We’re working on a very special project at the moment for a client who lost her husband several years ago, and has just commenced the process of downsizing her home (and her life). We’ve found a way to reconcile her old life and home with her new, and in doing so have created spaces that are beautiful, liveable tributes to her husband. His favourite chair has been reupholstered with fabrics with a nod to a modern aesthetic, and we’ve reframed his beloved artwork.
Downsizing isn’t really a new concept, however it’s one that can be fraught with emotion. Usually, people are downsizing from their family home, the place where they raised their children. The family home in later years may have become impractical and too big to maintain, however it’s familiar, it’s home, and so too the belongings within that space. Every client we’ve worked with in a downsizing project have expressed how difficult it is to reconcile their existing belongings in a new space, particularly pieces that have been the cornerstone of their spaces, such as a dining table and chairs, for decades. This has certainly been the case for this particular client, who has moved from a Georgian-esque home to a contemporary apartment .
Downsizing in terms of interior design and styling is often a case of marrying the old and the new. The wall unit with an antique crystal collection that lived in the separate dining room at the old house looked fantastic with the dining table with oversized chairs. However, this same combination of furnishings looks disjointed and intrusive in the new contemporary open plan kitchen and dining space. However, replacing those dining chairs with contemporary chairs has resulted in a room that looks and feels cohesive and well put together.
Downsizing can be a bittersweet process, and moving house in general is well recognised as one of the most stressful processes people can experience. If you’re feeling overwhelmed and as if your existing furniture just can’t find it’s feet in a new space- or know someone who needs a guiding hand- please get in touch. We’d love to work with you to make your new space feel like home.
