Journal

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. 

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.

There are two ideas that can provide the guiding principles for creating a home that feels authentic. Using these principals can help to empower us to make big decisions like how to design a new home, as well as smaller decisions like whether a piece of furniture or a decorative item is right for us. We present these ideas and share a FREE WORKSHEET that can help you to identify your own guiding principals for decision-making. 

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...

In line with our belief in the value of a more thoughtful approach to consumption, we share the latest additions to our Kitchen Collection. Our Cloth Bowl Covers in grey ticking and recycled pink, Bento bags in natural linen and organic cotton, and utensil roll exemplify the values of slower living. 

At a time of rising concern about the impact that our use and disposal of plastic is having on the world around us one relatively simple solution that could be the beginning of significant change seems to be to reduce our consumption of plastic and opt instead for products made from natural sustainably sourced materials and reusable rather than single-use products and packaging. We share three reasons to consider switching to natural kitchen cleaning brushes instead of plastic ones. 

There is no formula for creating a warm and welcoming home but we share three small pointers that are helpful when thinking about how to create a home that feels warm, comforting and welcoming.

Find out a little more about why we consider ILDN to be a 'slow business' and what this term means.