One of my personal pet peeves is when people refer to a 'house' as a 'home' (are you listening to me, house-hunters?). There is a time and a place for both words but often, home is overused. The main difference is that 'home' is a feeling while house is a physical place or object. When talking about design, I always refer to a 'house'.
That aside, one of the ways to turn a house into a home is through personalization; In this case, the use of a metal work artist to turn functional bars into pieces of art, giving the house an artful character. This isn't something you see everyday and the homeowner obviously put a lot of thought and expense into this detail.
Located in the garden is this lovely old concrete bench covered in lichens -another artful addition. What have you done with your own house to make it your home?
One of my personal pet peeves is when people refer to a 'house' as a 'home' (are you listening to me, house-hunters?). There is a time and a place for both words but often, home is overused. The main difference is that 'home' is a feeling while house is a physical place or object. When talking about design, I always refer to a 'house'.
I would further that thought process by adding that a home is where a person or family resides (i.e. "so and so's home"). Not necessarily the case with a house.
ReplyDeleteBest way to create a home is by filling it with furnishings and items that mean something to you, that speak to you, your history, your aesthetic. That and creating memories.
Nice post!
Oh my. What have I done to make my house a home.
ReplyDeleteWell, raising a family, a dog and living through phases, trends and rising above it all to create an artful home.
I think it is like love, one just loves unconditionally - be it a child, a pet, a home, a stone patio, a roof, etc.
I think it takes a lot of living to make a house a home.
pve
You mention one of my own pet peeves - phrases such as "a lovely home" when in fact what is being referred to is a house. Getting students to say house instead of home was as difficult as getting them to say sofa instead of couch!
ReplyDeleteHome is something one makes of a house. Realtor-speak and and complete drivel - but don't get me started!
The bench would be so lovely to own and its its not easy to come by something with that kind of patina.
ReplyDeleteI have an ever growing collection of original art that gives me that "I am home" feeling. Also, family antiques that I remember from my childhood are comforting to see in my house and know that my neighbor didn't just pick up the same thing at Target.
These are great examples of homey touches. If people are still confused about the distinction, you can refer them to Edgar Guest's "It takes a heap o' livin' in a house t' make it home":
ReplyDeletehttp://www.readbookonline.net/readOnLine/51855/
Then they can get to the good stuff and read Ogden Nash's more down-to-earth parody, "Lines to a World-Famous Poet Who Failed To Complete a World-Famous Poem; or, Come Clean, Mr. Guest!:
http://writersalmanac.publicradio.org/index.php?date=2007/08/20
--Road to Parnassus
To me "home" is people and doesn't have to be a house, but usually it's house + people. I'd like to have that bench but it looks kind-of heavy to move down here.
ReplyDeleteThe years of personality, collections, art that a person puts into the house; makes it a home!
ReplyDeletexoxo
Karena
Art by Karena
PS I suppose for example you would not go to a dinner party and tell the hosts, "I love your House"
ReplyDeleteK
I brought in my boyfriend and my dogs. More importantly I resist the occasional urge to remove one or more of them.
ReplyDeleteI think I would say "you have a beautiful house" whether I thought so or not. But "are you going home" and "i'm headed home" are, to my mind, the proper use for the term.
ReplyDeleteKerry -a big part of it for me too is to have something unique that 'everyone won't have'.
ReplyDeleteI cannot imagine saying "I love your home" to anyone and neither can I imagine commenting at all to my host about his house. If I were given the, nowadays, almost inevitable tour I would feel obliged and probably embarrassed, if pressed, to say something positive. I don't find it polite to comment about someone's house unless I'm asked to. Even then, I would be embarrassed.
ReplyDeleteOf course, I say "at home" and "I'm going home" but never say "in my home" and I refer to where I live as "my house" and never "my home."
Thanks for this post... I love how this house was personalized into a home and I really like the rustic feel.
ReplyDeleteHome is possessive and only one (couple or family) can be home. You are at my house....
ReplyDeleteStefan,,
ReplyDeleteFirst off beautiful images!
Second, you totally made me laugh. I am so guilty of your pet peeve. Once I visit a house and meet its inhabitants I feel funny about calling it just a house. "Home" seems more deserving as a title. Hmmm, I think after reading this I will pay more attentions, and perhaps be a bit more discerning too.
So a family friend wrote a book on "U" and "non-U" terms, or rather acceptable and unacceptable. Home was very non-U. Haha, now I don't necessarily mind the word "home" but I giggle when I hear it.
ReplyDeleteSo true dahhling! lovely photos...
ReplyDeleteThank you for that. Hearing 'home' interchangeably (and incorrectly) for 'house' is a total fingernails on the blackboard moment for me (As are 'drapes' for 'curtain' and 'vehicle' for 'car' or 'truck'_. (Truly, I'm not one of those bloggers who is always pontificating on these things, or attaching class significance---it's just a matter of using words correctly to accurately describe. Cheers!
ReplyDeleteI think our two dogs top the list of what makes our house a home.
ReplyDelete- Some Cozy Night
Thank god you came out and said it, Stefan. A house is a house is a house. x
ReplyDeleteA home is where you put your mother when she can't wipe her own bum...
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