you’re lucky enough to share the hobby with your partner, then set a limit and stick to it. For instance, ONE porcelain poodle figurine, not a litter! The other option is to create a room or space devoted to your hobby. For example, if you are a mad Elvis Presley fan, maybe you can create a music room and keep your records, posters and movies in that space to enjoy at your leisure.
However, if you want to be in the Guinness World Records for the biggest number of throw pillows shaped as Persian Cats, then open a museum and charge entry!
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SELLING homes is not just a career; it is an art form – one that is carefully honed over years of life experience and knowledge. And, I can proudly say, that I still absolutely love what I do – day in, day out.