Is there beauty in imperfection?

I find beauty in imperfection and impermanence.  It's all over my art. 

 The petal that is captured as it starts to decay, 

the rusted objects found in debris, the peeling layers of wallpaper in old homes, 

  and objects no longer needed for their original function, the list is endless.

Accepting  transience and  imperfection (flawed beauty) can also  relate directly to your living space.  The Japanese world view/aesthetic of wabi sabi   acknowledges three simple realities: nothing lasts, nothing is finished, and nothing is perfect.

Wabi Sabi  reveres authenticity. When you look for authentic furniture and objects for your home you will rarely find them  in big box stores.  Natural materials predominate in wabi sabi homes: paper, aged wood, linens, cottons, etc. Look for anything that celebrates the  marks of time , weather, and  the effects of loving use.

This graphic is a good summary of the characteristics of wabi sabi. 

 

Characteristics of wabi-sabi include: asymmetry, asperity (roughness, irregularity), simplicity, economy, austerity,  and appreciation of the integrity of natural objects and processes.  Look for: natural flawed beauty, patina, handmade, irregularity, bareness. How refreshing!

 

 This aged cabinet maintains the marks of its history.  No effort could make it perfect.  The vignette on top is simple, asymmetrical  and references the beauty and temporality found in nature. While there is austerity in the products, there is also tranquility.

Many  examples of wabi sabi contain little or no colour, but I feel  colour is not exclusive of this aesthetic.  Here's a good example that has all the characteristics noted above. The marks of time are evident, even more so on colour.

The delicacy of pink blossoms against all the weathered wood pits naturalness against roughness. 

Not every space that has  wabi sabi characteristics looks exactly the same.  All of these spaces have some wabi sabi elements.  

 

 The wood console table is a hint of wabi sabi against the glass.  The space is simple and tranquil.

  I love the imprefection of this countertop against the modern, pristine cabinets.  Am I the only person who craves warmth in countertops?  Imagine the difference if this island were finished in granite.

 Lots of natural materials, simplicity and economy is line and adornment, and a focus on the handmade.

If you want a little wabi sabi in your home here are suggestions for a start: 

If you want to find out more about this aesthetic ....

And remember ...

And a lesson we can all learn from Wabi Sabi....you can also interpret it in a much looser fashion to accept what you have as beautiful and to live with only what you need.

All links to images and many more examples  on my Pinterest board Wabi Sabi 

Diamond facial at Beauty Century, Midvalley

I went for a facial today at Beauty Century. I have read good reviews about it and since it is my first time, I get a discount. I love discounts! Normal price for this Diamond Peel facial was RM98. But if you are a first timer, they charged RM38. RM38 covers consultation (45 mim), back massage (15min), diamond peel (10min), facial (15min), steam (15 min), extraction (30min), aloe vera mask ( 15 min) treatment, charcoal mask (15min), face massage (10min), toner, moisturiser, sun block and lastly, head massage (5min).
All the duration were just my estimation. Basically, they will ask you if you have three hours to do all those things as a first timer. Quite worth it!

Of course, the consultation part was where they try to recommend me to go for a 'better' treatment. She recommended I do the DFN facial which cost rm500 per treatment! I could not hide my shocked expression. I came prepared for a rm38 facial and to hear rm500 for a facial was way too much. DFN helps to make the pores smaller, reduce scars and make pimples smaller. Everything I wanted and needed, but im so not ready to fork out that amount. It does not even gurantee i will be satisfied after one treatment.

Aside from that, i had an awesome back massage there and everyone was really nice. The beautician was also very detailed in explaining what she was doing to my face and warn me if it was going to be painful. The diamond peel is a machinine that sucks up all the dead skin cells. She told me to feel my skin and it was so smooth, something like the after effect of sanding wood.