Wabi-Sabi Welcome celebrates coming together, in our homes and in our lives, perfectly imperfect as we are. My vision for this book was to convey just a few of the many warm expressions of hospitality that live all over the world, and to create a visual reminder that beauty can be found in many unexpected and unsuspecting places.
For those unfamiliar with the term wabi-sabi, it is a Japanese concept that honors the beauty of natural imperfection and a life of chosen simplicity. Throughout the book I draw on its principles to show how welcoming people into our homes and lives can be more unfussy, more relaxed, and altogether more fulfilling when we step away from conventional ideas of how to entertain, and instead, focus on how to make our guests feel a genuine sense of warmth, comfort, and ease in our spaces.
Each chapter marks a different place where I have encountered the wabi-sabi spirit: Japan, Denmark, California, France and Italy. The photos you'll discover here are almost exclusively outtakes--images with the same heart and soul that you'll find within the book, but that simply extend beyond its pages.
All imagery was taken by myself and my husband, Ryan J. Adams, and was shot on 35mm film.
“Wabi-Sabi Welcome applies the humble Japanese principle of wabi-sabi to home entertaining, celebrating the “perfectly imperfect” art of hosting small gatherings. An antidote to the veneer of perfectionism so often presented by books of its kind, Wabi-Sabi Welcome offers readers license to slow down and host guests with humility, intention and contentment.”
“Quite simply, Julie’s take on entertaining is a primer on how to be a genuine, thoughtful friend. She has always embodied effortless grace and humility for me and I’m grateful to have been the recipient of her little beam of light over the years. She demystifies that same magic for us now.”
“Wabi-Sabi Welcome is a beautiful book - it reminds us of that which is most important: a slower pace, a genuine spirit and time with the people we care for. Julie’s writing is perfectly balanced and down to earth with photos, recipes and stories that inspire us to live well and thoughtfully. ”