Acanthus Journal of
Memory, Form, & Meaning
A chronicle of beauty, memory, and the meaningful objects that shape our interiors.
Here, we move beyond surface and style. The Acanthus Journal is where forgotten materials, inherited forms, and storied antiques are given voice — transformed into modern companions with quiet intentionality. History is not preserved under glass, but carried forward into daily life.
Within these pages, you’ll find essays on the poetry of patina, the language of upholstery, and the resonance of provenance in a world oversaturated with the new. We write for interior designers, collectors, architects, and aesthetes — those who understand that true luxury lies not only in how a room looks, but in what it remembers.
Our Journal offers inspiration for those curating layered spaces: where a single 19th-century chair can anchor a narrative, or a reupholstered settee can bridge generations. Through behind-the-scenes restoration, explorations of antique history, and meditations on how to live with storied pieces, we seek to spark not only ideas but connection.
This is not a lifestyle blog. It is a design archive. A resource. A love letter to the enduring relevance of craftsmanship and the quiet luxury of things that last.
If Acanthus Home is the atelier, then the Journal is its sketchbook — an open archive of our process, our principles, and the timeless objects we are privileged to bring back to life.
The Carved Bloom: A Study in Refinement and Ritual
A late 19th-century French side table with floral marquetry, marble, and gilt accents. Restored by Acanthus Home, The Carved Bloom bridges Belle Époque elegance with modern ritual—an heirloom rediscovered in Jackson, New Hampshire, now revived on the Palos Verdes Peninsula.
The Portrait of an Heirloom: Legacy and Continuity
A sepia-toned portrait of a young Army officer becomes more than an image; it is an heirloom that anchors a family’s legacy across generations. From duty inscribed in brass buttons to sacrifice in the Ardennes and a child’s quiet inheritance, these photographs, preserved within a private collection, embody the continuity of memory. At Acanthus Home, we honor such presence in every restored piece, where beauty, lineage, and legacy endure.
The Language of Threads: Couture in Antique Restoration
Textiles are more than decoration — they are narratives woven in thread. At Acanthus Home’s Los Angeles County atelier, antique furnishings are restored with couture fabrics from heritage maisons like Pierre Frey, carrying centuries of artistry, cultural exchange, and human memory into the present.
The Windward Collection: A Dialogue Between Craft and Coast
The Windward Collection is a restored antique dining set inspired by coastal serenity and heirloom craftsmanship. Featuring six upholstered chairs and an extendable table, this ensemble speaks to timeless gatherings, thoughtful design, and the enduring beauty of well-made things.
Velvet Revival Inspired by Katsutoshi Yuasa
Rescued from near-abandonment, Veridian Grove is a restored early 20th-century wingback chair reimagined in couture velvet inspired by artist Katsutoshi Yuasa. This heirloom revival honors memory through craftsmanship, layering time, touch, and philosophy into a sculptural form designed to embrace.
The Quiet Ritual of Living With Inherited Heirlooms
A quiet morning table layered in heirlooms, where antique china and restored furnishings speak not of display—but of memory, ritual, and daily use.
The Child in the Army Coat: A Story of Silent Legacy
In 1945 Los Angeles, a child wears his missing father’s Army coat—months after the soldier vanished in the Hürtgen Forest. Five years later, the boy receives the folded flag. This journal explores presence, absence, and the quiet legacy of memory made material.
The Velvet Courtship: An Heirloom Without a Lineage
Two Victorian parlor chairs—carved with the profiles of a noble gentleman and graceful lady—resurfaced without provenance, but full of presence. Upholstered in couture Pierre Frey velvet and restored with reverence, they tell a story not of lineage, but of endurance, memory, and the quiet poetics of pairing.
Inheritance Without Ownership: The Chamber Reliquary
Some heirlooms are not inherited—they are remembered. Explore the story of The Chamber Reliquary, a 19th-century walnut cabinet revived with reverence and reimagined as sculpture. A legacy, not owned—but kept.
The Chair, the Bench, and the Spaces In Between
Discover how antique chairs, vintage home decor, and heirloom furniture reflect one woman’s life. Acanthus Home explores emotional interiors and luxury design.
The Rosé Obscura: On the Intimacy of Seating
The Rosé Obscura is a sculptural antique tub chair reimagined in couture-level upholstery. A study in emotional design, material memory, and timeless form—crafted for interior designers and collectors who curate with intention.
The Afterlife of Objects: Why Antiques Still Matter
Some objects do not end with use—they begin again. At Acanthus Home, we believe antique furnishings possess afterlives: stories waiting to be heard, silhouettes that continue to matter. Discover how memory, presence, and cultural meaning live on in restored heirlooms.
The Bench Was Empty: A Love Letter from 1919
In 1919, Frank returned to their bench in Westlake Park—with hope. This love letter inspires our view that restored antique furniture is not just décor, but memory made visible.
Reading Furniture Like a Text: An Anthropologist’s Guide
At Acanthus Home, we believe restored antique furniture is more than décor—it is emotional architecture. Explore how heirloom pieces like The Juniper Crest can be read as cultural texts and curated with anthropological intent to ground modern interiors in meaning, memory, and soul.
Why Designers Love Working With Antique Curators
Discover why top interior designers partner with boutique antique curators like Acanthus Home to source rare, luxury furniture. Save time, elevate your designs, and access exclusive statement pieces your clients will treasure.