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The Front Room is used more in the winter, with its working fireplace. In the summer the room all but abandoned, with the focus going to the floor-to-ceiling window in the backroom overlooking the Boys' Fort & rear garden.
The fireplace is partially silver-leafed but intentionally left unfinished. Our mantel is where sacred things go to live. Mirror on mirror on mirror is a favorite look. The reflection in the mirror is of our art pottery collection across the room.
Post Apocalyptic Bohemia is filled with religious iconography: Christian, Buddhist, Jewish, Hindu & pagan. I like to have my bases covered… just in case. The crucifix was found in a junk shop in Seattle's Greenwood neighborhood, on sale & marked- “as is”, because Jesus’s chalk-plaster legs are broken, leaving just the wire forms. I found this to be touching: "Leave me broken…”
There is a treasured 19th century ivory crucifix from Portuguese Colonial India on the mantle's left side, bought as a gift to each other on our 20th anniversary at a small gallery in SoHo that specialized in 18th & 19th century Indian pieces. You might also spot, on the right hand side of the mantle, several small framed ex-votos from 18th Century Venice, purchased at an antique shop in the Dorsoduro, perfect souvenirs from a magical trip, because they fit neatly in to our wallets, being small & flat.
My favorite thing about the Front Room is the indulgence of formality in such a small space.
Photos by Jaclyn Campanaro
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