HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Setting the table for tonight...

FAB WEEKEND FIND

I am so happy to have nabbed this lovely little Mid-Mod side chair over the weekend!  It is perfect for a desk chair or mix-and-match dining chairs.  I cannot wait to find the perfect fabric for the seat and bring the wood back to life with some gentle cleaning and finishing.  I love the sweep of the legs and very 'space-age' cutout in the back.

A GREAT HISTORIC HOUSE

Earlier this year I was lucky enough to visit the Mark Twain House in Hartford Connecticut.  It is a wonderful example of Aesthetic Movement style- the high-end, artsy, oriental and restrained version of the over-the-top Victorian revival styles.  It is a house I learned about while at Sotheby's Institute, and then taught my students about as well, so it was wonderful to actually see it in person.

The exterior is delightful, with wonderful brickwork and woodwork.  While still quite decorative, none of the exterior work seems overly frivolous like much of the Queen Anne style.

The motifs have a wonderful vagueness, referencing Japanese, Nordic and even Native American themes.

Unfortunately I was unable to take any photos inside, so you will just have to visit for yourself, it is well worth the trip from both an architectural standpoint and a literary one!