Dave the Builder frequently stops by our friend’s antiques shop for a cup of coffee, an antiques market analysis and to scan the inventory architectural antiques.
Each time he goes to the shop I remind him to keep an eye out for my latest obsession – architectural antiques. Who am I kidding? I’ve long been obsessed with architectural antiques. Corbels, pediments, light fixtures, porcelain signs, concrete statues, iron oddities, table legs, doors- yes please! Our tastes get lost in “this is what she wants” translation, and like the box of chocolates Forrest Gump’s mama told him about, you never know what you’re gonna get.
Cinematic side note: Harold Herthum, the lovely gentleman who played the doctor in Forrest Gump, was a dear friend of my father. He was a true character on and off the screen.
More times than not Dave comes home empty handed, but last week he came home bearing gifts.
When Dave walked in with this lovely our conversation went something like this:
Dave: “Is this what you’re talking about?”
Me: “Yes indeedy!”
Dave: “Do you know what it is?”
Me: “I’m not really sure, but I sure do love it!”
Dave: “It’s a bed post.”
Me: “Fabulous!”
Dave: “What are you going to do with it?”
Me: “Put a MacGyver on it.”
We’ve been known to buy a curiosity piece without an inkling of what it is. This is where the fun begins. We channel our inner MacGyver and usually end up with a piece we love. The trick is to come up with a piece we love and hopefully a client will love.
One afternoon Dave came home with what was once the bottom of a Mahogany Canterbury, sat it in front of me and announced “this is going to be your new footstool.” He built up the top piece with foam and upholstered it, flat polished the Mahogany and casters, and left it at home almost an entire month before taking it to the shop. Our finds tend to find a new home pretty quick upon completion. It’s the nature of the business.
Back to the bed post.
What are we going to do with the new find? We’re considering cutting the post in half to make a pair of lamps.
I love the balustrade column lamp Dave made a couple of years ago, and I’ve been wanting to replace the lamps in our bedroom. A floor lamp with a marble base? Decorative trim molding on the end sections of a kitchen island? See how the creative process takes on a life of its own.
Do you have a love for diamond in the rough pieces?
