'Happiness is the meaning and the purpose of life, the whole aim and the end of human existence', said Greek philosopher Aristotle and in turn, this is the quote that opens Amanda Talbot's latest book, Happy. Clearly the search for that elusive emotion is nothing new, but Amanda takes the question of happiness in the 21^st century on a serious journey of discovery, as seen through the lens of a number of different constructs that touch our lives. Colour, Downtime, Edit, Order, Senses, Spontaneity, Humour, Flow and Memories are but a few of her gateways for exploring happiness in our homes and the lives we live in them.

Here we are fortunate enough to be able to share a few of those concepts and some of the remarkable imagery that supports them. This book is not only uplifting but will make you think twice about what influences your mood, and have an awareness of how you might manipulate your life to stay in the upswing. 


Image by Werner Asslinger

COLOUR
When it comes to understanding colour, I am a big believer in not following fads, but learning to approach the subject in a holistic, human-centric way. For too long , colour in architecture and interior design was simply thought of as decorative, but it can play a much more powerful role. The colour of a building or a space should connect the inside with the outside and, more importantly, connect it with the humans who live there or use it.

From the beginning of the design process, you should be aware of the emotions, feelings and moods you want a space to have. Good colour choice in design is an essential factor in the communication between human beings and architectural space in all areas of life.



The Swiss home of Mirko Beetschen, journalist & Stephane Houlman, creative planner. "We found dirty colours with a lot of grey in them soothe people and set the scene that this is a house to unwind in', says Mirko. 

DOWNTIME
It is important to free yourself and get away from the hassles of work, the nagging at home and the pressures you face daily. It's okay to run away and break out from it all  but you don't have to spend a fortune on yoga retreats. All you need to do is find your own corner in the home – a place you can flee to and have some shhh time. For our wellbeing we need to turn off the television, step away from the computer, flick on some music, read or just sit quietly and let our mind take us on a journey. People all around the world have found their tranquil corner at home by creating alcoves, using curtains, screens or silent pods, or going into the  bathroom or bedroom to have some time alone.



EDIT
Ask yourself: Am I a hoarder?

1. Your belongings give you more discomfort than comfort


2. You have a fear of letting things go


3. You commonly say 'I need to hold onto this because you never know when I might need it again!'


4. You own more than one or two of the same object


5. You have a pewter cup full of old lottery tickets and pens that don't work


6. You have piles of faded paperwork, junk mail and old bills that will be filed and read one day


7. You hold on to discarded broken machines in case there is fix for them one day.


8. There are unopened boxes that haven't been touched for more than two years

The best advice I can give you is: throw it all away!


Image - Studio RUIM

PLAY
Fitting play into your life can even help you solve problems, big and small. When we play we create new neural networks in the brain. These help deal with cognitive problems. While we are playing, somehow our dilemmas are being solved in our unconscious mind. Playing for a few hours can make you feel fresh and new again and, while you are in the middle of playing you might suddenly have a lightbulb moment and think of a solution to a problem that has been bugging you for days.

Edited extract from 'Happy - creating joyous living spaces through design' by Amanda Talbot, photography by Josef S Rosemann.

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