Authenticity brings a wide range of items. The first I can think of is original AC furniture and decor in an AC home. Trends have tried but never quite get there with the reproductions. Not sure I could live in a home with complete authenticity

The only thing I have authentic is American Indian bowls from a friend who's grandmother is recognized in the Smithsonian and other world museums. They are kept with other pieces of family history in a small case. Oh, and some original snow shoes, little sleds, etc. for winter decor. Then I bring in authentic flowers from the garden during spring/summer.

My small authentic collection, from business travel, includes books for the kids from local writers and a cookbook from each area.

Sorry - got up on my high horse for a minute. Just because one is thought to be privileged in some way doesn't necessarily lessen the sensitivity to being misunderstood, or tarred with the broad brush.

Observations about people can be funny or ugly, and I think there are both on the site. It's fine for members of any tribe to make cutting fun of their own, but caution needs to be exercised when taking a whack at somebody else's.

I'm over myself now...

Back to the subject of authenticity.

There's innate authenticity, as in a real piece of Anasazi pottery, or Georg Jensen silver, or a handwoven cloth or hand carved mirror frame.

Then there's authenticity in presentation. Does a house reflect the true nature, tastes, and life of its inhabitants, or is it trying to present something else, whether from dissatisfaction with or insecurity about what's actually true?

My house is full of books, some of which I inherited, and many but not all of which I have read. There's a New Yorker cartoon that I like so much that I ordered note cards with it on the front. A man holding a bottle of wine and two glasses is saying to a woman who is looking at his wall of shelves, "I've had those books for years. They represent the person I once aspired to be."

It's a cautionary tale... :>)

I have plenty of accessories that are totally useless, actually --but they are not really "accessories" with a capital A. I pick up a lot of things just because they intrigue me, and sometimes they go into one of my boxes of "found objects" and sometimes they go onto the bookshelves or tucked onto a table somewhere.

Among the more strange things I have are a plastic woman holding a plastic TV, a large bisque china doll leg, a coin purse in the shape of a cat's head, a tiny acorn cast in bronze, a hand written list of sins that some girl dropped on her way to confession. Some of these things are picked up off the sidewalk. I have no problem putting this stuff in an Imari bowl or one of my Cartier ashtrays or wherever for you to pick up and look at. I think it's authentically me to have some authentic junk. It would be awfully restrictive and stilted for me to have things "just so". And, this is why I think I find rooms that are "pat" or "just so" where everything is perfectly coordinated a bit Inauthentic for my tastes.

hand written list of sins that some girl dropped on her way to confession

That may have been my "to do" list.

I do not think all decor needs to be useful. Purpose, to me, does not mean useful per se. an object of art or a souvenir are purposeful if they are meaningful. I was only trying to point out that to buy a piece that means little or nothing to you only to fill a blank wall is with out purpose. To find a piece, even at the christmastree shop, that makes you truly happy, has a authentic place in home decor.

The more money available, the more freedom to choose authentic or inauthentic.
98% don't have that choice. Which is why this is a rather elitist topic at its core. A lot of people would aspire to have authentic masterpieces, Sherle Wagner, and Scalamandre, but have to settle for what they can cobble together for themselves out of found /inherited /castoff stuff. The ones who create something special from that palette are the ones I greatly admire.
Casey

Authenticity to me has a 'realness' to it whether it's because of the natural materials something is made from or the meaning it has to me because of where I found it or who made it or gave it to me. It's very personal and authenticity to one person may not be A. to another. I don't think any of us can judge how "authentic" someone else's decor is because it is personal.

I no longer buy place holders, partly because I don't need them, but mostly because I only want things in my home that I feel I do not want to live without. Those things to me achieve an authenticity *to me* because I love them.

Edited to say that to me authenticity has nothing to do with cost. The curly willow twigs a friend gave me are more authentic to me than any twigs I may have paid money for.

This post was edited by luckygal on Thu, Jan 24, 13 at 12:32

Decorator items are nothing more than that~that's why they're called home decor. Using things that aren't necessarily decorator items is where your own personality kicks in as it's your choice to use it as such, or just 'display' it.

I've loved Hello Kitty stuff, long before it made it's recent return on the scene. While Christmas shopping, I picked up a little 4 piece set of plastic figurines that sit on the cabinet in my great room, next to a larger figurine Mc D's was giving away years ago with their 'girl' happy meals. A stack of vintage books sits right next to my treasures.. Meaningless, yes, but there's still that 'authentic' little kid in me that likes plastic Hello Kitty stuff.

This may be a little off the subject....but when I lived on a lake, I had peices of driftwood and ball floats for decoration. When we moved to Guatemala, those things looked bad so decorated with native things...woodcarvings, fabric, material, etc. Now I am back in the midwest and decorate with things that are native to this area....though admit I do have some native Guatmelan artifacts. So what I am trying to say is, I think person tends to decorate their home for the region they are living in and it looks very put together. If you try to decorate for another part of the country, it does not look right. This is JMHO.

Sombreuil, I think we mean things that are honestly what they are, rather than trying to be something else. I doubt that most of the folks here, whatever their financial resources or social status, are elitist by nature or intent.

Again, like any multifactorial concept, "authenticity" is only part of the equation. A room may be decorated in authentic whatever is is, appropriate to the region and the house, and still be decorated in poor taste. Likewise, I think some fairly impersonal rooms can be nice-looking, and if they are impersonal for a particular reason that makes sense, that's fine.

This is funny, but when I lived on the southeast coast of Texas, we were very young, and in our little house on the boat slip, we had a big fishermans net hanging from the ceiling that we put found crocodile heads ,teeth, shells, etc., whatever we found nearby. We did't live there long but it was a lot of fun. That felt authentic at the time. Back in the day...
I think authentic reflects your lifestyle and your beliefs. If friends come in and say it looks like you, I think that is authentic. I think a comfortable home is authentic because it reflects your lifestyle. I generally don't like generic mass produced items like you find in Ikea, but I have some things from there because it fit a need, or I still liked it even if it was inexpensive and mass-produced. I think authentic is developing your own style and not following trends.

i don't like that list..."the stuff white people like." even though it's written to be funny, it's just not. i'm actually pretty sick and tired of this culture we're creating...that all white people are____ . i'm far from liberal and even the liberal jabs are painful...b/c they're meant to be flat out racist. i'm also sick that's it's so easy to portray our people so negatively and it's completely acceptable. this is especially true of southerners. the ignorance abounds when it comes to the south. my dh deals with it every day in his work...and all it comes from his west coast counterparts. just flat out amazing. the things we do to ourselves and the fact that we go belly up because it supposedly done in "humor." no one seems to realize that it's a complete attack on culture meant to break that culture down.

enough of that rant...sorry.

i do have something to say about decor. i don't understand specifically changing ones decor and style to fit a region. i never would have thought to change what i love to fit someone eles's idea of normal or acceptable. my house wouldn't be home if i sacrificed my style or things i love for the sake of fitting in. also wouldn't care much if the architecture of the region didn't offer what i'm accustomed to. i would still be true to what i like and want.

I just decorate with what I like to look at, what is comfortable, and things that bring me pleasure. That may mean an old Mexican saddle in our office (yes, we used to show Quarter Horses, but even if we hadn't, I'd still love Western tack), a vase from Pier 1 or World Market that has no real value, except I like it, my great-great grandparents' mantel clock, fossils we find nearby, and on and on.

Speaking of which, we found this ammonite yesterday near Ft Worth (Benbrook Lake).......and I'm going to display it somewhere once we clean it up. Blows my mind to find something 75 million years old. :-)

I don't think you have to necessarily go all Miami Vice if you move to Florida, but, for example, I would not do wool flannel drapery there, like I would in Pennsylvania.

palimpsest, it would make complete sense to change the fabric material to suit a climate, but not necessarily change the prints and patterns. you also wouldn't want to use a heavy down comforter on the bed in fl, but rather slip something lighter weight inside your preferred duvet cover. some things are just sensible, but feeling the need to change out furnishings, colors, patterns, and collections for the sake of regional change does not register to me.

I can't imagine traditional tartan upholstery or blankets in FL no matter how light the material. FL has different traditions, different light, a different atmosphere. Cozy is not something people crave when it's 88 and humid.

I haven't read the whole thread yet but I don't get the idea that people decorate with things they don't actually like.

What's more important? Being authentic to a house or region or being authentic to yourself? When I think of authenticity, I think of being true to oneself. Decorating ones home is a personal expression of oneself (to those who are interested in their homes as more than comfortable shelter).

I do think it's good design for interiors to complement or relate to their exteriors in some way so it makes sense and isn't jarring.

I couldn't live in something that wasn't me, just for the sake of the house. But I would probably find something more suited for my own things and taste if I moved to a different region. That regional decor would have to grow on and in me gradually. Trends have a way of doing that too. Until you get sick of them because you've seen it too much.

marcolo, so basically you're suggesting that i'm wrong or anyone else would be wrong to decorate in a way that means something to them? you're suggesting that individuality does not matter more than climate or region? if i had tartan upholstery in my current home why would i replace just because i moved somewhere else? obviously comfort is to be considered (figured that to be common sense)...but my point is that one does not have to sacrifice their personal taste and the things they love just to be fitting in with the local style (or stereotype).

Miz M, I love that! Maybe i'm going to have to make a road trip from Austin to the lake in Ft. Worth.

And speaking of TX, and being the Lonestar state(and darn proud of it!) with many houses using them as a deor item on the outside as well as inside. It ain't my style, but I would consider the star *authentic* to TX,

I think what marcolo and palimpest are saying (and they'll correct me I'm sure) is that of course you can do whatever you like in your own home, but....

Heavy, dark tartans and flannels in Miami may be what you love and you should have it. But it's not "authentic" to Miami, (nor is it practical, but that's another story). It's no more authentic than a red tile roofed, spanish mediterranean villa would be here in Virginia.

Of course, it's authentic to you and your lifestyle, but that's different from being authentic to place. That's all....

Some people care about being authentic to place, some don't put as high a priority on it.

I've lived all over the world, and my things (which have grown over time) always seem to fit wherever I am. Upholstery changes, tastes change as I mature, but everything always seems to fit and most everything I have is authentic in the sense that it has story, or a history, or a connection to me. It's lovely, and eclectic (very).

In fact, I think I'll go post in the OCD thread about my OCD about not having anything in the house that isn't from a place I've actually been to. How's that for authentic OCD!

Miz M, that's fantastic. I never saw anything that cool when I lived in Dallas!

Thank you, Patty Cakes! We're going back today, my DD is home from college, and wants to hunt. :-)

I hear you about the stars. I have a couple of items with stars on them, but don't want any more of them.

I LOVE Austin, and the Fredericksburg area. My fiance proposed to me at the top of Enchanted Rock last year (we were both widowed, at the ages of 40 and 43, in 2009). We fell in love with the area, he's a rock climber from NY, and we want to move there. Hopefully, in the near future!

If you head this way, let me know! There are so many great fossil-finding areas around here.

pirula, why can't you "authentically" appreciate something Asian that you've bought unless you've been there? I understand collecting things as memories from travels but not that you can't buy something Japanese just because you really like the styling, country, lifestyle -- because you haven't actually been to Japan.

Thanks, Pirula! (For some reason, your post wasn't showing for me before). :-)

again, comfort and practicality should be considered part of the common sense i was referring to. not suggesting that one would or should use heavy drapery or fabrics in a hot climate, but if one prefers plaid (or other prints) and particular colors then one should confidently find a way to incorporate that in their home regardless of where it is. my dh and i have also lived in other countries and regions in the u.s. while enjoying the traditions and styles of those areas, i've always preferred my own traditions and style in my home. being authentic to myself and my heritage is way more important than being authentic to a place.

i also don't understand not having things from other places unless you've been there. we're a very eclectic household, as is my parent's, with antiques from other countries that were purchased in our local area. can't imagine having to travel the world to find these items and then going to the expense to get them here. how sad to not happily purchase something, like the african stool i'm longing for, because i've not been there.

Yep. I have no explanation and you don't need to understand it, believe me. It is what it is. I have NO idea why!

It's not sad in the least. At least not to me. I have plenty of beautiful things from places I've visited.....I feel no loss whatsoever.

Oh! And I certainly didn't mean to suggest that it's not "authentic" because of that! no no no no no.

it really is interesting to see how each person formulates being who they are. we all have things that others can not and will not understand. the loveliness of individuality :).

I agree! (and my friends enjoy giving me funny looks sometimes...)

mtnrdredux, you are really making me LOL today.

I know someone who has been to Paris once or twice, but not in the last 13 years. She decorates with lots and lots of Paris-themed objects and you'd think she visited every year. Meanwhile, because she has a big collection of Eiffel towers, I sort of feel like if I have them in my house, I'm copying her. And yet I have been to Paris twice in the last 8 years so I feel like I am more entitled to have Paris souvenirs floating around my house than she is! Anyway, I have limited myself to two small ones. Oh, plus a lamp base from Target (I mean "Tar-jay").

I have a hard time with homes that are full of stuff exclusively from stores like Home Goods. As some others have said, I'd rather have an empty shelf than one full of shiny new doodads from Home Goods. Yes, I have some HG stuff in my house, but it's mixed in with the flea market finds and the shells and rocks from real beaches that I've visited and the real books that I've actually read.

Thanks, SueB!

.. that was one of my favorites and I don't think anyone got it because on the macbook i can't figure out how to do italics, denoting a quote. Or else they just didn't think it was funny.

PS How do you do them? I highlight the word, right flock, choose font and ital, but then it never works. I'm on Safari or Chrome and on Mac product.

Our house is as authentic as we could afford for it to be; I call it an Homage to Authenticity.

Everybody I know has stuff that was their grandmother's or their great grandmother's, and they're happy to decorate with it.
They also fill in the gaps with their own creations, travel memorabilia, and T. J. Maxx.

This is the South; it is HOT.
I'd be a lunatic to use flannels and wools here.
It only gets cold for part of December and most of January and February.
By March, the air conditioning is back on, usually until November.

RE: Stuff White People Like (the website mentioned above)
If it weren't so poorly written and with such sloppy punctuation, it might be 1/100th as funny as this site:

Here is a link that might be useful: Catalog Living

sorry for going OT, but if you haven't seen this site, is is authentically funny

Here is a link that might be useful: Vintage Authentic Weight Watchers Recipe Cards

i live in central ga and had the air conditioner on most of last week because it was hot. have a wool throw and thick plush blankets to be used until spring...we use them plenty because it still gets chilly. people around here put flannel sheets on their beds too. spring, summer and fall those things are in storage... one more time, it's common sense. again, i don't think anyone said one should use the wrong fabrics for the climate....why is this continuing to be hammered? maybe i'm too sensitive and need to get to the wine bar quickly.

hoping all of you have a wonderful evening and enjoy your wool, flannel, cotton, voile...gauze...whatever is applicable and authentic!!

mtnrdredux, that site is pretty funny...

In response to the comment that people don't decorate with things they don't like, I will tell you with utter confidence that some do!

In certain parts of the deeply traditional, family connected, class-conscious, Anglophilic commonwealth of Virginia, many women feel stuck in the life they were born into and/or have married into, are expected to follow the roles and traditions, and can't figure out how to escape them.

The reason I know this is that some of them are my friends, and a lot of them have been my clients. As we move into the process, I find out how much they hate their Sheraton sideboard or their chintz curtains or their Williamsburg color scheme or the pastel portraits of their children which their mothers had made for them.

A strong traditional culture is a godsend for people who are suited to it, as it opens every door and makes many decisions. For those it doesn't suit, it can be a prison. I believe that goes for any well-established and conservative way of life, rich or poor, WASPy or not. Many women of great character live independent lives in it, but many endure lives of quiet desperation.

Miz_M,
If you haven't already, you might enjoy reading Remarkable Creatures by Tracy Chevalier. It's historical fiction based on the life of Mary Anning, a 19th century woman fossil hunter...ammonites were her favorites.. Your ammonite reminds me of it.

Thank you so much, pfmastin, will look for that, sounds very interesting! Going to Amazon now. :-)

mtnrdredux, I have tears streaming down my face.

Bronwynsmom, I was thinking along the lines of the trend buying masses, the more commercial markets, which I thought was what these discussions were questioning. Quality, new versus old, authenticity, motivation, I forget what else! When someone buys Home Goods or Target, I'm guessing they usually like what they've come home with. Even though some might be wishing something else was in the budget.

The people you're referring to are sadly not able to be authentic or true to themselves for other reasons.

I just got back from dinner out. mtnr, I was laughing so hard I thought I was going to, uh, er, revisit my dinner all over the keyboard.

Authentically funny mtnrdredux. Die, fish, die. lol!

I'm so glad you guys liked it. The first time I saw it I was laughing so hard I could not speak to explain to my husband what it was. I could only point.

mtnrdredux, I am howling!
That is too fabulous.
I'm sending it to everybody.

Thank you for a much needed belly laugh!

I just wish I'd written it!

Do be sure to scroll through. I love the Polynesian one but the Mexican Shrimp Orange Salad is a scream too...

Very funny stuff! Warning, do not snort yogurt. It stings!

OMG mtndredux -a riot! Thanks!

Too bad, my life is not interesting enough to automatically curate itself into an Anthropologie store.

Speaking of, Sundance Channel has a series called Man Shops Globe--he's a buyer for Anthropologie

ABOUT THE SERIES
Claiming he has the "greatest job in the world," Keith Johnson invites viewers along on an international treasure hunt on the Sundance Channel original series, MAN SHOPS GLOBE. In out-of-the-way antique shops, private dealerships and craft stalls, Johnson looks for one-of-a-kind home furnishings and accessories.

In each half-hour program, Keith travels to a new country in search of fantastic and unusual decorative objects, furniture, and textiles. He also seeks out the world's best artists and crafts people. MAN SHOPS GLOBE follows Johnson, who travels six months of the year, to ends-of-the-earth excursions, from flea markets in Paris to remote villages in India and obscure art studios in Turkey.

Here is a link that might be useful: Man Shops Globe

Jim, that sounds like a program that could be right up my alley! Unfortunately, I don't get the Sundance Channel, but maybe it's available as an app on my ipad. Thanks for the heads up.

Ps, when are you going to share some pics? Like Judith, I always enjoy seeing what you've done, also ;o)