NEW RULE: all furniture must reach the ceiling.
Now that I own an antique ribbon cabinet, I assumed my life was complete.
I planned to retreat to a meditative state of smug contemplation; where I would sit peacefully, while considering how much better my life is than anyone else’s… forever… THE END.
But then one morning, Self woke up and said— NEW RULE: all furniture must reach the ceiling.
No exceptions.
Everything else is trash.
She pointed around with disdain, and said– LOOK AT ALL OF THESE THINGS THAT DO NOT REACH THE CEILING.
WHAT are you DOING?
WHY do you have GARBAGE in the house?
HAVE SOME SELF RESPECT.
I was like — wait… hang on a second! You said that once we had a ribbon cabinet, our life would be complete. You said that we could shut down the internet and be done.
YOU SAID WE WOULD HAVE INNER PEACE.
And Self was like – WE DID!
But now I’m done with it.
NEXT.
So I was like– alrighty then!
LET’S START WITH THIS.
If you ever visit Philadelphia, I strongly suggest that you not go to Chestnut Hill; unless you enjoy the feeling of FULLY COMPREHENDING HOW MUCH SAD YOUR LIFE IS.
You may not have realized that your life is 124 pounds of sad, in a 6-pound sack… you may not have realized that your life is a heretofore-never-discovered-level-of-sadness, that scientists should study so that humanity can thoroughly understand the full miracle of your human spirit that you are able to KEEP LIVING WITH SO MUCH SADNESS.
Now, important information:
The entire mirror is in exceptional condition— miraculously, the gilded details have survived really well!
We’ll use the wide part of the base, but leave off the legs. The whole thing assembled is too tall for our house; we only have 9-foot ceilings, (because as previously discussed, my life is sad.)
Please note: this is NOT the mirror’s final destination… it’s currently in the foyer, stacked in front of the antique chalkboard with the giant brass hinges.
I’m doing a lot of shuffling around in the last few months, and nothing is where it belongs and everything is a mess, but in the best possible way; because when you get to a point of STACKING ANTIQUES YOU LOVE on top of OTHER ANTIQUES YOU LOVE, you are winning life.
The mirror will eventually get moved to the dining room, where this bookcase is.
And eventually, eventually, we will move to a house with 12′ ceilings so that the mirror can live out its years in wholeness and peace, and so that I may begin collecting things exceeding 11′ tall… SO MANY THINGS!
Lastly, a random photo of the marble… I need to clean it, but it’s perfect! No chips, dings, nicks!
I have no idea why old Carrara marble is my THING… (ex: repurposed shower stall into marble for the piano island.) But something about it just speaks to me.
I LOVE the shape of the mirror’s base. I love the tight curve at the front and the super pointy points. Just looking at it makes me happy! (Which is either very nice or very sad, depending on the degree to which you can relate.)
especially!
September 28, 2017 @ 11:15 am
You should start a business
September 28, 2017 @ 11:21 am
But won’t the Kingdom Mirror, and your other Mirrors of Magnificence be jealous? I would be.
In fact I am. I went from 10.5′ ceilings to 8′ 3″ ceilings [nominal framing lumber was used when the house was built]. The loss of those 27″ is a painful thing. Painful I tell you. If we ever rob a bank, I would rebuild where we are, but a proper house. and I would buy the eyesore nextdoor, tear it down and put in a Garden of Delights.
September 28, 2017 @ 8:07 pm
dear fix it chick–
i DID buy that eyesore of a house next to mine and i DID tear it down! i now have a glorious yard with a fabulous deck but alas, the Garden of Delights is on hold until the grandchickies no longer need the lawn for their slip and slide and cartwheels. until then, another 10 years to plan will result in utter and absolute perfection.
September 28, 2017 @ 11:24 am
Replace the legs! add a fancy base, sell a kidney and go shopping here: http://www.vandykes.com/furniture-feet-legs/c/510/
and whatever you do, DONT LOOK AT THE HARDWARE. After all, you are already down to one kidney, and what can you sell next?
September 28, 2017 @ 11:26 am
Beautiful Mirror find!! I have been looking for a Huge Antique one for a looong time. May I ask how much did this new one in this post cost?
September 28, 2017 @ 11:27 am
Well shit on a stick. I’ll most likely be moving to the Philly area and I can already hear my wallet crying. She is not happy, but I’m about to be on another level of happiness with all of that beauty!
September 28, 2017 @ 11:27 am
I am still waiting to see the completed kitchen or at least a progress report. Paul does have a halo doesn’t he?
September 28, 2017 @ 11:37 am
she wrote an update a few weeks ago.
September 28, 2017 @ 11:28 am
You are all freaking nuts…I love you!
September 30, 2017 @ 1:28 pm
They are, and I love them too!
September 28, 2017 @ 11:34 am
That Mirror is Life!
September 28, 2017 @ 11:38 am
best comment ever
September 28, 2017 @ 11:36 am
Ok I LOVE the ribbon rack. I hope you are going to fill it with ribbon. I would. I have hundreds of rolls that I use for everything….. Inspiring!
September 28, 2017 @ 11:36 am
Gorgeous.
September 28, 2017 @ 11:37 am
You are just the best writer, Victoria! motivational hoarding….hahahahaha! 🙂 keep on keeping on…:) with love, from Canada
September 28, 2017 @ 11:38 am
So what became of the lowly ribbon cabinet? 🙂
September 28, 2017 @ 11:44 am
She’s back! I live for arguments with Self.
September 28, 2017 @ 11:45 am
I hate to break it to you but you need to stop looking at craigslist and start looking for a new house. This mirror needs it’s legs STAT-immediately-pronto-no time to waste! I would probably make a hole in the ceiling before I would allow it to stand without it’s sweet little legs and base. All of which is quite beautiful BTW. You’re peanut butter; I’m jelly… so jelly.
September 28, 2017 @ 11:46 am
I love the fact that you–the polar opposite of a soccer mom–own a minivan (to move GFTs!)
September 28, 2017 @ 11:47 am
Would love to see a slideshow of your rooms. Your home looks so beautiful! I, too, wonder about the kitchen. Is it still not completed? Enjoy reading these! You are very entertaining!
September 28, 2017 @ 11:57 am
Oh dear Elizabeth, you are in over your head! (I just couldn’t resist) But I can see your point, if is worth doing it is worth going all the way to the ceiling. Please keep up the good work and inspiring us to fill our homes with extra tall GFT’s. You seem to be back on the beam. Best wishes.
September 28, 2017 @ 12:02 pm
Very familiar with Chestnut Hill, my old stomping grounds….amazing properties
September 28, 2017 @ 12:11 pm
Yes, it is sad that you are so needy. Nine foot ceilings? not even worth mentioning. A real house has 11.5 to 14 foot ceilings; de rigueur for the furniture you covet. Meanwhile, you selfishly deny the pieces the beautiful settings that they desire in which to live out their most fulfilled lives. I cringe when I see the console for the pier mirror so carelessly discarded to fit the lack of height.
September 28, 2017 @ 12:20 pm
Victoria you and your husband are the cutest couple ever! I enjoy reading about all your adventures and your antique finds. Your house is beautiful and I live in a state of complete envy as my California house has a total absence of giant fancy things!!!