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| What happened to beauty? |
We were invited out for drinks before going to dinner in a rather special restaurant at the weekend. We had not been to this particular house before and so I got my directions a little bit wrong, much to Bryan's bemusement. It was almost not funny anymore when we eventually discovered the magnificent house situated on top of a cliff overlooking Bangor Bay. Our friends live on the first floor of a very old house which has been divided in two. I felt very small as we stood at the front door as the doorway was enormous and housed two large, heavy wooden doors. David answered the door and showed us into the hall and up the stairs to their apartment. I couldn't move as I took everything in - the wood panelling, the heavily ornate bannisters and stair wells and the gorgeous cut glass window on the first landing. There were portraits all the way up the stairs which led to a minstrel's gallery where I stood and looked down in admiration. The hallway and landing was lit by a magnificent, cut glass chandelier. We were led into a drawing room with one of the loveliest fireplaces I have ever seen in a private house. I was in heaven.
The house had been built for a well known Belfast family who had at one time been a household name as one of the biggest employers in the province. A lot of the wealthy merchants of the early last century had chosen this place to live as it had views right over the entrance of Belfast Lough where they could watch their own ships bring supplies to and from the mainland. I can't imagine how many artisans had been employed to work their magic and produce such objects of beauty which took my breath away. Our friends explained that the portraits in the hallway had been hung there by relatives who no longer wanted them and it seems apt that they were restored to their rightful place. Although they own their property, they really only feel as though they are custodians during their time here.
Our own house was on the market earlier this year. We had only 3 viewers because of the recession but we were also aware that our home is not so much what young people are looking for these days. It seems that everyone here is seeking minimalism - a sophisticated, non cluttered look. While our home is much admired, it is just that - a home and, as such, is filled with treasures which only our family can appreciate. The thing which leaves people in awe these days is not the intricacies of beautiful carving and workmanship, but more the stunning feeling of space and minimalistic design. What makes me feel a bit sad is that we have almost lost those craftsmen who have given so much to the past.
In an effort to attract the buyers we apparently need to appeal to, we are creating an atrium in the centre of our house, something which will give me great pleasure, but I can't forget about those beautiful carvings and intricate woodwork that I so admired on Friday. My friend has invited me back for lunch so I can see the magnificent gardens and admire the views in daylight. I shall look forward to that and shall try to imagine what it must have been like to live in such a house at the turn of the last century. I shall try to think what the hall would have looked like with the large fireplace lit by a glowing fire. Maybe she will even permit me to take photographs as I would really love to share it with you. That's the funny thing about Thoughts - when something really impresses me I long to share it with my friends. And I'd love to hear what people are looking for in property where you live - it's a fascinating market.
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