07 December 2014

There's home decor. And then there's my place.

In my walks across the Vatican museum in past years, my head is always straining up. Yes, I bump into people and I've certainly been nearly knocked down several times, but then, the ceilings are just absurdly magnificent. That is not to say the Sistine Chapel isn't cool, but it's tough to see that high up. The other ceilings, well. Much closer and just wonderful.

Thus the rather wonderfully crazy conversation I had with my mother on one of the trips when she was with me.

"I'd love to have a ceiling like the ones in the Vatican museum."

"Really?"

"Oh yes! Just wait until you see it." 

"Well, I'll take a look when we're there. I may be able to do that for you."

Yes, that was a real conversation. I believed that she could, but the magnitude of the design overwhelmed me to the point that I couldn't believe it would happen.

Later she confirmed that, yes, she would give it a shot. 

I giggled. Yeah right. I mean, sure. Really? No. It was too much to take in, so I simply didn't. Even while the tiles were stacking up in my library with carvings, tempera paintings on velum, and gold leaf, there was something in my brain that could wrap around the reality of it.

Two years later, people come into my library to lay down on the floor. People knock on my door and say "can I please see your ceiling?" And despite the fact that my introverted nature can rear it's little head, I cannot deny them the insane beauty that now graces my library.


The only shame is that I cannot quite get the whole ceiling in the photo, but the one above shows at least most of half it. Laying on the floor, the overall design starts to slowly sink in ... not only the fact that it's beautiful, but it's on a library ceiling in Asheville, NC instead of some European museum or cathedral. Then you can slow down and start to zero in on the details of the paintings and carvings. The four centre angels are show below, while the general centre of the ceiling is shown at the bottom. 


My constant state right now is one of gratitude.

Thank you mum. *tears*

(Meanwhile ... mum, let's have a wee chat about some installation options for the music room .... :D)