I stood at the doorstep of Ryan Lammie and Maddison Fyffe’s house, with a coffee tray in one hand and pastries from our favorite Lawrenceville bakery, La Gourmandine, in the other.
Ryan graciously opened the door to let me in. I was immediately bombarded by their two children, *cough* I mean, puppies, Mona and Mica. The living room bustled with energy as the two pups ran across the hardwood floors. Instantly, I was struck by the beauty of their art collection and their taste in furniture. Art works of fellow Pittsburgh artists draped the walls, intermingled with some of Ryan’s own work, and pieces they have collected along the way.
“I refuse to let him sell that one.” Maddison says as she points to the blue abstract painting to the right of the fireplace. It’s one of his earliest works and her favorites. There’s a subtle story of aesthetic evolution between that piece and Ryan’s more recent work above the fireplace and record player.
Their furniture is a vintage collection that took hours of antiquing to procure. Something about the chaos of contemporary art ties together nicely with the professional and slightly minimal accents of Mid-Century Modern furniture. I’ve found Pittsburgh’s strong historical identity and blue collar roots, lend itself to a culture of antiquing. Additionally, the city is full of young people and antiquing is an affordable means of obtaining quality home decor.
That morning Maddison and Ryan told me tales of the wedding they attended the night before while I photographed their home. Ryan’s brother and sister in-law scurried down the stairs on their way to the airport. Ryan would be heading that direction later in the evening to catch a flight to Dublin.
This is the sort of friends they are, the kind that let you borrow a vacuum (sweeper) because you’re about to move and don’t want to buy one. The kind, who rummage through their kitchen to bring you platters for an event when you’re short. The kind of friends who let you shoot their home in between a wedding, house guests and international travel.
There is an air of kindness and community that rings through their home. The pieces of artwork embody the tales of untold stories and friendship. One of my favorites and their most recent addition is a bright pink mesh sculpture by artist Atticus Adams. It is one of the few pieces Ryan and Maddison both fell in love with. I can see a part of each them in the work. The bright playful color and form reflect Maddison’s style. On the other hand, the piece is made of metal mesh, an industrial medium that reminds me of the work Ryan creates.
One of the things I love most about this couple is their unwielding commitment to encourage and support creative endeavours. We have become such good friends over the last couple of years. I’m not sure what the future holds but I do know that these two will be a part of my life for years to come.
