I had an unexpected day off today: no obligations, no husband, no agenda, no automobile... just time alone in the house on a blustry spring day to read, Facebook, blog, nap, & cuddle with Junior. Sometimes don't you just desire some alone time & a rare chance to "just be"?
The Husband on the other hand, can hardly stay still. On his own day off with the house to himself, he reworked the front room & edited some of the collections. In the winter we use this room for the fireplace, in the summer we move to the back of the house to enjoy the back garden & The Boys' Fort.
Below are some details from the mantle. More than a half decade ago, the Husband removed the original tiles surrounding the fireplace with the intention of replacing them with mirror tiles. I loved the resulting look so much that I had The Husband put off finishing it. He did silver leaf a corner. The fireplace & mantle have that Post Apocalyptic Bohemian look that I have a passion for. This part of the house seems to be part New Orleans shotgun shack & part Venice Palazzo's decaying sitting room.
Before
After
(You can click on any image to enlarge)
Below are some details from the mantle. More than a half decade ago, the Husband removed the original tiles surrounding the fireplace with the intention of replacing them with mirror tiles. I loved the resulting look so much that I had The Husband put off finishing it. He did silver leaf a corner. The fireplace & mantle have that Post Apocalyptic Bohemian look that I have a passion for. This part of the house seems to be part New Orleans shotgun shack & part Venice Palazzo's decaying sitting room.
The framed ExVotos are early 19th century Venetian, purchased at a favorite junk shop in Venice on our anniversary in 1991.
The crucifix is early 19th century Indian carved ivory, found in a NYC shop that sold goods from India. Also in this tableau are a hand beaded sea anemone (a wedding gift), a piece of coral, & a pencil that belonged to The Husband's sister who, in the beginning of the 1970s, passed away in her early 20s from diabetes.
Mantle details
The Husband collects boxes, possibly to balance my collection of orbs.
Details from one of the Husband's in process assemblages.
The ubiquitous shots of Junior.
I hope you enjoyed the tour. I hope you will come back soon. I feel bad that you didn't have time for a cocktail!
Love the collections. Adore the mirror/frame/circular mirror deal above the mantel. Love the orbs and boxes, both of which I also collect. Love the metal heart with the G.R. on it whatever that is. How fantastic is a beaded sea urchin? And the assemblages are wonderful.
ReplyDeleteI love that everything has a story including the pencil as heartbreaking as the story is. How terrible anyone would die from diabetes. I'm sorry.
Weel it sounds like you enjoyed the day! Sometimes these days are the best. And again, I just adore the details in your place. Every where you look their is something intresting to see!
ReplyDeleteI always love taking a tour of Post Apocalyptic Bohemia.
ReplyDeleteAlways something cool to see, and something inspiring, too.
I like looking at the collections. I wish I had the room in my place to do fun stuff like that.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful!
ReplyDeletelove those ex votos, esp.
Love the tour! tell the husband the door piece is fab.
ReplyDeleteas much as i fuss at that poor man, your husband does have the eye of an angel and the taste of a goddess. but you already knew that.
ReplyDeleteYour home is spectacularly beautiful. Instantly, I realize I'd be embarrassed if you saw our mess of a place.....maybe I really AM no more than a farmer.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful, Stephen. I think all the details in the rooms give them a cozy look; there's always something new to discover.
ReplyDelete