No matter your stage of life, a space of your own should be a given.
We all need a corner of the world that is ours alone. One that we can decorate, embellish and use, without having to answer to someone else.
For me, when I first started renovating my 100 year old desk, seen below...
Turning it into a Chanel-esque piece of glam Chinoiserie, inspired by the sorts of shots below...
...I had know idea that my life was about to change for 30 months or so...which, at my age, is a significant period of time.
This little corner, with some of my favourite things gathered in one place, is perhaps the thing (and I'm deliberately not talking about 'people' here), that I look forward to seeing the most after a long day in the Corporate World.
The orange cranes, draped with twinkling beads, the teal snack food stacker converted by me to a jewel box, my books on French life, art through the ages, home décor and legendary weddings, there at my fingertips....
….my sweet little Blanc de Chine figurines dusted with gilt features...
...and my thrifted lamps, trimmed with Greek Key ribbon in black and gold...
...are the first items that greet me when I enter my bedroom after a long day, kicking off my heels, shedding my workaday self, and revelling in the haven I've created.
I recently added a vintage tortoiseshell travel clock to my little desk vignette...
...and feel that it is now complete.
I sit here and paint my nails for the week...orange is always a favourite...
...plan my outfits...this Chanel inspired knit skirt suit was a recent purchase from Etsy and was oohed and ahhed over greatly in the workplace recently...
...and whilst my heart sometimes, very occasionally yearns for my days of Motherhood and nurturing...
...my new role sees me assuming an identity that lurked just below the surface for so many years.
I'm loving the sense of coming full circle in my life, and the serenity that comes with accepting a new stage of life, however brief.
A stage that sees me accepting that, for now at least, my life is about orchids, not roses.
Orchids...such a luxurious, colourful, rewarding and almost glamorous plant.
And so symbolic of my life over the last decade, where so often, I've referred to a little book titled 'Orchids on Your Budget', where an Orchid was truly seen as a symbol of a well lived life.
Now I dress up and grab my glam handbag on my way out the door each morning, butterflies lively in my stomach, not knowing what the day will bring...
...I don my 'armour' though, and know that if nothing else, I'll look the part.
...and safe in the knowledge that no matter what, at the end of a long day, my little Chinoiserie Sanctuary awaits me, and the welcome light of my little lamps, will sooth and calm me.
What will you call A Space of your Own this year?
It's lovely that you have your peaceful haven to retreat to. I have several, depending on my mood where I like to retreat to. Watering my garden is often a wonderful retreat, however with the current heatwave not so much. Same with the beach. My sewing room is my creative space and it is where I can go and just enjoy playing with fabrics and patterns.
ReplyDeleteJane it's something that I look forward to as I drive home each afternoon. It's my little corner of self-created loveliness, that I don't have to share with anyone. The garden is a good one as well, and of course, we Aussies love the beach no matter what. Our nearest one is an hour away though...sigh. I love my sewing room too, but it's not really a haven just now, I'm ashamed to say! Mimi xxx
DeleteHi Mimi
ReplyDeleteI also have the book Orchids on Your Budget and I reread it often - it's one of my favourites. I love the attitude that says you can be thrifty and fabulous at the same time. Good luck with your step back into the corporate world - funnily I am doing just the opposite currently and transitioning from the world of work to early retirement. There's a season for everything isn't there.
Hello Penny. I'm pleased to meet a fellow Orchids on Your Budget fan. It's such a special little book, isn't it? Yes, there is a season and a reason for all that we do. I am secure in the knowledge that I am meant to be exactly where I am for now. I hope that your retirement brings you peace and pleasure. Mimi xxx
DeleteThat desk is simply amazing Mimi, would be some thousands in a super smart shop, gorgeous
ReplyDeleteThankyou lovely Anonymous person. It would indeed. I priced a faux tortoishell finish and it as $150 an hour. This took me 24 hours over a week, so that would be around the $2,500 to $3,000 mark even for a professional I think. I love it :)
DeleteYour desk is beautiful and I love that clock. I am retired and sometimes I just like to be alone in peace and quiet. Like Jane said above, watering my flowers brings me peace. We are having Winter weather here in Quebec, gives a lot of time to stay inside and look at seed catalogues and plan for next planting season. Take care.
ReplyDeleteHello Thel. How lovely to see you! I love peace and quiet too, and my lovely manager, has just given me a very peaceful little corner in the office, so I'm pleased. Flowers make me smile as well. What are your favourites? I love that you plan around the seasons with plantings. Love Mimi xxx
DeleteYour desk turned out beautifully. And yes, your oasis has a welcoming effect of peacefulness. Good for you.
ReplyDeleteThankyou. We all need a little oasis of our own :)
DeleteHi Mimi, I think it is great that you are embracing this work opportunity. It is a type of adventure that you have stepped into. Having a space of your own at home as a place of comfort and retreating from the world is very important.
ReplyDeleteSherri, and adventure is a very apt description. A surprise around every corner, every day! It makes having a retreat so much more important, I agree. Thankyou for visiting. Love, Mimi xxx
DeleteYou look fabulous and so put-together! I especially love your vintage outfit; that's a great pattern.
ReplyDeleteI don't quite have a space of my own, other than my chair in the living room. Our house isn't large, and the space we do have is kind of strangely laid out, so that the rooms are small and taken up by necessities like dressers and the kitchen table. There's no spare inch of space in my bedroom, and our furnished basement is dreadfully cold in the winter, so that's out as well. I'm content to relax and snuggle in my chair when I read, but a sewing space would be nice- one where I didn't have to lug the sewing machine up to the kitchen table and make 2348324932 trips to the basement shelves every time I need some of my sewing supplies! For now, I make do. :)
Dear Stephanie, you are so lovely, thankyou. A chair where you can snuggle is a perfect space of your own. We all work with what we have. I waited twenty years for a sewing space. Your time will come. Making do is a specialty of mine too ;-) Mimi xxx
DeleteThe more I keep coming back to read this post, the more I fall in love with that desk! You have a wonderful eye for style.
ReplyDeleteThankyou Sophie. I really appreciate your comment, Mimi xxx
DeleteHi Mimi, I have been noticing a lot online about Hygge pronounced Huger(?). I'm sure you would have too. It is being described as a Danish phenomenon but I think that every country or culture has their own form of it. Everything you do is to develop your home as a sanctuary for yourself and your guests. It's a very satisfying thing to do. Arranging the things that give us pleasure and a place to practice our culinary, craft or gardening skills is very good for our mind, body and soul. My youngest son and I have often wandered down to our local flea and food market on a Sunday and we have purchased a couple of travel clocks like your tortiseshell one for only a couple of dollars. As we all know kids don't wear watches or need clocks because of their mobile phone but he was drawn to these travel clocks because of their design and I think because they are quite tactile. He has them displayed on a shelf in his room. One has a dial around the face for international time zones. The other thing we bought was a timber tennis raquet in it's frame to keep it from warping. I had one of these when I was a kid but things are changing so fast that you forget that these items are quite fascinating to younger people and its great to see them being displayed for their design alone and being displayed because they add some value to a person's sanctuary. Love Janiebabe
ReplyDeleteJanie, I love the idea of the old tennis racquet. What a find! Isn't it funny that even clocks are now considered 'old-fashioned'. Makes me laugh! Mimi xxx
DeleteI am so happy I have a room in my house for craft and sewing. It is gradually looking creative and pretty and it over looks an old barn and gum tress. My bed side table and dressing table are also my areas. I love them. I think even a tiny space can be ours. Even a child sleeping on a bunk bed can have a little shelf next to them on the wall with their things. I think its important too.xxx
ReplyDeleteAnnabel, you must be lapping up your new home and it's wide open spaces. I couldn't live in 'the burbs' anymore. Well, we are in 'the burbs' but thankfully we have some space. I love the idea that kids all need their special space. So true. Love, Mimi xxx
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