The Romantic Minimalist // Atlanta Bartlett & Dave Coote

I have been inspired by Atlanta Bartlett and Dave Coote for many a year, even before Tea with Ruby came into fruition.  So it is a great honour to be able to to review their new book The Romantic Minimalist here on my blog.  Their books, especially this one ground me, giving me the conviction to stick to my principals regarding my home and how I like to live.  It is a beautiful book filled with all the elements needed to give you the basics on what home is, re-evaluating what minimalism means, living mindfully and sustainably in this ever consuming world we now are a part of.  Taking things back to basics and answering simple questions about how we want to live, the fundamentals being quality over quantity, how do we want a space to work, not following trends, living a simpler more pared back life as if its always been so.

The book is in three sections, The New Romantics, The Elements and The Homes.  Guiding us through what softer minimalism is, reducing and paring back possessions but displaying edited collections among simpler backgrounds.  Not following trends, adding soul through textiles, wood, ceramics and handcrafted elements.  Not to be a slave to perfectionism and adding dashes of colour, making sure your pared back home still has patina and beauty.  Showing us how to mix old with new, getting creative and breaking a few design rules by reinventing items you already have in your possession, such as old doors as table tops and window shutters as mantle pieces.  Also reminding us that our homes are our sanctuaries, somewhere where we can reduce our stress and promote wellbeing, enabling us to live healthier lives without the mess and chaos by reorganizing and reducing the amount of stuff we have.  Teaching us how to use negative space and embracing the use of natural materials.

The Elements section of the book shows us how to use colour sparingly, from white through to earthy tones.  Investing wisely in big key pieces of furniture, and using natural daylight to enhance our homes. Most importantly how to create our own haven with the resources we already have.

Then onto The Homes, many are the different spaces and outbuildings belonging to Atlanta and Dave, each with their own personality and function but all inspirational.  Among these are a handful of beautiful homes that carry the same ethos showing us how pared back, carefully edited, functionality and beauty can work.

The Romantic Minimalist will become a bit of bible for me, dipping in and out when I have a design dilemma or when I need a moment away from the hustle and bustle of daily life.  The pages will become well thumbed and I hope this will be true for you too.

 

With thanks to Atlanta Bartlett & Dave Coote for the book.  The Romantic Minimalist published by Mitchell Beazley.  Photography Polly Wreford