Jeni’s Design Diary

I’d buy this Lineatre tub. I love the lines, curves and of course the sparkle! However, unlike the vignette it’s showcased in, I’d like to see it in an art-deco setting. I wonder if there is a way to create a DIY version.

I have struggled with sustaining this blog.  I keep using the excuse that “I don’t know what to write.”  If I were honest with myself I’d have to say that it’s not that I don’t know what to write about (I have a growing list of ideas), but that I am too lazy to put the time into writing and research.

On our January to-do list I put “go through all old magazines.”  What this means is to continue my growing collection of torn out pages from various (mostly Better Homes and Gardens) magazines that have inspired me in one way or another.  For a while it was great.  I’d only keep 5 to 7 pages out of a 100 page magazine and recycle the rest. But as I sat down to rid my house of all the magazines I hadn’t gone through yet, I realized that my small, manageable collection has grown so much that it can’t fit into 2 binders!

On my About page I say that this blog is a way for me to keep track of inspirational ideas.  So I’ve begun a new project: to find digital copies of my collection and put them up here.  These will be no - brainer posts.  They’ll mainly be an image with an explanation as to what struck my fancy.

So to start this off:

source: Better Homes & Gardens, April 2006 issue

Exterior House Design Idea for Ellis Manor

"Eclectic Charm"

Source: Southern Accents; Photo: Pieter Estersohn; Designer: Amelia Handegan

I like the mix of textures & it’s simplicity.  I really love the material on the bed!

When you think of whimsical, what do you think of? My first reaction is fanciful: fairies, wings, shimmer, iridescent materials & surfaces, very saturated colors. A while ago I was told that my house is whimsical. That word had never come to mind while thinking about this house. After mulling over that thought, I do hope that it is! I would love for people to feel like they’re in a special (maybe a bit magical) place when they visit.

To effectively plan that whimsical place I need to have an understanding of how whimsy and interior design relate. So my question is, what is whimsical design? In my quick but not thorough search, it appears that many eclectic designs are also described as whimsical. Mainly the term whimsical has been used to describe the decor, not a design style.

First, let’s define both terms. According to Marriam-Webster, whimsical is defined as: full of, actuated by, or exhibiting whims; resulting from or characterized by whim or caprice; especially: lightly fanciful (whimsical decorations); subject to erratic behavior or unpredictable change. Their definition for eclectic is: selecting what appears to be best in various doctrines, methods, or styles; composed of elements drawn from various sources.

Using the above definitions we can say that whimsical design is being unpredictable, characterized by surprises to the visitor; while eclectic design is well edited spaces that combine several styles. There are eclectic designs that are whimsical, and also designs that are whimsical but not eclectic.

To plan a whimsically designed space, keep its definition in mind. It’s to present the unexpected.