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100 Essentials: Simple Kitchen + Capsule Wardrobe + Minimalist Home
If you could only have 100 possessions, what would they be?
Francine Jay, bestselling author of The Joy of Less, puts a new twist on decluttering: eliminate the excess by choosing your essentials. It’s like packing a suitcase with just your favorite things.
She takes the idea of a capsule wardrobe, and expands it to a capsule household—a small collection of versatile items perfectly in sync with your needs.
To illustrate, Jay shows you her 100 possessions (in 100 full-color photographs), with detailed explanations of her 35-Item Kitchen, 35-Item Wardrobe, and more. She invites you to join in the fun, and use her list as a springboard in making your own.
100 Essentials helps you travel more lightly through life—whether you’re relocating, downsizing, or just starting out. It’s an ideal resource for small space dwellers, and anyone who wants to live more efficiently and gracefully.
Francine Jay, bestselling author of The Joy of Less, puts a new twist on decluttering: eliminate the excess by choosing your essentials. It’s like packing a suitcase with just your favorite things.
She takes the idea of a capsule wardrobe, and expands it to a capsule household—a small collection of versatile items perfectly in sync with your needs.
To illustrate, Jay shows you her 100 possessions (in 100 full-color photographs), with detailed explanations of her 35-Item Kitchen, 35-Item Wardrobe, and more. She invites you to join in the fun, and use her list as a springboard in making your own.
100 Essentials helps you travel more lightly through life—whether you’re relocating, downsizing, or just starting out. It’s an ideal resource for small space dwellers, and anyone who wants to live more efficiently and gracefully.
249 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 28, 2017
About the author
Francine Jay
10 books212 followersFrancine Jay pioneered the minimalist living movement with her blog, MissMinimalist.com, and her book, The Joy of Less, A Minimalist Living Guide: How to Declutter, Organize, and Simplify Your Life. In 2009, she and her husband sold their house, and all their possessions, and moved overseas with one suitcase each. After three years as a world-traveling digital nomad, she’s now applying her minimalist philosophy to her new life as a homeowner and mother.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
September 20, 2017
This book is filled with examples of the basics. The book is all about what works for her. She is a wife and mother of one and they own a house. Her examples and pictures are all her things and there is a great reference list in the back. I'm definitely glad I read this book.
April 20, 2017
An excellent view into the day to day workings of a minimalist home. I enjoy Francine's blog and also read her previous book but it was nice to see an example of what it actually means to be a minimalist. While I don't foresee myself paring down to 100 things any time soon I did find inspiration in her approach. I also very much liked the way she explains why and how she chose each item...it gave me food for thought when contemplating the many "one use" items in my home that could easily be replaced with multipurpose items and free up space.
January 10, 2018
I got a refund from Amazon. I just was not impressed. This book has nothing that could not be found with a simple google search.
I'm sure the author is a very nice person though.
I'm sure the author is a very nice person though.
March 5, 2017
Last year I was pleasantly surprised by The Joy of Less so when Jay announced that she was publishing a new e-book, I knew that I wanted to read it and I wasn't disappointed.
This book is definitely more extreme than the Joy of Less for this book really delves in Jay's personal minimalism and the things she chooses to live her ideal life. Even though I find it too extreme to follow in my own life, I still found it interesting to see which 100 items she considers essential. Being practical is a strong concern, but she also allows for a sense of fun. One point she emphasizes is how minimalism is not supposed to be some dour, shriveled-up thing that restricts your life, but rather a way to free yourself to live the life you want. It's definitely worth looking into.
This book is definitely more extreme than the Joy of Less for this book really delves in Jay's personal minimalism and the things she chooses to live her ideal life. Even though I find it too extreme to follow in my own life, I still found it interesting to see which 100 items she considers essential. Being practical is a strong concern, but she also allows for a sense of fun. One point she emphasizes is how minimalism is not supposed to be some dour, shriveled-up thing that restricts your life, but rather a way to free yourself to live the life you want. It's definitely worth looking into.
July 3, 2017
Good points :
This book gives informative and practical way to decide what you should have to minimise your things at home. She is narrowing the options by considering the performance and versatility, including the materials and the brand.
Relative points :
She revealed her clothing preference which not everyone will agree with this of course, but you can be benefited from the concept
This book gives informative and practical way to decide what you should have to minimise your things at home. She is narrowing the options by considering the performance and versatility, including the materials and the brand.
Relative points :
She revealed her clothing preference which not everyone will agree with this of course, but you can be benefited from the concept
January 13, 2018
So good.
Read this in two hours.
Great ideas and thought provoking
If it weren’t bedtime and if I didn’t have mommy responsibilities in the morning, I’d have an all-night decluttering session.
Read this in two hours.
Great ideas and thought provoking
If it weren’t bedtime and if I didn’t have mommy responsibilities in the morning, I’d have an all-night decluttering session.
July 4, 2018
Minimalist-porn. Also practical and interesting if this is your kind of thing.
January 1, 2018
Great
I live a vastly different lifestyle than Jay, but I found inspiration and good recommendations. Some of her ideas are spot on.
I live a vastly different lifestyle than Jay, but I found inspiration and good recommendations. Some of her ideas are spot on.
February 15, 2017
Well Written With Good Explanations
The writing is succinct, well done, and properly edited and the book is actually a pleasure to read. Each section is put together in a simple manner and is very easy to follow. I really wanted to just start going through my own belongings and start paring down immediately (I actually did go through some clothing). As Jay lists each item she explains not only why she grouped items the way she did, but why she chose some items over others and even why she chose very specific item details. All of these are very important in minimalism. I definitely recommend this book as a planning guide or idea book on simplifying your life.
The writing is succinct, well done, and properly edited and the book is actually a pleasure to read. Each section is put together in a simple manner and is very easy to follow. I really wanted to just start going through my own belongings and start paring down immediately (I actually did go through some clothing). As Jay lists each item she explains not only why she grouped items the way she did, but why she chose some items over others and even why she chose very specific item details. All of these are very important in minimalism. I definitely recommend this book as a planning guide or idea book on simplifying your life.
July 17, 2019
Another wonderful book from Miss Minimalist. At some point when you've been decluttering for a while, you need a "next step" to keep you going. This book gives just that.
instead of starting with the excess you don't need, you start with the esssentials you absolutely do, and from there the extras you could do without but wouldn't ever really want to.
It was a wonderful change of perspective and got me thinking about my stuff in another way.
Miss Jay goes into her household essentials, why she chose them, and even pictures of each item. :) She does a great job of presenting her things as a spring board for making your own list, without presenting any urge to go buy something new and better.
I loved every section and found it very insightful. I know I will refer to it again in the future.
instead of starting with the excess you don't need, you start with the esssentials you absolutely do, and from there the extras you could do without but wouldn't ever really want to.
It was a wonderful change of perspective and got me thinking about my stuff in another way.
Miss Jay goes into her household essentials, why she chose them, and even pictures of each item. :) She does a great job of presenting her things as a spring board for making your own list, without presenting any urge to go buy something new and better.
I loved every section and found it very insightful. I know I will refer to it again in the future.
April 1, 2017
Minimalism to an extreme but helpful if you really want to cut down to the basic things you need and then add Extras that enrich your life.
Also helpful if you're planning a trip or move and only want to bring the *essentials.*
Also helpful if you're planning a trip or move and only want to bring the *essentials.*
May 5, 2017
Good advice if looking for suggestions
As the author walks through her 100 essential items, she shares pros and cons, other things to consider and the basis for her choice to assist you in deciding what you deem "essential."
As the author walks through her 100 essential items, she shares pros and cons, other things to consider and the basis for her choice to assist you in deciding what you deem "essential."
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews