A MINIMALIST’S GUIDE to LIVING a MINDFUL LIFE
  • 07/26



    Today the term 'minimalism' is at the heart of conversations about sustainability, design, philosophy and mindfulness. And while maximalism continues to make its way back into people's homes, it's a new kind of maximalism—one less about buying more and more about design: more color, more shapes, more contrast.

    Warm minimalist design sits in the middle of both extremes. It is not deprived of any color, shape or texture, but it's also not a very out-there or (personally) overwhelming style—and don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with some "kapow"... but warm minimal is where I currently exist and so is my current obsession.

    Brands like Menu have equipped the design-conscious minimalist for years now but Menu has truly been a pioneer when it comes to minimal, responsible and durable design and it has long been delivering beautifully crafted furniture, lighting and interior accessories shaped by purposeful details, high-quality products—and now sustainable ones too.

    Their newest products carry through their minimalism philosophy while also bringing sustainability and a sense of warmth, calm and comfort to any space and we see it in the raw fabrics, textures, naked woods and organically-structured shapes—creating spaces that make you feel like you're in a welcoming home rather than a white room or a playhouse.


















    “How do you create a warm minimalist room?”, you may ask? Easy:

    01. Warm Colors: Warm colors have an earthy quality to them, meaning that they are colors that can be commonly observed in nature; like the sea, vegetation, land, stones, the sky etc.—as opposed to plain white, which, yes, brings a lot of brightness to a room. These colors help you bring in warmth. But I’m not just talking about your walls, I mean decor items, furniture and everything that comprises a room.

    02. Rich Textures: 'Touch' is one of the qualities we overlook the most when it comes to decorating our homes—and this is what brings that sense of "homeliness" to a home. Consider adding natural elements to a room, textured fabrics, naked wood and rugs.

    03. Mix Old and New: The combination of modern and vintage has always been a winner, so don't be afraid to bring in a family relic or think that it won't fit your minimalist principles ... because it will! Sustainability is at the heart of the minimalist philosophy, so whatever you can do to repurpose, all the better. Old furniture or decor pieces also usually have more character, which allows the decor to feel more interesting and unique.

    04. Think Comfort: Minimalism often feels stiff and uninviting, especially if we have the frame of mind that things just have to be functional. Things around us do need to be functional ... but also beautiful, significant and yes, comfortable. So, bring in softer sofas, mushy pillows, big throws, delicious bedding and soft rugs. Things that make you experience a sense of being embraced by them.

    05. Add Personal Touches: While minimalism used to be a little deprived of sentiment, now we understand that there are things we can still have in our homes because they simply bring us good memories and joy. Take out old photos and items you've collected from your travels and make them a part of the entire decor. This will undoubtedly infuse the room with more personality and uniqueness.

    Warm Minimalism is about being conscientious but not deprived. Is about understanding and applying the principles of Minimalism without feeling as if you're missing out. It's about choosing better, more durable, sustainable and enjoyable things and not just less for the sake of it.

    © Menu
  • 07/19

















    No, you didn’t read it wrong. I put "melancholic" and "holiday" in the same title. Let me tell you why: Here in our neck of the woods, beachgoers suffered a significant beach withdrawal, which seemed to have no end during the pandemic; and those who had always just taken it for granted started regretting not having taken advantage of ocean life more often. So when they magnanimously freed us, we and our pets flocked to the beaches, which smacked of a cautionary tale for a new variant... so as a mostly responsible, post-pandemic being, I decided to continue not to partake in the beach festivities—until one day we decided to take a day trip to a beach 2 hours away from home to satisfy our desire to splash about in the warm ocean water. It happened to be a very quiet, secluded beach... and as we reached our destination, we realized it had gone from a very sunny, blue-skied day to drab and overcast.

    Long story short, it didn’t rain that day but it remained moody.

    We took a stroll down the quietest stretch of beach I’ve been to in years; the air was chilly and it felt incredible. We ended up staying the night at a petit hotel owned by a French man who exalts privacy and peace to the point of not welcoming children... while admitting pets. That day is fixed in my mind as a beautiful memory of a short-lived, moody holiday.

    © hover over images for credits
  • 07/15















    In a week where it feels like the weather has risen to merciless degrees, I find myself drawn to the soothing and cooling darkness of these interiors; and as contradictory as this might sound, I happen to think natural light is everything – but at the same time I also prioritize dark and moody ambiences in my home, because at this point in time everything feels like a smack of sensory overload and my mind feels more at easy in the moodiness of a darker room. I do feel strongly about the images shared here... and perhaps you do too.

    © hover over images for credits
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