The Coral Gables Times

16 CORAL GABLES TIMES Thursday, November 22, 1962

There's No Place Like HOME The Past Enhances Their Present

BILL BELL (left), and Ed Robinson relax on their modern couch with their dog. Above is 1840 Van Ressnlair by French artist, Francisco. A 1760 Chinese lamp with a purple blue base sits on 1780 English Chippendale table. Coffee table is American inlaid mahogany. An 18th century petite point of Queen Sheba at the throne of Solomon hangs over a 1780 English serving chest. MIRROR REFLECTS BEDROOM BACHELOR'S ADVANTAGE CANVAS COMPANIONS VINTAGE PAINTING ED & LADY FRIEND ENJOY BACKYARD PATIO SILHOUETTE COLLECTION IN DEN STAFF PHOTOS BY RAY LANG By JUNE GRAY Woman's Editor What type of housekeepers do bachelors make? If the example set by Bill Bell and Ed Robinson, owners of the Curio Shop, 247 Malaga Ave., is an accurate index, they excel many women. They have closed off four rooms in their antique-filled shop for living quarters. The furniture is transplanted from their Pittsburgh home, where they lived until three months ago. The hospital whiteness of the kitchen is offset by red formica trim on the cabinets. In order to provide conversation topics for their guests, all the china and silver are mixed. Cups and saucers are early Worcester; plates, Mason's English Ironstone; rock crystal; Chelsea for salad and cookies; and for cocktail parties, they use Derby pattern glasses to match the plates. The silver is a pattern that is so old, says Ed, that he cannot remember its name. In the living room is an American Chippendale mahogany cupboard filled with a collection of glass from Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York. One rare plate, dated 1814, is the "Landing of Lafayette" and another is the "Thirteen States." Even the bathroom is decorated in dark flow blue Staffordshire china. The night stand in the bedroom is converted from a mahogany potty chair. A lithograph of Sampson and Delilah, dating about 1820, hangs over an American Hepplewhite, inlaid mahogany chest with original eagle brasses. A mahogany Queen Anne chest on chest of 1720 has a glit Federal mirror which reflects the 17th century Italian oil paintings hanging on the opposite wall over the pineapple-topped, poster twin beds. In the den are five reverse paintings on glass. Wedgwood plates of the 18th century decorate the book shelves which are filled with research books on antiques. The owners say laughingly they have very little time to read, but the books impress their visitors. The Houses We Make Into Homes