Diana Beard Dean's Davidson studio.

Part 2 of 2

There’s a magazine at Barnes and Noble in Huntersville called “Where Women Create: Inspiring Work Spaces of Extraordinary Women.” It covers the studios of all different types of artists. I love eyeballing this magazine because it inspires me to be more creative with my own environment such as my home, office, clothes, jewelry, and my own artwork (so amateurish, I can’t tell you). I bring up this magazine, because last week I told you I was going to share with you the home of Dee Beard Dean, the portrait and landscape artist here in Davidson.

Bankhead portrait.

Every nook and cranny of this house has been exquisitely decorated with her collection of artwork (both her own and other masters) and fabulous antiques and “found or re-purposed” objects. This is a traditional home decorated to produce an experience from the minute you walk in the door. It’s full of travelscapes, personal mementos and get this – “fun!”

The slam dunk of the house has to be the professional artist studio that lies beneath the entire upper floor of the house. (See photo above.) This is no basement; it has high ceilings and lots of windows. You could easily fit two race cars and a pit crew in here, and still have room for an office or two.

The prominent item in the room is the 10-foot tall weighted easel. I’ve never seen one so big. Dee said this was custom made by a guy in Tennessee. The easel can move with the touch of a finger and stay put without loosening and tightening a bunch of bolts and screws. She said it was worth every penny. Check out the grand piano too.

When you come into the foyer of the house. It is a portrait of the 1930s/1940s film star Tallula Bankhead by the acclaimed Irving Sinclair. She adds an Empire chair and a crystal sconce. You want to see the rest of the house don’t you!

Front room.

Now, here is the front room. There are so many styles represented here – but it is put together with such panache it seems there could not possibly be any other way these items should be displayed. It features a portrait of a beautiful and mysterious Moroccan girl by the artist Scott Burdick, another nationally known oil painter. The Victorian couch and the zebra stripped Italianate chair just make the room feel like you’ve been transported to a hunting lodge in Northern Africa.

Now for the fun. Here is Dee’s guest bath. Every possible inch is covered with paintings. You sit quietly doing your private business and your eyes are in for a special treat. How civilized!

The bathroom wall is covered in paintings.

Last is the outside of the wine cellar. (Photo below.) Yes, my readers, the home has a wine cellar. The “turning racks” are imported from France and the french signs and artwork enhance your oenology euphoria.

P.S. Just to let you know, Dee’s home is for sale, if your interested, just shoot me an email. I’m so ready to move in myself, but the hubby says, “Sorry, no, honey.” Can’t hurt to ask!

See Part 1 of this 2-part series, CLICK HERE>

Art Around Town,” by Lisa Jewel, appears Fridays on DavidsonNews.net’s Guide page. Lisa is keeping a sort of “visual journal” of interesting objects she finds in the area. Some are items for sale at local galleries, others prized possessions in our homes. Have an object to share? Email Lisa, lskjewel@aol.com. See her previous columns in the Art Around Town category

Wine cellar