Sundling Kicken

I've been noticing an increasing wave of negative comments surrounding Minimalism–and while I wish that wasn't the case, I have to admit I completely understand where people are coming from in regards to the preachy types and the black and whiteness of it all. It is indeed quite puzzling how people can complicate something that’s meant to simplify our lives.

The saddest part is that minimalism and mindfulness can be immensely beneficial to everyone's life... but if we complicate the mere act of becoming a minimalist we lose sight of the simplicity of it all.

It is counterintuitive to encourage people to "let go" and then serve them with 101 "must do's", don't you think? Well, it shouldn't be made complicated. In fact, minimalism as I see it, should fit into your life and not you into minimalism. This is not a cult, it's a lifestyle–one that can change our lives completely and make our lives lighter and freer; so the only principle that we should never let go of is this:

Minimalism results from mindfulness.

That means that only you can determine what is right or wrong for you, what the essentials for your particular life are and what you truly need to let go of. Everything else is just a fad.

Thoughts?

Jonas Bjerre-Poulsen

An hour north of Oslo, located on a majestic hillside facing the Norwegian woods and Mjøsa lake, lies the Gjøvik house; a modern and minimal cluster house created by Norm Architects.

The house is built from 6 cubes, overlapping each other in plan and section. The Gjøvik House shows exactly what Norm Architects’ foundation of elegance and minimalism is about—bringing in a sense of minimalism and warmness at the same time by connecting every room seamlessly and allowing each room privacy and character.
























This carefully-planned project resulted in the stunning modern communion of man and nature.

Most pieces in this home are built-in / custom made. That, combined with their choice of concrete, texture and materials, creates a feel of calmness and belonging throughout the space. Not to mention the lake-fronting facade blends in with the interiors, making this one more masterpiece in the pocket of lead architect, Linda Korndal.

Maison Hand
Stéphane Garotin and Pierre Emmanuel Martin met while in Morocco. Shortly after, they founded Maison Hand after realizing they had much more than their love for travel in common–They are both passionate about interior decoration and share a taste for a beautifully curated lifestyle, a passion for the "hand-made" and spaces with true authenticity.

Travel, of course, is what helps bring out that authentic flare they so much praise... and how they’ve been able to successfully mix styles, origins and eras into their work. There is Japan with its elegance and architecture, Thailand and Burma with their flavors and refinement, Africa for its art, rawness and power, Brazil with its abundant nature, Puglia for its harmony of colors. Camera slung over shoulder, these globetrotters traverse the world, getting lost in magical craft-market alleys and survey museums, hunting for hidden treasures, being immersed in new materials and thinking about how to incorporate everything into the modern-western home.

Their work is unsurprisingly always successful, being showcased in famous publications... and making us travel vicariously through their stunning and inspiring projects.

Fredik Stambro

When it comes to most things in life, being a extremist isn't the answer. Life is, in fact, simpler than we make it out to be, don't you think? Yet most of us live it trying to unveil it like it's an ancient, mystical secret. This is also true when it comes to our beauty habits.

From jars of probiotics and supplements… to colon cleanses, painful treatments and food restrictions, we make ourselves believe convenience and health come from the packaged stuff.

What if our bodies were really that complicated that we could only be healthy and beautiful by eating goji berries and drinking detox juices every morning? Wouldn’t that be awful?

I personally believe that our bodies are simply miraculous and giving. If we love them and treat them well (most of the time) they'll treat us with the same level of love. Of course, this might not be the truth for people who sadly live their lives with life-long health issues – but for the average, lucky human being it's really a no-brainer.

Below are my cheat tricks for a natural cleanse:

1. Drink water instead of juice: I can almost feel a lot of you frowning as you read this... but hear me out. For ages, humans have been able to live in good health and be hydrated by the mere act of drinking water. That's my best detoxifying trick – and let me tell you, I’ve tried several other whacko ways.

2. Eat your probiotics: Some people's diet plans might require for them to take a probiotic supplement... but for those who eat real food and have no dietary restrictions or allergies, eating probiotics is the best option. I'm not only talking kimchi (though I personally love it) but kefir, yogurt, miso, apple cider vinegar… among others. The aim is to make healthy bacteria in our bodies available to fight the bad ones.

3. Cut down your (bad) sugar and fat intake: I had to add the "bad" part because there are plenty of GREAT sugar and fat sources. You can easily pinpoint if something is "fat but good" if it comes from the earth or even an animal. Avocado, eggs, fruit and vegetables are examples of the best natural sources of fat and sugar.

4. No-juice life: Most of my Brazilian friends look shocked when I tell them I'm not a juice drinker. I do like an occasional vegetable juice drink but I NEVER drink fruit juices, not even natural ones. My policy is that the more fiber, the better and the more filling. So instead of juicing, say, 4 oranges to make myself a cup of juice, I peel the orange and eat it whole.

5. Liver health is simple: Realistically, no one in this world has perfect liver health – that goes for non-drinkers too (Ok, maybe Gwyneth Paltrow). Everything we ingest can damage our liver, even common painkillers and viruses that are out of our control. To keep our liver in good health, cutting down (Notice I'm not saying removing) on the things that hit it the hardest is a great practice. Have 1 cup of coffee instead of 4 (guilty on that count), make drinking wine a "rare thing" and make refined sugars and complex carbs an absolute NO.

Last but not least, we all have an acute sense of what's right and what's wrong for each one of us. We know it because our bodies and our skin react to anything and everything we put in and on them – so being balanced and listening to our bodies is always the best way to show them some love.