The Pinecone
|
February 2014
• 7 •
The front cover of this edition of the
PineCone will whet one’s appetite to
know more about furnishings that are
easily recognized but now rarely seen.
Most Kirby Pines residents will recall
similar pieces they bought for their own
homes in the 1960s and earlier; but
changed from the modern style to more
formal styles as time went by. When
David moved from Miami, Florida to
Kirby Pines in October 2013, he had the
apartment’s wide-planked floors stained
black, all walls painted a dove grey,
and specially ordered ceiling fans and
light fixtures. These elements provide
the perfect backdrop for the furniture,
rugs, and accessories. He brought
his treasure trove of basic pieces and
accessories that were familiar to us
but are now highlighted by placement
that does not reflect their original
intent. To draw his eye, an item has
to be humorous/fun; able to be taken
out of context; frivolous. For example,
a flawless front grill made for a 1949
Studebaker automobile is displayed as
a stand-alone piece of steel statuary.
Two bread boxes boast stenciled
art deco designs that were popular
around the time modern design was
revolutionizing kitchens. David
is a tireless and skilled craftsman.
Among the many items he’s made,
there’s a modernistic coffee table
that would be at home in the NYC
Museum of Modern Art, and a day
bed that can also serve as a couch.
One wall shows his family tree, but
just one picture is of his parents.
The other portraits are of people
unknown to him but he was drawn to
time periods and activities of these
handsome posers and considers
them his extended family. His art
collection includes large posters of La
Houppa, a singer from the 1920s and
another singer, Damia, from 1930s
Paris, which he pulled from the Rum
Boogie Café on Beale Street. David
has several highly stylized manikin
heads from the 1930s/40s. One model
is adorned with a WWII aviator cap;
another model’s head sports a fedora.
Both are beautiful. His bedroom
furniture was designed by Norman Bel
Geddes, an early modern designer. The
furniture was made in the 1930s of
steel which gives it an unusually sleek
appearance. A lamp has a shade made
of mica, creating an unusually warm,
organic light, and the shade is decorated
with a strong art deco design. Another
lamp has a shade decorated and signed
by Fredrick Weinberg, a popular
modern designer in the 1950s.
In 1940, David was born in
Minneapolis,MNtoGenevieveLadonna
Higgins and Lee Henry Walters. He
was the middle child, having an older
brother and younger sister. His mother
was a homemaker;
his father was a very
successful shoe buyer
by trade and, coupled
with his sharp business
sense, established the
first athletic shoe outlet
that we know as Foot
Locker. David has a
son, a daughter, and six
grandchildren. He has a BS Degree in
Electrical Engineering from Cornell U.
and an MBA from UCLA. He started
his career in California working on the
construction of the San Onofre Nuclear
Generating Plant. He also worked in
computer operations in New York for
UnionCarbideand, then, intheNewYork
office of International Paper, moving
with the company when it relocated
to Memphis. Moving to Miami, David
worked with the American Bankers
Insurance Corporation in computer
programming. He retired in 1995.
Kirby Pines wishes David Walters
much enjoyment in his beautiful one-
of-a-kind home.
–
Jacqueline Besteman, Resident
MODE RN S TY L E
David Walters
