Inside a Lauraville Couple’s House of Wonders

Natural Curiosities
Hayden: Every time we walk into our house, we feel alive, full of curiosity, and positivity. There is something around every corner to spark joy, offer inspiration, evoke a thought, or serve as a portal to another place or way of thinking.

David: We live in Lauraville in a home that was built in 1920. The neighborhood is fairly quiet, with lots of birds, squirrels, foxes, and rabbits around. Herring Run is just a short walk away. Our house, like many of the homes in this neighborhood, is a Foursquare style and has built-in stained glass around the front door and transom windows, which makes all of Hayden’s glass inside feel even more at home.

The Noblest Art
David: Our house holds four primary collections—art; books on art, magic, and creativity; optical toys and devices; and other magical artifacts and instruments. The kitchen also holds many wonders from the life and career of P.T. Barnum.

Our other most important collection would be our art tools and supplies, which mostly live in the studio, basement, or carefully hidden away in drawers, cabinets, and closets.

Hayden: Living in an environment of our own endless creation is a constant reminder and recognition that a house is not only a place to hold our most sacred things, but that a home is itself a sacred space, both infused with and reflecting all of the love, creativity, and magic put into it.

A Little Bit of Everything
David: Our living room is a multi-purpose space that in a single day can serve as an office, overflow art studio, gathering place, practice space, as well as our primary area to unwind, relax, and spend time together or with friends. It is certainly the room that gets the most use and holds some of our favorite things.

Art is Art
Hayden: The house is filled with art that we’ve both made, as well as art made by friends, and artists we admire, or have encountered along the way. We love having a personal connection with nearly all of the artists whose work fills our walls.

David: Aesthetically, we are attracted to vibrant, colorful, and curious things, carefully curated, and juxtaposed, with a playful spirit, surrealist sensibility, and a touch of magic whenever possible. This likely applies to our house, our art, and our overall way of being in the world.

Bmore Creative
Hayden: The wall behind the couch in the living room features art from all Baltimore-based artists, and, like the rest of the house, is always growing and morphing. It fills us with immense joy and inspiration every time we look at it.

David: One of our collaborations is the Present Time Machine—the world’s first (and only) time machine built to bring people to the exact place where the past meets the future—which is prominently displayed in our front hallway and is a hit among visitors who are always surprised to discover that it actually works.