In a nutshell, how does your aesthetics relate to how you live?

[Arn213]

Well, living in the city and as a designer I get a sense of being misunderstood here, that my lifestyle and aesthetics is in line w/ how I design for client’s in the city or how glitzy the city is. It is completely reverse of that about 360° 180°!(ty @SENC). My comfort zone is simple, arts & crafts, zen and wabi sabi aesthetics. Tim @trc65, I have been meaning to post this for you and that was the day that you posted that FLW IB- I found this old photo and you can see the colors attributed by coincidence w/ the color ways of your basket. Anyhow this Cherry Stickley rocker was one of my first purchase right after I got married and this rocking chair has had 3 boys run through (getting them to fall asleep as an infant) that are men now. It was the best investment I ever made. The cherry just patinated close to 30 years now and has this nice luster to it. Paint I used were BM Historical colors for the walls, trim and ceiling. I do pattern on pattern from small, medium to large w/ solids. The color scheme is pretty much neutral and earthy connecting it to nature and the live trees and flowers outside the house.



I invite you to post something of yours that captures a sense of your aesthetics in how you live.

 

[trc65]

Thanks for the picture and insight Arn! Very interesting challenge you laid down.

Been thinking about this off and on all day and this first picture was my first thought on how to reply.

Grew up farming, education was always some aspect of farming, professional life was all related to farming, and I'm still "farming" although now it's actually a large garden. Always looking out, at the weather, the crops, the plants, etc. looking to the sky for the weather.



My first thought was to Photoshop the tank out of the picture, but that also is part of my life. It's just the way of living in a rural area. No natural gas line, live off well water, and have a septic tank with a drainage field.

The next three pics show some of the inside. No design theme other than rural, farm, and Midwest. A mix of items passed down not because they were necessarily antiques, but because they still had function. A few things mixed in that I made and miscellaneous items with meaning hanging on the walls.

Marble topped oak chest that was my paternal grandmother's. When she had to move to a smaller house, we inherited it.




The next picture shows a true mix. The little walnut chest was my maternal grandmother's. The shelf above it was paternal grandmother's and used to have a mantle clock on it to match. Dad was to have the shelf and clock, but one of his sisters ended up with the clock. Dad never pressed the issue, so we have a story instead of a clock. The microwave stand is obviously much different in style, but we needed a stand so I made a mission style one.



Finally, an old treadle sewing machine base with a cherry top. The important thing though is the Norman Rockwell print, "The Inventor". It's a very cheap print that I gave my Dad for Christmas when I was a poor undergrad. For me, it really sums up my Dad and the best part of our relationship.



To summarize, no real "style", just comfortable function.

 

[Mike1950]

Nah, we just like to give ya crap because ya are from New York.

 

[2feathers Creative Making]

Wow, was just 5 minutes ago ogling a 35 dollar stickley rocking chair and 'splaining to my wife that it is a well known maker.
If it is still available on Sunday when I return from a family visit, I may be the new owner.
I love mission oak, Morris chairs, country handmade, simple lines and sturdy workmanship do my heart good. As does the odd piece of Fenton glass , hand carved ironwood animal and capodimonte porcelain. Mix those in with a few hand thrown pottery cups and bowls.
That list obviously has to be foreshortened to fit in a 2 bedroom trailer, so it don't all fit....

 

[2feathers Creative Making]

Thanks for the picture and insight Arn! Very interesting challenge you laid down.

Been thinking about this off and on all day and this first picture was my first thought on how to reply.

Grew up farming, education was always some aspect of farming, professional life was all related to farming, and I'm still "farming" although now it's actually a large garden. Always looking out, at the weather, the crops, the plants, etc. looking to the sky for the weather.

View attachment 273034

My first thought was to Photoshop the tank out of the picture, but that also is part of my life. It's just the way of living in a rural area. No natural gas line, live off well water, and have a septic tank with a drainage field.

The next three pics show some of the inside. No design theme other than rural, farm, and Midwest. A mix of items passed down not because they were necessarily antiques, but because they still had function. A few things mixed in that I made and miscellaneous items with meaning hanging on the walls.

Marble topped oak chest that was my paternal grandmother's. When she had to move to a smaller house, we inherited it.


View attachment 273035

The next picture shows a true mix. The little walnut chest was my maternal grandmother's. The shelf above it was paternal grandmother's and used to have a mantle clock on it to match. Dad was to have the shelf and clock, but one of his sisters ended up with the clock. Dad never pressed the issue, so we have a story instead of a clock. The microwave stand is obviously much different in style, but we needed a stand so I made a mission style one.

View attachment 273036

Finally, an old treadle sewing machine base with a cherry top. The important thing though is the Norman Rockwell print, "The Inventor". It's a very cheap print that I gave my Dad for Christmas when I was a poor undergrad. For me, it really sums up my Dad and the best part of our relationship.

View attachment 273037

To summarize, no real "style", just comfortable function.

That is a style. My kinda style. Got 3 chests similar to your walnut. One walnut, one ash, the other is American chestnut.
either side as bedside tables and under a tabletop in the bathroom.

 

[Firewood Potter]

Mission. As I sit here in the great room this is what I see. No Stickley but furniture I love. Recliner on left is a modern interpretation. Straight chair, one I restored. Entertainment center I built. The side units nearly 50 yrs ago and the center about 20 yrs ago.


the dining chairs bought 35 yrs ago.. Table is another style. I’m overdue making an appropriate one.


more pics later of other furniture.

 

[Arn213]

Thanks for the picture and insight Arn! Very interesting challenge you laid down.

Been thinking about this off and on all day and this first picture was my first thought on how to reply.

Grew up farming, education was always some aspect of farming, professional life was all related to farming, and I'm still "farming" although now it's actually a large garden. Always looking out, at the weather, the crops, the plants, etc. looking to the sky for the weather.

View attachment 273034

My first thought was to Photoshop the tank out of the picture, but that also is part of my life. It's just the way of living in a rural area. No natural gas line, live off well water, and have a septic tank with a drainage field.

The next three pics show some of the inside. No design theme other than rural, farm, and Midwest. A mix of items passed down not because they were necessarily antiques, but because they still had function. A few things mixed in that I made and miscellaneous items with meaning hanging on the walls.

Marble topped oak chest that was my paternal grandmother's. When she had to move to a smaller house, we inherited it.


View attachment 273035

The next picture shows a true mix. The little walnut chest was my maternal grandmother's. The shelf above it was paternal grandmother's and used to have a mantle clock on it to match. Dad was to have the shelf and clock, but one of his sisters ended up with the clock. Dad never pressed the issue, so we have a story instead of a clock. The microwave stand is obviously much different in style, but we needed a stand so I made a mission style one.

View attachment 273036

Finally, an old treadle sewing machine base with a cherry top. The important thing though is the Norman Rockwell print, "The Inventor". It's a very cheap print that I gave my Dad for Christmas when I was a poor undergrad. For me, it really sums up my Dad and the best part of our relationship.

View attachment 273037

To summarize, no real "style", just comfortable function.

Your photos beautifully showcase your multifaceted life and talents. They reveal a creative spirit, a resourceful nature, and a deep appreciation for artistry, craftsmanship, and family. The carefully curated vignettes demonstrate not only your compositional skills but also the sentimental value you place on the eclectic collection of objects you've gathered throughout your life – heirlooms, gifts, and cherished acquisitions. They tell a story of your passions: from your evident skill as an agronomist (as seen in your previous posts) to your clear love of creating meaningful arrangements within your home. What truly shines through is the careful thought and love you've poured into creating a space that reflects your unique personality while your love and passion of work is highlighted. Thank you Tim @trc65.

Arn

 

[Mike Hill]

Let's put it this way - the aesthetics I live with are my wife's. As for me (the brisket-eating, troglodyte) - if you've ever seen some of the documentaries about Richard Proenneke - you would get some inkling of Lil Mikey's preference. When we got married, my wife had a full one-bedroom apartment of nice oak furniture - pre-mission period. Lil Mikey, well, he had a card table and four folding metal chairs, a maroon and white bean bag, a footlocker with Aggie stickers all over it, and a single bed with no headboard. I'm not kidding - other than not mentioning that I also had a few boxes scattered around (I did not have any furniture to put my stuff in). I had just moved to Nashville from a Dallas apartment, that had built in chests and dressers and a sunken living room that had a built in sofa in front of the stone fireplace) After we got married, we bought a few more, mostly oak pieces, my favorites being a small pie safe in blue paint, and the smallest jewelers/watchmaker's desk I have ever seen - oak with a roll top. When we bought the house, we got rid of the oak, and started with cherry and walnut. I think we eventually had like six cherry 4/5/6 drawer chests, and our beds went to old rope beds converted to mattresses. After a few years of that, she dabbled a few short years into primitives, before landing with painted furniture - everything we had except our dining table and the few upholstered pieces were painted, in "original" paint, mostly. After quite some time, she got tired of that and went for a short time with "high country" before opting for a more eclectic, almost French look. Not the white with gold French provincial or the Provencal with primary colors, but white, grays, silvers - which at the time, was a look she envisioned that Old Paris supposedly had. Lots of true organics - shells (huge clam shells and others), lots of white (carrera) marble, alabaster, silver pieces, linens and other similar fabrics, oil paintings, busts, all punctuated with leftover cherry and walnut pieces and a few collections I have - fly rods, rural banjos, and old, old books. Used to have a very modest decoy collection out, but they were relegated to boxes in the attic.

 

[Mike1950]

Not driven by anesthetics, more like addictions. Nice plaster, wood, stone, antique lighting, sterling, fine linen. Follow your passions. They lead to a wonderful journey.

 

[SENC]

Aesthetics>math for you, Arn, it seems (I'm supposing you meant 180° rather than 360 and right back in line with that you suggest you oppose).

Here's a start for my aesthetic living... sleeping pup while I kick my feet up.



I'll try to remember to add, when amd if I get vertical again.

 

[Mike Hill]

You might have Greek roots, might have morton's toe, and Individuals with a longer second toe may have an energetic and dynamic approach to life, though they aren’t always upfront with their emotions. - Just quoting. Was looking for something about a preference for pork bbq over brisket, but could not find that - might be an outlier! Let sleeping dogs lie and you might not have to get vertical again as soon!

 

[SENC]

You might have Greek roots, might have morton's toe, and Individuals with a longer second toe may have an energetic and dynamic approach to life, though they aren’t always upfront with their emotions. - Just quoting. Was looking for something about a preference for pork bbq over brisket, but could not find that - might be an outlier! Let sleeping dogs lie and you might not have to get vertical again as soon!

Generally considered a sign of good breeding... nobility, royalty, man of great taste. So, you see, it does cover pork bbq preference.

 

[Arn213]

Wow, was just 5 minutes ago ogling a 35 dollar stickley rocking chair and 'splaining to my wife that it is a well known maker.
If it is still available on Sunday when I return from a family visit, I may be the new owner.
I love mission oak, Morris chairs, country handmade, simple lines and sturdy workmanship do my heart good. As does the odd piece of Fenton glass , hand carved ironwood animal and capodimonte porcelain. Mix those in with a few hand thrown pottery cups and bowls.
That list obviously has to be foreshortened to fit in a 2 bedroom trailer, so it don't all fit....

Gustav Stickley was a prominent furniture maker during the Arts & Craft period. I get a trade discount as a designer and I was in good standing with the rep, found pieces I like because they were made really well, used 1/4 sawn material, lots of choices with what species, finishes and they had a library of fabrics that can be selected from. The carpet I have there is a William Morris that I picked up from a sample sale in one of the showrooms. That is kind of how I don’t pay the full blown retail price and sometimes these showrooms which are only open and available to the trade will have sample sales that were used as a showroom piece. They move them as they do it every season to change the look of their product or highlight something they have new to market.

 

[2feathers Creative Making]

I just take the used, estate sale method.

 

[Arn213]

Mission. As I sit here in the great room this is what I see. No Stickley but furniture I love. Recliner on left is a modern interpretation. Straight chair, one I restored. Entertainment center I built. The side units nearly 50 yrs ago and the center about 20 yrs ago.

View attachment 273038
the dining chairs bought 35 yrs ago.. Table is another style. I’m overdue making an appropriate one.

View attachment 273039
more pics later of other furniture.

That is great line up. That mission rocking chair on the first photo towards the right was the first vintage piece I ever had a chance to see in person- my former boss had one and it was out of dark fumed oak that had strong rays and had this dark olive vintage leather seat! I also had a mission cabinet like yours, but 3 times the size that which had a book case, pull out drawers, glass doors and TV shelf- it was basically an entertainment unit. I found it in Charleston of all place down south when I lived there. Not every thing needs to be new. But, the living room I had a “theme” going and already invested in and went for it.

 

[Arn213]

Tim @trc65 - just to revisit your post, which is actually a great template to get this thread going. Trying to get a scheme going is challenging when you end up with different styles, which most people end up in as that is how people really live and it does get bounced under “eclecticism”. Nothing wrong with that and as I mentioned to you before, you doing vignettes made those areas work together.

Frank is a different style altogether and it is the most challenging being organic in nature. Those things you can’t really buy (they have to be creatively be made), they have to be customized to fit a specific space and they don’t have a large inventory if you get my drift. So you can’t mix and match- it takes a lot of resourcefulness and creativity to pull it off. @2feathers Creative Making

I had no furniture to start. I had a clean pallet, so it was easier for me to come up with a concept and a scheme together. But, I was gifted somethings along the way. When I became a senior designer and project manager some of the affluent clients we had gifted me some furniture- one gave me a 1930’s mission oak desk that I gave to my oldest son (he does use it for school stuff). One client gave me a round 66” diameter limestone that I put away and one day, an idea occurred that I needed a pedestal base to make this into a dining table to fit 5-6. I found a wine barrel that came from Spain in a wine and liquor shop that was used for a sales display. I took that and it had an extra cap and used it for a base for the limestone top as a dining table. The other was an architectural chair all out of slats of wood with a curved back and a curved seat. It was my first furniture purchased in a showroom that I frequented. I use that as a bed side table- I made a tray with pegs so it slotted into the openings of the seat in order for it to stay put. If I want to sit, I just moved the tray away. Kind of what you did in those vignettes to make something work, so it can be usable. The 3rd piece of furniture was gifted to me came from long time client in Central Park West. It was a French regency/art deco desk that was designed by my Belgian friend that I worked with. It had brass ormolu mounts drawers, oak interior drawers finished in Grand Piano black. This one is sentimental to me because her husband lost his life during 9/11. This desk was the showcase in her living room. She gifted that to me when I completed combining both apartments together. So this piece is glitzy, so it went to a room by itself because it was such a different style. My former boss also gave me an original International style chrome A frame base with like a 3/4” glass rectangular top. That was used as a dining table before the kids came along. Then I used it as a secondary desk.

I have to find pics. of it as I lost a lot of photo’s when my old computer crashed.

Arn

 

[trc65]

Arn, an interesting sociological aspect occurred to me while reading your last post. Thinking back to my parents getting started with a household (they were married in 1957), their choices in furniture/design was limited to what was gifted to them or local stores. Sears, and a couple locally owned furniture stores were it. Galesburg (pop, 35,000) was the largest town. Any town larger was 1.5 hour drive minimum. Small town stores stocked what sold. I know my parents would have loved Stickley's designs, but may have only seen his furniture in magazines. Probably to see anything Stickley in a store would have meant a trip to Chicago, which back then would have meant an overnight stay.

Nothing wrong or right, good or bad about any of this, just interesting how regional differences/availabilities shaped our perceptions, tastes and designs.

Of course, that has all changed now with the internet, where anything can be had if you have the budget, or the ability to build it yourself.

 

[Mike Hill]

Arn, an interesting sociological aspect occurred to me while reading your last post. Thinking back to my parents getting started with a household (they were married in 1957), their choices in furniture/design was limited to what was gifted to them or local stores. Sears, and a couple locally owned furniture stores were it. Galesburg (pop, 35,000) was the largest town. Any town larger was 1.5 hour drive minimum. Small town stores stocked what sold. I know my parents would have loved Stickley's designs, but may have only seen his furniture in magazines. Probably to see anything Stickley in a store would have meant a trip to Chicago, which back then would have meant an overnight stay.

Nothing wrong or right, good or bad about any of this, just interesting how regional differences/availabilities shaped our perceptions, tastes and designs.

Of course, that has all changed now with the internet, where anything can be had if you have the budget, or the ability to build it yourself.

Thus, the use of the two terms I used - country/primitive vs high country. Another term I like it "used but no abused" (UBNA) Although I started life in the big city, we lived in a small house with asbestos roof shingles, asbestos siding, asbestos in the VCT and mastic, asbestos likely in the drywall and joint compound, lead paint that little Lil Mikey used to chew off the window sills, christmas house lights that used to be shot out by neighbors, and no telling what else, my heart leaned elsewhere. Our living room and dining room would be considered now as Mid-Century Modern. The rest of the furniture was what had ya! Well, eventually, Mom and Dad bought a fake Mediterranean (meaning partially plastic) bedroom suite for their bedroom. Even had an open flame gas heater. Looking back, man, I hated that stuff (well, except for the heater, the console TV, and the set of encyclopedias (I would read endlessly from them)). My room, I liked. It had a simple wood bookcase, full of books I would go to sleep, looking at the bookcase, and dreaming about the adventures therein - Mark Twain, Ernest Thompson Seton, Edgar Rice Burroughs, John Steinbeck, Hemingway, William McCormick, Herman Melville, C.S. Lewis, 1936 Boy Scout Manual -all that I can remember! My bed was a simple metal pipe headboard with creaky springs, but my desk and dresser were my Dad's when he was young, limed oak in western style with cowboy-themed hardware!

So, after getting married and collecting what we have had over the years, it has been a great journey. I am particularly fond of our time with Country and Painted. The stuff we looked for and acquired at the time was stuff that "normal", more rural families would have had and used. Honest furniture, simple lines, real wood, sometimes owner-made, some by necessity, strong construction, etc..... Yes, it may have been 100-150 years old, but it still functioned better than modern, cost less than modern (except the Shaker), and the patina was beautiful (we did not buy refinished stuff). I reveled in the wear (UBNA), where it wore, why it wore, what it had been used for, looking at the construction details, etc.... None of that high-falutin', factory-made, single-purpose, high-end city stuff. Some of the reason was taste, and some of the reason was economics. Would I have liked to have, instead of the run-of-the-mill walnut highboy we have, instead a Philadelphia, split bonnet, Queen Anne high-boy, in tiger maple. Heck yeah!! But at the time, they were in the 10's and 100's of thousands of dollars. Now, I can probably get one for less that $5K as long as it did not have a good provenance, or by a known, popular and important maker.

Mission style was in the mix while growing up (we had a Morris "Recliner" from the late 60's to early 80's - I think Dad still has it somewhere). Personally, and Iff'n I was given permission - my style would be rustic, lodge, Adirondak.

 

[Firewood Potter]

library table #1



vintage clock



one of my own bookshelf designs

found left on street side for trash men we restored

bought from an old man that cleaned out barns etc. $5.00 had to reglue most of it. First time to upholster with leather.

library table #2

 

[Arn213]

Dave @Firewood Potter - I just dropped the Mike (ha, ha) and going to turn this thread over to you. That is a great line up of mission furnishings w/ a clock to top it off. The library table with the ray flakes with the dark stain really is eye popping and I do like the lower back rocking chair on your previous group photo. Thank you for sharing.