A thing I don't understand and another thing I really really like

I don't understand these things*. At all. Sometimes they're wicker, or stick or glass. Any way, they are confusing to me.
Over the last couple of years I have been discovering my own style (and amassing a large number of people/places whose style makes me drool) and if there is one thing that I cannot stand it is things that serve absolutely no purpose whatsoever. If you have them, I hope you LOVE them; I just don't understand them. They don't DO anything or hold anything you'd want to display. They distract from other things that do deserve focus. They're clutter - that's what bugs me. In a time when I'm trying to do more with less these are encouraging the opposite. They're lazy, if you know what I mean.

On a related note I must try to turn your attention to the Apartment Therapy site. It's a design blog, and it rocks so hard. I'm completely addicted to it and the great ideas I've gotten from it. There's certainly plenty of design ideas that are 100% out of my reach money- and space-wise, but they also highlight tons of small, low-budget spaces (210sqft studios!) that are so beautifully put together you'd never believe it. The thing that I love MOST about it (which is in diametric opposition to those wicker ball things) is the practicality that they stress. They show you people's apartments that are so stylish and so personal because the things that they decorate with show off their personalities. They decorate using the stuff they use every day: vintage kitchen bowls and wooden spools of thread and homemade quilts and books and cameras and bikes. Oh my! You should go and check it out. Do it. It's design porn...


*These balls** specifically are from the West Elm site. I have nothing against West Elm! They have nice things and I have bought from them before. Just sayin'...

**HA!