No place like home

Karen Wight

Just like in life, every home can use a little humor to lighten the

mood, remind us not to take ourselves too seriously and bring a smile to

those we keep close to us.

Whimsical elements are accessories that are slightly incongruous to

our decorating style--such as a carved bear hat rack in the foyer of an

elegantly appointed British Colonial home, a stuffed fish hanging in an

unexpected stairwell, or a beautiful pair of sconces that resemble

Scottie dogs.

Touches of whimsy add a giggle in our day, interrupt our mental status

quo and bring an air of nonchalance to the serious business of life.

“The creation of a home environment begins as a declaration of

independence and evolves into an expression of self that is as

distinctive as a fingerprint” according to Judy George, CEO of Domain

Home Fashions and author of “The Domain Book of Intuitive Home Design.”

George adds, “I strive to stir my readers’ passions and encourage

their creativity.”

Adding whimsical elements is one way she encourages her clients and

readers to exercise that mischievous inner child.

Popular interior designer Elizabeth Speert is famous for her sense of

whimsy. Speert’s affection for animal art and offbeat combinations have

made her wacky style enormously popular.

Speert’s mantra professes a disregard of labels and she often rescues

castoffs from junk shops to reupholster and use among the family

heirlooms and “important” furniture. As if she is humming a song from

Mary Poppins, “in every job that must be done, there is an element of

fun,” Speert adds color and pattern in reckless abandon and always

includes an odd piece or three in her projects. She has become the guru

of wacky, wild and fun.

Whimsy, just like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder. One of the

Dad’s Day efforts in our house included giving my husband a stuffed

rooster fish--a big stuffed rooster fish--for his office.

I had rescued the fish from our orthodontist, who, in turn, had

inherited the fish from the doctor he had purchased his practice from.

This fish was out of luck in the worst way and headed for the dumpster

when I was bold enough to beg for a reprieve and take the old guy home.

I intended for the fish to go straight to Ben’s office, to be kept

company by various other manly artworks. But the look on my husband’s

face when we brought that fish out of hiding was just as though I had

presented him with a new son.

The fish had to stay; it was love at first sight.

So now, in our family room--yes, the room where we spend most of our

waking hours--we have a mascot. Big Rooster smiles at us from overhead as

we walk into the room and seems to thank us for his new lease on life.

And even though Big Rooster makes quite a statement, whimsy should not

be too overt; after all, the magic is in the minutia.

No bashing over the head required with this type of humor. Subtle, not

slapstick is the key to pulling off a touch of whimsy in your home.

One of my past clients has a serious art collection. The entire home

was literally a showcase for the pieces they have collected over the

years. We planned wall size, location, art spotlights, stairways and

shelf heights around their most beloved items. Yet in the middle of this

serious business are touches of silliness that bring us back to the real

world.

A small print with outrageous colors, a street sign with special

meaning, a tongue-in-cheek painting of a sunbathing nun. Little things

sprinkled here and there that lighten the mood.

To add a bit of the sublime and ridiculous to your home, start with

something you love. Is it the dog? Put a small pencil sketch of your

loyal companion in a fabulous frame and place it on a side table in the

living room. Is it horses? Use a horseshoe as a drapery tie back.

Fishing? Use a fishing tackle basket as your spice rack in the kitchen.

Gardening? Hang a (clean) trowel on the front door as an ornament.

Pick your passion and add an element of whimsy to your home. Laugh and

the world laughs with you.

KAREN WIGHT is a Newport Beach resident. Her column runs Saturdays.