It’s time to revisit photographer turned novelty chandelier maker, Adam Wallacavage’s Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 1890 brownstone, b/c it celebrates spooky season all year.
Before he purchased his home, he lived in a tiny apartment across the street from famed stained glass artist Judith Schaechter. Her house was his original inspiration.
From there, he graduated to making sculptural lighting, then showing at the Jonathan LeVine gallery in NYC and all over the world.
Unlike Judith’s house, Adam’s was missing all the ornamental elements as it was modernized in the 1940s. It was dirt cheap, so he didn’t have a place worth restoring but a place worth customizing.
He tore down walls and rebuilt the layout similar to the original design, making molds and casting plaster and turning the place into a Victorian style freak show.
After visiting the Royal Pavilion in Brighton, United Kingdom just a few months after closing on the house, he found his path to what he wanted his interior to be based on.
He describes his style as a mixture of the beach towns Wildwood, New Jersey and Cape May, New Jersey. Wildwood is known for kitschy ’50s neon and mid-century modern motels. Cape May is known for its gingerbread Victorians.
He’s proudest of the first room he did, which was inspired by Jules Verne’s “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.” It’s the room that he made the first octopus chandelier for.
Chandeliers are how he makes his living now.
He was broke when got the place, but was able to do things like bling it out in ornamental plasterwork with help from a friend who has a plaster studio and let him borrow from her extensive rubber mold collection.
There’s a perfect long decal for fridge.
Adam says that a backpack vacuum cleaner is the best thing he ever bought to dust the house.
Adam’s advice: Don’t be afraid of messing stuff up. It can always be redone.
And don’t be afraid of what people are going to think. Do it for yourself first and not for trying to impress others.
Being pretentious works in what you do as well as what you don’t do that’s not yourself or true to your vision.
It’s okay to emulate others but always give credit to those who inspired you and try to put a spin on it.
Adam says that his home is basically a show room for his chandeliers. His studio is on the third floor as well.
His biggest indulgence is the second floor greenhouse and backyard.
It’s not finished or really started on yet, but the room under the greenhouse is going to be the seashell grotto room.
Adam’s fabulous Victorian fish tank and goldfish.
Adam’s absolute best home secret is to let your freak flag fly.
If you are remodeling, Adam says to mess with what you are getting rid of, for practice.
What a beautiful back garden.
https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/adam-wallacavages-south-philadelphia-home-37137656
discoholicmusic
annaxmalina
dededos
tangentwithtanner
prguitarman
izzy806
