Monday, July 4, 2011
Friday, July 1, 2011
Friday Inspiration: The Thorne Rooms
If you ever make it to Chicago, by all means spend a few hours at their magnificent Institute of Arts and have a look at the incredible Thorne Rooms. These miniature rooms were the passion and creation of Mrs. James Ward Thorne, a Great-Gatsby-era heiress. She hired the finest designers and artisans of the day to create these superb settings of mostly European and early-American interiors.
I have a special affinity for Mrs. Thorne as we both seem to share a special love for the late-eighteenth and early-nineteenth centuries. We've both also been accused of fudging 'period correctness.' For personal, aesthetic reasons, of course. --maybe 'they' wouldn't have placed matching, marble urns atop twin demi-lune tables in 1795 but perhaps 'they' should have.
Mrs. Thorne's taste was exquisite.
When I look at the blank, bare plywood walls of Merriman Park, I can only dream!
Well, I guess one has to start somewhere. Right? I really want the Entrance Hall to be spectacular. Like a Thorne Room! But, because this is my first dollhouse, I am a little overwhelmed by the 'technical difficulties,' for lack of a better term.
Particularly the whole wiring thing. I thought I had it "all coordinated in my mind," as Edie Beale used to say. But stuff keeps coming up, like maybe I should put plugs in the ceiling so I can remove the chandeliers if I ever need to move Merriman Park from Point A to Point B? I'm afraid to move forward because I just know I'm going to make a costly mistake: ("If only I had done it this way instead!")
Just wish I didn't have to experiment on Merriman Park. Guess I should have started with a Cape Cod cottage, or something!
I have a special affinity for Mrs. Thorne as we both seem to share a special love for the late-eighteenth and early-nineteenth centuries. We've both also been accused of fudging 'period correctness.' For personal, aesthetic reasons, of course. --maybe 'they' wouldn't have placed matching, marble urns atop twin demi-lune tables in 1795 but perhaps 'they' should have.
Mrs. Thorne's taste was exquisite.
When I look at the blank, bare plywood walls of Merriman Park, I can only dream!
Particularly the whole wiring thing. I thought I had it "all coordinated in my mind," as Edie Beale used to say. But stuff keeps coming up, like maybe I should put plugs in the ceiling so I can remove the chandeliers if I ever need to move Merriman Park from Point A to Point B? I'm afraid to move forward because I just know I'm going to make a costly mistake: ("If only I had done it this way instead!")
Just wish I didn't have to experiment on Merriman Park. Guess I should have started with a Cape Cod cottage, or something!