Inspiration – A friend’s home
An acquaintance that is developing into a nice friendship was the source of an invitation to a holiday open house at the unique residence he shares with his partner.
The house is a museum.
My friend sold and brokered art for 24 years. His love of portraiture shows. I lost count on the stairs alone. In addition to antique and more modern portraits and paintings, beautiful antique furniture from several eras fill this home. I could identify Empire, Art Nouveau, Queen Anne, and Rococo…I wish I knew more about antiques so I could have fully appreciated what I was seeing.
I listened to stories about the 77 year old house, stories of some of the pieces in the house, and stories of how some were acquired. His partner and I discussed preferences for decorative glass and different eras for furniture. I learned what a luster was and admired a full set of depression glass dinnerware (missing only the oil lamp). We talked about architecture, renovation versus remodeling, and probably a hundred other topics that evening.
I couldn’t help the concepts for historical or supernatural stories that could feature this armoire or the girl in that painting. Even the house would be a strong character with its stone facade and interesting corners. Much more than these, however, were stories centered around people who dealt in antiques for the love of it and were drawn to old things for reasons they didn’t understand. And just how far would a collector go to obtain the perfect set of pink lusters?
Where’s the most inspiring location you’ve been to?
