The · Affected · Provincial’s · Almanack

~W

The custom red damask settee came this week. Never had a custom piece of furniture before--I usually relied on old thrift items, but such things have become quite are and just as expensive as a new custom piece. It was important that the settee wasn't a mere rehash of an old style--it had to be adaptable for contemporary uses. Keeping the cushions on make it a cozy couch, and taking them off gives it a more formal feel.

My counterpart imomus has said that he prefers spare interiors, decrying anything not angular and spartan as 'fusty'--but I rather enjoy the 'fusty' aesthetic, albeit with a playful, colorful twist. I throw in a dash of modernism, too, but tinged with an amateur naturalist wunderkammen tone, sprinkled with subtle Asian/Oceanic pieces. I admire minimalism from a formalist point of view (allowing light to be the main feature in a room, letting the materials be what they are, etc), but I've already lived through the 70's, thanks. To me it feels old hat. And to me a home should be an organic outgrowth of one's personality, developing in complexity over the years. It shouldn't feel art directed.

For inspiration, I look to the homes of elderly people who have led interesting lives. I find that the homes of young people can often lack the texture and character that comes with living in a space for decades. I especially love the Manhattan apartments of elderly queens--whales penises, Turkish rugs stacked seven high on the floor, art glass, rare books...what's not to love?

( Harumph! )
The room still needs some work. Haeckel prints will be adorning the walls soon. I have much to learn...

~W