Zooming in at the Met’s New American Wing

This was no ordinary day trip to Manhattan.  One of my best friends, Erin (yes, this is the same Erin of Erin’s Zucchini Bread fame, July 19th posting) and I met at the information desk at Grand Central, jumped in a cab, and off we went up to 82nd and 5th – The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Going to the Met is nothing new for either of us – I grew up in Fairfield, Connecticut, and luckily, New York City was an easy train ride away, as well as Erin and I being FIT (Fashion Institute of Technology) buds, trekking (by foot or subway) up to the museum’s New American Wing was a regular pilgrimage. Now, well into our 25+year careers in Interior Design, we were excited to re-visit one of our favorite haunts (that had been expanded earlier this year) together, and renew our knowledge and love of the Decorative Arts. Now, don’t get me wrong – over the years, I’ve revisited The New American Wing with “my boys” (who were very kind in demonstrating great patience with me) – but it’s a whole different experience “talkin’ the talk and walkin’ the walk” with my fellow interior design aficianada; scrutinizing and snapping away at all kinds of details of veneers, escutcheons, and ball and claw feet. Let’s just say we were so in our element.

For some reason that day, I found exceptional beauty in the painted details in nearly every single room. By zooming in on these details that were found on furniture (chest of drawers, boxes, and cupboards), architecture (doors, mantels, and tiles), imported wallpapers and fine art paintings – from the 17th to the 19th centuries – it was as if we were seeing it all with new pairs of eyes (and fun to see what the two of us were noticing and responding to now).

It was a wonderful day.  The New American Wing was a great place to re-connect with a dear friend on something we both fell in love with so long ago – and reaffirm that we still do.

Love, Nora