Sunsets...over-rated and maybe under-appreciated

What’s a pretty common phrase in newspapers’ singles’ ads? Yes, that’s right, “enjoys sunset strolls.” And what do we tend to see a lot of in friends’ and family members’ vacation photos? Yep, a glorious sunset. Oh, and another one. Wow, there’s another one. Um, could these be doubles?

What exactly is it about sunsets that causes them to be highly romanticized and perhaps over-photographed? I’ve often found myself wondering what all the fuss is about. The sun sets every single night, and I’d say at least 50% of the time, there will be amazing cloud formations and almost every colour of the rainbow will be discernable from the horizon up into the twilight sky.

Speaking of rainbows now, I get that. They’re not too common, can be single, double or even triple, faint or intense, to the north, south, east or west, and are prominently featured in enduring stories both biblical and fantastical. But sunsets…common, everyday sunsets…

Alright, I was kind of playing the devil’s advocate there. I am guilty of rolling my eyes a little with the “sunset stroll” cliche, but I have also developed and uploaded my fair share of sunset photos, some worthy of having been captured, others less so.  That’s the real draw I think: to attempt to capture such fleeting beauty. That, and the fact that although the sun will set another day, no two sunsets are ever the same. Having spent pretty much my entire life in settings that have ideal conditions for beautific sunsets, namely natural, unmarred horizons, I can attest to this.

I also have to think that for much of the population residing in urban centres where sometimes western views aren’t visible, let alone the actual point of the sun dipping below the horizon, there is a renewed fascination in the sun’s descent. So whether we get to see them as often as they happen, or only with the joys of travel, may we always appreciate one of nature’s finest art exhibits—the setting of the sun.

The Anti Door

The house in which I live is tiny, to put it mildly.  We have a large living area right off of a good size eat-in kitchen, but other than that, there are only a couple rooms that lead off this central area. The two main doorways lead to the master bedroom and the basement, and of course they are immediately beside each other. 

Don’t ask me why, but when we were heavily renovating this tiny precious house, I hated the idea of having two big, blank doors side by side, so we did a litte something special for the basement door.  Rather than the typical flat or raised pannel door, we chose to construct a swinging shelving unit that has served to give us more surface space for accessories and necessities. As well as being completely functional, the unit never fails to astound new comers when it is revealed to be a door…although it leads only to a dungeon-like basement rather than a secret passageway  or parallel universe. 

The unit was fairly easy to construct, starting with a basic gate-construction, then attaching shelves and sides. Big gate hinges attach it to the doorway, and two wheels support it on the bottom, although the hinges alone would probably suffice. In a house this little, I thank my lucky stars that we decided to get a little creative with that doorway—anything to give us just a little more surface space! 

Revamping

It seems the prevalent trend right now with interior decor is all about reusing, achieved by slight revamps, refinishing, retooling, renovating or reconfiguring.  The July issue of Canada’s Style at Home   has some great ideas, and features two women after my own heart. According to Kathleen Dore’s article, Josephine Guidolin and Shannon Shorter have made an art form of  refashioning and repurposing finds from flea markets, antique shops and street corners. At a time when there is much emphasis on going green by conserving, reducing and reusing, what better way to adhere to these convictions than by finding something old and making it new again rather than taking the easy and now frowned-upon path straight to the box stores. Don’t get me wrong. I love perusing the sky high aisles of Home Outfitters, Pier 1  or Linens and Things as much as the next gal, but there is something to be said for accidentally discovering a hidden gem in the least likely of places, putting a personal touch on it, and enjoying the refurbished item as much for your hand in finding and refashioning it as for its more earth friendly aesthetic.

Like the gang at Style at Home, I jump at the opportunity to breath new life into older, perhaps dated pieces. A few years ago, I had this huge antique cherry dresser that used to be my mom’s. It was heavy looking, and never really blended with my more rustic and eclectic style, so I decided to refinish it. Initially I wanted to strip the whole thing down and either paint or restain it, but I didn’t actually have to do all that work. Halfway through the sanding process, I achieved the look I wanted. That now distressed, graceful old piece is still part of my bedroom suite today. I think sanding is highly underrated!  I’ve managed to revamp several tables over the years simply by sanding down the tops and leaving them natural or brushing on a subtle stain and sealer.  There is always an accompanying sense of achievement when something with little more than sentimental value is saved from a burning pile. 

Speaking of sentimental value, what about Grandmother’s treasured figurines, statuettes or vases?  Maybe you have some in the basement, up in the attic, or you’ve seen the like at a flea market or second hand shop. Give them a quick spray with an all purpose primer then the colour of your choice, and you have a fresh new accessory for any shelf or table top. This idea is definitely nothing new, but I highly endorse it after growing tired of the look of some realistically portrayed horse statuettes I had kicking around. A quick coat of black high gloss paint, and those two horses are now stylish bookends.

Really, the only limitation in this much endorsed art of revamping is imagination.  Sometimes it’s hard to see the potential at first, but the challenge will make the finished product all the more rewarding.

Finally getting started!

So my wonderful sister has set me up with a blog, now it’s time for me to get creative, productive, and disciplined!  After completing a diploma in interior decorating, and having dabbled in the realm of design for as long as I can remember, I figure I might as well take advantage of technology and put together a site that hopefully inspires visitors, aids in any decorating woes, and allows me to show off my passion—I’m passionate about visual stimulation.  No, no, no, this isn’t that kinda site. I’m talking about that feeling you get after allowing your eyes to travel all around a stunning visual environment, be it a home’s gorgeous interior, exterior,  landscaping, or even some of the places you go to achieve these outcomes.  The feeling I’m referring to is a sense of well being, brought on by perfect pieces all in their perfect places, showcased by their perfect backdrops.  The great thing about perfect is its subjectivity and its flexibility.  We all have different ideas of perfection, but there is no denying when we achieve it.  Sometimes it’s the imperfections that make something perfect. Do me a favour—take a moment sometime soon to scan your environment, whether you’re at home, in the car, in a shop, on the street,  where ever you feel inspired. Just pause, and  breath the scene in with your eyes.  Appreciate the perfection of its design, the sense that everything just works.  That’s my mission right now—to take some time to stop, look around, be in the moment, and appreciate perfection in its many, many forms.