This week we take a trip East to visit some friends in their home…at least virtually speaking. Toronto is still one of my favorite places in Canada. A place I called home for more than 12 years beginning in my early 20’s. One thing that quickly captures your eye on a visit into the heart of the city are the beautifully older, yet well preserved, Victorian homes. Generally, these homes have been exquisitely updated while maintaining their inherent, rich heritage. Several friends of ours live in these special homes and one of our favorites belongs to Dale & Patti. Their house is extra dear to my heart because each visit brings the feeling that this truly is a home, not just a house. It’s warm and welcoming and has just enough eclectic style to highlight their family’s personality in the most heartfelt way.
Much of the personality in their home comes with lovely stories and history that their kids will remember for years to come. Besides being an avid Globe collector, Dale’s eclectic styles all seemingly have a personal story behind them. We asked him about some of the pieces that stood out to us.
In your living room sits an old typewriter with paper in it, can you tell us what that is about?
My son Lukas gave me the typewriter as a Father’s Day gift so I started a little interactive project. I wrote an opening sentence, inviting my kids and their friends to add to the story. Trying to type “old school” without correction has been interesting.
Is the picture under the “Attention” sign of Peru?
Yes, it’s my Mother in Law’s farm in Peru (“La Papampa”). It’s three shots I took and then put together in Photoshop.
What’s the significance of the ‘5’ billiard ball?
“5” is our family number. All of us have a “5” in our birth dates.
The large photo of your CHILDREN, Lukas and Lilah, in the hall is so special. did you take it yourself?
Yes, that was a Christmas gift for Patti a couple years ago.
Is that wood block painting a picture of Patti and if so, who did it?
Yes, Lilah painted it as a Christmas gift for Patti. It’s Patti on the Red Carpet with paparazzi taking her picture. The separate panels were Lilah’s idea and she painted it when she was about 8 years old.
Where did the heart with wings come from?
I bought that in Moscow as a gift for Patti. The label says stuff in Russian like “Handle with Care”, “Don’t Break”, etc.
Who did the amazing black and white painting beside the group of globes? Does it have a name?
That painting is actually 8 feet tall. A Canadian born artist, who now lives in Brooklyn, made it named Shonagh Adelman. The piece is called “Butch”. I wanted to put something to offset her stern look. The Simpson’s Comic Book guy was the perfect foil.
Also the 50’s looking sketch with mother and baby carriage?
Shonagh Adelman also did that painting. Patti and I have a bunch of pieces that are “Mother and Child” but a lot are in storage.
Tell me about the “Eye Chart”.
The Eye Chart was a Valentines present I made for Patti. (I make her something every year). It says, “You are the spice in my heart” in Spanish. I used an online translator. Fortunately I gave her that one as I had made two. The other one said, “You are the HEART BURN in my life”. (Maybe not the best translator).
I love the round glass jar filled with Fortunes. (Wish I’d of thought of that one!)
It is full of every Fortune from every Fortune cookie from every Chinese dinner we’ve ever gone to since Lukas was born…so around 17 years worth!
To Patti, Dale and their family…a very special note of Thanks for allowing us into their home for a peek!
“Where we love is home, home that our feet may leave, but not our hearts.”
-Oliver Wendell Holmes
