Something that became clear while preparing for my photoshoot with the Chronicle was that while I’ve tried to fight it over the years, I am a diehard hippie at heart. When Kourosh and I bought our first home together in San Francisco in 2005 (terrible time to buy real estate, btw), I tried to keep things minimal. I’m not sure what forces were conspiring to push me in that direction—I think minimal was a big trend at the time—but I tried to reign in my bohemian tendencies, for whatever reason.
But then my mother-in-law brought me some amazing kilim pillows from Iran, and my inner bohemian was let loose. Every year since then I’ve accumulated more plants, more pillows, more baskets, more textiles (and more shag carpet, incidentally). The result is, I feel much more at home in my home.
I guess it just goes to show you can’t fight your own personality, and why would you want to? Feeling comfortable in one’s own skin (and, consequently, in one’s own home) is one of the things that makes getting older tolerable and, maybe, a pleasure?
If you, too, love a wild home with tons of texture, take a look at these Instagram accounts for kindred spirits and plenty of inspiration.
[Top photo by Anna-Alexia Basile]
