Historic Magrath Mansion Open House
There are so many events going on over the next few weeks that celebrate our country’s 150th birthday that it’s very hard to fit even a small number of them […]
Why the Huge Difference in Values between Two Teacups?
A reader recently contacted me with a photograph of a gorgeous tea cup that she owns. (Unfortunately I did not save her photo because I hadn’t planned on writing a […]
Arts and Crafts Furniture- A Great Compromise
There are many reasons for partners, married or not, to disagree, but what kind of furniture to have in one’s home doesn’t have to be one of them. Since I […]
To Restore or Renovate – That is the question
Why did you choose to live in your current home? What was there about the house that made you realize that this was the right place for you? Beyond its […]
Furniture Grime versus Patina
What exactly is patina? This is a question I get asked fairly often when I do talks about antiques. I have to answer honestly and tell the person that patina […]
5 Steps to Cleaning Grimy Antique Furniture
Years ago a client of mine purchased a dining room suite at an auction. It had seen better days to be sure and she was understandably concerned about the high […]
10 Things You Should Know about Selling your Antiques on Consignment
There comes a time in every one’s life that it is necessary to sell belongings – your own or someone else’s. Garage sales are one way but what if your […]
The Parlour
The Evolution of a Room Is the parlour just another Victorian room that is totally irrelevant to today’s homes? To understand how this room evolved into today’s living room and […]
Beautiful Bruges in Belgium
Bruges (spelt many different ways) in Belgium is probably one of the most photogenic places you’ll ever go to on your travels. It used to be a well-kept secret- but […]
The Van Loon Museum a Must – See in Amsterdam
I love house museums. Where else can I indulge in my passion for antiques, art and period interior design all at once? House museums are like a snapshot in time […]
The Spirit of Amsterdam
There are things every city is known for, and after my recent return from Europe I thought I’d share those that stood out for me when I think of Amsterdam. […]
Bizarre Antique #2
In April I attended the Wild Rose Antique Show that is held annually at Northlands in the city. Given that I have been teaching a course on the history of […]
What’s in a Mark?
“A wine label is worth 100 years of experience.” Have you ever heard that saying before? This saying refers to the amount of information that can be gleaned from a […]
My Schedule of Events for Spring 2018
It’s Spring! Well, sort of. In any case it’s time to start thinking of this year’s projects, whether that means doing some work around your heritage home or beginning the […]
Featured Antique: Victorian Sewing Stand
A sewing table or work table is a table that was used for sewing. It originated in 1770 in England and was eventually adopted in Canada and the USA. Based on the philosophy […]
Featured Antique: Victorian Cylinder Music Box
I’m always amazed at the kinds of antiques that I get to see here in our city when I do appraisals. After all, we’re a land-locked city in central Alberta, […]
New Year’s Resolution: Downsizing? Part 1 : Donating
Is one of your New Year’s resolutions to downsize? Even donating your goods requires some forethought.
Whimsical Christmas Decor is Just Plain Fun!
Christmas decor can be serious business for some of us. Heritage homes, like the one I live in, lend themselves to over-the-top decorating. I spend a lot of time decorating […]
