Two years ago today, Oliver and I were married. We actually started dating six and a half years before we got married, so I struggle a bit with our "new" anniversary date. It's weird how the clock re-sets when you tie the knot. When I think of our relationship in terms of years, I think about it from the beginning in 2002, not so much the "official" beginning, in 2008.
Regardless, today marks the second anniversary of our wedding. It was the wedding we both imagined. We had so much fun, once we got past the scary parts involving sharing our personal thoughts about one another with 123 of our closest friends and family members, and our first dance, which was completely nerve-wracking (but we pulled it off).
Unfortunately, Oliver had to go out of town, so we are not together today. We will celebrate when we're both in the same zip code again, but I thought I would dedicate this post to him. Oliver is a kind and loving person. He is my most trusted confidant, my strong and level-headed support system, my source of encouragement and inspiration, and my very best friend. Plus, I find him to be quite dashing. While we are always talking and laughing, and we never seem to tire of each other's company, he is a quiet, introverted person, and I know sometimes he would just like to retreat to a peaceful place that's all his own. Of course, we don't have space for that just yet. Someday, my sweet! So, today I'm sharing elements of Oliver's imagined "man-cave," in which he'll paint, write, brood, ponder, read (hopefully with a monocle!), fix antique watches, take things apart, then put them back together, smoke pipes (he loves pipes! He'll have to write about pipe design someday), cultivate bonsai, cacti, and/or succulents, and display collections of ancient ephemera, dried bugs, out-of-print books, rare gems, skeletons or some-such wacky bibs and bobs. You knew Oliver was a 19th century intellectual, trapped in the body of a spry and bouncy modern-day 33-year old, didn't you? Well, he is.
So, without further ado, the elements of Oliver's future man sanctuary, or "mantuary"(these names are ridiculous):
The basics: a large work surface where he can sit for writing and painting, a luxurious tufted sofa, antique rug, plenty of lighting, a bar cart, velvet drapes, an antique library card catalogue for paint and brush storage....
Clockwise from left: Chandelier by Lindsey Adelman, Paradise Blue sofa from Horchow, Gilt Sunburst Mirror from Avid-Home, Velvet Drapes from Restoration Hardware, Italian teacart from Newel, Green table lamp from 1st Dibs, Skull Chair from Baller House, Classic Pharmacy Lamp from Rejuvenation, similar drafting tables available at Restoration Hardware
The extras: You might remember that Oliver has a penchant for fine luggage. He also likes itty-bitty plants, tiny rare books, scale-models of ... anything, letterpresses, Moleskine journals, penny farthings on which to zip around town, bow ties and the like...
Clockwise from left: Succulents from Succulents Galore, pocket watch, Moleskine notebooks, antique globe from Pitt, a collection of bowties, sailboat model from Quirao, Globe-Trotter luggage, Penny Farthing bicycle, circa 1895, pipes from smokingpipes.com
Who knows, maybe he'll even grow a handlebar mustache?
Handmade mustache by Whisker Works
Of course, it's in Oliver's best interest to admit me to the man-tank on occasion, as no think-session would be fruitful without delicious refreshments from his lovely wife:
Happy Anniversary, Oliver. I love (and miss) you.
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