The Architecture of Happiness
by Alain de Botton
Photo courtesy of Pantheon Books

I’m reading the most wonderful book, The Architecture of Happiness by Alain de Botton. It is just published by Pantheon Books, and I suggest that you rush right out and purchase a copy.

De Botton attempts, quite successfully, to make the argument that beauty in architecture really does matter (even though the architectural field is wary of even discussing the topic of beauty). He eloquently makes the point that our homes, in particular, remind us of who we are. He states, “We need our rooms to align us to desirable versions of ourselves and to keep alive the important, evanescent sides of us.”

I’ve always felt that beauty is important in the rooms of our lives. I believe our personal spaces shape us as much as we shape them. The Architecture of Happiness helps me better understand why this is so.

“Twilight Cuff”
Pat Flynn

Instant attraction does things, causes chemical reactions and impetuous acts. Subtleties are of little use in these moments – the heart wants what it wants.

That’s the way I felt last fall when I first saw Pat Flynn’s cuffs. I’ve known this jeweler for over 20 years, and have always admired his broad array of heart pins that are constant favorites of jewelry collectors. But these new cuffs, which Pat created just for The Guild, were something else again.

Here, the statement is all about the juxtaposition of materials. Hammered, forged steel provides the backdrop for elegant goldsmithing. The disparate materials of steel, gold, and diamonds come together in a beautiful object that suggests both strength and fragility.

What can I say? I was smitten. Lucky me, my not-too-subtle hints were picked up by close relatives who came together for a holiday gift that I will forever treasure.

“Poet’s Bottles: Comfort & Joy”
Jeff Crandall

As I reflect on the events of the past year, and consider what lies ahead in the new year, it is clear that there are many challenges in this world as we know it. Sometimes, the challenges can seem almost overwhelming.

I find comfort and joy in uncertain times through the solace of hand-crafted artwork and furnishings for the home. They serve as beautiful reminders that the world is full of inspiring form, design, and color. I choose to surround myself with the talents of artists because they reflect, at the most basic level, the virtue of human expression.

As we begin 2007, I extend my best wishes to you for a year of comfort and joy, and one that is filled with beautiful things that lift the spirit.