Why Old(er) People are Small(er)

Emily asked me to run point for bedroom furniture. After much research, I realized I could buy timeless beautiful 18th century antiques for around the same prices you would pay at Restoration Hardware, with the added benefit of appreciation and scarcity 'cause they ain't making more Hepplewhites last I checked.

So we went for it with one exception, the bed. You see, antique people who slept in the antique beds were small(er) than us modern folk, or at least had a different attitude toward personal space, and thus it is impossible to buy a king-size antique bed. They simply don't exist.

Antique beds rock for a few reasons. They are typically taller beds; higher off the ground, which was utilitarian to keep their inhabitants warmer with the rising heat. They are well made, with the proper joining, and typically come in solid premium woods like mahogany or maple. So if you want an antique-style bed with a good hardwood, you have to make it.

With the help of my awesome architect father-in-law, I built this bed out of tiger maple based after a series of beds we liked mixing antique and modern design. I am delighted with the outcome, but you know how the saying goes I made the bed,....

This Old House - Paris Edition

Em and I were both in Europe for different reasons and used the opportunity to get together in Paris for the weekend. After visiting the regular places, we decided to search for something completely different, so we set out to find the oldest house in Paris. As every story goes, there is such a house built in 1407. The address is 51, rue de Montmorency, 3rd arrdt not far from the Pompidue Center.

The house was built for Nicolas Flamel (1330? – 1417), an interesting personality. He was a very successful scrivener, manuscript maker and seller. (This was before Gutenberg.) The funny thing about this particular house is how little anyone cares about it....

As we were walking to the house, Em joked that the house was probably a laundromat. We laughed as we final reached it. One half was an Asian restaurant and the other a hair salon! Too funny.