Imperfection is Beautiful

I often wonder about the societal obsession with perfection. Indestructible surfaces that won’t scratch or show any signs of age, faucets that won’t patina, and pristine homes. 

Why shouldn’t using natural materials be the foundation of all design? Design, like nature, should be imperfect, as a hint of eccentricity is far more interesting than predictability. 

I find joy in the unpredictability of a tarnished floor with age narrating a bygone era or an original wood ceiling in a mid-century modern home with unparalleled warmth and beauty. It’s the difference you can’t point out but can feel. 

Embracing imperfections and impermanence in beauty evokes emotion. The asymmetrical petals of a wildflower or weathered stones along the shore, the perfect mossy green hue of a copper patinaed gutter or an unlacquered brass faucet, furniture with nicked edges or sofas with wear—these are all beautiful signs of a well-lived life. 

Why can’t we put zellige tile on the floor or marble on the counter without fear? Why is the natural etching of a marble surface that comes with age undesirable? Why is a living finish faucet to always be avoided? 

We need to feel comfortable living in our homes and embrace the imperfection that comes with living because I think what makes a home our home is the process of living in it and the beauty it results. 

What do you think?

A closer look at my unlacquered brass faucet

Love,

Jaclyn