Name: Audrey Goldstein and Mark Diamond
Location: Newton, Massachusetts
Size: 1250 square feet (plus 400 square foot studio)
Years lived in: 10 — rented for 4, owned for 6
It was a dark and rainy June day when I was scheduled to photograph Audrey Goldstein and Mark Diamond's Newton home. But when I drove up to their house and was greeted by their playful orange front door, flanked by orange railings, I knew, despite poor photographic lighting conditions, that spending time in their home would be a bright delight. And it sure was.
I love that there is NOTHING cookie-cutter about this place. From the custom-colored painted walls to the handmade fireplace surround to the wall-fabric / pillar combination in the front hall, Audrey and Mark's home feels like the product of two artists who don't care a whole lot about fitting a particular design mold. The result is really refreshing.
Audrey, the Fine Arts Program Director at Suffolk University's Department of Art and Design and Mark, Chair of Visual Media at Bunker Hill Community College, have infused their single family home with their art and their individuality, without expensive signature pieces or extensive renovations. This is one of those rare gems of a home where you feel like every single object and visual vignette comes straight from the hearts and inspiration of those who dwell here. It's the kind of place where I craved to come back again and again, knowing that each time I'd see something a little differently, and in the process I'd learn something new about the inhabitants. THIS is a home with narrative, and that's one of my highest praises.
Apartment Therapy Survey:
("I" refers to Audrey)
Our Style: Victorian Modernist
Inspiration: Artists' homes. DIY- history of art & design. Parents were antique dealers. I grew up going to barns and country auctions, poking about dusty boxes. They bought boxes of odd cast-offs, bits & pieces, usually Victorian & Edwardian. My dad fashioned lamps and furniture from the best of the lots. He repaired and upholstered damaged furniture, repaired antique clocks, jewelry and porcelains as a sideline. My grandfather was a trash- picker in Queens NY. I've inherited some of his finds.
Favorite Element: I like creating interesting views- sculptural & landscaped- within the house.
Biggest Challenge: Time, money & luck. I usually don't have much of the first two, but I'm patient with the third.
What Friends Say: I usually hear that it's interesting...
Biggest Embarrassment: The kitchen; it's barely functional. Things are always falling apart
Proudest DIY: Pretty much all of it-I guess the proudest thing is that I've been doing things myself since forever. It's a love of good design, well made objects and no expendable cash, combined with being a committed maker.
Biggest Indulgence: Fabric, for sure.
Best Advice: Figure it out, and have no fear.
Dream Sources: If I'm dreaming, then it has to be flea markets in Paris, London, Moscow, and Shanghai, for starters.
Resources:
Everything in the house is either found in the trash, yard sales, flea markets & thrift stores, inherited from parents & grandparents, from Ikea or Anthropologie, or I made it. Almost all the fabric is new from Freddie Ferkel's (discount fabric warehouse in Watertown) or from Mood Fabrics in NYC. The artwork is either traded, a gift or purchased through 150 x 150 (Laconia Gallery annual benefit). (Artists' names are listed in Gallery with the corresponding photos of their work.)
PAINT & COLORS
- • All the wall colors were mixed in the studio with artist's acrylics
Thanks, Audrey and Mark!
Images: Kyle Freeman
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Cute! This house has curb appeal I love the orange door!
What a lovely home! And pretty impressive lighting considering a was a dark, rainy day.
I agree about the curb appeal...so welcoming and bright. A very unique and artistic home.
The bright colors bring it to life.
The intravenous drip art work above the kitchen table is a sure way to stop me from snacking/overeating ;)
Love the orange front door and I love the garden/back yard.
Very cute-I love the orange door, the bedroom and the backyard. The rest, however, looks like they were trying too hard to be weird.
I LOVE this house. Pretty much every aspect of it, especially that none of these items are enormous big-ticket expensive pieces. Gives me hope that I can optimize our minuscule budget as we redo our apartment. This is how I would love to do our place if it weren't for the fact that my boyfriend has more "traditional" tastes than I do. ;-)
The only thing I don't particularly like is the artwork in the kitchen... a syringe over the table is kind of off-putting. Otherwise, completely adore it.
I didn't love curb appeal, so I wasn't expecting much - and what a surprise! The way they carry color through their home is just wonderful! Not too much, not too little... just right! And the detail in their small sculptures and art is really ncie, too.
I disagree that it looks like they're trying too hard. With some people that eccentricity comes naturally, and you can tell that this is one of those times.
The only thing I didn't particularly care for was the sculptural piece in the kitchen. Something about it looked too thrown together; perhaps the sprawling size contributes to the appearance that not much thought was given to how the overall composition looks? I know that's not true - I'm sure lots of thought went into it - but I think that's the feeling it gives off. Everything else I really liked.
I like the Ikea Herman Chairs. I own way too many of those myself and think they are totally adorable.
i really love your bedding. where did you find that green tie-died throw?
This is incredibly unique! It doesn't suit my personal tastes throughout, but it seems like an amazing example of personalizing your space.
Wow you were bold with the orange on the door and on the railing. I like the brick work in front of your house and the growing lavender.
Fascinating home - thanks for the tour. NOT BORING AT ALL!!!
look at all that orange! now this is my kind of place. you can totally tell an artist lives here :) the lighting conditions are a bummer, but even still this house glows.
I found the bedroom very inspiring - love the b&w art and the way it's hung!
Some of the "stuff" considered art these days - I just don't get it - but that's probably just me.
Love the orange door and the backyard, love the kitchen and love the idea this home isn't a staged, sterile, designer home!
*LOVE*
- the orange door
- all the lamps
- the garden
- fireplace
:o)
Definitely unique. I just wonder after a couple of years they'll get tired of all the intense colors.
This home is truly a work of art. Every corner and every surface has been appointed thoughtfully and creatively while maintaining and enhancing visual space. This is true living art. I love it!
Great Tour of a great house, love the balance of bold color against the neutrals! Thanks for sharing your home!
This is a truly remarkable home which requires a second look. The commitment to living with art is amazing. And while there is a lot of art, the aesthetic is rather consistent. (Except for the kitchen which is a little sadly banal compared to the rest of the home, although beautiful.)
I adore the clusters of art. Which makes them so remarkable is that you have little vignettes of clutter and then large negative spaces allowing the art to breathe. When you are so creative, I think it can be very easy to clutter a home, but you have don't that. I think if this were a cluttered home it woudn't work. It's your restraint that makes it work and makes the art stand out so. Not as easy to accomplish as it looks.
Great job, thanks for sharing. Now time to take a second look and to investigate whether you have a blog.
In the second paragraph, I think I meant to say "clusters of objects" then negative space. Really should proofread before I hit submit.