We all have our unique opinions about what home means. For some, it’s a place to rest our head at night and nothing more. For others, home is a reflection of one’s personality, a site for the pursuit of hopes and dreams, or a task list of never-ending chores. Sometimes home is just one thing, but I think more often than not, home is many things at once.
In the age of social media, home has become a source of content. I’ve spoken on the topic of CleanTok before and the fact that a multitude of creators clean their homes constantly in order to produce regular content and engage viewers. I think the same is true for creators that aren’t even in the home or design space. Consumers want to see their fave creator’s home. They want to see how certain people design certain rooms, how they live inside their homes, and how much money they appear to have.
It’s no wonder MTV’s Cribs and, more recently, Architectural Digest’s Open Door series are such big hits. Peeking inside a celebrity’s home is an indulgent form of voyeurism.
But I have to wonder if we are obligated to design and decorate our home to reflect our personalities. Only 13 percent of Americans live alone, which means 87 percent of us are sharing a roof with at least one other person. The chances of your interior decorating style clashing with that other person’s are fairly high. Even if you have the same general aesthetic, there’s bound to be a disagreement on which light fixture to choose for the living room, the runner rug in the kitchen, or what color towels best suit the bathroom.
I’ve always felt like my home is as close to “me” as possible, considering most of it is secondhand. And there are some things I simply can’t change as a renter. Our homes are never going to be fully, 100% “us”. There’s always going to be obstacles and barriers to creating the perfect home, whether they’re practical, financial, or relational.
An airy and neutral Topanga Canyon retreat
Topanga Canyon is a dream locale for me. I don’t necessarily think it’s a reasonable place for me to live, per se — but that doesn’t stop me from dreaming about a vacation home in the canyon, spending weekends at the state park overlooking the ocean. Originally built in 1940, this updated cottage is an ideal place to unwind with its airy living space and generous outdoor deck.
The three-bedroom, two-bath abode features original oak and polished concrete flooring, vaulted ceilings, clawfoot tubs, and stylish French doors. From the deck, residents will enjoy panoramic mountain and canyon views. A standalone guest studio is perfect for hosting guests, complete with a kitchenette, sleeping loft, patio, and separate laundry.
The home is listed for $1,745,000 with Sophie Zeiler.