The Cool Cafe

[Just_Dave]

Hey Guys,

Primer: This may seem obvious, but I noticed that people who have cleaner not necessarily bigger or better houses/homes seem to have clearer minds than most. I'm speaking in terms of there not being clutter, garbage, or debris around the living quarters. They also have very unique items, not even in an expensive sense.

Style: They have a style of having awesome things without it appearing forced or gawky. The walls are in neutral colors were you seem to fade and just be able to just relax. There's also as if there was a carefully artistic style in mind but everything seemed to fit without a real thought. It's almost as if they threw it together after several failed attempts and found the perfect fit by chance. It could also have a theme that was overdone.

Storytelling: IT's not even the house has a lot of things, but it seems each item seems to tell a story. Each item feels like a piece of a puzzle that comes together to complete the house or living space.

Warmth: The biggest thing I notice when entering peoples houses is how warm does it feel. I mean if the house doesn't feel inviting and it feels strange or sketchy I probably won't be staying long. However if the house has a feeling of peace within it, then I'll want to stay and I'll feel welcomed. Sometimes people's homes can seem so cold. Note I'm not talking in a sense of actual room temperature, rather I am discussing the overall energy and atmosphere of the house.

Leave interesting or creative responses below! Share stories of people who you felt had that inviting sense! Questions, Comments, or Concerns?!

Just Dave

 

[Zoro]

Great post Dave,

Feng Shui philosophy touches on all these things. Before looking into Feng Shui I thought it was just a flimsy/fun idea that people played with. Turns out it is rooted in ancient chinese beliefs of energy that they also base their medicine on.

Just check out a Feng Shui bedroom and tell that isn't a seductive lair.

http://www.feng-shui-and-beyond.com/fen ... droom.html

A house with good Feng Shui will feel just like the houses you mention that are warm, inviting and interesting.

I would often change up the placement of furniture in my room and noticed that certain placements aligned with times that I had a lot of girls in my bed as well. Looking back after knowing a bit about Feng Shui it was the position that is best for my room!

- JJJW

 

[Amadeaus]

This post sorta reminds me of this book I read, for my Human Computer Interaction class, last semester: Emotional Design by Don Norman. He wrote it as sort of a rebuttal to one of his previous books: Design of everyday things. The prior was all about stuff being functional, but in Emotional Design, he talked a bit about how people have stuff just because they like it and why that is.

In the book, there is a juicer designed by Philippe Starck. Starck states, "My juicer is not meant to squeeze lemons, it is meant to start conversations." Here's a picture of it:

He defines 3 levels of design: Visceral, Behavioral and Reflective.

Visceral - Immediate emotional impact. (Pretty colors, smooth surface, shape or whatever is physically pleasing)
Behavioral - Functional
Reflective - makes you contemplate the meaning etc..

At my old apartment, and my new one in june , I hung all my favorite paintings my stepdad painted. I don't know the first thing about art, but I put them up there. I also kept a big poster of Sergei Fedorov in my living room. I dated a couple Canadian girls that liked that, no Russians sadly. I also kept my tea pot on the stove

But yeah, I agree with this. If you are a dude with just a mattress on the floor... I'd say go grab a keurig and/or tea pot and throw some art on those bare walls. Even if its shitty art.

 

[Mr.Rob]

Amadeus that's a pimp freaking juicer. I think I want to snag one myself and make rum sour's for my next house guests with it .

@Just_Dave

I noticed that people who have cleaner not necessarily bigger or better houses/homes seem to have clearer minds than most.

I've often wondered if there is a direct correlation between how clean and tidy someone's living quarters are and how clean/clear their minds are in relation. Translation: They discipline themselves to keep out all unwanted and crappy dust, junk, and dirt that accumulates in their house and purge it. They also do the same thing with their thoughts and general organization of their brains.

Also, and I could be overthinking it, but also cleaning up as soon as a mess/dirt/dust accumulate might mean cleaning/purging any negative and shitty thoughts you might have as soon as they crop up.

How accurate do you believe this to be true? Have you noticed this to be true with yourself... assuming your a tidy guy. lol that sounds funny "I'm a Tidy Guy!"

Cool input,
Rob

 

[Just_Dave]

@J Wick

It's funny you posted that link because that's similarly to how my bedroom is set up. I definitely want the girl to feel she's about to get the experience of a lifetime. That website is pretty sweet, definitely bookmarked!

@Amadeaus

I love when people have very unique items in there homes such as that juicer, and it really does get the conversation going. I remember a buddy of mine had a hookah designed with a combination of a dragon and a turtle. It was cool cause of the design and breathing hookah out of a dragon.

@Rob

I enjoy having a clean living space cause I feel it alleviates my mind from unnecessary stress. I do enjoy being organized, I wouldn't say I'm tidy per say. My schedule has been so swamped lately, that sometimes my living quarter becomes crowded. I do set aside to pick things up and make sure a previous woman's "belongings" are out of sight for my next visitor haha.

 

[Whizzy]

Sadly since I live in a dorm my room isn't big enough to meet half of those requirements. Any suggestions on what to do? RIght now since I have a single I put the two normal mattresses together to make a "king". Sadly this takes up roughly 1/3 of the room. I know i definitely need to get some art to hang up on the wall, and I have a mexican comforter as my rug (same material as a normal rug so it works). Any suggestions?

 

[Just_Dave]

Sadly since I live in a dorm my room isn't big enough to meet half of those requirements. Any suggestions on what to do? RIght now since I have a single I put the two normal mattresses together to make a "king". Sadly this takes up roughly 1/3 of the room. I know i definitely need to get some art to hang up on the wall, and I have a mexican comforter as my rug (same material as a normal rug so it works). Any suggestions?

I lived in a half single last year, what I did was I had a lava lamp with the lava part out. I found out it gave off a softer light that I would use as a mood light. I also had mexican blankets as well that I draped over my desks, drawers, and bed. It gave it a unique style, I also printed out old SNES box covers of games that I loved, and posted throughout my room. It gave it a retro vibe, I also had a PS2 and N64 in my room so girls could play it. I also had a fridge with magic markers that girls would write on. I lined all my furniture up on one side and my bed on the other. So the only places to sit where my bed. It was pretty chill.