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writingwannabe · 3 years ago

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ORPHIC: CHAPTER ONE

Humans are stupid.

I came to this conclusion when I was still a teenager, 17 to be exact. The light was dimming outside my bedroom window and my life was spread on top of the beige carpet, waiting to be hidden into two worn yellow suitcases. A textbook as old as time made itself comfortable on the white desk in the corner. Months of dust piled on the cover, making the title fade. I hadn't set a finger on it since summer began, yet, somehow, the book blew open, and its pages exposed themself to the yellow ceiling. My mind tried to stay focused on the task that I had procrastinated all week, but it seemed like I floated over to the corner, a particular paragraph catching my eye, hidden by the metal-framed glasses that I had yet to outgrow.

Humans began separating themselves from mages in the late 1600s when the act of using magic became seen as a satanic practice.

Mom, with a glass of five-hundred-dollar wine in her hand, would tell anyone who would listen at the lavish parties the Ragers threw, that humans would give up water just to show up the fish. I would laugh at her when she said this with Harley in the next room over, mocking her voice with juice boxes in our pudgy hands. As time passed, however, and I saw the pure, unadulterated human stupidity up close, I started understanding her point of view. They gave up access to people who could keep them warm when it was raining and give them water when the rivers dried up, just to suck up to a god who may or may not exist. Pride is a funny thing. As much as I would've loved to keep my nose stuck in a book until the sun painted the sky the next morning, Mom started heading up my way. An aromatic smell wafted from the bottom of the staircase. The sleeve of my grey sweater moved up and down the book frantically, dust flying into the air. As I finished shoving eight textbooks and the occasional potion bottle wrapped in old newspaper into the first suitcase, a knock was heard outside my room, Mom’s red slippers peeking out from the crack of the door.

“Sweety,” She hummed, my white peeling door whining open, revealing a plate of cookies delicately placed in her boney hands, “are you almost done packing?” Her eyes were magnetized to my floor; a sea of organized chaos only I could understand.

“Thalia,” she groaned, “you are leaving tomorrow.” Tomorrow. A day I thought would never arrive, just around the corner.

“I will get it done,” I promised, reaching for a steaming cookie but getting blocked by the side of her hand, a grin creeping on her face.

“Dinner first.”

If someone entered, they would assume the perfect nuclear family occupied this two-story, blue paneled house located in the middle of rural Pennsylvania; a mom, a dad, and a couple of kids running around the backyard, playing pretend and getting paint on everything they could see. The grey love section could easily seat 6 people comfortably, along with the kitchen table that was always set for a party. The plethora of silver frames hanging in the entrance gave it away though. Alongside a younger, happier woman with her carbon copy of a daughter, featured a now crossed out, looming figure in the majority of the pictures on that wall. If the photos of him weren’t crossed out, they were now ash on the bottom of the fireplace.

Dinners were better without him anyway. Mom and I sat across from each other most days to see the other’s face as we told tales of whatever we did leading up to that evening. That meal should’ve been no different. I rested my head on her shoulder, attempting to stomach the stew she cooked. A television show accidentally left on was the only thing breaking the silence. This was the first day since his departure that I can remember having no words to say. My fork danced in the boiling broth, chunks of beef and carrots occasionally surfacing and sinking to the bottom. Mom was also struggling. Her bowl wasn’t any less full when it was first poured, and heat stopped radiating off of it after a while of sitting in silence. She exiled it to the edge of the table, pushing her body off of the chair, forcing me to straighten mine. Mom grabbed a loaf of bread from the stove she cooked that morning, holding it up as if asking me if I wanted some without saying a word. I nodded, grabbing our untouched meals. The unwanted soup went back into the crockpot, the bowls in the sink.

“Crap!” She screeched, dark red liquid followed a sharp silver knife, creating a loud thud as it collided with the checkered floor. I turned her to face me, her thumb gushing blood. I reached my hands out to hers, resting them gently on top, squeezing them lightly until the red substance was no longer visible. The gash that was once racing down the side of her finger disappeared, leaving no evidence of ever being injured. Tears now covered her cheeks, not caused by the silver blade. Her arms were thrown over me, pulling me in tight leaving no room for even the tiniest bit of air to pass through. Her words were hard to understand, but I managed to make out a sentence in between her hysterical sobs.

“I don’t want you to go again,” Mom whispered, “the house is so lonely.”

As the oldest, and only, child, my job has been to keep mom comfortable since she kicked him out a year before. However, with September a day away, I wouldn’t be able to fulfill my duties three states over, but I wasn’t about to spend my last day with my mom crying and packing. I pulled my body away from her so I could look into her eyes.

“Let’s watch a movie,” I suggested, “We can eat ice cream and not worry about tomorrow.” Mom nodded, her face lighting up once more as we plopped our bodies on the sectional, my hands full of 3 tubs of mint chocolate chip. We hardly even watched the movie with acting comparable to flour. When she passed out, it was long past midnight and my things were still ‘organized’ into two mountainous piles on my floor.

The sun poked through the curtains the next morning, shining rays on my eyes until I was forced to wake up. Blankets and pillows were piled all around me, being the only thing protecting me from the cold floor, other than the carpet a couple inches away. My suitcases were no longer stacked on top of one another by the doorway, stuffed to the brim with clothes, books, and anything I found necessary at four in the morning, but instead out of my room completely. I groggily stumbled from the floor to the window, prying back the curtains. Mom stood there, a red mug of coffee in hand, closing the trunk of her beat up, white mini van. My things, unmistakable by the neon color, were placed in the far right of the trunk to make room for Atlas, Harley, and Leo, who would be picked up as we slowly make our way to the school. She was finally smiling again, the only tears of hers this morning coming from looking at the sun for a second too long.

“We’re gonna be late if you don’t get down here,” Mom called with down turned lips that occasionally broke into a smile.

“Coming!” I replied, practically falling down the stairs as I imagined being back in New York with my friends, taking in the sights of the town nearby and dipping our toes in the lake as soccer practice took place. I didn’t even get dressed. I was still in sweats and a yellow sweater from the day before, but that didn’t stop me from jumping into the passenger seat, my sneakers falling off my feet. Mom looked at me longingly from the driver's seat, a million things on her mind.

“Ready?” She asked, sticking the keys in the ignition, jiggling them around until the car shook to life. I nodded, watching the place I grew up in disappear around the corner replaced by sights of rolling hills and hundreds of trees.

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ill-skillsgard · 6 years ago

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Ascent - Bill Skarsgård

Title: Ascent

Warning: 18+ voyeurism/masturbation/language

Description: A collection of scents and scenes strung together by strange sequences of secrecy and surveyance.

A/N: DAMNIT YOU GUYS. This is my 3rd time posting this fic. It will no longer include the image of the sexy Bill look-alike wanking because wE cAn’T hAvE NiCe tHiNgS. Also, please don’t ask me to send the image because I can’t be sure of ages and I won’t be dinged for providing pr0nz to potentially underage people. I’m so sorry. I tried!

ISO: Quiet roommate; preferably female. Males acceptable too if you're cleanly. Split rent loft in quaint & upscale Rosewell neighbourhood with everything included. 1200 upfront first and last and then rent can be negotiated. E-mail. Do not call/text.

I only had 900 dollars on me but I figured if I e-mailed the person that had put out the ad and set up a time to meet the following week then I could earn enough in tips to cover the rest. Easy as that. Breathing became a little less laboured once I sat back on my futon and realized that I wasn't quite as fucked as I initially thought. Then I wondered how in the hell somebody could use the words quaint and upscale to describe the same neighbourhood. Which one was it? Quaint or upscale? How could it be both? All I was sure of was that I had to find a roommate quickly. The new landlord of my apartment building had decided that I had something to do with the junkies shooting up in the storage unit behind the building, as though I had knowledge of it the whole time and failed to make a report of it, therefore, making me part of the problem. But it wasn't just that; this guy was a jackass of ultimate proportions- a seedy little rich momma's boy that had inherited his parents' sense of self-entitlement and strings of real estate offices spanning across the city and surrounding counties. We did not click at all upon first meeting when he made his rounds to see exactly what kind of tenants he would be dealing with. In fact, the moment I opened the door to my apartment and he peered in to see the apparent cluster-bomb that had gone off in my bachelorette pad, he set his sights on destroying me, or at the very least, evicting me. If only I hadn't answered the door in my stained sweatpants and wrinkled t-shirt from a decade ago when my taste in music remained under-developed. If only I hadn't had the day's worth of crusted mascara stuck in the inner corners of my eyes like black boogers. If I had thrown my hair up in a semi-cute messy bun, rolled down the waistband of my stretchy pants and tossed on my only reputable sweater maybe things could have gone differently. But I didn't. Instead, I let him catch a glimpse into the trash-covered world of crooked posters, laundry and pizza boxes. His prissy, Gucci-wearing ass got one whiff of my body odour and my fate was sealed. Whatever though, shit happens. Even if Millennial pretty-boy newbie landlord hated me, I didn't quite hate myself. Sure, I had had better times in my life but there had also been much worse. I was just going through my annual depression when the Summer was long gone and the scent of leaves rotting in the gutters rang in the impending frost. Who wanted to do anything but sit around and play video games or watch TV for six straight hours after work? Certainly not I. I e-mailed the guy living in Rosewell because I had been through that area once or twice and remembered that it was one of the nicer neighbourhoods; its remnants of old city charm and decadent architecture still intact. That's when I gave it a second thought. 1200 for first and last month's rent was not that much, considering the location. My brain caught up with me and I recognized that there would probably be dozens of people replying to the listing and that my chances were diminished to almost nothing. Oh well, I read on and circled more potential ads with the tip of a fresh permanent marker that was starting to give me a headrush. By some grace of luck, I received an e-mail back the next day from the person that had put out the Rosewell advertisement. It dawned on me that I also didn't know whether he or she was a he or a she or a they. It seemed mundane to ask but the person didn't include their name in the reply and their email address was an obscure reference that I wasn't sure I understood. My imagination decided to take a jog and came upon the silly little notion that perhaps this was one of those things when serial killers lure in unsuspecting victims with promises of rent so cheap in a gentle neighbourhood where nobody would think to look for a body. It was classic of me but I couldn't pretend like I wasn't thinking about it. At least death would help put a stopper in my rut. I didn't know what to expect, walking up to the building with a face sectioned off into quadrants- each with their own tiny glass door and artful wrought iron laced balcony. What kind of a person lived inside? Was it a peppy university student with a small dog and a knack for pulling off an active-wear-is-all-I-wear look? Could it be another snotty, uptight rich boy like my fuck-bag of a landlord? Or perhaps it was a nice older lady that fancied her wine and lived in an effortlessly baroque den, lined with books and trinkets from her travels abroad. Either way, I just hoped they approved of me since I had taken the time to shower, put on a bit of makeup and dress like the clothes I owned weren't questionably clean or variably dirty all the time. The door was painted black and nobody could see through the glimmering panels of stained glass that made up an intricate checkerboard of red and blue with two cantaloupe roses coiling up and away from each other, petals agape and ready to fall. I gave the door a good look over with a smug grimace that was just a feint for my awe. The place was definitely too nice for me but I soldiered on and smiled when I heard the door being unlocked. A man opened the door and the scent of wood and something else immediately wafted out like a ghost casually passing by. Not only was he a man, but a looming sculpture dressed in a sagging brown wool sweater that threw me off from my rehearsed speech. He was tall, pale and had such striking eyes behind his glasses that I couldn't quite meet them without feeling some hint of discomfort. It was like somebody had tossed a limp rug on the statue of David the way his knitted sleeves hung loosely around thick veiny wrists. "Hi. Bill," he motioned to himself. "Won't you come in?" "Um, yeah. Sure." The mud room was painted in tarnished blood orange and was home to a wooden rack full of men's shoes. There were trainers with hints of dirt on the toes and soles, leather dress shoes with the fancy gold buckles on the front, more dress shoes, stylish suede ankle boots, and beaver fur lined moccasins. I could taste the transition from the cool Autumn air to the musky inside of the home. The floors were all wood, the banister leading upstairs was carved from another expensive type of tree and the shelving units were solid oak stretching from floor to high ceiling. Every wall was home to some kind of meticulously placed decorative object. But there were also family photos to lend the place a warm and happy glow. Or it could have just been how the sun shone through the clear bay windows. I was led through the house, past a large cupboard tucked beneath the staircase and a small writing desk that was home to a vintage typewriter cased in filigrees of polished silver. It was then I noticed all the framed book pages lining the walls. We entered a kitchen and I was blown away by how roomy it was compared to the tight, warm front that made up the mudroom and what I had determined was a living room that had been converted into a reading room. There was no TV but there was a chaise lounge with a stack of old books reaching up to a cascading hand-carved armrest. "This is the kitchen. The fridge will be mostly yours. I just use the bottom shelf and the crisper on the left. I just ask that you keep your section clean." "Right," I nodded. "The stove is gas, the fireplace is gas... Everything is gas in here. Um... It gets kind of cold in the winter because the electric baseboards don't really work. If you turn them on it makes the whole place smell like burning sawdust. So... You can use a plug-in heater in your room but... Just wear slippers on the floors." "Oh, okay. Good to know." "Uh... Yeah. The laundry room is through there. I also keep my bike back there. There's another rack mount for a bike if you have one." "No, just my car." "Hmm," Bill pondered with a grimace. I bit my lip and hoped that he wasn't biting his lip from derision. He took in a breath through one of the daintiest noses I had ever seen on a man and adjusted his glasses for a moment before pulling them off completely to wipe the lenses on the hem of his brown knit sweater. "Parking can be kind of a bitch around here," he warned. "Yeah, " I chuckled. "I probably pulled around the block six times before something opened up." "You'll have to get used to that... Or just get a bike like everyone else." With a forced laugh, I attempted to hide the odd sense of shame that he had instilled by suggesting that nobody around these parts bothered with silly things like motor vehicles. Fuck, that could mean he was some sort of health nut that would turn his nose up if he saw the types of meals I made for myself and how lazy I could get. Aside from his alarming curtness, Bill seemed to be calm and easygoing. The house was a wooden ladder of a place; stacked with his worldly possessions and Scandinavian accouterments. It was easy to conclude that he was a single man that kept to himself and I did my best to show him that I fit into the same category. Although, it seemed as though he had already decided that I was moving in. He referred to everything as his, mine or ours and led me through the rest of the house like both our minds were already made up. "Here's the room. It's right next to mine. You have an en-suite bathroom. Toilet kind of acts up once in a while and the shower drain is prone to clogging but it's all easy fixes. Oh... And the walls are kind of thin. I ask that if you have guests over in the evening to keep the socializing downstairs. I suppose I can't really stop you from having people in your room but... I do enjoy my quiet." "That's okay. I don't really hang out with too many people," I said. Bill strolled into the center of the empty room, the soles of his shoes hitting the floor echoed off the bright white walls. He had his hands shoved into the pockets of his trousers as he spun on a heel to face me. His shoulders drew up to his ears and for the first time, he cracked a smile. It didn't last long and was accompanied by a shrug of closure. "What do you think?" He asked. "It's nice. I like it. A lot. It's very... Homey." Bill nodded, "yes. So will you take it?" "Uh... You don't have any questions for me? Or anyone else to show the place to?" His full lips set into another grimace as though my question scratched the scab off of a wound that had yet to close. Swallowing hard, I immediately began to regret my inquiry. I should have just been grateful that he saw fit to trust me without so much as delving into my history. "To be frank, I'm not really interested in knowing a lot about you. The less we know about each other, the better. I just need a quiet tenant that won't bother me much and you seem like a sensible woman with your own distractions." "Oh." "I don't mean to sound insensitive." "It's okay. I get it." "You have a job, of course?" "Yes." "Well, that's all I need to know. Just make your rent payments on time and we'll get along." "Not a problem. Sounds good." The entire moving process took a little over a month to complete. I gave my notices where they were due, rented a small truck to pack my things into and drove it across town after handing the keys to the fuck-bag landlord who seemed more than thrilled to watch me departing. Bill had already given me keys to the house and when I arrived the first of the month he was nowhere to be found. Luckily, my possessions didn't extend further than my bed, wardrobe, futon and a couple of side tables that had collected more dust than I thought. After hauling up the ripping black trash bags I had stuffed full of clothes, I tried to decipher a way to get my bed up the winding stairs without scratching the wood or getting myself stuck in a corner. It would have been easier if I had another set of hands and I wanted to clear the halls of all my things before Bill came home and saw the clutter in the front hall. Something told me he was not a fan of mess and I had left a heaving trail all over the mudroom, halls and stairs. With my bed frame already stuck on the first few steps, I decided to sit down and reevaluate my strategy. It was definitely a two-person job that I would not be able to complete on my own. "Fuck, " I cursed as I pulled out my cell phone to make a call to the only person I knew that would be willing to give me a hand; my cousin. On the third ring, I heard the sound of the door opening and footsteps coming through. I was sat on the stairs pouting, my cell clutched to my ear and my breath hitched in my throat. Bill looked up at me from the first-floor landing through the rails of the staircase and smirked at me. "Need some help?" He asked. I immediately terminated the call to my cousin before he could pick up. Shooting up from the fifth step up, I smoothed out the front of my shirt and tried to make it seem like I wasn't about to burst into tears of frustration. "Um, yes. Sorry. I thought I could do it by myself." "No worries," Bill said as he lifted the edge of the bed frame that was hanging off the first step. We dislodged the frame and slowly carried it upstairs but not without a few grunts of effort and sighs when we finally made it to the top floor. Bill's arms were bulging with the strain and when he helped me gently lay the frame down on the floor I couldn't help but stare at the muscles I never knew he had. We had only had a handful of encounters and each time he had been wearing baggy clothes that veiled the true form of his body. Bill helped me bring everything else I had upstairs and once the last of my belongings arrived he evaluated the mess that I would have to organize myself. Half my clothes were spilling out of bags and my furniture was yet to find a proper place. "Well, I'll leave you to it. Unless you have anything else?" "No. This is it. Thanks for your help." "No problem," he nodded with a small pointed smile that brought out a sweetness in his face before exiting the room. I heard the sounds of his footsteps drumming down the stairs but before I had the chance to get to work unpacking, Bill came back. When I looked up at him he had a peculiar look on his face that I couldn't read. It may have been a cross between uncertainty and embarrassment. "You um... These were on the stairs," he showed me what he had clutched in his hand and the moment I realized that the black material in his hand was a pair of my underwear, I paled. "Oh my god," I laughed uneasily. "I'm so sorry. They must have fallen out when I was dragging the bags up the steps. My panties looked crumpled and insignificant in his large hand as he dangled them between two fingers for me to grab. When I caught them I stuffed them in my pocket immediately and blushed even harder than I had when he had come home to see me flustered on the stairs. "It's all right. Could be worse things to find," he pointed out. "I guess so," I chuckled. Bill smirked at me, eyes darting to the pocket that contained the stray panties and gave me one last glance before leaving me to stew in my mortification. Once I was certain Bill was gone, I took the panties out to evaluate just how embarrassed I should have been. The last thing I needed was for my new roommate to have already discovered a pair of my dirty underwear on the floor. They were generic and made of stretchy faux lace that covered next to no ass cheek but I would have considered them to be a good go-to pair nonetheless. Based on visual inspection and a quick sniff, I was assured that everything checked out and Bill hadn't had the displeasure of picking up a pair of my period panties with the permanent stains in the crotch. If anyone had to have found a pair of my underwear I was glad it was a sexy pair and not ones that I had been hanging onto since high school. But because it was a man that had found them, I felt a strange yearning for approval. I thought about what he could have been thinking about for a long time as I set up my bed and unpacked my necessities. It was going to be weird having a roommate.

~*~

Bill was a strange man. Bill had an office in his room and a writing desk stacked with papers and manuscripts. Bill was a writer. When I asked him if I could read something he had written he said nothing. He only peered at me warily over his wire-framed glasses. We were in the kitchen at the same time and I figured it friendly to strike up a conversation. I had seen all of his papers and looked at all of the stuff he had in the house by then and deduced that he had to have been a writer. All I got from him was a gentle shrug of his stately shoulders and a mumble that I couldn't hear. "You're a writer, aren't you?" I continued. "Yes. I suppose, in a way I am." "Ever had anything published?" Bill rapidly shook his head and muttered, "not here, no. Back home... In university. But not here." The subject of him being a writer seemed touchy so I left my line of questioning at that while I boiled water to make tea. I couldn't help but watch him on the other side of the kitchen preparing his lunch because he was comically lanky yet carried himself with graciousness and poise. His side profile was vexing to me as well. It was then that I realized that Bill was not just commonly handsome, but sculpted in a way that I wasn't used to seeing. With a cute boyish nose and arrestive eyes that shone light green through the lenses of his glasses, I felt that old familiar pang of a crush plunging its way from my chest to my gut and all the way down to my groin. He didn't speak much and I hardly ever saw him because he was always in his room with the door shut. I had a feeling that me bringing up his writing had alarmed him into keeping the door closed at all times. It must have been an adjustment for him to go from living alone to having somebody sleeping in the room right next to him. I tried not to make much of the crush but the times that I did see Bill I always tried to stare for as long as possible. He was a mystery to me; a person living in the very same quarters but with a totally separate life that I had no windows into. Bill had pictures of him and a lot of other people that looked kind of like him so I tried to piece together what his family was like without asking him personally. The family photos were all in chunky brass frames and placed in a strategically sporadic way on the wall shelf. There were many books and three different runs of encyclopedic information stacked side by side with their brightly dyed leather spines displaying a prestigious title and the volume number, but it was the pictures that intrigued me most. By the looks of it, Bill had a lot of brothers and a sister. The longer I analyzed each shelf the more I managed to paint a picture of him for myself based on his belongings. There was a photo of Bill next to some other men of similar heights and facial structures, all dressed warmly and huddled together, each with his own version of a charming smile on. It was amusing to see pictures of him smiling since he had hardly tossed more than a crooked smirk my way. I wasn't sure if Bill was standoffish or if he thought me a slob because of the first day I arrived. The house was cleaner than any place I had ever had by myself and I gathered that he liked to keep it that way. I remembered what it had said in his ad about cleanliness. Maybe I had disgusted him. He had been so sold on having me as his roommate but that was weeks ago and he hadn't tried to engage me much since. It didn't weigh heavily on my mind for long. After all, even though I was the crusty definition of a bachelorette, I could put it together that trying to fuck my roommate that I didn't know was probably a surefire way to complicate things beyond repair. And the place was nice. I wanted to stay and I wanted Bill to like me.

~*~

I walked into his room when I knew for certain that he was gone. I don't know why the sudden urge overtook me and steered me to his bedroom door. I opened it and a waft of his scent came over me. It was like fresh cotton and chopped wood or an old book that had been kept in pristine condition. His writing desk beckoned me so I went without hesitation to cast my eyes over the papers on its surface. There were some printed pages full of words with hand-written notes scribbled in the margins. One of the most eye-catching pieces was a mostly blank white page that had been the last of the bunch to be placed upon the altar of his creative expositions.

I can't get enough of the scent that she left behind.

After reading that one line, I snapped out of my mindless intrusion and left his bedroom at once. Why I had gone in there in the first place was a mystery and I was overcome with guilt that pushed me in the direction of avoidance. I felt somehow he would know that I had gone into his room without permission.

~*~

A man from work had asked me out on a date and I stood in the shower vigorously washing the shampoo out of my hair. I was already late and had to scramble to put together an outfit out of what little clean clothing I had. There had been no time for me to do any laundry so I made do with an old sundress that I had worn the shit out of the Summer before, a pair of black nylon leggings with a hole in the crotch and the only pair of underwear that I could find that wasn't stretched out from me wearing them. I had laid out everything on my bed and bustled around trying to find my good face moisturizer and the only high-end lipstick that I had been coveting for the better part of two years. When I got dressed, I had somehow lost pieces of my attire along the way and rushed around looking for the underwear that I had dubbed acceptable to wear out on a date. My phone went off with a notification from my date saying that he was circling around the block again because he couldn't find a place to park. I quickly messaged him back and told him I would be down in five short minutes. Forgoing the panties, I hiked on my nylons and hoped that the skirt of my dress would manage to cover me enough all night that I didn't accidentally flash my pussy while getting in and out of his car. The date was boring and I didn't find myself connecting with him as we had at work. Maybe it was because we were co-workers or maybe it was because he was smiling too much at me the whole time, but I decided to put an end to the night after a dessert and the last of a bottle of cheap wine. When I got home, I shut the door and pulled my vibrator out of my empty underwear drawer.

~*~

In the morning on one of my days off, I stood in the kitchen making myself a pathetic breakfast of two pieces of toast with a slice of tomato and chunks of a too-ripe avocado splattered between them. First I was focused and calm and then suddenly I felt like something had materialized behind me. When I turned around, I let out a gasp as I noticed Bill standing next to me with no shirt on, his hair a mess and his eyes half-closed. "Sorry," he breathed through his nose. "Need a glass, please." I got out of his way and watched as he opened the cupboard that I had been standing in front of and took out a clean glass to pour water into. My eyes were drawn to the burgeoning of hair from his armpits when he reached to the top shelf. Without saying a word, he filled his glass from the tap and then walked back upstairs casually sipping his water. I don't know how he had managed to sneak up on me without me hearing the floorboards protesting beneath his feet but it had happened and my heart continued to race until I heard him enter his bedroom right above the kitchen.

~*~

I had tossed my laundry into the dryer and let it run while I left for work. When I got home my laundry was all folded and put back in my basket. My jeans and work pants were on the bottom, my shirts the second tier and then several pairs of my panties had been folded neatly in halves and placed on top. "Um... Okay," I whispered to myself, lifting the basket off the dryer that was still rumbling full of Bill's laundry.

~*~

A nap was on the immediate horizon for me when I got home from work. I kicked my shoes off as soon as I got in the door and made right for my bedroom. Bill must not have heard me climbing the stairs as I hadn't heard him come up behind me the week before because his door was open and what I saw halted me in my place and robbed me of the abilities to breath or think. There he was, laying on his bed naked with his right hand wrapped around his dick. But it wasn't that he was stroking himself that caught me completely off-guard, it was what he clutched to his nose and mouth with his other hand; the pair of my panties that he had discovered on the floor all those weeks ago when I first moved in. Rooted with panic and intrigue, I covered my mouth and watched on from the third-to-last step at the man taking deep breaths of my underwear while he pulled on his cock and massaged his balls. When I heard a faint groan leave his mouth I felt my floodgates crashing open. The tingle I felt budding from my clit grew so strong that my hands went numb and my face turned red-hot. There was no way that Bill hadn't heard me coming in the door and ascending the steps. But if he knew that I was there watching him play with himself, he didn't acknowledge it. He was in his own world of pleasure, getting high off the fumes that I had infused into the fabric of the underwear he was meddling with his fingers. I wanted to watch him shoot his cum from the tip of his cock but I was so scared that he would see me that I cowered back so that if his gaze did travel beyond the walls of his bedroom, perhaps he wouldn't catch me staring. Another long, deep moan left him and the sound of it somehow filled every sense I had. It was as though I could smell what he was smelling, feel how he was feeling and the taste left behind in my mouth was wetted with saliva being over-produced by my own sexual appetite. I pictured him kissing my clit, pushing my legs back and using his tongue to bore into me, letting it run down, down, down so he could taste every inch of me. A gasp nearly escaped me when I saw him push the crotch of my stolen panties into his mouth. His head dropped back into his pillows and his slow, languid strokes of his cock turned erratic. "Fuck!" He emitted after spitting the panties out and dragging them down his body to wrap around the base of his shaft. "Fuck, fuck, fuck... Mmm, my god." After a minute of every muscle in his body flexing, it looked like he was inches away from coming and I leaned forward with my hand out on the last step to balance myself so I could watch the end result. It took a bit longer than I expected but I watched on unblinkingly until he finally managed to pump out an orgasm that ripped through his body and exited him in a glorious spurt of cum. Then there was another spurt and another, all landing in a perfect sticky mess over his stomach and chest. The sun coming in through his window glittered over his spackled body while a dryness hardened my tongue. I gawked as he moved to mop up his own mess with my black lace panties. What he was going to do next was as much a mystery to me as the last ten minutes I had spent as a voyeur. His cock laid over the top of his thigh and shrunk with each passing second while he rolled my panties up into a ball with his fist. All of his muscles relaxed and he sank further into the bed, closed his eyes all the while my stolen cum-soaked panties remained clutched to his chest like a cross. I could almost smell the musk permeating from the open door. Slowly, I descended the stairs one by painstaking one.

#bill skarsgård fanfiction #bill skarsgard fanfiction #fanfiction #bill skarsgård smut #bill skarsgard smut

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strasticsocial-blog · 5 years ago

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The 5 best midcentury modern homes for sale right now

In our House of the Day column, we cover a plethora of gorgeous homes, from elegant Gilded Age mansions to show-stopping new builds. But time and time again, some of our favorite homes for sale are of the midcentury variety.

They range in style and authenticity; some homes built in the 1950s and 1960s have been tastefully updated, while others are time capsules for the midcentury purist. We also write about midcentury modern homes from around the country—not just in ultra-hip epicenters like Palm Springs—and at all price points. Whether you’re on the hunt for a new pad or just like to window shop, here are five swoon-worthy midcentury homes on the market to check out right now.

Guests are welcomed to the Sarasota School home through an interior courtyard with pond. Photo by Glenn Johnson of Coastal Photography

Restored midcentury gem near the beach

Price: $1,695,000

Details: One of the latest Sarasota School houses to catch our eye is this three-bedroom, three-bath home in Sandy Hook, a private beachfront neighborhood on the island of Siesta Key. Siesta Key is packed with gorgeous midcentury architecture by Paul Rudolph, Victor Lundy, and Frank Folsom Smith, but this 2,550-square-foot home was designed by Siebert Architects—Sarasota’s oldest architecture firm.

The 1962 home has all the midcentury details we love, like long horizontal lines, glass walls, clerestory windows, and terrazzo floors. A covered interior courtyard features a pond, skylights, and a large dining table for entertaining, and exposed beams throughout the house contrast with the bright, airy windows. See more, over here.

Designed and built in 1965 by architect Allan Gelbin, the home follows Frank Lloyd Wright’s theories on organic architecture. Photos by Austin Eterno

A Connecticut home by a Frank Lloyd Wright apprentice

Price: $625,000

Details: This five-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bath home in Weston, Connecticut, was designed and built in 1965 by architect Allan Gelbin. Gelbin was an apprentice to Frank Lloyd Wright at Taliesin East in Spring Green, Wisconsin, from 1949 to 1953, before establishing his own practice in 1957 in Connecticut.

The focal point of the design is an expansive living room and dining room that features a stone fireplace. Clerestory windows let in light, while wooden ceiling panels and built-in bookshelves add coziness. Floor-to-ceiling glass windows showcase a wraparound deck and views of the 2.25-acre property, and the master suite also offers panoramic views and access to a terrace. You can see more photos, this way.

The A-frame style living room features walls of glass, a fireplace, exposed beams, and amazing ocean views. Photo by Marc Weisberg

Oceanfront home by Frank Lloyd Wright apprentice

Price: $14,900,000

Details: Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright apprentice Frederick Liebhardt in 1958, this four-bedroom, eight-bath oceanfront home is located above Windansea beach, an iconic surf spot made famous in the 1960s in Tom Wolfe’s nonfiction collection The Pump House Gang.

Liebhardt designed the home as a personal residence for his mother, and the house has seen two subsequent renovations—one remodel by midcentury modern architect Henry Hester and a more recent one by Hill Construction and NYC designer Eddie Lee. The house is now 6,338 square feet with a stunning A-frame living room. Huge walls of glass provide unobstructed ocean views, and the way the home is situated on its one acre lot means that you can’t see your neighbors. Find more photos, over here.

This Swiss Miss home in Pennsylvania was designed in 1958 by noted midcentury architect Jules Gregory. Michael Hirsch for Kurfiss Sotheby’s International Realty

Dazzling A-frame in Pennsylvania

Price: $3,495,000

Details: Midcentury modern homes might be known for their butterfly roofs, but the style also popularized the Swiss Miss A-frame. And while you might expect A-frames in mountain towns or midcentury hotbeds like California, check out this three-bedroom, four-bath home in New Hope, Pennsylvania. Built in 1958 by noted midcentury architect Jules Gregory, the low-lying home is bifurcated by a steep, dramatic A-frame roof that rises straight from the ground.

Inside, the A-frame creates a dramatic double-height living room with floor-to-ceiling windows that look out onto the 1.42-acre property. Recent renovations brought a more contemporary feel to the space; gloss-black hardwood floors contrast with white walls, beams, and counters. Other perks include a 16-foot kitchen island, large closets, and a rear patio with bar, BBQ, fire pit, and pool. See the interiors, over here.

The living room features floor-to-ceiling windows—a Sarasota School trademark—and an Ocala brick wall. Photo by Glenn Johnson, Coastal Photography

Beachfront midcentury time capsule

Price: $1,900,000

Details: This four-bedroom, four-bath rarely seen home was the writer’s studio of Walter Farley—author of the Black Stallion book series—and was designed by Sarasota architecture icons Ralph Twitchell and Jack West. It’s a time capsule in the truest form, with original details like Ocala block construction, clerestory windows, and mahogany louvers that let in the ocean breeze.

Reference - https://www.curbed.com/2020/2/14/21136376/midcentury-modern-best-homes-for-sale

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emma-whoisleft · 5 years ago

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GENERAL INFORMATION ➤

Full Legal Name: Emma Esmé Vanity

Emma = “Whole, universal”

Esmé = “Esteemed, loved”

Vanity = “Excessive pride in or admiration for oneself”

Nickname(s): n/a and don’t even try it Age: 18 Gender & Pronouns: cisgender female; she/her Sexuality: Greyromantic and bisexual with an outward preference for men driven by her traditional values and life plans. Date of Birth: March 27th Horoscope: Aries

Strengths: Courageous, determined, confident, blunt, passionate

Weaknesses: Impatient, moody, short-tempered, impulsive, aggressive

Likes: Comfortable clothes, taking on leadership roles, physical challeng individual sports

Dislikes: Inactivity, delays, work that does not use one’s talents

Hogwarts House: Slytherin Nationality: English on her father’s side; a quarter Moroccan via her mother’s. Emma grew up just outside Yorkshire and is very vocally proud of the region, flawed accents and all.

Occupation:

Emma is currently a student, but she has big plans for her future and no doubt that she’ll be able to accomplish them — which isn’t a surprise to anyone who’s ever met her. Not many seventeen year olds purchase, renovate and successfully run a Quidditch camp as a summer project, and very few others have done simultaneous Ministry internships.

Ultimately, Emma wants to work at the Ministry of Magic’s Department of Magical Games and Sports. This is made easier by the fact that her father is the Vice Head of the department and her godfather is the Head, but she genuinely wants to build her career upon her own merits. She plans to start as a Junior Regulations Analyst with a seat on the International Event Coordination team. Her goals are currently to change the relationship the Ministry has with corporate sponsors and private companies to increase the funding ceiling and strengthen key partnerships.

Then, within five years, her goal is to create her own, new position (Executive Liaison, final title pending!). Through that, she believes she would run her own staff as a department-within-a-department and be the official point of contact for team owners, sponsors, donors, private partner companies – such as her camp and similar programs – and key suppliers of equipment, uniforms, brooms, balls, etcetera.

She plans to use whatever downtown is leftover to work on the Department’s overall public relations strategy and inter-Ministry reputation.

Summarized in One Word: Headstrong

APPEARANCE ➤

Faceclaim: Phoebe Tonkin Height: 5′4″ Hair Color: Brown Eye Color: Brown Noticeable Features: Resting bitch face, and the ability to instill a primal fear in someone with nary a glance.

Typical Outfit or General Fashion Sense: Emma is usually dressed for capital-B Business. her wardrobe consists of black, grey and other neutrals and she opts for simple lines, minimalist looks and the simple intimidation of clear wealth. Streamlined, with hints to reclaimed masculinity; she has more blazers than any eighteen year old should, but she can seriously rock a little black dress, too.

HISTORY ➤

Hometown:

The Vanity family has always have a longstanding history of residing in the North Country of England, on the outskirts of Yorkshire and the Humber. Although grand in scale like most pureblood manors, the inside of the estate is considerably warmer; it features dark-paneled wood instead of marble and walls painted in warmer hues than one might normally see. The untouchable artifacts that one might find in other homes have largely been replaced with Quidditch memorabilia, family photos, and bookshelves.

There is a grande ballroom for throwing events and the foyer is invariably pristine, but the layout contains several dens stocked with comfortable couches, ever-burning fireplaces, and shelves of whiskeys and wines brought up from storage in the basement. Everything is sleek and kept up to a standard of perfection, but the family and all those who lived there before them worked hard to ensure that the place seemed approachable to newcomers. Charms ensure that the house always smells of sharp vanilla, burning wood, and pine.

The grounds feature a lake surrounded by willow trees and a trail that leads through a hedge maze into what used to be a prized garden and have since become home to a miniature Quidditch pitch used by Emma as a child learning to fly; the hoops now stand only as tall as she is, but it remains there as a tribute as the flowers grow back around them.

The home is conveniently located only two miles from the practice grounds of the Appleby Arrows, the former team of Eoin Vanity and a family favorite for the last eight generations.

Financial Status: Upper class Spoken Languages: English, and a little bit of German. Enough to have a conversation, but not enough to consider herself fluent. She’s working on some Arabic, having taken an interest for Antonin and Tazie’s sake. Dream Job: Decision maker of the entire world Bad Habits: Emma will tell anyone who asks that she has none...because of course she will. What she means by this, however, is that she has no "traditional vices” like smoking or drinking. Bad habits, though, she has plenty. Despite holding herself to a strict schedule, she is late for nearly everything. She is also a bit of a packrat; her bag is filled at all times with disorganized papers and lists that make perfect sense to her, and that she won’t just get rid of on the off chance she one day needs them again. She’s also a fairly close-minded person. She’s not curious and prefers to stick to what, who and where she knows best.

FAMILY BACKGROUND ➤

Mother: Yvette Vanity Father: Eoin Vanity (neé Shaper) Sibling(s): n/a Pet(s): n/a Cousin(s): Amycus and Alecto Carrow (second cousins)

MAGICAL ABILITIES ➤

Wand: Alder, 9 ¼ inches, mermaid hair core, inflexible. Information on the core can be found here [x] and here [x]

Patronus (and which memory they’re currently using to cast a patronus if they can, or which one they’d use if they could):

Although she has not yet been successful in casting it, Emma’s patronus would take the form of a camel. Camels are symbolic of perseverance and stamina. People with this patronus are often superbly adapted to their own situation and personal element, but clumsy or inflexible in situations that are unfamiliar. The camel is a symbol of a strong work ethic and a stubborn attitude. While those with a camel patronus are often short tempered with small annoyances, they have almost limitless patience for life’s most difficult hurdles.

Eventually, Emma will use the memory of holding her firstborn son Gus in her arms to cast the most successful patronus she’s ever been personally capable of. For now, her selections oscillate between Quidditch Cup wins, opening day of her camp and her New Years Eve vacation to Russia with Lucinda.

Boggart: An oversized, string-bound marionette doll. At face value, it is a very real fear of hers: dolls have caused the hairs on the back of her neck to stand up since she was a child. Even as a little girl who had not yet discovered the joys of Quidditch, Emma wouldn’t allow dolls of any sort to be allowed in her playroom– including, to the dismay of her mother, the collection of Victorian-era china dolls that she was supposed to take under her wing. On a deeper level, however, the boggart represents so much more: the fear of not being in control of her actions, of being a puppet of her family, of everything in her life coming with strings attached.

OWLS: Ancient Runes, History of Magic, Charms, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Transfiguration, Potions, Arithmancy, Herbology, Care of Magical Creatures NEWTS: Transfiguration (A), Arithmancy (E), Herbology (E), Defense Against the Dark Arts (E); Charms (E); History of Magic (O); Potions (INCOMPLETE)

What Kind of Magic do They Excel at: (OOC NOTE, this ended up becoming more of a pro/con thing than an ‘excel’ thing, but I like it so I’m keeping it oop)

Emma’s grades have always been stable and in the mid-range. However, she’s always known that her career path leads through to the world of sports somehow and that knowledge is enough to bolster her through any lower points in her academic career.

Nonverbal spells are Emma’s specialty, as she has never been one to show her cards and depends on the elements of mystery and surprise when she’s looking to make an impact. She is heavily guarded when it comes to her arsenal, and so she stared making nonverbal spell-casting a priority. Her constant need for control over situations has lead to her holding her wand too tightly; it makes her wrist movements less fluid than they should be.

Along those same times, the type of magic she is most gifted at is defensive magic, an interest that’s only increased in the current political climate. She can pull a shield, she can deflect, she can make herself a smaller and less easily seen target. It’s not about winning for her; it’s about surviving, just knuckling down and making sure that the crossfire doesn’t decimate her. These spells being largely nonverbal is an added boon for her safety; they draw less attention and can’t be as easily combatted.

Personality wise, Emma is abrasive and that’s a quality that has carried over into her magic; when she tries spells, they are a bit harsher than intended. For instance, she knows a thing or two about first aid spells but if she had to heal a teammate’s broken nose on the pitch, there would be more of a crack to it—and, likely, leftover bruising—than if anyone else had tried.

Outside of dueling/magic situations, when Emma is on the offense, she prefers to do it through soft influence: with her words, with her power over people, through other channels other than violence. She knows her limits as well as the limits of others, and she’s never been able to stomach using violent magic against someone else…not that she’s ever tried, to date.

If she ever did have to make a show of physical power, her years on the Quidditch pitch have given her a predisposition to do it with actual physicality, not her wand. She has no problem smacking an unwelcome hand away or giving a well-placed shove.

In terms of subjects she does NOT excel at, Emma is terrible at cooking and by that same logic she is terrible at potions. She doesn’t have the precision, intuition, or gentle touch for the subject.

PSYCHOLOGY ➤

MB Type: The Logistician

Few personality types are as practical and dedicated as Logisticians. Known for their reliability and hard work, Logisticians are good at creating and maintaining a secure and stable environment for themselves and their loved ones.

Yet Logisticians can be easily tripped up in areas where their practical and methodical approach are more of a liability than an asset. Whether it is finding (or keeping) a partner, learning to relax or improvise, reaching dazzling heights on the career ladder, or managing their workload.

As parents, people with the Logistician personality type are often the most comfortable. Their sense of responsibility and honor blends well with a tradition that has been in place since time immemorial: to raise one’s children to be respected, contributing members of home and society. As with most commitments, Logisticians do not take their roles as parents lightly, and will make it their work to ensure that this tradition is upheld to the highest standard.

Logisticians approach relationships, as with most things, from a rational perspective, looking for compatibility and the mutual satisfaction of daily and long-term needs. Blind dates and random hookups are not Logisticians’ preferred methods for finding potential partners. The risk and unpredictability of these situations has Logisticians’ alarm bells ringing, and being dragged out for a night of dancing at the club just isn’t going to happen.

Logistician friends are not spontaneous. They are not talkative, or particularly playful in their affection. What Logistician friends are is loyal, trustworthy, honorable and dependable. Logisticians are a very methodical personality type, and this loyalty isn’t given away lightly. Often slow to make friends, Logisticians usually end up with a smaller circle, but they consider that circle to represent a promise to be there for the people they care about, and Logisticians’ promises are not easily broken.

When it comes to the workplace, Logisticians are almost a stereotype for the classic hard-working, dutiful employee. In all positions, the Logistician personality type seeks structure, clearly defined rules, and respect for authority and hierarchy. Responsibilities aren’t burdens to Logisticians, they are the trust that has been placed in them, an opportunity to prove once again that they are the right person for the job.

Enneagram: ISTJ [read more]

ISTJs are responsible organizers, driven to create and enforce order within systems and institutions. They are neat and orderly, inside and out, and tend to have a procedure for everything they do. Reliable and dutiful, ISTJs want to uphold tradition and follow regulations.

ISTJs are steady, productive contributors. Although they are Introverted, ISTJs are rarely isolated; typical ISTJs know just where they belong in life, and want to understand how they can participate in established organizations and systems. They concern themselves with maintaining the social order and making sure that standards are met.

+ Perseverance + Planning + Detail Orientation – Stubbornness – Tactlessness – Resistance to change

Moral Alignment: Lawful Neutral

Archetype:

45% Athlete - The Athlete's focus and drive are unparalleled. Staying healthy and being fit are paramount to them (as for winning, that doesn't hurt, either).

44% Royal - When the Royal walks into a room, they command attention. They are the one in charge, and they enjoy reaping the rewards of their hard work.

11% Intellectual - The Intellectual is the ultimate dinner-party guest. Engaging questions and thoughtful debate are their trademarks.

Temperament: Choleric

#tag: inspo #tag: character development #plot prompt friday #***#tag: headcanon

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thefanficmistress · 6 years ago

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Because, I Love You: Requested ☆

Requested by @deepestfirefun - I love you soooooo damn much. My soul sister across the pond. Requested: You have broken up with your fiancé because you found out he was a total womanizer and it was quite the nasty break up too. You left your apartment, only took what you needed without looking back. Richard, your good friend heard about it while he was filming the Ocean´s 8 and without a second thought took you under his wings. You were an utter mess emotionally but spending time with Richard started to heal your wounded heart although you didn´t feel like trusting men ever again, except for Richard. He was furious to your ex-fiancé when he learned what had happened, he had been always very caring and protective of you. And while Richard did everything to make you feel better, you started to wonder if it had been Richard all along who you should have started a relationship with.

Warnings: Fluff, Swearing, Smut Pairing: Richard Armitage x Reader, Richard Armitage x Female Character, Richard Armitage x OC Context © me _______________ TAG LIST: @deepestfirefun @shikin83 @catthefearless @patanghill17 @aelinninielelain @xxbyimm @nowiloveandwilllove @nellindreams @hails270105 @armitages-gisborne @jassy2101 @abiwim @anemiechen @nelswp @vaneaustation @fizzyxcustard @purplerain85 @armitageadoration @princecami @princess-of-erebor1992 @leah-halliwell92 @vaneaustin @nelswp @nellindreams @raindrops-on-roses142 Please let me know if you would like to be tagged.

_______________

Current Requests: JANUARY - Closed @purplerain85 ( A Kiss in the Wild ) - RA Request : Release 1/6/2019 @deepestfirefun ( Because I love you ) - RA Request - Release date : 1/13/2019 @nowiloveandwilllove ( My Friend, My Beloved ) - RA Request - Release date: 1/20/2019 @deepestfirefun ( WORKING TITLE ) RA Request - Release Date :1/27/2019

Current Requests: FEBRUARY - OPEN

2/3/2019 - @purplerain85 ( WORKING TITLE ) - RA Request 2/10/2019 - @deepestfirefun ( WORKING TITLE ) - RA Request 2/17/2019 - Open 2/24/2019 - Open

Message me if you would like a FanFic Sunday Request. ________________ “What did you just say?” You questioned, almost dropping your phone in your lap. “Move in with me. At least until you get back on your feet.” He proposed. “I can’t ask you to do that. Not for me!” You exclaimed. “Yes you can! I’m offering. Happily, might I add.” Richard cooed on the other side of the phone, with a hint of a smile in his tone. Sitting in your car, with your hand on the steering wheel, you thumbed your thumb against the leather coating. You thought about his offer. He lived only a few minutes from your office, near central park, and the best thing was, he would be there. He was currently out of town but assured you that he would be back in a few days to continue filming Ocean’s 8 and he would make sure to take you out to get your mind off of things. After a break up, it’s best to be around family and friends. Richard was definitely a great friend to be around. He’s kind, and generous, a bit of goofball, but he always found a way to make things up to you or put a smile on your face. “I haven’t seen you in months, and I hate to tell you this, but I’m not taking no for an answer.” He added. “Richard, I honestly can’t do this. I need to be by myself.” “I’m not going to let that happen. I’m rather vexed at the entire matter, and if he shows up, I will have him thrown out or arrested.” His voice went very deep. A side of him you hadn’t heard before. Was that protection and anger in his voice? He wasn’t lying. Since you started dating Ethan, Richard and you had a hard time seeing each other. He was always out of town or too busy to actually spend proper time; he did however meet you for those 1-2 hr lunches before leaving or sent presents to you loft to apologize for not being able to make it. Also, to make matters worse, despite the fact that Richard was always so kind, and polite to your fiancée, Ethan didn’t like Richard. It showed in how possessive he was, not allowing Richard to be alone with you, be next to you, or even on the phone with you for a long period of time. Maybe Ethan could sense that under your guise as a friend, you did have feelings for Richard. You at one point convinced yourself that you were in love with him, and you needed to tell him. But with his schedule, you saw how difficult it was, and then realized it’s you. Richard wouldn’t be into you when he had many women around him. You had to back off in order to try to make the new relationship work. So, you put a lid on your feelings and said nothing. You were friends. Just friends. Ethan on the other hand… “Where are you right now?” He asked. “Siting in my car outside of The Hyatt.” You replied looking around at your surroundings. The Hyatt was a stunningly. Beautiful hotel in New York, and you were outside at the valet parking deciding on if you should go in or not. The streets were still busy for 3am, but it was The Big Apple, and this place never sleeps. It had rained earlier, and the streets glistened with the glow and flickering of the traffic lights. Restaurants and bars still open along the strip, and people gathered hand in hand walking and laughing. You wish you could laugh, but Ethan stole that from you months ago, and now you sit here alone, in your car in your flat shoes, and night gown. You had to pack a bag with enough clothes to last you a few days. Ethan was leaving for Hong Kong for work, and that would be the best time to get your belongings, and never see him again. “Please don’t sleep there, just go to my penthouse, we will figure out the rest.” He insisted. You knew that doing this, moving in with Richard, no matter how long you would be there, would piss Ethan off. And you honestly wanted to hurt him. Maybe not the same way he hurt you, but still hurt him nonetheless. “Are you sure about this?” “Very.” “Okay!” You conceded, “Thank you.” “Anything for you dove.” “Anything?” You sang sweetly, with hit of a smile on your face. “Absolutely anything.” He gushed over the phone. You pulled at a piece of thread on your nightgown, and blushed hard. Even from thousands of miles away, he knew how to make you swoon with just his voice and words. If he was in front of you and said that, it would have taken the force of an army to hold you back from kissing him. The way those words came out of his mouth stirred something inside of you that hadn’t been touched in months, but you could focus on that right now. You needed to get out of this car. “Head on over, I’ll call ahead, and make sure everything is taken care of.” “Thank you again, Richard.” “No need to thank me. I need you safe, and sound in our flat. I’ll see you in a few days, yeh?” He stated. “Yea ok. You said your goodbyes and headed over to his flat. After pulling into the Richards visitor spot under his flat building, you gather your things, and end upstairs to the 21st floor. Once you exit the elevator you are thrown off by the very large gift basket sitting in front of the door. You put your bag down and kneel to read the note left on top. *** To: The most beautiful woman in the world. From: The luckiest man in the world to have you in his life <3 Get some rest and enjoy the basket. You deserve it, and if I have to, I will send you more to keep a smile on your face until I get there. Yours always, Richard *** You smiled so hard, and pulled the note to your chest for a moment, as if you wanted to absorb the words into your very heart. You see another little baggy with the keycode to get into his flat, and you make your way in taking the bag and basket inside.

You flick on the light upon entering the foyer, a grand entertaining gallery opens into a living room and formal dining room with raised ceilings, accentuated by a dramatic glass skylight. You decided to look around the penthouse to get used to the surroundings. The room has been decorated to the highest standards with custom doors, wood-work cabinetry, and beveled glass to enhance the breathtaking views. A custom-carved stairway, wood-paneled elevator, beautifully-appointed powder room, and spacious closets are located just off the gallery. Adjacent to the formal dining room and located along Central Park is a tastefully designed eat-in kitchen with top-of-the-line appliances.

The 21st floor featured a luxurious master suite with a fireplace, terrace, and large sitting room. A magnificent master bathroom with bookmarked slabs of marble, two showers, two private water closets and two separate vanity sinks complete this space. The suite also included multiple fitted closets and a whimsical loggia with a wet bar along the terrace. Two additional south-facing bedrooms, two redesigned en-suite baths, an elegant study with terrace access and an automated Crestron system for lighting, shades and music. The 21st floor included a service entrance which you came in through seeing that Richard had the key to the main entrance elevator. “No wonder he doesn’t go out. He has everything he needs here.” You said to yourself, as you made your way back to the door to gather your things. You walked into the master bedroom and placed the basket on the bed. You finally opened the clear wrapping and started to pull out each item. Bath bombs, candles, wine, scented lotions, and oils. There was a silken pink night gown, with matching sleeping mask. Then a box of assorted chocolates, and your favorite box of perfume. A little while later, after a hot shower, and two glasses of wine, you climb into Richards bed, and cover yourself with the thick black blanket. Your phone buzzed, and you picked it up to see that Richard sent you a photo and text. he sent you a gif of his face smiling, and blowing you a kiss, then saying goodnight. You send him a text back saying goodnight and thanking him again before you placed it back on the nightstand. As you fell asleep your mind thought of pleasant things. Such as now being able to start your life over without Ethan. Perhaps with someone great. Someone like Richard. “Why am I not with you?” Was the last words that slipped from your lips before passing out. _____ See, this wasn’t how it was supposed to happen. You were supposed to find a guy, fall in love, get married, have children and live out your lives together. Old, holding hands and maybe, just maybe dying together in your sleep. But your life didn’t work out so luck that way. Time after time you had to fight for what you wanted, and when you thought you had it, life kicked you down again. Here you sat on the cold tile floor in the bathroom, in the dark holding your fiancés phone. The painful reality that he wasn’t who you thought. Your jaw clinched, the burning in your eyes began, and you turned the phone on. You had to know. You read every single one of the texts that he sent them. Every detail about what he wanted to do to them, and what he wanted them to do to him. How he couldn’t stop thinking of them, and how they were the only thing he ever wanted. He even said I love you to a few of them. They begged for him to dump you, and he said that he would, but he was waiting for the right time. He couldn’t even bother changing up his texts, they were the same lines, repeatedly. The same dick pics and fantasy. The only thing that seemed to change was the location to meet them for dinner, or the hotel room he would rent out for the day for his “Client Meetings” You turned the phone off and gripped your chest, right at your heart. You dug your nails into your skin until it hurt, but it would never compare to the pain you felt that spread through your body like a raging fire. It scorched every nerve in your body, and you began to shake. Your eyes burned and when you could hold on no longer you let out a scream that could have cracked glass, and you threw his phone against the wall. It shattered. Once that first tear broke free, the rest followed in an unbroken stream. You bent forward, pressed your palms to the floor, you began to cry with the force of a person vomiting on all fours.

You heard footsteps running up to the door.

“(y/n) are you ok? What was that noise?” A male voice said on the other side. “Just go away” you said, the words slipping from your lips so softly that only you could have heard it, but you secretly wish he did. You continued to cry, your fingers digging into the black cloth of the bathmat. You felt sick to your stomach. The ache in your heart was too much to bare. “(y/n) answer me!! What is going on? I am beginning to worry!” The voice said again, wiggling the door knob a few times. “Go the fuck away!” You managed to raise your head up and yelled. “Just leave, get out! I don’t want you here anymore!” You turned your body to the toilet now, lifting the lid, and prepared yourself for what was about to come up. “(y/n) What?! What are you talking about? “He yelled back, banging on the door. “Open up! What happened?” he pressed again, his voice very concerned and urgently searching for a reason why you would react this way. “I hate you.” You said softly into the toilet. You shook your head because you knew you had to throw up, and the rage that was building in your gut was making its way to your chest. The kind of rage that was instant and all you needed was the final push. The door knob started to shake violently, and then the door started to bang as if something was being pushed against it. With a loud BANG the door was forcefully opened, and Ethan came stumbling in, the wall across from the door catching him. He looked around the bathroom and saw his phone on the ground, and then looked up at you. “What is going on? It’s 4 o’clock in the morning, and you’re screaming.” He said as he bent down and picked up his phone examining the broken pieces. “I had work and clients on here, and you break it?” “Right! Work and clients “You quoted with your fingers. “I am sure your clients needed a picture of your fucking dick for their legal troubles. I guess you’re a full-service kind of lawyer. “you proclaimed, as you rose to your feet. You took a few steps closer to him. His face went completely white and he swallowed hard. His eyes shifted over to the right of you unable to look in your eyes and there it was. The shame or was it guilt. Either way he knew that this was it for him. “(Y/N)” He started, but you cut him off. “Who is Emily?” You shoved him back “Rhonda?” You shoved him again. “Dianna?” You asked pushing him one last time, this time harder and he was backed into the corner and could see his jaw tighten. “Oh, and my favorite, your fucking secretary Bridgette.” You smiled and shook your head. “I knew it. I knew it.” You stressed, your voice starting to shake with the buildup of anger, and more tears. “They mean nothing to me. Not like you. “Ethan said calmly to you. His eye contact making his words seem sincere. Was he telling the truth? Maybe, but it was too late. That trust had already been destroyed. “You’re a fucking liar.” You walked out of the bathroom and into the bedroom you shared. You walked to the other side of the room to get away from him. It was too much. You always had a feeling that something was right about him, but you couldn’t put your finger on it. You grabbed your bag from the closet, and started throwing clothes in them, cussing and yelling as you stuffed many items in it. You weren’t even sure what it all was, but the more that you put in that bag was the more you were close to getting out of there. Ethan tried to grab you to talk things out. Grabbing your arm, you pulled it away, he grabbed both of your wrists to calm you and to pull you into his chest, but you pushed him away repeatedly You took a shirt and hit him with it and he held his hands up grabbing the fabric in the air, twisting it around his hand and yanked you close to him. “Please calm down, we can talk about this.” He held you firmly to him, looking at you dead in your eyes, not even blinking. Was he terrified of losing you? Was he scared of what his life would be like without you? You fought more against his grip. “Would you stop! He yelled, “and fucking listen to me! They mean nothing to me! I want to marry you and be with you!” You looked closer into his eyes and saw that they were glazing over. Was he about to cry? Was he actually upset that he hurt you? For a brief moment, you settled down, and lowered your guard for a moment.

“I love you.” He said, releasing the grip on your wrist since he must have felt your nerves calm. “There is nothing to freak out about. My heart belongs to only you.” He said, leaning in closer to your face. “I want to kiss only you…” Ba-dum

The sound of your heart echoed in your ears as he spoke those words… “ I want to marry only you..”

Ba -dum But it wasn’t the words you wanted to hear. It was the wrong words. “I am going to marry you (Y/N).” he whispered right before his lips touched yours. Those were the wrong words…. “The hell you are!” You yelled as you pushed him back, but he still held one of your wrists. “What makes you think that I would even marry you?” You questioned as you finally yanked yourself free from his grasp. You turn and walk to the other side of the bed, snatching up your phone. Your fingers unlocked it and you started to search through it. You started muttering to yourself. “Great! I guess you’re going to call him now. Complain about me?” He gestured with his arms, shifting his weight from one leg to the other. “Call who?” You questioned, going through your contacts. Richards name slowly scrolled down, and your thumb landed on his name, but Ethan had caught your attention and you looked up from the phone. “Who do you think? Richard for fuck sake. You can’t seem to just let him the fuck go can you!” Ethan said, yanking up a shirt from the side chair, and putting it on, followed by a pair of mint green pants. You always hated those pants. “He has nothing to do with this. You did this! “You proclaimed. Snatching up your keys and walking over to the night stand to grab a few more things, shoving them into the bag. “Whatever you need to tell yourself (y/n) You’re probably acting like this because you slept with him, and now you are turning a tiny indiscretion of mine into this mountain of guilt.” He gestured with is hands and body movement. “Are you fucking kidding me right now?! Are you trying to turn this around on me? You gestured pointing to yourself.

“I’m just stating the facts. You couldn’t have him, so you had to get me. You were too weak to tell him how you felt, and he didn’t care enough about you to notice you. Why would he want you? He’s famous now and can have any woman he wants and you —“ SMASH! The vase you threw at his head shattered near him. He guarded his face and moved aside and looked at you. “WHAT THE FUCK!?!? Have you lost your mind?” He yelled as he moved around the broken pieces by his feet to a clearer spot. Then you looked down to continue to pack, grabbing everything that could fit into this large duffle bag. After stuffing what you could in it, you make your way to the door. “I had to settle for a piece of shit like you.” You added onto his statement, your voice was so calm, still, but the tears filled your eyes and burned as you looked at him without blinking. “I had to lower my standards to a pathetic man child who had to feed on someone else’s insecurities to make himself feel better.” “(Y/n) wait, I didn’t mean…” he said starting to walk towards you but when he saw that you straightened your back and took a more dominate stance, he paused. “You meant every word. And I shouldn’t have said yes to marrying you when in my heart I really didn’t want to. But my family, and your family pressured me. Especially when…” You paused for a moment and looked around the room and then back at him. “When I knew I would never love you the way I love him.” Those words flew from your mouth so fast. You never thought that you would think it, let alone say it out loud. You knew instantly from the look in his eyes that they’d hit their mark. In that instant your relationship shattered into glassy shards. Nothing would ever be the same again. “We’re over!” You completed as you walked out of the door. ______ The next day you remained in the protection of your dear friend penthouse. You closed the blinds, and the curtains. You brewed some coffee, with cream, and added some caramel into the mixture as you lazily walked back to his room. You hadn’t slept so well after dreaming about the fight you had with Ethan. It was so fresh in your heart and mind. You placed the mug on the night stand and crawled back into bed. Tucking yourself into the big red and white pillows and pulled the black duck down comforter over yourself. You leaned back against the pillowed backboard, reached for the remote, twitched on the TV and flipped through the channels until you landed on the TV show FRIENDS. Tossing the remote beside you, you tried to focus on the screen before you, but your phone went off again. You struggled with the decision to pick it up. Looking from the TV back to the phone, and then back to the TV again. Then back at the phone when it went off. You reached over and picked it up. You fingered through the unlock and brought up your phone log. 14 MISSED CALLS – Ethan Hawthorne Then you saw the notifications on your iMessages. You opened it. _______________________________ ETHAN {Please pick up the phone….. } ETHAN {We need to talk!!!} ETHAN {I’m not giving up on us! I don’t care how many times I have to call you or text you! } ETHAN {Why are you acting like this? Can we just please talk?! } ________________________________ You took a deep breath and hovered your finger over delete. For a moment you thought how freeing it would be to clear these, and never reply to him, but then again, what if you did reply. What if you told him to never call or message you again? Is saying nothing, really louder than saying anything at all? Without a second thought you deleted it. You closed your eyes, and put the phone on the nightstand, but before you could fully come to terms with what you just did, you heard a knock on the door. You were expecting anyone, but when you walked to the door, you looked through the hole, and saw a bouquet of flowers. You pulled back and took a step back from the door. Maybe you shouldn’t open it, maybe you should. Ethan was smart, sending you flowers so early. You bit your bottom lip, and then another knock came to the door. “Who is it?” You shouted. “I have a delivery for a Miss (Y/N).” the man said. “Can you leave it by the door?” You asked, walking closer to the door, and placed your hands on the wood. “I was instructed to hand it directly to her. You know….my job.” He replied. “Ok.” You sigh and open the door. As you open it, the bouquet was in full bloom in front of you. Bright red roses petals, with lush green stems. It was so large it covered the delivery guys face. “Do I need to sign for it or something?” you ask waiting with your arms crossed in front of you. “Not really, but if you would like to pay in the form of a hug. I wouldn’t object.” He said, as his American accent changed over to the floating melody of a British purr, and as the flowers came down, it revealed the most beautiful man you had ever seen. Richard stood before you with a big smile on his face. His eyes were sparkling, and his cheeks were flushed. He was so excited to see you. You weren’t sure what came over you when you lunged forward and flung your arms around his neck, pulling him into an embrace. He chuckled and leaned down to hug you back. He squeezed you and buried he face in your hair. You heard him take a deep breath, and you could have sworn you felt the thumping of his heart against your chest. It was racing. Or was it yours? At the moment you couldn’t tell, all you knew it he was here with you. You pulled back, but held onto his shirt, while he in return placed his hand on your cheek. You leaned into the warmth of his hand smiling. Your faith in men had left you, but you knew that Richard would heal it. Someone how. Starting by showing up earlier than he said, and now pulling this stun, in his own penthouse. “I can’t tell you how happy I am that you are here.” You stated excitedly. “But where are my manners, please come in.” you walked back over the threshold, and moved a side so that he could come in. “I can’t tell you how happy I am to see you, and in my penthouse no less.” He chimed back. Richard walked into the kitchen and placed the vase of roses on the counter top. He turned to look at you and removed his black coat and tossed it on the back of the counter. He looked around the room and shook his head. “What?” “Why is it so dark in here?” “I didn’t want any daylight in here.” “Why? A little daylight would be good for you (Y/N).” he stated as he walked across the room and to the window, he tossed the curtains opened, and the living room was flooded with golden light. He could have pushed the button that does it for him, but he was always the kind of guy to do things himself. You blocked your eyes for a moment, and then put your hands down to see Richard standing before the window with a halo of light around his head. The light caught in his beard, and he turned to look at you with glowing blue eyes. He wore a plaid shirt and dark blue jeans. A trimmed beard, and his hair combed over to one side. He looked good. Gorgeous. “Is that why you’re here? To open my blinds? You turn to Richard and hold up a cup. “Want some?” He walked over to the counter and sat down on the stool. He leaned forward and closed his hands together.

“Are you going to tell me what happened, or am I going to have to guess?” he sounded irritated, so his voice became a bit deeper. “Richard….” you sighed as you put the first mug into place on the Keurig, you put the K-Cup in the machine, and pulled the lever down, and hit BREW. You turned, and leaned back on the counter, with your hands on both sides of you along the counter top. “Don’t make me.” “What do you want me to say? He cheated. Cheated, a lot, and I was the dumb one who fell for his shit.” You said. The buzzer went off and you turned to remove the first cup, put another in its place, and a new K-Cup, and hit BREW again. You gently placed the cup in front of Richard, and reached over to hand him sugar, and creamer. “You’re not dumb, don’t say that. He cheated, yes, but that isn’t your fault.” Richard said has he put both hands on the sides of the cup. “Not my fault!?” You chuckle just saying those words. But you always thought that it was. Maybe it was in a way. You never really fully expressed yourself or showed that you were completely into the planning of your wedding, or him even. You were just there, going through the motions, while he was there, with other women. To be honest, he wasn’t the one you wanted. You lowered your head and started to cry. You heard the stool shift across the floor and in an instant Richards hands were on you, turning you. He crouched a bit to look at you, and tilted your head up to look at him, and when you did, he straightened himself. “Open your eyes.” he said softly. His hands cupped both sides of your face, his thumbs wiping away the tears from your face. “Look at me (Y/N).” he kindly stressed. So you did, and he was looking at you with such hope, and longing that it killed you. How can he be so calm at a time like this. How had you been so clam the past night? “I can’t do this anymore.” You weeped. “Do what?” “Love anyone again. How an I supposed to trust someone after this?” You asked, gripping his shirt. “It’s not going to be easy dove, but I’m here to show you that you can.” You looked up at him, and then to his lips. You always wondered what it would be like to kiss him. You lean in close to him, and place your forehead to his chin. He lowers his head to place a kiss on it. You didn’t want to bottle up your emotions. Sadness, obsessing, and full-blown crying fits was your way to deal with emotional upheaval, and pretending you were fine when you were not will have the same effect as a pressure cooker. So, you called out of work for the next few days, to let all your pent-up feelings loose, whether it was on your own with Celine Dion on full blast, with a box of tissues or with your best friend after two bottles of wine. And your best friend was here now, so here came the tears, and wine.

Sometime later, Richard gently rouses you from a deep slumber after you pasted out in his bed. Richard had to pick you up from the couch after the first bottle of wine. You drank the majority and like a gentlemen he let you. He tucked you in, and he settled in next to you, arm around you, and he just let you cry and cry. You complained about everything under the sun when it came to Ethan. The stupid pants he wore, to his cologne, how he said certain words, and how horrible he treated Richard. He sat at the edge of the bed, gently stroking your hair, and shaking you awake. As you woke, it felt as though your spirit returned to your body, and you felt heavy again, but warm under the blankets. You opened your eyes to see Richard sitting there, smiling down at you. “Good morning.” He said softly, as to not shock you with his presence. “Richard?” You said, as you slowly moved the blanket from your face rubbing the sleep from your eyes. “Yes, It’s me, you’re not dreaming.” He joked, rubbing your arm. “You’re here!” you cooed sleepily. “Yes, I live here. Did you drink so much you forgot?” “I know that.” Richard smiled and looked at you for a moment. His hand moved from your arm, to move a few strands of hair from your face. His index finger grazed your cheek, and you smiled. He tilted his head a bit and studied your face. “I jumped on the first flight I could.” You moved the blanket down, and stretched your arms wide, awaiting a hug you desperately needed. He smiled and leaned in to hug you. His arms slipped under you, and he pulled you into his arms. Practically pulling you up from the bed. You buried your face in his neck, and he squeezed you in return. You relaxed in his arms, and didn’t plan on letting him go, but you wanted to reveal in his warmth and scent. You take in a deep breath and then release it slowly. “I’m just happy you’re here.” “Of course, why wouldn’t I be?” He asked, as one of his hands stroked your back. “Because of your job.” “(Y/N)? Do you really think that would keep me away from you?” he asks, as he releases you and cups your face. “You know what I mean.” You say sweetly, placing your hands on his own. “Your friends break up doesn’t fall on the important spectrum when it comes to your career.” He chuckles and lets go of your face and stands up. “It’s not my career that makes all the decisions, but my heart. Time with you is all I always want, like air to a dying man.” He says, as he heads towards the bedroom door. “Which is to say that nothing would keep me from you. As selfish as that may sound.” “Richard…” you started, but he interrupts. “Now out of bed. You need to eat.” He walks out of the door. “I kind of like it here! Your bed is amazing!” You shout after him. “Then I guess I’ll bring your breakfast to you! He shouts back. You laugh to yourself and fall back into the large pillows. Your arms stretched out at your sides. The sound of breakfast for dinner sounded exciting to you. You remembered Richard’s cooking it for you whenever you both would get drunk, it was always delicious, and he always ate with you. You closed your eyes and several minutes later, you could smell the aroma coming from the kitchen. An hour later, Richard brought you the works. Freshly squeezed juice, toast with grape jam, eggs, bacon, and a bowl of grapes and honey dew. He placed it on his bed, with a giant tray, and there was enough for two people. You turned the TV on just for background noise while you both spoke, He told you the story about how after he got your call, he called his assistant and requested the next flight out of Los Angeles to New York that there was. He called ahead to the front desk and requested that you be let in, but it would have to be the servant’s entrance as he had locked the elevator to his floor. He called his other assistant in New York to find the best relaxation basket he could, and to make sure there was a sweet message from him for you. He wanted you to know that he would take care of you. When it was time for him to leave, he didn’t even pack any clothes. He grabbed his keys, phone, and wallet, and left. He didn’t have time to think, his instincts told him that you needed him, and you needed him now. On the plane he was anxious to see you, and he couldn’t wait to get out of the airport, and into the taxi to get home to you. “You didn’t have to do all of that. Did you even get any sleep?” You asked as you held the toast in your hand, looked at him. He looked at you and reached over to wipe a piece of jam from your lips. “No. I’d been up for about 24 hrs, I believe? There was no time to think about myself. I was worried about you.” He said as he went back to eating. You sat there staring at him and you lowered the toast to your lap. Your eyes started to burn and glaze over. “Why would you do that for me? Why do anything of it?” Your voice started to shake, and you honestly tried to hold back the tears. You hated crying in front of him, and you didn’t want him to think you were a cry baby, but damn it. He was always so sweet and kind to you. Why couldn’t you be with someone like him? Why couldn’t you have been the one in this bed for years, waiting for him to come home to you. You knew that you loved him, but just the thought of him flying across country, not sleeping until you were taken care of, and happy before taking care of himself hit you hard. Richard put his food down, cleaned his mouth, and swallowed the remaining food. He looks down for a moment nodding slightly to himself, as if he was talking to himself. Like the moment you get when you are building yourself up to finally say something. “Do you really have to ask?” He said, still looking down at nothing in particular. “After all this.” He looks at you. “I did it because….I love you, (Y/N).” You new that it would take time, but with those words you felt the break in your heart start to heal. END.

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architectnews · 3 years ago

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Shadow House in Melbourne, Victoria

Shadow House, Melbourne Residence, Extended Australian Property, Contemporary Architecture Photos

Shadow House in Melbourne

Extended Residential Development in Victoria, Australia design by Thomas Winwood Architecture

27 January 2022

Design: Thomas Winwood Architecture and Kontista & Co

Location: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Shadow House

Photos by Emily Bartlett

Shadow House

Extending the existing Victorian house on a corner site the project reinterprets the bay windows and scale and arrangement of internal spaces to create a new contemporary kitchen and living spaces at the rear of the existing house.

The dark stained curvilinear timber wall continues the line of the facade and creates a shadow of the original house that sits discreetly in the garden. A large curved glass window and bench seat in the kitchen and two large sliding windows create contemporary bay window arrangements where the residents can sit in the sun and view the garden.

The positioning of windows allows sun to enter from morning to late afternoon into all living spaces. Filtered through trees and entering from different windows into the same space creates continually changing light conditions marking the passage of time throughout the day and tracing the functional arrangement of spaces.

Respecting the heritage character of the area the extension is seen from the street as a band of dark timber allowing the existing house and landscaping to define the primary character of the house. Thickened walls gives the addition a sense of mass, creates deep reveals in the openings and conceals a storeroom and houses the fireplace.

A new slate roof and wide oak floorboards throughout the entire house ties together the old and the new and connects the once separate flat and garage to the rear of the property consolidating various additions to the house into one highly functional dwelling.

The open plan living and new kitchen reorient the living spaces and replaces a series of separate rooms to allow light, air and a strengthened connection with the garden. Quality materials and highly considered detailing continue the appreciation of craft and materiality visible in the existing house.

Highlighting any unusual aspects, what was the brief provided to you? The existing house was a beautiful heritage house on a corner site in Albert Park, Melbourne. The kitchen and laundry were tucked away in the back corner with poor orientation and natural light. The challenge was to rework the rear of the house to provide contemporary living spaces, improve the connection to the rear garden whilst maintaining a continuity of space, proportion and mass of the original house.

What are the elements of the project contributing towards sustainability (in all its forms)? The new arrangement of living spaces creates a more desirable orientation to the north and through the use of a contemporary bay window arrangement captures the east and western sun. A new skylight over the study and in the bathroom provides additional light in the darker areas of the house.

Large opening provides ample cross ventilation whilst the thick double layer of insulation in the walls and double glazing controls the temperature minimising the use of mechanical heating or cooling. Hydronic heating panels are integrated into the window seats to provide localised heating in sitting areas. New floor and ceiling insulation was installed and the existing corrugated iron roof removed and replaced with a new slate was used to reinstate the original slate roof.

Low VOC paint, LED lighting, FSC certified engineered floor boards and energy efficient appliances and tapware improve the sustainability of the existing house.

An underground water tank provides rain water for the garden and a provision for solar hot water heating has been allowed. Large bluestone threshold stones have been re-used to create threshold steps at the glazed sliding doors of the new extension.

Could you highlight anything unusual or interesting about the construction of the project – including materials and techniques? The sense of mass of the rear of the house was created by designing thickened timber framed walls, up to 600mm deep which accommodated services, bench seats, storage and sliding pocket doors and windows whilst providing an additional layer of insulation.

Who worked on the project? The project was a collaboration between Thomas Winwood Architecture and Kontista & Co who were based in Sydney.

Shadow House – Building Information

Project size: 263 sqm Completion date: 2012 Architects: Thomas Winwood Mckenzie and Kontista & co. Engineer: Gavin Donohue Builder: Matt Ritchie

Photography: Emily Bartlett

Shadow House in Melbourne images / information received from Thomas Winwood Architecture

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Location: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

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ventcovers · 3 years ago

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Recessed Lighting Trims: How Can I do Before Purchasing Recessed Lighting Trim?

There are a few things to remember when adding a recessed light, also known as a can light, or deciding which recessed trims or can light to install: What exactly are you looking to light? If you want a bright spot or a confined space? What size light fixture do you require? What kind of light bulb are you looking for? Is a remodel fixture needed, or will a new construction housing be installed? What about connecting your new light to the correct wiring? Will you need an IC (Insulation Compatible) or AT (Air Tight) fixture or a combination of the two?

Recessed Lighting Trims Components

• Housing: Certain recessed trims fixtures are made entirely of one piece, but the majority are made of two. The housing is the part of a two-piece fixture that is fixed to the ceiling.

• The housing is inserted with the trim. You will need to cut the trim to mount the light bulb, depending on the style of housing and trim you select.

• Wattage: Any electric lighting fixture is rated for the highest wattage incandescent light bulb or bulbs that can be used safely in it. The majority of recessed lighting trim fixtures are rated for 75 or 100 watt bulbs, but some can handle up to 150 watts.

• Mounting frame: Recessed trims fixtures designed for open framing have a mounting frame that is fixed to the ceiling framing members—the joists—to keep them in place.

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What Kind of Light Trim Do do You Want to Create?

Recessed lighting is very adaptable. They may be used for general illumination, mission illumination, or accent illumination.

You'll also want a downlight if you want more light to read by or on your kitchen counter. The same can be said for lighting a hallway or corridor, as well as general lighting in a big space like your living room. You'll also need an eyeball spot to light up the sculpture on your mantel. A wall washer trim, on the other hand, may be just what you need to draw attention to a big painting or poster, or to softly illuminate your stereo components.

What is the size of the light fixture you require?

The most popular diameters for residential recessed light trims fixtures are 4" and 7". Think how far the ceiling is from where you want the light and how large space you want to light before answering this question. In a room with an 8' ceiling, a 4' "Kitchen countertop lighting can be achieved with this fixture. a six "At that height, a downlight would nicely illuminate your breakfast table. In a room with a ten-foot ceiling, four lights may be sufficient "area lighting fixtures, so the light would be spread out further. seven "In an 8' ceiling, the fixture serves as a good wall washer.

A 6 is the most common size "a fixture As a result, there are more different types of trim for 6 available "fixtures than the other sizes, allowing you more options when it comes to selecting your trim.

Why Light Bulb Would You Like to Use?

An incandescent, fluorescent, halogen, or LED light bulb may be used in a recessed light trim fixture with a medium screw base lamp holder. Special lamp holders, or sockets, are often available for fixtures that can only take certain light bulbs, typically fluorescent or halogen.

You can purchase fluorescent lamps with a low Kelvin value if you prefer the savings, long life, and temperature coolness of fluorescent lamps but also like the color warmth of incandescent light. Halogen is always the best choice for high-intensity light, particularly in a small space. Many people choose incandescent lamps for general illumination because they are warm and comfortable. Several of these features can be seen in LED light bulbs.

Choose fixtures that can use incandescent, halogen, or LED light bulbs if you choose to be able to dim your recessed lights or power them with a remote or automatic device. Unless they have a dimmable ballast, fluorescent light fixtures are not dimmable.

New-Construction Housings vs. Remodel Fixtures

Recessed lights are assisted by two distinct methods. Metal clips are usually pushed into the housing into the top of the ceiling—the drywall or plaster—to protect the housing for a remodel fixture. New-construction fixtures are secured to the ceiling joists by screwing or nailing the fixture's frame to them. You'll have to use a remodel fixture if you can't climb over the roof to operate the wiring. You can mount new-construction recessed lights in your current ceiling if you have access to space above the ceiling where the fixture will be mounted. The advantages of doing so include the fact that new construction fixtures are typically less costly and offer a wider range of trim options than remodel fixtures.

telecommunications

If you need to feed wire from one joist bay to another, remember to drill a hole in the middle of each joist. Also keep in mind the recessed light contacts are made in a junction box next to the fixture. Look for fixtures with built-in Type NM clamps in their junction boxes if you're using Type NM (Romex) wiring. If you're using Type MC wire, look for fixtures with a built-in clamp. It will help you save a significant amount of time.

Do you want an airtight or insulation-compatible fixture?

Many recessed lighting fixtures are designed to work with insulation (IC). As a result, the housing will be mounted directly on top of insulation. If you're going to install recessed lighting in an insulated ceiling, just buy fixtures with IC-rated housings. Otherwise, you'll have to buy or make a cover to keep the insulation out of their reach.

Installing a recessed lighting fixture that isn't marked as AirTight (AT) provides a chimney from which the winter heating escapes. If there is more of your living room above it, this may not be a concern, but it is critical if that space is your unfinished attic.

Any recessed lighting fixture installed in an incomplete, enclosed attic must meet both the IC and AT requirements. The good news is that most recessed lighting models come with one or both ratings.

Is a New or Upgraded Lighting Circuit Required?

The maximum number of fixtures on a circuit when installing hard-wired lighting fixtures, such as recessed trims fixtures, is determined by the maximum wattage level of the fixtures. The wattage of the light bulbs you want to use isn't factored into the equation. As a result, look for fixtures with the lowest maximum wattage rating that is high enough to allow you to use the bulbs you want, particularly if you're installing several fixtures at once.

Recessed Lighting Trim/Trims Basic: Function and Style

Recessed lighting can be a key element in both the function and style of a space, whether you're constructing a new home or renovating an old one. Recessed lighting gives a house a smooth, sleek appearance. It will brighten a room, draw attention to artwork or other unique elements, and open up spaces to make them appear and feel larger. Here are few general guidelines for what to look for when building recessed lighting.

What Can Recessed Lighting Be Used?

Though most recessed fixtures are mounted between ceiling joists in new construction or major remodeling projects, some recessed trims fixtures are built primarily for retrofit applications and can be slipped into an existing ceiling space through holes cut to accommodate wiring. When ceiling insulation is present, however, the fixtures you chose must be rated for use near insulation (IC housing rated). A non-IC housing can be used where the roof is not enclosed. For ceilings made of concrete, whether with ornate plasterwork or delicate molding features, avoid recessed lighting. Instead, use a chandelier (if the ceiling has an electrical box), wall sconces, or table lamps in these areas.

Recessed Lighting Fixtures: Where to Put Them

For the optimal use and spacing of the fixtures, follow these guidelines:

• Avoid putting too many recessed lighting fixtures in a row down the middle of the bed. This style of construction may resemble a runway at an airport. • Use recessed lighting fixtures that are the same size that can be mounted close together. 4-inch fixtures should be spaced at least 4 feet apart, and 6-inch fixtures should be spaced approximately 6 feet apart. • Place recessed lighting trim fixtures about 12 to 18 inches in front of the items you choose to light—a painting, bookshelf, or drapery panels, for example. • Recessed lamps for reading or work lighting should be positioned strategically overhead so that the head and shoulders do not obstruct required illumination. • When lighting a three-dimensional structure such as a fireplace, carving, or flower arrangement with recessed lighting, it is more efficient to light it from two or three different angles. • Place wall-washing recessed lighting fixtures along the periphery of a small room to help "push" the walls out and make space appear bigger, or direct them toward a series of artwork or photos to draw attention to the show. • Add recessed lighting to the underside of the kitchen cabinets.

Your countertop will be washed in concentrated light from the light.

Recessed Lighting Fixture Sizing

The basic sizes are 4-, 5-, or 6-inches in diameter, depending on whether you prefer normal line voltage, low voltage halogen, or fluorescent fixtures. The 6-inch fixtures are best for tall entryways or two-story hallways, while the smaller 4-inch fixtures are ideal for smaller spaces because they offer a sleeker, modern look and less interference.

Add-ons

These specialist fixtures may be used for a variety of effects, including:

• Accent lighting can be directed at artwork using adjustable recessed light eyeball fixtures. • Choose recessed trims wall washer fixtures to add light to the windows. • If you want the most illumination from a fixture, use recessed trims reflectors, or add white or black baffle trims to concentrate and guide light or minimize glare.

Types of Recessed Lighting Trims Light Bulbs

Several types of fixtures and lamps are required for particular uses when choosing or installing recessed lighting:

• Incandescent lamps are cheap and can be used for general lighting or wall cleaning where reflectors are used. This are being phased out in favor of more energy-efficient lamps. • The most energy-efficient lamps are light emitting diode (LED) bulbs, which have a long lifespan. They can also be seen in apertures of a reduced diameter. • Halogen bulbs provide a bright white light and come in flood and spot varieties, with sizes to match 4-, 5-, and 6-inch fixtures. • Low-voltage halogen bulbs last longer and provide more light than incandescent bulbs, but they need transformers and special low-voltage housings. • Energy-saving compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) require a ballast to control the current. The outline of the lamp also influences the direction in which light is emitted. The following are the standard abbreviations: • R (reflector) bulbs are the most general, with a reflective surface on the back of the bulb that directs much of the light downward. • BR (bulged reflector) bulbs flare at the lamp's surface, allowing more light to be emitted downward. • PAR (parabolic aluminized reflector) lamps are used for accent lighting and have a tighter spotlight. • The inner reflective surface of MR (multifaceted reflector) bulbs has facets that act to create a close spotlight.

Recessed Lighting Cautionary Notes

Before buying any lighting materials, familiarize yourself with your home and its architecture, as each installation would be special. Find out what parts you'll need for your room from an expert electrical salesperson, such as special plumbing, transformers, lamps, or IC-rated housings. To improve or add recessed lighting, you will need to seek construction permits in certain locations. If the job is too difficult for you, hire a professional electrician to mount the new lighting.

Details to Know Follow: https://www.beaux-artsclassicproducts.com/recessed-light-trims/

Additional Resources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recessed_light http://www.bbc.co.uk/homes/design/lighting_types.shtml https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/18/realestate/lighting-a-room-simplified.html

Location: https://goo.gl/maps/fW6gDcoieg6wqLeG9

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jeremystrele · 4 years ago

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An Ultra Energy-Efficient Makeover Of A Victorian Country Home

Sustainable Homes

by Amelia Barnes

This period cottage in Victoria’s Hepburn Shire has been reworked and extended, with a new highly energy-efficient addition by MRTN Architects. Photo – Eve Wilson for The Design Files. Styling – Annie Portelli.

The interior is lined with salvaged timber boards and plywood imparting a warm glow to the living spaces. Photo – Eve Wilson for The Design Files. Styling – Annie Portelli.

A two-way fireplace allows heat to spread evenly throughout the extension when (rarely!) required. Photo – Eve Wilson for The Design Files. Styling – Annie Portelli.

Post-occupancy testing shows the house maintains a natural temperature between 18 and 26 degrees for 93 per cent of the year. Photo – Eve Wilson for The Design Files. Styling – Annie Portelli.

The level of energy efficiency can be put down to the home’s orientation, extended eaves that shade the house in summer, improved insulation, and internalised thermal mass in the concrete slab. Photo – Eve Wilson for The Design Files. Styling – Annie Portelli.

Timber adds texture and warmth while reducing the need for painted finishes. Photo – Eve Wilson for The Design Files. Styling – Annie Portelli.

North-facing windows allow a generous flood of sunlight into the house all day. Photo – Eve Wilson for The Design Files. Styling – Annie Portelli.

The cohesive use of similar materials and colours on all surfaces helps to elongate the space. Photo – Eve Wilson for The Design Files. Styling – Annie Portelli.

Odd-lot tiles from the ‘70s and ‘80s sourced by the client feature in the kitchen. Photo – Eve Wilson for The Design Files. Styling – Annie Portelli.

Roof eaves ensure the harsh summer sun can’t quite make its way into the house, while the winter sun is welcomed in all day. Photo – Eve Wilson for The Design Files. Styling – Annie Portelli.

The aesthetic is reminiscent of Japanese architecture, which influenced the entire design. Photo – Eve Wilson for The Design Files. Styling – Annie Portelli.

Brick pavers salvaged from a neighbourhood skip now feature on the bathroom floor! Photo – Eve Wilson for The Design Files. Styling – Annie Portelli.

The owners of this house, Martin and Cheryl. Photo – Eve Wilson for The Design Files. Styling – Annie Portelli.

The renovation and addition connects this house with its garden for the first time. Photo – Eve Wilson for The Design Files. Styling – Annie Portelli.

The dark timber cladding of the extension contrasts with the original cottage. Photo – Eve Wilson for The Design Files. Styling – Annie Portelli.

The home is located in Victoria’s beautiful Hepburn Shire region. Photo – Eve Wilson for The Design Files. Styling – Annie Portelli.

Energy-efficient appliances, solar panels, and a heat pump hot water system further add to the home’s eco-friendly credentials. Photo – Eve Wilson for The Design Files. Styling – Annie Portelli.

Conceptually the new addition has been designed as a long ‘shadow’ of the original cottage. Photo – Eve Wilson for The Design Files. Styling – Annie Portelli.

The owners of this home, Martin and Cheryl, purchased the property in Victoria’s Hepburn Shire over two decades ago. While the couple loved its period charm and history, they described the original home as pokey and basic, with a consistent cold draft in winter. After 20 years, it was time to renovate.

The idea of demolishing the original cottage was initially proposed, but Martin, Cheryl and their architect, Antony Martin of MRTN Architects, soon agreed this would be better retained and extended. ‘We established the optimal siting for a home was in the existing location, so proposed instead to retain the original Victorian cottage, and only demolish a series of increasingly shoddy lean-to additions,’ says Antony Martin.

Conceptually, the new addition has been designed as a long ‘shadow’ of the original cottage, constructed with contrasting dark, timber cladding. North-facing windows invite in natural light and warmth, while harnessing the site’s previously overlooked views.

Martin and Cheryl have gone to great lengths to integrate recycled materials throughout the extension. Bricks from demolished rooms are now used as outdoor paving, odd-lot tiles from the ‘70s and ‘80s feature in the kitchen, and brick pavers salvaged from a neighbourhood skip now make up the bathroom floor! ‘Every tile is a testament to the client’s commitment to salvaged materials and low embodied energy,’ says Antony.

When stepping inside the now-completed home, its sustainable qualities are immediately evident. The near air-tight interior creates a distinct feeling of stillness, and natural light beams in through all directions. Every architectural decision makes sense, and serves a distinct purpose, from the reading nook bathed in the perfect amount of afternoon sunlight, to the two-way fireplace that allows heat to spread evenly throughout the space.

Timber cladding lines the walls and ceiling of the new extension, adding texture and warmth to the interiors while reducing the need for painted finishes. The aesthetic is reminiscent of Japanese architecture, which Antony explains influenced the entire design. ‘This project was designed shortly after returning from my first trip to Japan, where I had been deeply influenced by the traditional architecture I had seen there,’ says the architect. ‘The clients have also frequently visited Japan, as their son lives and works there, so they were also keen to explore ideas about the materiality, built form and landscape connections that are so evident in Japanese architecture.’

Most impressive about this home is its performance. Post-occupancy testing shows the house maintains a natural temperature between 18 and 26 degrees for 93 per cent of the year. ‘Pretty remarkable given how cold and hot this part of Victoria can get!’ says Antony. This level of energy efficiency can be put down to the home’s orientation, extended eaves that shade the house in summer, improved insulation, and internalised thermal mass in the concrete slab. Energy-efficient appliances, solar panels, and a heat pump hot water system further add to these eco-friendly credentials, resulting in an 8 star NatHERs energy rating.

It is clear that both Cheryl and Martin value living sustainably to a great extent, with their electric car parked out front, and their passionate commitment to creating an eco-friendly home. Not only is this home a simply wonderful place to be, but its running costs are slim to none, and its positive impact on future generations – immeasurable!

This story is part of our series on Sustainable Homes, brought to you in partnership with Bank Australia. Bank Australia’s Clean Energy Home Loan offers a discounted home loan rate if you buy or build a home that exceeds a 7-star NatHERS rating, or have made ambitious green upgrades in the last 12 months. Find out more here!

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guidetourme · 5 years ago

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Most seductive places to stay across the world

It would be wrong to say that the therapist’s room is the only place where a broken love or sexuality can mend. Many people would instead argue that benefits of a couple of nights away in a delightful hotel that – by virtue of its location, furnishings, fresh sheets and solicitous staff – sprinkles stardust on your spirits and libido. On this very note, the most seductive places to stay across the world are:-

Royal Mansour, Marrakech, Morocco

One of the most discreet hotels in the world, with a tangled warren of underground tunnels so that staff can criss-cross the grounds, is tending to guests’ whims without being heard or seen. Guests feel the compulsion to go out of their rooms, which represent mini raids, with attached inner courtyards and rooftops having fireplaces, plunge pool and Bedouin tent. Those who love to venture out can book one of the hotel’s Bentleys - built-in champagne gold. Also boasts a triple-Michelin-starred Yannick Alléno’s restaurant with silk drapes, waiters in white gloves serves truffled lamb and Moroccan-spiced lobster at tables made of silver filigree.

Erosantorini, Santorini, Greece

The white suits are the epitome of cool indulgence: suspended from the ceilings are floating fireplaces and place is peppered with oxidized steel furniture. Mirrors make up the tiles beside the bed, and outdoor hot tubs have a marvellous view of the parakeet-green sea. Though there are only five villas, competition isn’t fierce for the pool cave, where couples can canoodle over a cocktail away from much attention and commotion. Cascaded over three levels are V-shaped infinity pools which also play music underwater. A bonfire, at night lights, an intimate outdoor cinema and private yacht with seafood lunch are sure to get it enlisted among the most seductive places to stay across the world.

Morgan’s Rock, Nicaragua

Daybeds in hammock-style bungalow and waterfall plunge pools make it best suited top romp in the hay types., Accessible only by several jungle suspension bridges, the treetop villas are the most isolated where only companies are cawks of parrots and gushing of the waves. Sky goldens and a gentle breeze whistles through the delicate net walls, one would have the most romantic time. Visitors call it a ‘hands-on kind of place’ and rightfully so- guests can milk the farm cows right before breakfast, fish for shrimp for lunch or ride farm horses in their leisure time. To add to the amorous ambience, one could end their day with a candlelit aromatherapy massage for two. Some might even call it one of the most seductive places to stay across the world.

Nihi Sumba Island, Bali

Among the most secluded and romantic villas is Puncak, which ousts from over a mountain slope; at sunset, couples could clink champagne flutes in their hot tub located outdoor, and evenings could potentially be spent snuggling around the fireplace and viewing the canopy below. Some serious Instagram envy can be induced by the photo opportunities cooked by the Romantic experiences captioned “most seductive places to stay across the world.

One&Only Le Saint Géran, Mauritius

Recently there has been a multi-million refurbishment with an obvious aim to seduce a younger market as well as the coup for loving baby boomers – cue an exquisite pan-Asian bar and DJs playing tropical beats. Guests could also opt for private spa aboard the Lady Lisbeth yacht and also indulge in upmarket steak joint, Prime. Suites have sexy stone furnishes and textured wall panels. Textiles dyed to the exact colour of Mauritian sand and hand-crafted lithographs make up the grace in the local references. Those who seek utmost privacy can opt for Villa One, which has private chefs and infinity pool facing the Ocean. Read the full article

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simba-bonfamille-lyons · 7 years ago

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Simba and Berlioz’s Cabin

This is the second in a series that one day may be complete but also may never be complete. As most of you know I’m like a huge #spatial person in my writing, so all my character’s houses/apartments/living spaces are really well mapped out in my brain? And I thought it’d be fun for people to see. (And a good reference for those who may RP in those spaces at some point.)

Overview:

The Bonfamile-Lyons cabin is a 4 ½ bath, 5 bedroom house that was built in 1976. It is on 2 acres of land and it is tucked into the woods about half a mile on the northside of Atlantis Lake. There are no neighbors that can be seen through the trees but there are about fifteen-twenty houses in a row along the edge of the lake, hidden by trees. The floors throughout at wood, except for the bathrooms which are either tile or stone. Walls alternate between painted and wood. Tapestries hang from the walls in most common spaces, as well as photos and paintings, mostly of landscapes. Side tables, mantels, etc. are covered in family photos.

Residents:

Simba Bonfamille-Lyons, Berlioz Bonfamille-Lyons, Ashlee Tomassian, Prince Bowie, Queen Simone, Turtle, Juniper, and Snake.

Past Residents:

Kiara Lyons, Mitte Esseman, Bambino Basurto

**note: pictures in the aesthetic are to give an overall #feel of the house, but don’t necessarily indicate the exact furniture/decorations/floorplan. the floorplan, on the otherhand is not quite to scale but i did the best i could.

1. Front Porch

The front porch extends across the full front of the house. There are two rocking chairs on one side, which were Simba’s paternal grandparents’. Lowkey he stole them from his childhood home when it was vacant, along with the quilt that rests along the back of one of them which was from his maternal grandmother. There is another pair of chairs on the other side. At one end, there is a hammock that is up year round. The front door is a dull red color.

2. Entryway/Foyer

The house boasts a large, beautiful front foyer with high ceilings. There are three steps that lead down into the rest of the house from a dias. A coat rack stands by the door for coats and a shoe rack for shoes. (The shoe rack is always messy and stuffed full of shoes.) Right across from the front door is the stairway leading up to the second floor.

3. Living Room

The living room is decorated in mostly warm colors--burgundies and browns and tans with splashes of greens and yellows. There is a fireplace directly across from the couch. And there are massive windows all around the living room/foyer, two stories worth in some places. A big, big television hangs over the fireplace and can be adjusted to angle any which way (so Simba can poke his head around and watch telly while he’s cooking.) There are tapestries hanging from the wall, bright and colorful, and pictures along the mantel--one of Ber, Simba, and Tink behind the bar at Pixie; one of Ber, Marie, and Lou in Paris a few years ago; one of Ber and Simba in Central Park; one of Simba and Kiara in matching Christmas sweaters from their first Christmas together; and one of Bowie, Simone, Simba, Berlioz, and Kiara (taken by Nala); one of Simba and Berlioz with Elvis from their wedding; and one of Ashlee with Ber and Simba after a dance recital. There is a chest which has extra quilts and blankets in it. There is a grand piano that stands in the corner by the window.

4. Kitchen

The best room in the house, according to Simba. The kitchen also boasts high ceilings and wood paneling all the way around. There is a wooden island in the middle of the room, as well as copious amounts of counter space. Not as many windows, except for the large floor-to-ceiling one in front of the breakfast nook, but the warm orangey overhead lights more than make up for it. The refrigerator is covered in pictures and goodies, including but not limited to: Kiara’s report cards, Bowie/Simone/Turtle’s obedience class graduation certificate, little notes that Simba likes to leave Ber, pictures of all of them, along with their friends, and Ber’s first gender studies paper that he got an A on.

5. Pantry

Just kidding, this is Simba’s favorite room in the house. Where all the FOOD is stored. It’s a gigantic walk-in pantry, and is terribly organized aka Simba just throws food in there when he’s done grocery shopping because he cannot be arsed at that point to put things away properly. Full of all kinds of goodies.

6. Downstairs Bathroom

It’s a downstairs bathroom, idk what is special about it. Simber have probably had sex in it bc they’ve had sex in every room in the house except Kiara’s room.

7. Laundry Room

It’s a laundry room. Simber has also had sex here.

9. Backyard

The backyard is basically trees. Though Simba ‘technically’ owns the land around the house, all the area is protected--it took a lot of negotiation to even clear the land for the 20 or so houses that reside in the forest, so, there isn’t not a lot of actual space. Simba is determined to build a fence, though, so the dogs can run around and won’t get lost.

10. Office

This room was practically untouched for years. It has a file cabinet in one corner with all of Simba, Kiara, and Ber’s medical records and other ~things. There is a desk for studying that is just a table with two chairs and then another desk in the corner with a desktop on it. This is where Simba sits when he comes home and still has to answer emails or take phone calls. Least favorite room in the house, 0/10. Though a good little hiding spot if you don’t want to be bothered.

11. Dining Room

One of Simba’s other favorite rooms. The wall that faces the foyer is all glass, so you can see into it from anywhere and it has wide double doors that open up and are beautiful. There is a cabinet in the dining room that holds a lot of his grandmother Diana’s china and crystal and silver. Only taken out for very special occasions. Table can seat eight people but up to twelve if you believe hard enough.

12. Second Floor Stairs/Hallway

Going up to the second floor there are walls on both sides which open up into a long T-shaped hallway. Kiara’s room in on the right halfway down and Ber’s studio is on the left. There are more pictures and tapestries hanging on the walls here.

13. Berlioz’s Studio

State of the art studio that Berlioz has customized. Simba gave it to Ber for Christmas in 2017 and already had it soundproofed by that time. It’s painted like a deep red. There is a booth for recording as well as fancy-schmancy equipment that Simba does not know the names of. Sometimes he likes to come in while Ber is working and take naps on the couch, so they can be in the same room together without Simba bothering Ber, lol.

14. Kiara’s Room

Originally the bedroom Simba envisioned for his mother to stay in when/if she ever visited again, Kiara has now taken it over fully and completely. There is a beautiful four-poster canopy bed with colorful sheets on it. Kiara has hung posters and collages all over the room. There is a fluffy carpet, bean bag chairs probably, and a lovely balcony for her and her friends to hang out on. She has a nice, spacious bathroom and walk-in closet. It is still decorated for her, but they do use it as a guest room.

15. Closet

Storage closet. Which is just shoved full of stuff, it’s ridiculous. There’s extra bedding, Simba’s college stuff, stuff from Simba’s mom and dad, anything random from Ber’s house he needed to shove in there, Christmas decorations, Halloween decorations, etc. etc.

16. Simba and Berlioz’s Room

Did I say somewhere else was Simba’s favorite room in the house? I was lying. His and Ber’s bedroom is his favourite, because there--it is just them. Just Simba and Berlioz. The room has really transformed into something that is the two of theirs. From new bedsheets that they picked out together to Teacup, who hangs out in the corner behind the loveseat, also the bookshelf, which Ber brought with him. There is always a book on Ber’s bedside table. The bedroom itself is painted a sandy tan color that reminded Simba of the savannah, which means the room always looks bright and warm.

The bathroom is hugeeee. With a gigantic tub and one of those fancy showers with a million settings. A double sink, so they each have their own, and a storage closet for all their necessities, as well as a walk-in closet for them. The balcony is another favorite spot. There’s two comfy chairs out there and Simba likes to pray out on the balcony if the weather is nice. They spend a lot of time out there, tbh. It’s very homey, and soft, and Sacred.

17. Third Floor Stairs/Hallway

Stairs lead up to an L-shaped hallway. More pictures and tapestries on the wall. Not much to say about it lol.

18. Ashlee’s Bedroom (previously Guest Bedroom One)

The smaller of the guest bedrooms. Used to be painted a lovely blue color. Has a queen-sized bed in it. Fun fact: this is where Mitte stayed when she lived with Simba. It is now Ashlee’s bedroom, painted a soft green, and decorated to her liking.

19. Third Floor Bathroom

A Jack-and-Jill style bathroom that leads to both rooms. Has a separate door for the toilet/shower area for convenience. Painted a bright yellow because Simba thought it looked happy. It’s a little insulting to the eye first thing in the morning, tbh.

20. Guest Bedroom Two

The bigger guest bedroom, this one is painted a lovely green color. It has a queen-sized bed as well as a pull out bed for Maximum Sleepover. People who have stayed in this room include, but is not limited to: Bambi, Sarabi, Nala, Jim, probably most of the Scooby Gang at one point or another.

21. Game Room

Of course Simba has a game room. Okay, it totally came with the house, but in his first few months back, he spent a bunch of his spare time fixing things up, which included fixing the old, vintage games so that they worked properly. It’s got foosball, that basketball game, billiard of course, a pacman game, and a few other odds and ends. Simba uses it pretty frequently, tbh. He gets bored easily and it’s like a playground in his own backyard (third story).

22. Movie Room

Pretty self explanatory. This room Simba totally added, because he does love movies, even if it is hard to find some that keep his attention for long periods of time. The couches in this room are the most comfortable couches ever. There is also a soda fountain and popcorn maker so that you don’t have to go all the way down stairs for snacks. Not really used that much except for large gatherings, or when Kiara has her #squad over. Has Simba invited all his adult friends over to watch movies, though? Definitely.

23. Observatory

One of Simba’s favorite rooms in the house. It was recently renovated after the fall storm in 2016 after a tree flew into it and shattered most of it. It’s a cylinder ceiling, made entirely of glass with a beautiful view of the stars on dark nights. There is a telescope in one corner of the room too, but the entire floor is made up of blankets and pillows so that you can lay back and look at the stars. Simba takes lots of cat naps up here, especially in the winter.

#simber's cabin #about #information #headcanons #inspiration

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samuelmmarcus · 5 years ago

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Coastal Farmhouse Home Decor

Homes built by Timber Trails Development Company and designed by Julie Howard (previously featured here – a must-see post!, here, here, here, here, here & here) always become very popular whenever I share them here on Home Bunch or on my Instagram.

Here, the designer explains more details about this coastal farmhouse with fresh home decor ideas: “The inspiration behind our Timber Trails Beach House was thinking about when it was going to hit the market. It was built as a spec house that we knew would hit the market in February. February in Chicago is pretty dreary and everyone seems to be looking forward to spring break. I kept seeing the hanging chairs from Serena and Lily coming through my IG feed and I was inspired to build a house that would be worthy of those cool chairs. The beach house was underway!”

Find a comfy spot, pin your favorite farmhouse coastal interior ideas and get inspired to get your home ready for spring! Think happy colors!

Interior Design Ideas: Coastal Farmhouse Home Decor

You fall in love with this home the moment you open the front door. The color scheme and decor feels coastal without being theme-y.

Light fixture – Joss and Main.

Rug – Persian – one of kind – Others: here, here (washable rug), here, here, here, here, here, here, here & here.

Ottomans – 610 Home – similar here.

Wall Paint Color

“Benjamin Moore OC-23 Classic Gray”.

Artwork – Homegoods – Other Affordable Framed Artwork: here, here, here & here.

Barn Doors

These barn doors are custom, painted in “Benjamin Moore AC-23 James River Gray”. They add so much personality to this home!

Beautiful Barn Doors: here, here & here.

Home Office

This gorgeous home office features board and batten paneling and a blue ceiling.

Accessories – Target – Other Accessories by Joanna Gaines: here, here, here, here, here & here.

Hardware – Emtek in flat black.

Decor

The two rattan chairs are from Ikea and they are black. The designer had the painters paint them white – Similar chairs: here, here, here, here, here, here & here.

Plants – Walter E. Smithe – similar here.

Desk

The desk is from World Market (great price!).

Fabric chair -RH – similar here, here, here & here.

Blue Skies

The blue ceiling is also painted in James River Gray by Benjamin Moore.

Rug: HomeGoods – Other Neutral Rugs: here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here & here.

Light Fixture – Wayfair.

Main Hallway

“Once the ceiling detail of shiplap and white beams went up, I instantly thought we needed a basket type color up there. The light fixtures were the perfect beachy choice to really draw your eye up. When that much work goes into a ceiling detail, I always want to make sure it is seen!” – Julie Howard.

Rug – McGee and Co – similar here.

Console Table – Joss and Main.

Ceiling Lights

This hallway also features an inviting window-seat. Ceiling light fixtures are from Serena and Lily.

Pillows: Linen, Patterned – similar & Lumbar Pillow (similar here & here).

Throw: here – similar.

Next Step

A dreamy dining room is located just across from the foyer, at the end of the hallway.

Dining Table

The dining table belongs to the designer and it’s an older table. Other Beautiful Dining Tables: here (very similar), here, here, here, here, here & here.

Host Chairs

Host Chairs – RH – similar here & here.

Rug: here.

Lighting

Light fixture – Visual Comfort custom color – Other Beautiful Lighting: here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here & here.

Faux Succulents: here.

Beautiful Bowls: here, here & here.

Wallpaper

“I selected this wallpaper after all the colors were selected. It just happened to have the PERFECT shades to tie the whole house together. Every contractor that entered the house was sure to tell me how much they loved the wallpaper. That never happens as they usually have a lot of opinions about choices like that. I could not have been more thrilled the day it went up. The whole house was tied together. I think people underestimate the power of wallpaper. It really should not be cut from the budget because it’s usually one of the most memorable parts of any design.” – Julie Howard – interior designer for Timber Trails Development Company.

Wallpaper – Thibaut Daintree in Aqua (available through the designer) – Other Beautiful Wallpapers: here, here & here.

Side Chairs

The wicker chairs were old and the designer painted them BM James River Gray.

Beautiful Side Chairs: here, here, here, here, here, here, here & here.

Millwork

This home features many inspiring ideas, which include this stunning paneled accent wall.

Paint Color

The accent wall is located just outside the dining room and it’s painted James River Gray by Benjamin Moore.

Artwork, accessories – Homegoods – Similar Options: Basket, Vases, Faux Greenery, Artwork, Candle Holder.

Console Table – Walter E Smithe – similar: here.

Chairs – RH in Linen – similar here, here & here.

Sconces

Sconces – Alabaster Sconce from Visual Comfort.

Hardwood Flooring

Hardwood flooring is Oak hardwood floor with a custom finish – similar here & here.

Kitchen

This kitchen is full of innovative ideas! It features custom cabinets, custom floating shelves and an impressive hood. Notice the wooden boards on the right side. I am loving this!

Kitchen Island Dimensions

Island Dimensions: 9’x4’.

Kitchen Island Paint Color

This large kitchen island is custom designed with X detail on side wing walls. Blue color on Island is James River Gray by Benjamin Moore.

Countertop

Countertop is Caesarstone’s new color; Organic White.

Wall Paint Color

Wall color is Benjamin Moore Classic Grey.

Sink & Faucet

Kitchen Faucet: Kohler Artifacts faucet in polished nickel.

Kitchen Sink: Kohler Sink.

Canisters: Anchor Hocking.

Kitchen Runner

Runner is one-of-a-kind from Etsy – Other Runners: here (vintage), here, here, here, here, here, here & here (washable).

Kitchen Hood

Flanked by open shelves, the sleek hood becomes the focal point for this kitchen.

Cooktop: here – similar.

Backsplash

Backsplash – hand-painted subway tiles – similar.

Cutting Boards: here – similar.

Hardware

Hardware: Knobs, Bin Pulls & Pulls.

Shelves

“I knew I wanted the element of floating shelves in this kitchen but couldn’t really find a good spot. The horizontal lines on the windows inspired me to take the shelves all the way across the windows on the main wall of the kitchen. When we solidified the beach theme the color I choose for the island and shelves was the next decision. The color is actually far darker and more grey in person than in the photos. I based the color of the island on the tile I chose for the fireplace.” – Julie Howard.

Sconces over windows – Pottery Barn.

Kitchen Shelving Paint Color

Blue color on Island and floating shelves is Benjamin Moore James River Gray.

Kitchen Lighting

Pendants are Visual Comfort (Large). Other Pendants: here, here, here, here & here.

Counterstools

The counter stools are from Serena and Lilly.

Room Layout

The kitchen, breakfast nook and family room are open and feel connected to each other.

Breakfast Nook

The breakfast nook features a built-in banquette with custom board and batten trim.

Dining Table: Joss & Main – custom-painted in white to match cabinets – similar here, here & here.

Rug

Rug is from Joss and Main.

Dining Chairs

Chairs – here.

Pendant over table – Ballard Design – similar here, here & here.

Pillows: HomeGoods – similar here.

Family Room Inspiration

“The tile of the fireplace was the color inspiration for the whole house. Tile is often the first decision about color I make so it’s usually the jumping off point.” – Julie Howard.

French Doors

The French doors were custom-designed and painted in Benjamin Moore James River Gray.

Arm Chair with Ottoman – Ikea – similar: chair & ottoman.

Accent Table – Homegoods – similar here.

Wall Paint Color

Paint Color: Benjamin Moore Classic Grey.

Mirror: here & here – similar.

Fiddle Leaf Trees: here – similar.

Coffee Table

This coffee table with straight rectangular sides is from Wayfair.

Rug

Rug is from Joss and Main.

Sofa

Sofa is from Ikea – similar here & here.

Artwork: Homegoods – similar here, here & here

Lumbar Pillow: Pottery Barn.

Hanging Chair

Can you imagine how fun it would be to have a pair of hanging chairs in your home? These are from Serena and Lilly.

Lidded Baskets next to chairs – Target (no longer available) – similar here & here.

Mantel

Mantel features a reclaimed beam.

Fireplace Tile

Tile is from The Tile Shop – Cement Encaustic Tile – Similar: here.

Laundry Room

This gorgeous laundry room features semi-custom cabinetry and fun floating shelves design!

Tile: Wood-grain porcelain tile in herringbone pattern.

Rug: here.

Wall Paint Color

Wall paint color is Benjamin Moore AC-24 Charlotte Slate.

Hardware: Pulls & Knobs.

Farmhouse-Inspired Bathroom

I am loving this bathroom. It feels unique and it’s full of great ideas! Floor tile is combination of 3 colors of Penny Tile – the tile installer created the pattern on site.

Countertop: Caesarstone White Attica.

Black mirror is from HomeGoods – similar here.

Black faucet is Delta.

Hardware is Flat Black by Top Knobs.

Floor Tile

Create this Look: White Penny Tile, Gray Penny Tile & Black Penny Tile.

Wall color is BM Classic Gray.

Shower Tile

Shower features the same black Penny tile on shower pan and a white subway tile on walls.

Guest Bathroom

Floor is a light wood tone ceramic tile – similar here.

Mirrors are from Homegoods – Other Beautiful Mirrors: here, here, here, here, here, here & here.

Hardware is Top Knobs.

Countertop

Countertop is Caesarstone in Shitake.

Faucet: Delta.

Master Bathroom

“The color combination of the white Carrara marble and the taupe limestone were the perfect beachy look for this bathroom.” – Julie Howard.

Cabinets are custom designed – Other Beautiful vanities: here, here, here & here.

Cabinet Hardware: Top Knobs in Polished Chrome.

Ccountertop: Caesarstone Shitake.

Mirrors were custom made on site.

Faucets: Delta.

Paint Color

Wall paint color is BM Classic Gray. Notice the ceiling trim work.

Sconces are from Pottery Barn and chandelier is from Joss and Main.

Rug: World Market.

Tub Nook

The bathtub is a freestanding pedestal-style Kohler Sunstruck tub.

Shower

I loved creating the stripe pattern in the shower to look like wallpaper above a chair rail. There are so many details in this master suite but the shower tile detail is my favorite.” – Julie Howard.

Powder Room

This powder room deserves a pin! Isn’t it gorgeous? It features shiplap wainscoting and a custom floating vanity made out of reclaimed wood.

Sconces – Bryant in Brass by Visual Comfort

Rugs: Jute – Moroccan Rug (similar).

Towel Bar: here.

Faucet

Faucet – Kohler Purist in Brushed Bronze.

Sink: here – similar.

Vanity & Paint Color

Vanity is made on site using reclaimed wood. Wall paint color is Charlotte Slate AC-24 by Benjamin Moore.

Mudroom

This mudroom feels so peaceful! It convinently features a custom built-in desk and plenty of cubbies.

Paint Color

Mudroom Paint Color: Benjamin Moore Classic Gray (on walls).

Many thanks to the interior designer for sharing the details above!

Builder: Timber Trails Development Company (Instagram)

Interior Designer: Julie Howard

Photography: @stofferphotographyinteriors

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West Elm: Best time to shop. Up to 40% off Everything!!!

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Urban Outfitters: Hip & Affordable Home Decor.

Horchow: High Quality Furniture and Decor. Up to 30% off the entire site!

Nordstrom: Up to 40% OFF. New Easter Decor!

Arhaus: Dining Sale. Up to f0% OFF!

Posts of the Week:

Modern Farmhouse with Front Porch.

Beautiful Homes of Instagram: Rental Home.

2019 New Year Home Tour.

Modern Coastal Shingle Home.

Beautiful Homes of Instagram: Fixer Upper.

Colorful Coastal Interiors.

New England Home.

Beautiful Homes of Instagram: Horse Farm.

Kitchen Renovation with Before & After Pictures.

Full-scale Home Remodel Inspiration.

Beautiful Homes of Instagram: How to Build your own Home.

Connecticut Beach House.

Interior Design Ideas: Colorful Interiors.Classic Colonial Home Design. Family-friendly Home Design. Grey Kitchen Paint Colors.

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veiltray63-blog · 6 years ago

Text

Archaic Expectations: Freeing Female Roles From A Dollhouse In Society Hill

Not much was known about the dollhouse in a dark, back passageway of Powel House at 244 South 3rd Street until Mickey Herr went searching for its history. | Photo: Michael Bixler

If “play is the beginnings of knowledge” as the 19th century anthropologist George A. Dorsey espoused, what can we learn from the toys of our childhood? What can we learn from the toys of our ancestors? The #MeToo movement has found many women (and hopefully a few good men) looking back on lessons learned, both implicit and overt, and pondering: What ideas have we received about how life should be lived and where did these messages originate? From Victorian Fashion Dolls to Barbie’s Dreamhouse and the newest American Girl “Truly Me” doll, are we still in our childhood playrooms acting out the same narratives in a world that struggles with change? A challenge to look more closely at a dusty old dollhouse, a lucky find at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, and a trip to the Philadelphia Museum of Art has me rethinking the ideological advances of women in society and the retrogressive nature of our current era.

The dollhouse in question resides in a back passage of Philadelphia Society for the Preservation of Landmarks’ Powel House on South 3rd Street. As a former house site manager I spent time thinking about this dollhouse, and, honestly, I never much cared for it. The toy model has a forlorn creepiness compounded by its shadowy location. And despite its relative remoteness inside the museum, the dollhouse always seemed in the way, especially as it has nothing to do with the Powel family history. I mostly ignored it and gave a rote answer when visitors inquired about it. Referring to a guidebook I would respond, “Owned by the Cadwalader family, whose family portraits and furniture can be seen in the Powel Room at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Used by six generations of daughters, all named Anne,”

In the bottom left corner of the dollhouse is a text panel listing seven generations of women named Anne. It’s a frustrating list with no context of dates or relationships between the women. Were they mothers and daughters? Aunts? Cousins? Were they named Anne so that they all would inherit this object? Was this dollhouse really built in the early 19th century or was this all just a fabrication?

The Cadwalader family is an old Philadelphia family. Sophia Cadwalader, along with other relations, was among the earliest supporters of Frances Anne Wister’s vision in creating the Philadelphia Society for the Preservation of Landmarks and the renovation of the Powel House into a house museum in the 1930s. Through the years I have met a Cadwalader descendent or two who were dismayed by my lack of excitement about “their” dollhouse. Two more recent encounters would finally cause me to reconsider my apathy. First was a discussion with Dr. Hilary Lowe, a professor at Temple University. Her training in history combined with women’s studies allowed her to see what I could not. This dollhouse is more than an outdated plaything. It is a goldmine of information. This notion was driven home on a recent visit to the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, when I came across an astounding passage in a memoir written by Mary Cadwalader Jones.

The following is a first-hand account of the dollhouse written sometime in the early 1900s, looking back to the 1850s. Mary Cadwalader Jones was born in 1850, and her mother died in 1861.

“At proper intervals my mother took me to see my grandfather, Judge John Cadwalader, where his mulatto butler, Burns whose manner would have become any bishop, often ushered us into his office, two large rooms on the ground floor, fairly over-run with law books…. My grandfather was very kind, but after a while I was glad to be allowed to go upstairs to the fourth storey [sic] to look at the old baby-house.”

This list notes seven generations of Annes that have owned the dollhouse at Powel House. | Photo: Michael Bixler

“This doll’s house had been made for some child of the family about 1800, and although generations of little hands had been hard on its furnishings much of them still remained and would have been the joy of a “period” decorator. I believe it originally had two side wings, in the Southern fashion, but they had disappeared, leaving a square box with a front which opened in the middle disclosing a dining-room, kitchen, drawing-room and bedchamber. The dining-room table, sideboard and chairs were good Chippendale; from the drawing-room ceiling a charming crystal chandelier hung over furniture covered with faded brocade; in the chamber there was a four-poster bed with chintz curtains, a wash-hand-stand with china ewer and basin, a toilet table with looking-glass, and a low chair by the open fireplace with it tiny fire-irons. I think there was also an open hearth in the kitchen; cooking utensils were gone, but a coloured cook, her head covered with a once-bright bandanna, stood waiting, and a coloured butler also waited in the dining-room for the coming of the bride and bridegroom who were upstairs; she in a very yellow white satin and the remnants of a lace veil, and he in what had been a bright blue coat, with silk stockings and minute buckles on his shoes. These dolls were of wood. Everything in the house was in scale and the rooms, as I remember them, were each about two feet square.”

This lengthy, detailed recollection is fairly astounding if you consider the intervening years. While the “good Chippendale” is no longer there, many of the pieces she described are. Her overall description of the house, especially her description of the bride, groom, and their attending servants, is spot on. Mary, born Mary Cadwalader Rawle and known as Minnie to differentiate her form her mother Mary Binney Cadwalader, was born in 1850 in today’s Society Hill. Her personal account of her childhood in Lantern Slides, published in 1937 by Merrymount Press, provides incredible insight into the closely-knit blocks on which she was raised. Minnie was born into a world of extreme privilege. Her forebears—Cadwalader, Rawle, Binney, Tilghman, Chew, and Biddle among others—formed a tight web of influence which created and propagated the American legislature as lawyers, politicians, and military leaders. While James Buchanan was a local friend before his presidency, a 12-year-old Minnie was taken to the White House by her great-uncle General George Cadwalader to meet President Lincoln. She wed the socially-connected New Yorker Freddie Jones and became a mother to a beloved daughter. After she divorced Freddie she kept her sister-in-law, Edith Wharton, as a lifelong best friend. Ultimately, she transformed into a premiere Manhattan saloniste with friends ranging from John Singer Sargent, H.G. Wells, Nikola Tesla, and Theodore Roosevelt.

The Feminine Ideal

When I recently visited the Little Ladies: Victorian Fashion Dolls and the Feminine Ideal exhibit at the Philadelphia Museum of Art the metaphorical lightbulbs started flashing. While many visitors saw beautifully crafted dolls with exquisitely outfitted trousseaus, I found the nexus of a forlorn dollhouse, the ultimate society doyenne, and generations of trained little girls. While the dolls and their accoutrement are indeed stellar to behold, I was most captivated by the accompanying text panels that provided context to the dolls. Sarah Josepha Hale and her careful editorial direction of Godey’s Lady’s Book, which taught young privileged girls how to conquer the business of society, was front and center. A panel featuring an 1869 Godey’s quote from Victor Hugo, (Les Misérables, 1862) set the tone.

“A doll is one of the most imperious wants, and at the same time one of the most delicious instincts, of feminine childhood…. The first child is a continuation of the last doll. A little girl without a doll is nearly as unhappy and quite as impossible as a wife without children.”

Miss French Mary doll from the Philadelphia Museum of Art exhibition, Little Ladies: Victorian Fashion Dolls and the Feminine Ideal. | Photo: Mickey Herr

The quote was only topped by the text which accompanies “Miss French Mary” wearing her Queen Victoria-inspired white silk wedding dress with wax-and-paper orange blossoms. This doll holds the most prominence standing smack in the middle of the exhibit floor. It literally can’t be missed.

This accompanying passage was written by the pseudonymous writer Melva in Home Whispers: To Husbands and Wives published by the American Female Guardian Society in 1859.

“To fail of love, honor, peace, and happiness in her domestic relationships is with most women to make a failure of life. Therefore marriage is to her a great event—the great event of her life.”

Here we are reminded that the only acceptable “career” for girls in the 1800s was marriage and motherhood. The Civil War created intense competition as women greatly outnumbered men. It is here that I paused to envision such pressure. I imagined what it felt like to be dismissed as an old maid by the age of 23 and to be constantly reminded that your appearance would be observed and judged wherever you went. I also thought of my own beloved Madame Alexander bridal doll and tried to remember now as a middle-aged woman and a “wife without children” how I once felt.

I continued to read exhibition text like this: “Victorian society saw women as the preservers of order, decency, and elegance. They were responsible for upholding the period’s strict social customs, which dictated precise behavior and dress for every occasion, from morning calls to mourning dress.”

I asked myself: how much has changed? And so I turned back to that lonely dollhouse, the one I had ignored for years, to follow the line of women named Anne and see if I could make any sense of their collective journey as women responsible for upholding genteel society.

Not Just Women Named Anne

Minnie Cadwalader Jones was correct when she stated that the dollhouse had been made for one of the children of the family around 1800. Yet, it did not originate in the Cadwalader family, but with Sarah Teackle and her husband Charles Nicoll Bancker. The first Anne in the list of seven was their daughter, Anne E. Bancker (1813-1869). I have yet to find proof that the house was specifically made for Anne as she was one of four sisters, including Henrietta, Sarah, and Virginia. Regardless, she never married and had no children so things weren’t off to an auspicious start. It was left to her eldest sister, Henrietta Marie Bancker (McIlvaine) Cadwalader (1806-1889) to ensure the dollhouse became a legacy. As the widow McIlvaine, Henrietta married Judge John Cadwalader in 1833, bringing along her eight-year-old daughter Ellen Maria McIlvaine and presumably the dollhouse. John also had a four-year-old daughter, Mary Binney Cadwalader (mother of Minnie Jones). Henrietta and John would add seven more children to the marriage, including three daughters Sarah, Frances, and Anne. While the youngest Cadwalader daughter, Anne (1842-1929), would be listed as the second Anne on the list, she married the Reverend Henry J. Rowland in 1821 and had only one daughter, Elizabeth.

(left to right) Henrietta Marie Bancker McIlvaine Cadwalader, Anne Cadwalader Rowland (Anne #2), and Anne Bancker Camac Nicoll (Anne #3) with daughter Margaret (mother of Anne #4). | Images: Ancestry.com

At this point the legacy states the dollhouse was given to Anne Bancker Camac (born 1856), who was Henrietta’s granddaughter through her first daughter Ellen Maria McIlvaine and Ellen’s husband Dr. William Camac. From Minnie Cadwalader Jones’ written account, we find the “old baby-house” still residing in the fourth-story of Henrietta and John’s house during the 1850s. Perhaps she, like her cousin Minnie, simply played with it on visits to her grandparents’ house. Anne Bancker Camac does take possession of the dollhouse after she married Dr. Henry Denton Nicoll and takes it to New York where she gave birth to three children: Margaret, Anne, and Leonard Nicoll. The fourth Anne (1882-1912) married Gordon E. Wightman, but she died relatively young and does not appear to have had children. This is when her sister Margaret (1878-1962), now the widow Dudley, marries her cousin John Michener Cadwalader, grandson of Henrietta and the Judge. Margaret and John’s daughter Anne Nicoll Cadwalader (1912-1990) becomes the fifth Anne. The house comes back to Pennsylvania after her marriage to John H. W. Ingersoll in 1933. John had two sons by a first marriage, and they added two daughters to the family. The youngest was named Anne Nicoll Ingersoll. It remained at the Ingersoll’s home in Penllyn for many years, until the fifth Anne decided to place the dollhouse in the Powel House, sometime in the 1960s, after the sixth Anne’s daughter, Anne Nicoll Glendinning (the seventh Anne) was born.

And while the sixth Anne, born in the 1930s, absorbed the lessons of how life “should be lived” she did not pass those down. According to the seventh Anne, born in the 1960s, her mother’s story is like many women of that generation. She dutifully married a man from the “right” family and had his children, yet divorced early on. She went back to school and became an academic, raising her children while working. I reached out to the seventh Anne to inquire about her knowledge and memories of the dollhouse. She remembered her grandmother, Anne Ingersoll, as the last of a generation. One still concerned with upholding genteel society. Neither of the last two Annes on the list remembered playing with the dollhouse. In fact, it was only in recent years that they were reminded of its existence and made a pilgrimage together to the Powel House. Like me, neither was overly impressed. Yet, now I hope this dollhouse will take on new meaning. Through 200 years, and eight generations, the ideals of how life “should be” became reality. With hopes and dreams, realized and unmet, of mothers who died too young, spinsters, widows, divorcées, wives without children, aunts, cousins, sisters, and nieces. And now, as part of a museum collection, the dollhouse is no longer an ideal, but perhaps an expanded vision of what it is to be a woman.

About the author

Mickey Herr lived in many places until her heart settled in Philadelphia. She has led the development and communications efforts for several significant non-profit cultural institutions in Philadelphia. Current interests involve elevating the hidden-histories of women. She is at work on a novel, and gives tours for Hidden City Philadelphia, both of which are allowing her to research incredible untold stories of women. She believes in ghosts, synchronicity, and taking chances. Read her writing on Philadelphia, history and geneology at mickeyherr.com.

Source: https://hiddencityphila.org/2019/02/archaic-expectations-freeing-female-roles-from-a-dollhouse-in-society-hill/

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