A Comfortable Corner of My Modern Country Kitchen
Does a modern country home in a quiet English village have much in common with an ancient Japanese life view? There just might be more in common than we think. Once the scanning eye has passed, a deeper look taking in the the interior design of a modern country home, is likely to see that they have much in common.
A modern day's interpretation of wabisabi is a wisdom, or life view, based around natural simplicity and an appreciation of flawed beauty. Historically wabi was applied to objects with understated elegance, rustic simplicity, quietness and freshness. Sabi reflects the beauty and serenity that comes with age, the acceptance of transience and imperfection. Wabisabi the appreciation of beauty that is imperfect, impermanent and incomplete. I would argue it's as much part of our modern English country style as it is Japanese.
How does Wabisabi fit in Today's Modern Country Style?
1. Colours of Nature
Wabisabi could be linked to the trend in recent years to embrace neutral colour schemes, particularly those based in nature. We've had years of grey and its tones, which in England, living under grey skies for much of the year, is very aligned with nature. But nature is a broad pallet and most recently, our colour choices have often become more daring. Is this a move away from Wabisabi? Rarely can nature in full flower be out done. Colour is a stalwart of modern country style and my view is that we have plenty of scope within this life view to use colour.
Nature's Diverse Colour Pallet is There to be Used
2. Simplicity and Functionality
I will concede that perhaps many people's interpretation of modern country style uses more objects to achieve the desired rustically elegant feel and therefore we may have lost some of the simplicity defined by wabisabi. However, looking beyond this, the natural pallet of materials often chosen in today's home are totally in keeping. The removal of temporary, be it plastics or other short lived materials, from our lives is a key driver for many of us and very wabisabi. Allowing materials and textures to build overtime, freely, without force, creating the layered effect is synonymous with the life view and a goal of modern country style.
Beauty is Transient and Imperfect
3. Vintage
Who doesn't want to use vintage ware in their modern country home? The concept of reuse and repurpose fits with both wabisabi and our modern environmental awareness, our love of antiques and of eras past. The 'permission' in wabisabi to find beauty in day to day waring is welcome and again aligns with modern country style. The patched cushion, the cat scratched sofa even the repaired but loved bowl, can and indeed should, be given their place.
4. Relaxed and Peaceful
The modern country style is one of comfort and casual design. It is a counter to the fast pace of modern life; a meeting of the countryside with the indoor necessities in the most comfortable of ways. It's not a place for rigidity of 'over design' or show home chic. This aspect of modern country style meets perfectly with the rustic simplicity, understated elegance interpreted from wabisabi.
Relaxed and Peaceful: Floating Hellebore Flowers
5. Allowing Nature In
Nothing describes the transience of life more readily than plants. Houseplants, flowers in all stages of their lifecycle, seeds, branches and even trees. No home is complete without them and certainly not a country home. Allowing nature in always results in imperfections. Its nature's way. There could not be more beauty in any design.
Rarely are modern country homes without animals, a cat, dog or even a chicken. They naturally bring imperfection to a home.
Adding Texture with Seasonal Nature
Your modern country style is designed for you, by you and is unlikely to be perfect. Except perhaps for you. I'd like to suggest it has more in common with the ancient life view of wabisabi than perhaps any of us would first think.
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