The Kinfolk Home and the cornerstones of living slowly

On Tuesday, October 20th the leading lifestyle magazine, Kinfolk, publishes the book The Kinfolk Home.

The book offers a peek into 35 homes of designers, entrepreneurs, architects, photographers and stylists around the world which represent slow living. With 'slow living' Kinfolk means interiors which 'cultivate community, simplify our lives and reclaime time for what matters most.'

The word 'slow' has popped up for quite some time in different connotations: slow living, slow design, slow food, slow reading, slow journalism, slow filmmaking and the list goes on. They all belong to the so-called Slow Movement, which began when the Italian political activist Carlo Petrini protested against fast food and the opening of a McDonald's restaurant in Rome in 1986. The Slow Food Movement was born, which slowly (ha ha) spread itself to other areas of life, with the common goal of going against our current fast-pased society.

The slow living aims for slowing down and chooses for living our lives in a more simple way. Another important aspect of slow living is the increasing importance of 'togetherness': after getting sucked into the social media which asks for our attention 24/7, the people search to connect with their family, friends and community again.

All these elements are recognisable in the photographs of Kinfolk's book. The depicted people look relaxed, the interiors have a 'stopped' feeling. This book will indeed offer an escape from the hectic world, but I still wonder if it is nowadays possible to live slowly to the fullest. What are your thoughts about it?

Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4.
All pictures from Kinfolk.