I’ve spent much of my life noticing old things — furniture, objects, rooms — and paying attention to what makes some of them last, while others quietly fall away.

My interest in antiques and decorative arts isn’t about collecting for its own sake. It’s about judgment, restraint, and learning to recognize quality over time. I’m drawn to pieces that settle in easily, that don’t need constant explanation, and that feel steady rather than showy.

This site is a place for writing, observation, and reflection — about objects, history, and the choices we make when we live with things for a long time. I’m currently deepening my formal study of antiques and appraisal, but much of what I share here comes from years of lived experience, curiosity, and careful looking.

I believe good taste is less about trends and more about attention.

This is where I write things down as I notice them.

Johanna