How a Bag of Mussels Became a Wall Sconce — a Tour of Porta Romana with Ali Milam

[upbeat music] I've always loved historical novels, especially ones about artists.

Some of my favorites to check out would be by B.A. Shapiro.

She's written four novels.

The Muralist is one I can think of, and The, uh, The Art Thief is another.

Uh, I've just finished a book by Tracy Chevalier called The Glassmakers, and, and this is about a family dynasty who was making all of the beautiful glasswork in Venice in, like, I don't know, the 1400s, I think.

Oh, and there's also a Donna Tartt's novel called The Goldfinch.

Give me a painting with a story behind it, who the painter really was, who sat for the portrait, the collectors, and even the thieves who passed it hand to hand over the centuries.

I am completely hooked.

Yes, the painting may be beautiful on its own, but the story behind it and how it came to be is what really gets me.

I think that's exactly what I love about interiors, too.

It goes beyond how beautiful the wallpaper is or the furniture or the lighting or any object that we bring into our homes.

It's the story you can tell with it, how it was made, what you pair it with, how you display it, why you chose it in the first place, or maybe a story about how it was made.

[upbeat music] I've always loved historical novels, especially ones about artists.

Some of my favorites to check out would be by B.A. Shapiro.

She's written four novels.

The Muralist is one I can think of, and The, uh, The Art Thief is another.

Uh, I've just finished a book by Tracy Chevalier called The Glassmakers, and, and this is about a family dynasty who was making all of the beautiful glasswork in Venice in, like, I don't know, the 1400s, I think.

Oh, and there's also a Donna Tartt's novel called The Goldfinch.

Give me a painting with a story behind it, who the painter really was, who sat for the portrait, the collectors, and even the thieves who passed it hand to hand over the centuries.

I am completely hooked.

Yes, the painting may be beautiful on its own, but the story behind it and how it came to be is what really gets me.

I think that's exactly what I love about interiors, too.

It goes beyond how beautiful the wallpaper is or the furniture or the lighting or any object that we bring into our homes.

It's the story you can tell with it, how it was made, what you pair it with, how you display it, why you chose it in the first place, or maybe a story about how it was made.