Journal

Thoughtful Living

EVOLVING LUXURY

EVOLVING LUXURY

Breaking away from stale ideas and perspectives on luxury, we are beginning to witness the emergence of more subtle, individual definitions of what true luxury can really be. Over the past few decades luxury has commonly been associated with excess. It was brash, bold and ostentatious. But modern luxury is evolving and this evolution is creating space for far more personal definitions...

MINDFUL MOMENTS THAT MAKE THE ORDINARY FEEL EXTRAORDINARY

MINDFUL MOMENTS THAT MAKE THE ORDINARY FEEL EXTRAORDINARY

Every single moment is rich in sensation or emotion when we learn how to attend it more fully. Making ordinary everyday moments feel special can help our mind to learn to focus on the present moment and to begin to notice all the wonderful little details that evade us when we are swept up in mind-wandering. Creating a wonderful atmosphere to accompany a simple everyday activity can be a helpful way to nudge our minds to attend to the activity a little more closely. For instance, a simple moment of sitting down to drink a cup of tea can become a mindful activity to be savoured when we learn how to give it our full attention.

THE SELF, CULTURAL CHANGE AND THE CONSUMPTION OF THINGS

THE SELF, CULTURAL CHANGE AND THE CONSUMPTION OF THINGS

There is a strange kind of irony when it comes to growing a healthy sense of self. It seems completely counterintuitive but the less we focus on ourselves the stronger and more true our sense of self becomes. We grow through focusing on other people, through diligently working on the task at hand, and through developing a deep sense of connection and care for the wider world around us. The more we let go of ourselves, the stronger and more stable our sense of self grows. We consider the benefits of spending our time looking outwards rather than in self-rumination, how this can impact our consumption habits and the notion that even small contributions may be able to result in lasting cultural shifts.

imperfections and the passage of time

IMPERFECTIONS AND THE TRACES LEFT BY THE PASSAGE OF TIME

Our popular culture favours the new over the old, perfection and homogeneity over the quirks and idiosyncrasies that make things unique. A rigid focus on perfection can be problematic because it is often intertwined with a rejection of things that do not conform to this standard. But by cultivating a more diverse appreciation of beauty, one which makes room for imperfections and signs of age, we begin to develop a more healthy and sustainable aesthetic. We discuss this topic and show some of the signs of wear that our beautiful Blackline Cutting Boards naturally acquire with time and use. 

HOW MASS PRODUCTION CAN UNDERMINE OUR UNIQUE VISUAL VOICE

HOW MASS PRODUCTION CAN UNDERMINE OUR UNIQUE VISUAL VOICE

In a world that is so saturated with both things and ideas, bringing our own unique perspective to the table can often seem like one of the few remaining ways to add value. Our homes are no different. Creating a home guided by our unique perspective is what is most likely to inspire not only others but also continue to inspire us. Global trends and mass production can often serve to undermine the very differences that make each one of our voices unique. Cherishing these differences, on the other hand, seems to carry benefits for us all. We discuss some of the issues of global mass production and ways we can avoid that feeling of sameness that can result from it.

slow living is a mindful reassessment of how we divide our time

SLOW LIVING IS A MINDFUL REASSESSMENT OF HOW WE DIVIDE OUR TIME

Modern life is infused with an unshakable sense that time is speeding up. We live in a hyper-connected world that brings with it an acute awareness of the possibilities that exist, and all these possibilities come with the looming sense that there will never be quite enough time to do all we want to do in life. At its core, slow living is a mindful reassessment of how we divide our time. It’s a very deliberate choice to invest our time and energy into those things that bring us closer to the life we want to lead...

Introduction

The Ellei Home Journal is where you can discover the thoughts that drive all that we do – from our product selection to our philosophy on design to a more thoughtful approach to life.

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