Object anthropologist

I’m an 'object anthropologist.' I'm fascinated by objects and their relationship to our human lives, cultures, and societies. This fascination is at the core of my approach to design. I'm a firm believer that our homes should be filled with objects that are meaningful to us and bring us joy each time they catch our gaze.

I've been thinking a lot about this lately. I think about it when I'm working with clients. I think about it when I look at Instagram or Pinterest, or read a magazine about interior design. A friend of mine recently shared an interesting Washington Post article about decorating, or to put a finer point on it, the objects we choose to surround ourselves with.

The article shares results from a research study that suggests home decorating media (HGTV, Pinterest, Instagram, Tik-Tok, etc.) is causing a "shift toward standardization." In other words, because of the trends we see on these channels, our homes are all starting to look the same.

The study abstract says that "traditionally, home was regarded as a place...aligned with the homeowner's unique identity" but that pressure to view the home as a marketplace asset "discourages personalization, leading to an experience of disorientation." In other words, it causes us to not feel at home in our own homes!

I know what they mean. I hear people say they hate their high-quality, natural wood cabinets or granite countertops (de rigueur a few years ago, according to these same shows!) and I often suspect they hate them because they've been told they're supposed to hate them.

Not to mention the incredible waste and resulting impact on the environment this all causes. I cringe when I watch TV design experts take a sledgehammer to perfectly good cabinets or countertops in the name of eradicating "outdated" decor. I mean, sure, sometimes they're damaged, not functional, or just plain butt-ugly and need to go. But just as often, it simply no longer aligns with the latest see-it-everywhere-must-have-it trend. (Gray paint, anyone?)

So don't pay attention to how HGTV says your house should look. Or Pinterest or Instagram or TikTok. Who cares what other people think? Make your home a place that brings you joy and feeds your soul, haters be damned. Fill it with objects and art that mean something to you. Strive to make it a place where everywhere you look there's something that makes you happy. Life is too short for anything less.