J.M. Byron House – every wall is a gallery.
My little home town has certainly stepped up its game these last few years. Shops are popping up left and right in the port, we even have a 10 seat sushi restaurant and it feels like more live music per square mile than Boston. If there is an alley, they’ll find a way to turn it into a beer garden, and carve out a little spot for a singer guitarist to perform. We’ve always had the three ports, the only Cape town that can that lofty designation, so sailors know it, even if they choose to call Chatham home.
It’s less stuffy than Chatham, and more economical, which I imagine is attractive to a younger generation, looking for their first second home, or their first home in a place they spend the second biggest amount of time. With real estate prices in the city what they are, it’s not at all surprising to me.
This year I discovered a little gem of a place tucked behind an art gallery that has drawn me in, and had me coming back with my wallet in hand, again and again. J.M. Byron House is a treasure trove of Cape Cod kitsch. Aside from the brilliant curation, at the hands of a Boston Merger’s and Acquisitions Lawyer, it is beautifully staged. My appreciation for thoughtfully placed objects, from the ombre effect of the fine art hung on the walls like a brush stroke that starts out bold and beautiful, and then fades into a whisper of a hue, is the backdrop to the carefully placed objects. Fine Art – originals and prints – period pieces of nostalgic value – Turkish Oushak Rugs, pieces that jive and vibe with the ’60’s seaside aesthetic.
I just might buy a tiny bit of a property here just for the sheer pleasure of outfitting it with the J.M.’s offerings. You simply must visit it again and again, not only because new offerings are arriving all the time, but because the richness of the environment demands you study and absorb it. I’m always discovering new things, and considering pieces like those Foo Dogs ( a Chinese symbol of good luck) that speak to me – even though they look a little mean – a little serious, still they are the accent color that I am using in No. 5, so, we’ll see.
If you can’t visit in person – get connected via Instagram (@thejmbyronhouse) , if you are super friendly and complimentary, Matt just might agree to mail you an item or two.