14 Comments
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Wallis Suda's avatar

Bravo! I am a self proclaimed minimalist, but my husband is the polar opposite. I think this post can serve us in our oh so dynamic strive to build a beautiful shared space.

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Laurie Fusco's avatar

So pretty

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Lynn Byrne's avatar

PS: As a new reader, are these images your own? Do they feature your work? So curious! They are stunning and I would love to know. Thank you.

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Lynn Byrne's avatar

Fabulous post. I agree, it’s all about make considered choices with clear intention.

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The Quiet Itinerary's avatar

Recovering minimalist here. But getting older, feeling peace at home has meant a home that allows me to settle in with comfort. That means resisting the impulse to achieve an editorial worthy home - it can still be beautiful, just a little more artfully chaotic. Love your take on the topic!

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Alinka's avatar

This is beautiful!! You explained the entire tussle so well.

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Giovanna Cury's avatar

Well said 🤍

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Ashley's avatar

So well written. Thank you for posting.

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Felipe Sierra's avatar

Your substack came at the right time!! This is beautiful

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Tom Stturgill's avatar

You are such a brilliant writer Colin! You captured my design angst spot on. I always prided myself on being a minimalist and even tried to reinvent myself from traditional to modern almost a decade ago. Yet I am endlessly fascinated by English interiors with their warm abundance of clutter and art hanging off kilter and so wish my OCD neatness could achieve that. It feels so warm rather than cold and stark. And I keep seeing things both new but especially old that I want to live with, layer and collect. But the middle is an awkward place where it feels undone but truly you are never really done as much as you may want to be. New things come in and somethings once loved get passed on.

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Nord Eriksson's avatar

Dang…I have no idea how you do this, Colin. You read our psyche like you read a room. Pitch perfect perception!

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Alyssa Hoppe's avatar

Such a wonderful article. Relate so deeply to it. Thank you!

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Alison Attenborough's avatar

Love this article ! Being a Queen of stuff and clutter that is constantly moving .. to a shoot , a closet or stylist friend . I want minimalism but can’t always make it :)

What I like also about these images is the food is edible and makes sense . I want to eat it ! It’s minimal and something beautiful but also delicious looking . Quality over quantity always wins with food

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Katerina Buscemi Interiors's avatar

Oh, Colin, this was such a great article! I rarely take time to read more than an Instagram caption but this really hit home (but thank you also for not using too many words - I’m a word minimalist)

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