$5.99
JULY 2020
THE MINIMALIST THE APPRECIATION OF SPACE
KARDASHIAN-WEST MINIMALIST OASIS
HOW TO BE A MINIMALIST
MINIMALISM
Breathtaking view away from the city | p. 1
The 5 Key steps you need to know | p. 4
Throught the Eye of a Travler | p. 9
PAGE 1 | MINIMALIST
KARDASHIAN-WEST MINIMALIST OASIS WRITTEN BY MAYER RUS PHOTOGRAPHY BY JACKIE NIKERSON When Kanye and Kim Kardashian West first
so I could work off some of the baby fat,” Kim
encountered the house that would become
recalls of their first sighting in the summer of
their wildly idiosyncratic family refuge in
2013. “I didn’t really know Kanye’s style at that
suburban Los Angeles, the two had decidedly
point, but I thought the house was perfection.
different reactions. “We passed by this incredibly
Kanye was less enthusiastic. He said, ‘It’s
extravagant house while strolling through the
workable.’”
neighborhood. I’d just had North, and we were
Almost seven years—and three more children—
doing a lot of walking
later, the Wests have
PAGE 2 | MINIMALIST
estate into one of the most fascinating, otherworldly, and, yes, strange pieces of domestic architecture on the planet. The metamorphosis of the house from suburban McMansion to futuristic Belgian monastery, as Kanye himself blithely describes it, is a story of probing and passion—a testament to the iconoclastic mind of the boundary-defying musician and the fearlessness of the zeitgeist-defining reality star and entrepreneur. As his career took off, and as his fortunes grew, Kanye was able to indulge his design jones in a serious way, becoming a habitué of the Paris flea markets and international design fairs, and diving into the deep end of the pool with major acquisitions like an original Jean Royère Polar Bear sofa. “I sold my Maybach to get the Royère. People told me I was crazy for what I paid for it, but I had to have it,” Kanye says of the design trophy. One of those people was his wife. “I really didn’t know anything about furniture before I met Kanye,” Kim admits, “but being with him has been an extraordinary education. I take real pride now in knowing what we have and why it’s important.” The couple’s peregrinations through the international design world eventually put them in the path of the illustrious
Belgian
designer
and
tastemaker
Axel
Vervoordt, whom Kanye met at antiques fairs and exhibitions
in
Maastricht
and
Venice.
The
initial
attraction for the musician centered on a signature Vervoordt design—a Floating Stone table with rounded edges that seemed to encapsulate the seductive simplicity and wabi-sabi aesthetics that pervade the designer’s oeuvre. “When I saw the kind of work he was doing, I thought, This man could design Batman’s house. I had to work with him,” Kanye says, adding, “It was a coup to get Axel to come to Calabasas to redo a McMansion, which is essentially what the house was.” Vervoordt confesses that it was an unlikely meeting of the minds. “I’m not from the pop world, the rapper’s world.But I discovered Kim and Kanye as wonderful human beings. We have common values in life, important human values, like a respect for the beauty and spirituality of art,”
Those conversations naturally informed their plans to reimagine the house, a process Vervoordt describes in terms of distillation. “Kanye and Kim wanted something totally new. We didn’t talk about decoration but a kind of philosophy about how we live now and how we will live in the future. We changed the house by purifying it, and we kept pushing to make it purer and purer,” the designer explains. In practical terms, those lofty ambitions translated into a wholesale transformation of the proportions of the house’s many rooms, all of which are sheathed in a luminous, off-white plaster and accented with other pale natural materials. Those conversations naturally informed their plans to reimagine the house, a process Vervoordt describes in terms of distillation. “Kanye and Kim wanted something totally new.
PAGE 3 | MINIMALIST
The second reason people struggle to get started with minimalism is they think they don’t have enough time. After all, most people want to know how to be a minimalist because their lives are busy and cluttered in the first place!
2. THE ONE LAST SHOP SYNDROME… The One Last Shop syndrome is a bit like binge eating before starting a new diet; you’re almost ready to get started with minimalism … but you just need to pick up a few things first.I was SO guilty of this for so many years! For me, it was all about my wardrobe. I kept telling myself I’d be ready to get started with minimalism once I found the perfect _______.The first step to living with less should never be buying a bit more.Part of minimalism is quality over quantity, so I understand the desire to upgrade or replace a few things but don’t start there. You need to become comfortable with
HOW TO BE A MINIMALIST
owning and needing less first.
WRITTEN BY JENNIFER SMITH
Your next “how to be a minimalist”
3. NOT TAKING THE TIME TO DISPOSE OF YOUR STUFF PROPERLY tip is to plan what to do with your
1. DON’T PUT OFF GETTING STARTED
excess stuff before you
There are usually two reasons people procrastinate getting started
declutter!Now, I’ll be honest with
with minimalism. First, they struggle to commit to being a
you and tell you that I didn’t do this
minimalist because they aren’t sure they like the “rules”. For
when I first got started with
example, one thing that held me back from getting started with
minimalism. I was so excited after I
minimalism was my false belief that it was an “all or nothing”
finally overcame the above hurdles
lifestyle.
and I just wanted to build
PAGE 4 | MINIMALIST on that momentum. I filled trash bag after trash bag with unwanted stuff … and then two things happened.When you’re getting started with minimalism, a good place to begin is by researching the best places to donate your goods.Different charities are better equipped to handle different donations and they also have varying needs.
4. MAKING IT ALL ABOUT THE STUFF OK, I know that so far I’ve been talking a lot about decluttering and that’s because it’s what most people focus on when they’re first getting started with minimalism.It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of decluttering and it’s tempting to judge your progress by the number of trash bags you’ve hauled off to Goodwill. But here’s the thing: just like a healthy lifestyle is not about dieting, minimalism is not about decluttering.Of course, decluttering is one piece of the puzzle but if you stop there, you’re missing the point.You’re getting rid of the stuff that doesn’t matter so you have more time, money, energy and space for the things that do.What this means is that doing the inner work and cultivating a minimalist mindset is just as important (if not more) than decluttering your closet.Ask yourself: What are your values?
5. JUDGING YOURSELF + OTHER PEOPLE Decluttering is hard because it means facing up to hundreds if not thousands of mistakes. More than likely, you’re going to realise that you’ve wasted a lot of money on things you may never have even used. This can be really painful and it’s enough to make you want to throw in the towel before you’ve even begun.Also, when you’re getting started with minimalism, you need to be careful about judging other people. There will come a point where you “get” minimalism—you’ve downsized your stuff and you’ve started to think mindfully about your life— and then it’s tempting to judge everyone else.
PAGE 5 | MINIMALIST
INTERVIEW WITH A MINIMALIST Today, I have an interview with Ksenia who views minimalism as part of her spiritual journey.
Who are you? What’s your background?
My name is Ksenia. I was born and raised in Latvia by the beautiful Baltic Sea. When I was four years old the Soviet Union collapsed and Latvia became independent. The fall of communism brought radical changes to all the spheres of the society and opened doors to many influences from the West and from the East. What advice can you offer to people interested in living a minimalist lifestyle? It is hard to give advice because
everyone’s life and circumstances are so different. I would suggest to stop things from entering your home first. Stop shopping and take some time to reflect on what you own and what no longer serves you.
WRITTEN BY DANIELLE TAFT
PAGE 6 | MINIMALIST
Our family traveled to places that most Soviet people couldn’t even dream of visiting. What part of the world do you live in? I Llive in New York. I met my husband during a trip to
England. While we were deciding on a place to start our life together, the Universe sent us a lucky green card lottery win. And so we moved halfway across the world to NYC.
I was intrigued and inspired by your recent Instagram post about minimizing decision making. Can you tell me more about this? I always felt mentally exhausted from all the irrelevant decisions I had to make every day. What should I eat for breakfast? What should I wear? These thoughts would come to my mind in the mornings when I was still in bed. I never liked to feel rushed and I always dreamed of days that will start with meditation and a long cup of tea. When I came across the theory about decision fatigue I was blown away.
I believe there are many ways to be a minimalist and many forms of minimalism. What does minimalism mean to you? And, in what ways are you a minimalist?
Minimalism above all is a part of my spiritual journey. I believe that I am a visitor in this world searching for love and light, I am here to grow and to learn. Do you have any goals for this year or the next few that you want to share? No particular goals this year, but our vision for the future is to live in our own small home surrounded by nature, homeschool Anton and travel a lot.
What have been some unexpected experiences (positive or negative) you’ve had with minimalism?I was able to embrace
my inner introvert more. I used to feel all sorts of feelings when I needed to take a break from an outside world.
What has been the greatest benefit of minimalism? Minimalism helped me discover a new state of mind, that shines light on all areas of my life.
PAGE 7 | MINIMALIST
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CRATE AND BARREL INFINITI GRANDE CURVE BACK SOFA $1899 Channeling 1930s Hollywood, Infiniti takes center stage in the modern living room with glamorous curves. The sofa's flowing lines sweep an asymmetrical tight back to complement its graceful kidney-shaped seat.
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BEAM POND MIRROR $365 Featuring two individual mirrors, the Pond series explores organic shapes for a classic mirror with a metal frame. Inspired by freeflowing movements of water.
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ROVE CONCEPTS DRESDEN SECTIONAL SOFA $4024
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Compelling in its simple yet cutting edge style, the Dresden modular collection is a bold take on contemporary design.
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Arching coffee table made from woven strands of rattan in two size options for ultraversatile use. Flat tabletop with rounded corners in a natural finish.
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URBAN OUTFITERS MARISOL COFFEE TABLE $99
5
URBAN OUTFITTERS MARCELLA ARC FLOOR LAMP $229
Arching floor lamp featuring a wooden base and rattan neck that holds the tapering woven shade at the perfect angle to illuminate your space
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BEAM KONA BED $1,455 Inspired by traditional Japanese furniture and 'low living', the Kona Bed is ideal for use as a daybed or single bed for overnight guests. With a name derived from the Japanese word for corner, the bed is made from sturdy oak veneer.
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GARCIA AND CUMINI FOSCARINI SPOKES 1 SUSPENSION LAMP $2,054 A collection of suspension lamps with two different shapes. The opaque epoxy powder varnished steel spokes are attached to the upper part by two ABS/polycarbonate discs .
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COCONUT LIVING PETATE PALM LEAF MAT $95
Handmade Palm leaf natural rug with a bit imperfect shape to bring natural touch to any space at your home. Each one unique. Size 160 x 130 cm
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Make your statement simple with the Globe Pendant. Its upright candelabra sticks to tradition, while its clean form and metal finish feels streamlined and modern. natural finish.
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MCGEE&CO. GLOBE PENDANT $650
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URBAN OUTFITTERS ISOBEL BOOKSHELF $749
The possibilities are endless with this eclectic bookshelf that instantly upgrades your space with an artful display.
PAGE 9 | MINIMALIST
PARIS
MINIMALISM
THROUGH THE EYES OF A TRAVLER
PLOVID BALI
SOFIA
OCCOROM
ABU DHABI
PAGE 10| MINIMALIST
MATTHIJS KOKAM ASTERDAM-BASED DESIGNER AND CREATIVE Matthijs Kok is a multidisciplinary designer, photographer and creative based in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. He graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Product Design at the Hogeschool van Amsterdam in 2015. Matthijs is always striving to design characteristic and iconic products. With a functional and minimalist approach, his designs comprising modern and soft, minimalist shapes with a welcoming expression. In his work he focuses on experimenting with material possibilities and production techniques, exploring the thin line between contemporary art and design: sculptural, yet functional.. Matthijs traveled the world in search for minimalist designs hidden in plain sight. As he traveled he collected memories through his photography.
Bali March 2015
Morocco June 2017
Bali is magical. As probably the most famous island
Marrakech, a heady blend of labyrinthal
in Indonesia, Bali blends spectacular mountain
souks, colourful Medina streets, mysterious
scenery and beautiful sandy white beaches with
snake charmers performing at the Djemma El
warm and friendly people, a vibrant culture and
Fna and the enchanting sound of the call to
filled with over 1000 temples.
prayer echoing around the medina.
Paris August 2017
Abu Dhabi October 2017
Visiting Paris is always a good idea, even
The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is without a
when you only have one day to bask in its
doubt a must-see when you visit Abu Dhabi in the
charms. Its rich history, architectural
United Arab Emirates. This iconic mosque was
wonders, remarkable museums, and
built in memory of Sheikh Zayed, the man who
picturesque landscapes are sure to make it
brought
every traveler’s dream destination.
spearheading its creation into the majestic nation
the
United
Arab
Emirates
together,
it is today.
Sofia June 2018
Plovid June 2018
Sofia is a city packed with eclectic
Plovdiv is the second-largest city in
monuments and buildings. The Bulgarian
Bulgaria and is well known as the City of
capital is built upon ancient foundations of
the Seven Hills. Plovdiv is Europe’s oldest
culture and history. Standing among the
continuously inhabited city and it is best
striking Stalinist-era architecture are ancient
loved for its enchanting old town, packed
Byzantine masterpieces, built during the 500
with cobbled streets and colourful 19th-
years of Ottoman rule.
century mansions that are now housemuseums, galleries and restaurants.
PAGE 11 | MINIMALIST
THE ROOTS OF MINIMALIST DESIGN WRITTEN WAVA CARPENTER THE 1960S ART MOVEMENT The term minimalism grew out of the New York-based Minimal Art movement of 1960s, which gave us the platonicgeometric work of Robert Morris, Sol LeWitt, Frank Stella, and others. Ironically, many Minimal artists created sculptures that were inspired by the clean forms of modernist design.One of the greatest masters of Minimal Art, Donald Judd, sparsely appointed his own Manhattan loft with rectilinear, raw plywood furniture that he designed and set alongside classics from modernist pioneers like Alvar Aalto, Gerrit Rietveld, and Thonet. Since that era, the term “minimalism,” has been deployed to refer to any object or interior featuring a marked reduction of form. Choosing tried-and-true designs that favor raw function over plush forms remains a key component of minimalist interiors to this day. LEARNING FROM THE BAUHAUS Before minimalism was called minimalism, the Bauhaus School in Weimar in the 1920s advocated for designs that used the least amount of material possible. Marcel Breuer, Mart Stam, and their cohorts articulated this goal for a number of practical reasons: less expensive
PAGE 12 | MINIMALIST
portability, and easier cleaning.In time though, the stripped back Bauhausian aesthetic became an end to itself. All those slender cantilevered chairs and bent tubular steel structures occupy less space. And minimalists are all about embracing the light airiness that comes with lots of empty space. Minimalist interiors feature not only restrained silhouettes, but also fewer objects overall. MONOCHROMATIC, TRANSPARENT, UNIFIED Japanese designer Shiro Kuramata achieved international fame in the 1980s at the height of the Memphis craze, to which he was a key contributor. But he took on postmodernism in his
own way. His designs drew upon a much more limited palette of materials than his contemporaries. And instead of adopting the riotous aesthetic of the era, Kuramata created objects that seem to disappear, using transparent glass and acrylic, or, in the case of his interiors, using the same materials on multiple surfaces of the room. STRIVE FOR SUPERNORMAL In the 21st century, Morrison and Fukasawa went on to develop the concept of the Supernormal, a term they used to praise everyday designs that work exceedingly well and make our daily tasks more enjoyable —especially when the formal qualities of these objects have a subtle, humble demeanor.