Simplicity at Home by Yumiko Sekine
In Simplicity at Home, we will look at how to create a rich and beautiful life with less. We will explore practical ideas to keep clutter down and create a home that brings you peace and pleasure, all inspired by Japanese rituals.
Let's begin with a beautiful, simple table setting—one for every day, not just special evenings. What we love most about Yumiko's design approach is the focus on using beautiful things every day.
Here's a little reel we did on Instagram to inspire you to set a table using collected handmade ceramics. Remember to use what you have. Mixing and matching old with new makes a table more interesting and is a good conversation starter.
As we learn from other cultures, such as Yumiko's, we expand our thinking about design and style and living, our life becomes less ordinary.
Here are some essential words to know to expand on our Janpanse-inspired table setting!
Kazara: small dishes, good for spices or dips
Fukazara: larger bowls intended for ramen or udon
Katakuch: a spouted pourer for sauces or dressing.
We loved the section on Japanese Bathing Rituals. Japan has a beautiful bathing culture from which we can glean some worthwhile ideas! "A bath can act as a mini massage for our internal organs, and relaxes muscles and joints, relieving stiffness"
Inspired to add some relaxation to the end of the day, we followed the recipe for some Yuzu Bath Salts! Here is the Reel, we used a Meyer lemon! It was so simple and very soothing on the skin!
Here is the recipe:
YUZU BATH SALTS - ( makes 1-2 cups)
Peel of 1 meyer lemon
1 cup sea salts or Himalayan pink salt
1 cup epsom salt
Fine dice the peel of your lemon. Transfer to a medium bowl, add sea salt and epsom salt. Mix well. Transfer the mixture to a beautiful old glass jar to keep next to your bath. Use 2-3 spoonfuls of salts to your bath water. This mixture should last 3-4 months.
The section on Organizing the Closet is simple and practical, and something to aspire to. At a very young age, Japanese people are introduced to the art of origami, then the furoshiki, for folding up gifts for people, and of course the stunning kimono, all of which have very precise folding methods. So the practice of carefully folding clothes every week becomes somewhat of a meditative process.
The benefits of this practice are subtle yet deeply impactful. As you take the time to fold your clothes, you slow down, becoming more present in the moment. With each careful fold, you create order and intention, ensuring your garments fit neatly into your dresser drawers. This here is a lesson for all of us who speed through our day.
To dig a little deeper into closet organization, take a look at this reel.
We cannot say enough about how lovely this book is. It's full of many ways we can be resourceful within our homes and with our belongings. It is a guidebook for intentional living, in the most beautiful way.
Since reading this over many times, I have added to my very long bucket list of things to learn: how to use remnants for creating a patchwork quilt and the art of kintsugi!
Get your copy here. It's essential to any design library!
Let us know in the comments what you loved about this book!
Here are some of our favorite things from Fog Linen shown above