Even though this book has only been on the premises for a few weeks, the Angel + Blume team have already made a lot of use out of it, and you can tell just by seeing the amount of post-it notes that stick out of every page! So when this month’s Book Club came about there was no debating which lovely book would be featured!
The New Bohemians written by Justina Blakeney delves into the world of Bohemia today, and in particular in today’s interiors. We are guided through twenty beautiful homes, each categorized into their own subsection of bohemian style; The Modern Bohemian, The Earthy, The Folksy, The Nomadic, The Romantic and The Maximal Bohemian. Each has their own individual traits and quirks that makes them unique whilst still applying that initial and original bohemian logic to not only their homes but their lifestyles too.
I’ve picked out just some of the amazing photographs and Blakeney’s eloquent and insightful descriptions of each category that feature in the book, so you can decide which ‘New Bohemian’ category you love the most.
‘The Modern Bohemian’
A Modern Bohemian combines “the clean lines and functionality of classic modern design with the decorative exuberance of a bohemian”. The dining room above shows a perfect collage of hand-picked items that fall all over the spectrum of style and fit together rather wonderfully. From the oversized cactus, to the vintage chandelier, to the sheepskin seat covers, everything in this room works together to create the optimal modern space without losing any of that bohemian charm.
‘The Modern Bohemian’
In this home the traditional bohemian can be found in the assortment of patterns and weaves and the mixture of playful and rustic colours. All this combined with the industrial-style exposed brick wall creates a warm and cosy, yet cool and stylish modern setting.
The Earthy Bohemian, as you may guess, is strongly connected to Mother Nature, and their home is perfect place “for those whose feet are on the ground but whose heads are in the stars”. Expect to see raw materials, surrounded by florals and foliage as well as dreamy accessories and design schemes that follow the same natural motifs.
‘The Earthy Bohemian’
‘The Earthy Bohemian’
This naturally embellished wall takes its residence within the bathroom of a home, not only is it a feature that is full of originality but for the Earthy Bohemian there’s a real overload of satisfaction with being at one with nature.
The Folksy Bohemian is quite possibly a nickname for a hoarder, but a well-trained hoarder. As Justina writes, a Folksy Bohemian’s home is “packed with tales of adventures, treasure, hunting, and hand-me-downs, the folksy bohemian is a collector, a maker, an up-cycler, and a storyteller”.
‘The Folksy Bohemian’
The home of a folksy bohemian is bound to be full to the brim with trinkets and treasures that map a timeline of the occupant’s life, as well as their families and loved ones. There’s probably an everlasting sense of sentimentality and nostalgia that surrounds the home of a folksy bohemian.
‘The Folksy Bohemian’
It seems that in a Nomadic Bohemian’s life the dust never quite settles. Whether they are off seeing the world, or just busy rearranging the furniture, complacency is never a word use to describe them. “When the spirit of a vagabond takes hold of the aesthete, the result is a nomadic bohemian, whose vibrant home is packed with textiles, ephemera, and anything else picked up during travels in both the actual and virtual world”.
‘The Nomadic Bohemian’
‘The Nomadic Bohemian’
There’s a real contemporary element to the brightness and contrasting layout of this sitting room. Stripped back you might start to miss mistake this room for an ordinary one, but with everything balancing perfectly in sync with one another the effortlessness of bohemian style and philosophy comes out to play.
On to the homes of the Romantic Bohemians, which might just be my favourite, they are nothing short of wonderland movie settings, full of glamour, drama and lavishness but delivered with a smooth and subtle finish that provides the authenticity needed to pull off such a look without becoming decadent. “The romantic bohemian often trades in contrasts, between the natural and the supernatural, the familiar and the exotic, the narrative and the poetic”.
‘The Romantic Bohemian’
‘The Romanic Bohemian’
From the hand painted, antiqued wallpaper to the gothic candleholders, these photographs made me swoon with joy and jealousy. Both homes are filled with a style and grace that money just couldn’t buy, creating an atmosphere full of drama and timelessness.
Finally Justina calls upon her last category of new bohemians, The Maximal Bohemian. If subtlety and minimalism is your thing then look away now, for the maximal and the minimal are worlds apart. “With a string disregard for quaint notions like everything must match or line up, the maximal bohemian loves to decorate wild”. If ever there was an interior design ‘rulebook’, the maximalist clearly wasn’t paying attention, and in fact probably threw it out their well-decorated window.
‘The Maximal Bohemian’
There’s pretty much a general sense that ‘anything goes’ and ‘never say never’ when it comes to the maximal bohemian’s home, but what is important to note that while inclusivity is obviously present, so is a high level of curation. Like a game of Tetris, everything can fit and work together, but only if done so strategically.
‘The Maximal Bohemian’
So there you have it, a quick dip into the ocean that is the Bohemian lifestyle by our tour guide Justina Blakeney and The New Bohemians, it’s almost like falling down the rabbit hole into a world you never knew you needed!
For more information: http://www.justinablakeney.com/the-new-bohemians/
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