FORESTA LETTER No. 01
DESIGNING A NATURAL HOME, A THOUGHTFUL APPROACH
WITH REBECCA GODDARD
May, 2020
With so many of us under lockdown of one form or another around the world, this special first letter is an invitation to connect with the essence of nature's escapism, bringing beautiful bits of the outside indoors. We turn to our friend Rebecca Goddard, to reflect on how to design a more natural home, with a slow, thoughtful and considered approach. Because now, more than ever, designing increasingly natural homes invites calm and brings us peace and happiness in these strange times; to relax and recharge, the same feeling we have when contemplating a beautiful landscape.
Rebecca Goddard is the talented designer of our first furniture collection and a fundamental part of the Foresta Family. She also works as an interior stylist, content creator and blogger. She explains, “It's a wild mix but I love it all. I think that a lot of time, people want to put you in a box and have you do one thing professionally in their mind, but nowadays we don’t have to live in that box anymore. I love that every day I get to do something creative and work across many fields that I’m passionate about, because really so many aspects of design and the aesthetic world overlap and build off each other.”
Rebecca and her husband live in Berlin, but they dream of building a life in Copenhagen in the years ahead, to live a bit more calmly and closer to nature and the seaside. “As a child, I spent a lot of time outdoors exploring with my siblings and the kids who lived nearby. Summers were for building forts in the woods, picking wild blackberries, and amassing an endless amount of bugbites along the way. We also spent a few weeks each year at my grandparent’s house — they lived on an old plantation surrounded by woods and fields. My grandfather always kept a big garden, and he also did a lot of woodworking in a small carriage house that he converted into a workshop. He would let us help with his projects or guided us through our own crafts, like turning wooden bowls or weaving baskets. I think I have him to thank for my crafty side. Later, I went to university to study design in the Appalachian Mountains — that’s where I came to know and appreciate the meditative side of nature and gained a real sensitivity to the seasons.”
Since our work with Rebecca began, we have bonded over our admiration for nature and desire to preserve it. We’ve found ourselves in sync on many ideas, with a natural focus being the thing that links our values and aesthetics. Together, we have thought about easy ideas to create a more natural home that combines well with every existing style, creating an organic and wonderfully calming feeling in a space to prioritize our health and, for sure, reduce our impact on the environment.
A NEUTRAL AND OPEN AESTHETIC
Nothing brings coherence and restfulness quite like a neutral color palette. Color your ambience in soft neutral tones to evoke naturalness in all corners - sands, greys, oysters, moles, whites, nudes, beiges, toasts, shades of cocoa... earthy colors that harmoniously combine together and make us feel relaxed, calm, and undistracted. Allow yourself to leave bare and practically unadorned walls that free up space for contemplation, as in nature. Emptiness in the right amount puts the focus on the elements that deserve our attention, in the same way that a vast open sky allows us to take in the beauty on the horizon.
“I like to keep the color foundation in our home airy and neutral because I find it calming, but I also like the flexibility it gives to adapt the interior with the changing seasons. I don’t consider myself to be color-shy, but I’m certainly a bit non-committal and like to shift with the year, weather, or ever my own mood. Some days I want the youthful energy of vibrant tulips, and other days I prefer the calm and powdery softness of hydrangeas — neutrals beautifully support either.”
A neutral aesthetic is a good starting point for designing a natural home and matches the calming vibes of the objects you introduce to give your home a feeling of harmony and togetherness.
NATURAL MATERIALS AND TEXTURES
One of the better ways to make a room look and feel natural is choosing natural materials. Wood, stone, rattan, raw linen or wool — textures that are instinctively and inexplicably familiar and wonderful to the touch. Their texture, grains, organic lines and imperfections are part of their attraction and bring a sense of natural warmth that you don’t always get from synthetic materials. Look for furniture and objects made of solid wood that are untreated or finished with natural oils — they are better-wearing than veneers. These pieces will continue to share their natural beauty with you over time as they patina.
Celebrate your connection to the earth by choosing other materials like stone or woven rattan, and choose raw linen, organic cotton or soft wool for clothing, towels, tablecloths and bedding — it will bring a cozy feeling to the space. “Our home is a mix of all materials, and I’ve found that the natural ones have been the most long-wearing, like our vintage marble table and classic wooden dining chairs — all bought second-hand. Instead of decorating with lots of art or patterns, I prefer to put the focus on materials and textures. When you create a mix of the natural and refined, not much else is needed and interesting contrasts happen. This is something you can also do with textiles, and I like mixing worn vintage linens on the bed with newer bedding to create a variety of softness and texture. I keep mending our vintage pillow cases as they wear with use — the fabric becomes more fragile with each wash but the color is still fresh and they have developed the most comforting softness.”
EMBRACE NATURAL IMPERFECTION
Sometimes we try to make our homes as perfect as possible, but nature is not perfect, and neither are we. Part of creating a natural feeling home comes from embracing what’s irregular. Handmade treasures and organic objects that have been collected gradually offer an escape from uniformity and embrace imperfection — creating a house that mirrors the passage of time. Uneven walls, wrinkled linens, oddly shaped ceramics, and fabrics faded by the sun bring warmth and natural character to the home. Incorporating these elements with a simple neutral style creates a balanced harmony between what’s natural and what’s refined. Remnants from the past which usually live in family heirlooms or second-hand treasures help you connect with your interior, becoming even more valuable with the passage of time.
“Much of our tableware is a mixture of pieces that we’ve collected over the year, mostly from travels and handmade by artisans. Many are far from perfect, but they are my favorites because they tell a story. I usually look for pieces that reflect the vancular landscapes from where the piece came — like terra-cotta cups from Morocco or bowls carved from Acacia Koa wood from Hawaii. Together on the table they tell a little story, like a journey around the world, and make me think of those places.”
DETAILS THAT CONNECT WITH THE OUTDOORS
The easiest and most obvious way to bring the outside in is by including a few fresh flowers or plants as if they emerged from nature to celebrate the season with us. Grow your own plants from seeds, or nurture young acquired plants in pots. House plants, especially in a neutral colored home, really bring a burst of freshness and energy to the room, especially these days when nature is out of reach for many of us. Watering and caring for plants is a relaxing activity too, and their presence can help purify the air.
“I like to keep dried flowers, grasses and branches around the home because it’s an easy, long-lasting option that is more sustainable and affordable compared to buying fresh-cut flowers. When I do pick up a fresh bouquet, I always find ways to preserve and enjoy them for as long as possible. I’ll trim and rearrange the stems into smaller bouquets, and dry or press the flowers as they wilt and age.”
NURTURING RITUALS
Daily tasks can become calming rituals. When making the bed, mist the sheets and blankets with essential oil blends like rosemary, lavender, or lily. A natural fragrance keeps the bedding fresh and will be there to soothe you at the day’s end. In the same way, mist your clothing, towels, and textiles as they air-dry. Air-drying will keep your garments crisp while extending their life and reduce your energy use. Add fruits and herbs to a water carafe each morning and keep it in sight to remind yourself to stay hydrated — it’s a habit that's good for your health while the beautiful presence of water brings clarity and balance.
“I usually start my morning with a quick tidy up, and most days I’ll reorganize a few objects along the way. Making quick changes has always been a little hobby of mine and not many things stay in one place long. Our home is in constant transition, always. I find that rearranging small elements, like vases, pillows, books, or even art, brings a new energy into the home and my eyes appreciate the fresh view as much as I enjoy the creative process.”
CELEBRATE THE SUNSHINE
Open the windows and doors to welcome in fresh air and warmth from natural sunlight, and think about different ways you could increase the amount of natural light in your home. Position your lounge areas near windows to create comfortable opportunities to sunbathe inside — this could be your bed, the sofa, or a cushion-filled corner for reading and basking in the sunshine.Remove any obstructions in front of your windows and choose airy, light-transmitting curtains over dark and heavy materials — this will help erase the line between inside and out. Consider adding mirrors or small reflective surfaces around your home. Placing a glass vase near a window or in the sun's direct path will create new reflections throughout the day and bring the life of dancing light into the room as the day goes on and the light changes.
“As the day ends and the light fades, I like lighting a naturally scented candle. It feels like a soothing transition between the working day and the start of a slow and calm evening. I tend to leave the stronger overhead lights off until the last light of day is gone, savoring the calm and soft evening light for as long as possible,” Rebecca finishes.
We believe that designing a natural home is not just about the way it looks, but about the way it makes you feel.
Thoughtfully and with care,
Foresta Family
