Living with what you love

I'm sure you've heard the buzz in blogland about Monica Rich Kosann's new book Living With What You Love, but if you haven't, here's my take.  The book's underlying philosophy (Living with what you love) goes hand in hand to me with creating a home.  We see so many beautiful images of homes every day, but how many of them seem personal and special to the homeowners?  The ones that speak to me the most are the ones that feel real and loved like a "real" home.  (vs a showhouse)  The book addresses  such a simple but core issue in a hands-on way that makes you want to get to work on your own home right away.

{How adorable is this?  I might have to stuff my parrot and keep him there.. haha totally kidding!}

Ove the years, Monica, a portrait photographer found that her clients were also looking to her to help them find special ways to display the beautiful photos she'd taken.  Her "job" expanded and not only does she help families take photographs but she helps them fit them into their homes in ways that are personal & beautiful. 

It's the final layer, the accessorizing, where we can very easily inject ourselves in our homes.  I have so many photos I've saved over the years "to be framed" or "to be hung" or whatever.  Monica's book inspired me to finally get around to doing something with them.  Her book's full of creative ways to display family photos and special items.  I love the little pages of a photo album casually piled on the table below:




Living With What You Love was so great to sit down with and inspired a few projects in our own home that I can't wait to get started with...  One of them being a hallway full of kids' art projects and family photos.  The hallway leading to our bedrooms is & has been totally blah since we moved in.  We addressed most of the main areas in our house& now it's time for the hallways, and smaller spaces, which can make all of the difference.  I'm going to take my time with this one and I want it to grown over the years almost like a huge inspiration board.  




xoxo, Lauren

If you'd like help creating a home you absolutely love, contact me about our design services.

You can click here to buy the book :)

35 comments:

Lilacandgrey said...

I DO live with the things I love :D

PS. I saw another great idea on another blog to display pictures in a big bowl, loose...

Laura Trevey said...

What a wonderful book... need to get it!

xoxo Laura

Francine Gardner said...

Just came upon your blog and enjoyed perusing through the posts. I live with only the things I love!
The art of a designer or stylist is to display in a way that is meaningful and spontaneous.

Francine Gardner said...

Just came upon your blog and enjoyed perusing through the posts. I live with only the things I love!
The art of a designer or stylist is to display in a way that is meaningful and spontaneous.

Jade @ Flip Flops + Pearls Design said...

This looks like a wonderful book! I will have to check it out!

pve design said...

I do live with the things I love and there are days that I fall out of love with the same things!
pve

Janell @ House of Fifty said...

Yes, most definitely. If something comes in we don't love it doesn't end up staying here long! My children's art is found throughout the house, it is one of many things that make our house unique to us. Great book! Janell

Teresa Hatfield ~ Splendid Sass said...

It is the personal things that changes a house into a home. Can't imagine not have photographs everywhere in the home. This post reminds us how important it is to personalize.
Beautiful images. Love the parrot too!
Teresa

Acquired Objects said...

Live with what you love and no matter what you bring home it'll work in your house. Love that first picture looks like my boy Dylan dog, how cute. I'm off to check out the book thanks for the heads up.

nelya said...

Every.Single.Day.

Hill Country House Girl said...

Love this book and so glad you have shared it with those who are not familiar with it. I feel like I am always "preaching" to live with what you love because I feel so strongly about it. I know people who have designers come in and "do" their whole house and it looks like a hotel - the truth is, I don't think good designers do that. Really good ones capture the essence of their clients in their homes. See, I do start to get on my soapbox about this - sorry! Great post.

Jennifer said...

Yes, but need to do better with photos. I want to do something similar with photos and documents (weird way to say it) in our hallway. I have a few things collected, I just need to start hanging!

Jennifer said...

Yes, but need to do better with photos. I want to do something similar with photos and documents (weird way to say it) in our hallway. I have a few things collected, I just need to start hanging!

Karen said...

I do live with what I love but I have to remind myself every now and then that something I see (accessory wise) isn't me...it's beautiful in it's display but doesn't really fit my style. My favorite rooms are those that reflect what the owner finds to be important, reflects their lives.

kayce hughes said...

Sounds like a book for my christmas wish list. my problem is usually editing all of the things i love!

Valerie@chateaualamode.typepad.com said...

I love the idea of only surrounding yourself with things that you truly love. I'm working on that myself. I'll have to check out the book!

Dearest Home said...

I have been reading your blog for awhile but I have never commented. I love your design philosophy and I love the philosophy of this book! What is a home if you're not surrounded by things you love? :) Thanks for sharing!

Anonymous said...

Whenever I see the cover of this book, I am caught by the wonderful color palette: clear, pale blue, orange, rich browns, black, and neutrals. Love! And, yes, always good to be reminded to live with what we love!

GoofyGirl said...

Maybe I should write the companion book "Living With The Stuff You Can Afford, Even If It's Not What You Love: Restoration Hardware Dreams/ Thrift Shop & Ikea Reality"

pretty sure it'd be a best seller...once it went on sale.

Living It At Home said...

I love this whole concept and philosophy. I have been doing some personalizing at home with photos and momentos but have to work harder at it. Have a great fall day!

Gretchen O. said...

I totally need to get this book! I think living with the things you love just makes your home FEEL so much better, because everything has a story. I can tell anyone that walks into my home how, when, and where I got most everything. It all fits into the story of my life (and my families:) Great post.

--Gretchen O.

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Totally agree..there is nothing like a home that is personal and REAL not a show house like you said. Book is a must for me...just ordered :)

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Gwen Driscoll said...

We live in such a loved home! I wouldn't have it any other way. Hope you are well.

My Galveston Cottage said...

HI there! I just love-love-love that photo with the dog and parrot. I always feel so good when coming over to peruse your blog! Beautiful as always. hugs -s

ALR said...

I live with the things I love and sometimes that changes every year or so. I fall in and out of love pretty often (with decor I mean, not my hubby:). I love to see new ways to display the things I love. I will have to check this book out for sure.

Amy R.

Unknown said...

Totally agree...yes, I do live with things I love. But, it has evolved and taken me some time. I picked up Monica's book this weekend -- she is very talented....jewelry designer, photographer and author.

xo Elizabeth

Megan // Honey We're Home said...

Yes, I think we are finding that living with what we love is so satisfying. That's why I'm taking my time furnishing/decorating our new home. Sometimes I get impatient, but I remind myself that it's better to wait and love it than hurry just to fill a space. I'm going to check out this book- the idea of casually stacking the photos is just great- makes you just want to pick up and start browsing through.

Becki said...

We absolutely live with what we love..even if it gets us some funny looks sometimes.

Vintage Home said...

..Thanks for the tips and the inspiration...We live with what we love & also what other people love..we find new homes for our furniture!..People are enamored by a piece as it "fits" into our lives....and thne want it for themselves!...If we feel it will work in their space...off it goes!...I am going to go find the book!

Vintage Home said...

..Just did your home TOUR!...inspiration!

Courtney said...

Hi...I've just gotten "lost" in your blog for a ridiculous amount of time. I'm not sure how I found it, but I'm so glad I did! Your posts are so inspiring...I love the concept of this book and am anxious to read it. And I can't believe you got to meet Darryl Carter! He's one of my favorite designers, but living on the West Coast I can't imagine ever meeting him. Anyway, thanks for your inspiring posts, and I'm a "follower" now! (So glad we can say that and not sound like stalkers!)

designchic said...

I do live with things I love. Definitely one more book to add to my ever growing collection...

Hamptontoes said...

Sounds like a wise book. I do live with the things I love and I wait to get the things I'd love to have. I do not rush design.

AmyD said...

would you believe I have never heard of this oranges till this year?? I have no idea where I have been....I have them around the house to rid bugs and spiders I never thought about decorating with them! great post!!!!