What is a Home?
Thinking about the loss of houses in the LA fires
Watching the devastation of the LA fires unfold before our eyes in real time is shocking. It is hard to believe the sheer scale of the loss of houses. It’s hard to know what to even say.
The work that we do as interior designers seems frivolous to some; fluffy cushions and vases, meaningless things. We’re not saving lives here, I get it.
BUT…
I am honored that clients choose me to help create their home for them. Our homes ARE meaningful. If you’re reading this, I’m guessing that you already know this.
Our homes are more that spaces filled with ’stuff’ and ‘trending’ colours.
Our homes are more than structures to provide shelter.
I think it’s actually memories.
Our homes are filled with memories.
When a home is gone in a moment, so too are the spaces where memories were made.
The photos of loved ones that aren’t on earth anymore. The objects that they held. The furniture that they used. Maybe all we had were the photos and memories of them in the house. When those are gone, where is the proof they existed?
(above photo of my living room in our home in Melbourne. The Design Files took some photos for Double Rugs - here’s this rug if you want details)
Among the 1200 structures that are gone, there have been losses of architectural greats such as this Richard Neutra house below. Dezeen shared 5 other significant houses that are lost forever.
Kelly Wearstlers iconic Malibu house is lost. She wrote about it with so much grace here. Every interior designer knows this house. How it’s changed throughout the years and felt inspired by it. Now it’s all gone.
But the one that REALLY got me was when I heard that Sasha Strebe lost her home. When I saw her post that fire was threatening her house, it look the wind out of me. It was the first time I heard of these fires in LA.
Shortly after she posted that her house was gone.
Gone.
These para-social relationships are kind of normal these days (aren’t they?). But I still felt for her so much. I tossed and turned that night.
It’s just that Sacha really poured her heart and soul into her home. We’d watched on as she lovingly decorated each corner of her home. Her bedroom decoration, her living room renovation and her bookshelf styling. It’s all gone and that is so terribly sad.
I’m so sorry Sacha.
Thoughts are with the people that have lost everything. Not just the ‘things’ but the memories.
A bit of a sad note today.
from your design friend,
Lauren
One of the things I am thankful for is that these homes have been beautifully documented. Kelly's Malibi home was the one that I loved most and I didnt know about Sascha but I can now go back and look at the home in retrospect.
I love the memories that Google sends me of our homes over the years and am always oversharing them on family chats =)