Interior Design

What’s Hanging (part 2)

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A grouping of antique silhouettes. I have a weakness for odd antique art and recently purchased six silhouettes. How to hang them turned out to be a real mind bender. Usually the silhouette frames come with an ornate top ring, and hammering a brass nail into the wall to hang them from would have been the typical way to go. Except two of the frames had problems and required special treatment. Leigh Ann Williams of 24FPS suggested I call Russell Sublette, a preparator and mount maker who has worked at the Dallas Museum of Art for over thirty years. In his free time, Russell makes these ingenious captures for pieces of art that would fare better without the traditional mounting and framing techniques. There’s a little video on the DMA’s website that highlights one of Russell’s behind-the-scenes masterpieces.

Follow the link below to see the captures before, during, and after the install.

Film: Design & Architecture

Wife versus Secretary (1936)

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Starring Clark Gable, Myrna Loy, and Jean Harlow. I have recently subscribed to Netflix just so I could get my hands on classic film dvds. With my extensive and ever increasing list of old films that have interior sets that I wish to capture, purchasing them would be a waste of money. Especially since my subscription allows me to view any of them at any time with on-demand streaming. Hopefully, Netflix won’t reach out and reprimand me for this hobby of mine. Click the link below for the captured interiors of this wonderful old black and white film.

Landscape & Gardening

Hardscape Plan

Click on the above image for a larger version.
Click on the above image for a larger version.

For my backyard. My landscape architect, Michael Parkey, has recently finalized the demolition and hardscape plans. The next step is to draw up the construction documents and send them out to bid. The plant choices will be the next phase and may take a year of seasons to purchase and place. The goal is to have seasonal interest in the color and texture of the perennial varieties.

Originally I had wanted a pond, but having two frenchies that aren’t equipped with water wings, squelched that dream. As of now the focal point replacement will be a unique birdhouse. However that could change once we start siting all the decorative features. What looks good on paper may not look so wonderful once installed. All gardens are a work in progress.

Contemporary Art

What’s Hanging (part 1)

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Scott Calhoun, The furry things, 2005. About four weeks ago I finally had my art collection hung after having lived with all of its pieces leaning against various walls in my newly restored cottage since retrieving them from storage three years ago. If one wants to have this job done right with no fuss or muss, one must call Steve Dennie. He’s very affordable and worth every penny.