I love the idea of being decoded. I’ve certainly made no secret of that fact, and the how’s, and why’s of the things I do. They are often a mystery to me. Surprisingly, they seem a little less mysterious to others, who can see things, that I simply cannot. Michael Singer writes in his book: The Untethered Soul about our indwelling consciousness. The perfection of this idea that we live in our heads instead of the world, and further that we’ve shacked up with a very afraid, extremely talkative roommate who makes no bones about telling you where your edge is, is illuminating to say the least. Should I have just gotten to the point and stated the obvious, which is that we are in fact, on the edge of summer, the back edge, not the front.

Palecek Design . Sadie Beaded Mirror looks like a sea anemone. $1678.

Instead of living in our heads, while it is out there still happening, I plan to spend this weekend dwelling in the real world where happiness and sunshine abound, if only you are willing to look for it. The passing of summer, after all, need not be lamented. We live in this beautiful existence of circular renewal – it’ll be back again, and we’ll be waiting for it. What was it that the very prosaic Winnie the Pooh said:

Palcek Design does it with: Left – Marina Chandelier available at Stephanie Cohen Home $1557.60 and Right: Green Oaks Wall Pendant at Clayton Gray Home $780.

“What I like best, –” and then he had to stop and think. Because although eating honey was a very good thing to do, there was a moment just before you began to eat it, which was better than when you were, but he didn’t know what it was called. Ah, anticipation – hang on to that, but not before you revel in all these beautiful summer furnishings, which with the lead times being what they are, you should snap up now so that when next summer rolls around you are as ready to live in the real world in divine style – untethered from longing and lamentation. What a wonderful thing. Happy weekend.

I wonder if the empty room feels exposed, naked, vulnerable, or perhaps she is an exhibitionist, that revels in her sparse beauty.  Begging to have the observer, look at her, admire her, sit with her.  There is something wonderfully rich about the blank slate.  My imaginings made manifest with the sweeping away of all obstacles.  Admittedly some of those obstacles come in the form of walls and doors, diminutive moldings, or grotesque protuberances – the gaudy mantle or casing – lob it off, somewhat less delicately than the plastic surgeon, shaping and sculpting the next, in a long line of Bougie Barbies.  My goal is not perfection – perfection is decidedly boring.  I’d rather be interesting, the cocktail party guest that amuses and entertains, and that above all else, makes you feel special. 

Rooms can do that too.  They draw you into a conversation, even when you didn’t much feel like talking.  It can start slowly with that interesting object displayed on the coffee table.  What is it?  A gourd handled, porcelain brush?  It looks Asian, maybe Japanese.  Where did it come from, what is it used for? Now you’re getting into the swing of it.  You see, you can’t stay silent when there are so many interesting things to discover.

Today though, we need to start with the basics. This room has sat empty for far too long. Sure it might have been home to a dust bunny or a plastic bunny on wheels, left unattended by the two year old ready for a nap or a snack or some other distraction. It’s time to give its due.