How many times have you thought,"Oh, I love this but where can I put it?" Or, "What can I do with this room; my antiques just don't seem to go together!"

From time to time over the years both my friend Judi Stellmach and I, Marion Atten, have helped our customers to resolve these very issues. Because of our years of experience in helping antiques customers with similar problems, we have some pretty good ideas.

Many people start out collecting inexpensive antique furniture as a way to furnish their homes, and end up with a complex and confusing living situation. Their collections have evolved and morphed ever larger. Eventually that person needs to cast an objective eye on their collections and try and determine what their main collecting thrust is and how these collections fit into this idea. We often see, for example, the most valuable and rare objects of a collection relegated to a side room, and the more common or often uncomfortable pieces taking the center stage of a main room, just out of habit or convenience.

This past year Judi and I helped two good customers and friends with their homes and collections. Our friend Vicky had a fabulous early log home stuffed full of wonderful furniture and numerous interesting collections and was facing a photo shoot for Early American Life. She wanted to get her home more attractively and comfortably arranged to display her wonderful collections more historically correct as well as simplify and prioritize her collections. Our other friend Sue had just moved into her new house and wanted to attractively and historically display her wonderful collection of Pilgrim Century furniture and accessories.

We were uniquely able to help both friends with their struggles. Both Marion and Judi are trained and experienced in Interior Design, including planning,building codes, health and safety issues and sustainable design. We also have many years of knowledge in the antique business, specializing in the 17th to early 19th Century interiors, and can cast an experienced and knowledgeable eye on the unusual problems of design for period rooms.

________What we will not do:_____________

Appraisals

Disposal of unwanted items

Heavy lifting

Window coverings

Floor plans,color boards

Talk your spouse into anything

_____________What we will do:_______________

Arrange and rearrange and if necessary rerearrange a room or rooms until we are all thrilled with the result.

Consult on the best way to liquidate and dispose of unneeded items.

Consult on what might be needed to complete a room or a collection, and where to possibly acquire such things.

Consult on colors and appropriate coverings for furniture, walls and windows.

Please call one of us for discussion if you think we can help you. We work together as a team, pooling our many years of experience, and can often complete a visit involving assessment, arrangement and consultation in four to eight hours. Our fees are on an hourly basis plus travel expenses. The travel involved in our extensive show schedule may put us near you, and a visit can sometimes be worked in to your advantage.

References available on request.

Call us:

Marion 1 815 238-0187

Judi 1 860 458-9038

This home was featured in Early American Life October 2007 issue. Interior completed by Atten and Stellmach

A 17th Century Interior done by Marion Atten