Like with any kind of relationship, when things are too familiar and uneventful, things get stale. The culprit? A phenomenon called hedonic adaptation. If you look at your kitchen for a long time and you’re there all the time, you will likely not notice its beauty, no matter how beautiful it is. Having mini-adjustments continuously…
Tag: lifestyle
The side effects of scientific thought and how they killed the mind before its time
When Einstein said in an interview in 1929: “I believe in intuitions and inspirations. I sometimes feel that I am right. I do not know if I am.” (G.S. Viereck interview, October 26, 1929, reprinted in “Glimpses of the Great” (1930)) the world around him was on the verge of tipping. A thin, malleable line…
Is it me or every home is a luxury home? Whatever happened to good old sensible design?
Dead of winter is here. And it feels more alive than ever. Standing on the fireplace mantel is a small wooden amulet chipped at a corner and leaning against the plaster. Next to it is a bowl full of fruits, fresh bananas and oranges from the harvest season of a faraway land. The copper bowl…
Living with snow in Canada
At the start of winter, an ever-changing mass of gulpable snow covers buildings, trees and streets with blobs of different sizes, colours, and cleanliness levels. Everyone assumes that Canadians love snow just because we have it. I am Canadian. And a Romanian emigrant. I do like snow but not necessarily all aspects of it. Does…
From candles on the dinner table to the chandelier above it
From gathering around the fire, to the fire on the table, to the light above it and what that did and where do we go next. Gathering around the fire The chill of the night, forgotten, the closeness of others, embraced, the loving hand of a forgiving universe present in the darkness of the sky….
Retrospective Best Of ‘Wellbeing’
The new age of wellness is centred around so much more than just our physical health. The wellness industry has grown into a billion dollar market, with the populations devotion to creating a balanced life growing tremendously over the past decade. Most people strive for a symbiotic relationship of physical fitness, mental health, spirituality and social connection to achieve…
Christmas decor traditions and their ritualistic performance
Christmas is the most famous ritual in the western world. Controversial in approach for many reasons, the ones that celebrate it agree on the importance of a specific decor to set the season’s festive mood. Like any other ritual, the careful assembly of parts and steps is critical in achieving a successful rite and passage:…
TRENDS 2022 Design Retrospective
Interior design is one of the greatest modes of personal expression. Over the past few years people have spent more time at home than ever before. In turn, they have started to hone in on their personal aesthetic, and create rooms that feel right to them. By focusing on the pieces that bring joy, colours…
Christmas traditions, dishes and how to present them
I am a Christian. I do not know how much of a believer but a Christian in terms of traditions. I was raised in Romania in a mixed Hungarian-Romanian family with many customs that did not fit one norm but rather straddled the two cultures. Food tradition, like in any celebration everywhere in the world,…
Retrospective Best Of ‘Coaching’
With an average growth rate of 3.4% per year between 2017 and 2022 the Interior Design industry doesn’t show any signs of slowing down. Although the field was met with many challenges over the last few years, including finding new ways to work remotely and getting creative to deal with the never ending project and…
Retrospective Best Of ‘Get the Vibe’
As the final month of the year fast approaches, we tend to take a look back on our personal lives and reflect on all the events that took place. Did we achieve that oh-so-precious work-life balance, learn to cook a new go-to dish or reach that health goal we set at the beginning of the…
Time’s a waste! Change your home and boost your brain power
What is there to think about when you thought about “things” for more than half a century? What is there to buy when you bought all that you need? Where is there to travel when you’ve travelled everywhere. If you’ve gotten to the point where you’ve wondered about these, the answer is … plenty. And…